a christmas countdown

 

found on pinterest
wrap a book for each day until Christmas day..
then each night a child opens the wrapped book and we read it...
love any idea that brings reading into the picture, and who doesn't like the magic of
opening a wrapped present?

a reading nook....

 

 

 

ahhhh Pinterest you are my inspiration and my downfall
last night i was browsing Pinterest which I tend to do with my down time and stumbled across
this pin..how to convert a pack and play into a reading tent.  Brilliant!
I knew instantly that this would be a hit with my daycare kids...just one problem.
as of saturday I no longer had any pack and plays in my house.  They fell victim to my cleaning spree that happened over the weekend...you know the one where I cleaned each child's room.  emptying closets and drawers and removing all things no longer needed or used.  I suppose I could wonder why I had not seen this totally cool idea sooner, or I could go on about the lack of pack and plays...but instead I just went back to the good will store and bought one of my donated cribs.  yes bought, made the guys day, don't try to analyze that your head will hurt trust me.( and actually I didn't go to the store and buy it back, kevin did he rolls like that or maybe he just gets tired of listening to my whine)  I am just goig to go with the thought that I did a good deed (donating) and an even better deed (buying from the store, thus generating revenue for this business owner) so a win, win. It works in my world :)
and they love it,all day there has been a child or two curled up inside reading a book.
now that is a very great thing!

Breaking Dawn part 2

 Thursday night Linda, Cassandra, Rose and I went to see this.  We arrived at the theater at 9:30pm to a full house, yes in our small town theater, in the middle of week it was packed.  Might I just mention how utterly cool it was that in our tiny town our theater had an opening night of a brand new movie..
It was an amazing movie!!!! So glad that Rose insisted that I watch the original Twilight movie, and that Cassandra insisted time and time again that I read the books...so how appropriate  that I went to this final movie with them.  We got home around midnight, the soda I drank at the movie had me awake until after 2...ouch. 

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sunday

 

 

was an important day for two of our little ones...Yahaira received her bible (a third grade tradition in our church) and Reyna received her beginniners bible (a three year old tradition)
both were pretty excited by these gifts  and spent several moments throughout the day reading
their new books

a bit of christmas crafting...

 

 

happened this weekend amongst all the cleaning, organizing and sorting...
Yahaira helped me assemble this years advent countdown...
it looks quite festive hanging on the wall waiting to begin the countdown to christmas day...

annual ornament

 

each year I buy an ornament for the kids and one for us
I've never done the same ornament for the kids an us but this year
I found these on Etsy and decided matching it was...
this shop is located in Lamberton, Minnesota  when we lived in Sanborn we went to church in Lamberton, which was just a few miles away.  Josh was baptized there.  Thought that little connection made the choice for this year's ornaments rather simple. 

reading...

she stands with the book held to her side and "reads"
sometimes she sings, and at times she sits in a chair
guessing she is channeling her inner teacher, or at the very least
playing like she has seen at preschool

the sunglasses?  not so sure if her teacher wears shades while she reads...
or if that is just Reyna's personal spin on the moment

a christmas tree...

 

they said they didn't have one
last year they drew one and hung it on the wall
so while shopping on sunday I saw this little box with
a replica of the charlie brown christmas tree
I sent them a text telling them I had found the perfect tree...
thinking it was not what they were expecting :)

mushu

cassandra's new kitten
who lives at our house
(yes, how does that work?)

chocolate cake

 

late in the evening?
when it's for a birthday, why yes! indeed
cassandra was home sunday night so we celebrated her birthday a day early
all those little ones were very excited to be eating cake before they headed to bed...

the annual christmas card...

photo attempt...
I had thought to just avoid it, piecing together a card with photos of each kid
but sunday morning the stars aligned, the angels smiled, and God must have thought I needed a lesson in patience since all 7 kids were under the roof at the same time...
it wasn't pretty, it never is
there were tears...that 3 year old and her momma shed the most
there was grumblings and laughter and that ever so constant thread of chaos
that is this attempt to capture a photo of 7 individuals who share our space, our home, our lives
and perhaps in the continuing attempt each year there is the reminder that in all the loud, crazy, chaotic energy...we are family knit together by the most amazing ties of all.

 

 

 

boy scout popcorn

has been delivered...and is now waiting to be delivered to all who ordered.
reyna is not understanding why? we have all this amazing popcorn and can't eat it...
last weekends attempt to deliver was dismal, here is hoping this weekend finds more people home
I'm getting a bit tired of all those boxes taking up space in my dining room.

Halloween 2012

a penguin...her request for a halloween costume never wavered
I want to be a penguin...it was truly a hit all night long

a pumpkin, a witch, a butterfly
up until the moment she dressed it was still a mystery what she would decide on

the candy dot girl aka katy perry
thank goodness it was a mild evening when creating the costume I forgot to leave room for winter gear.

 

anthony stayed home this year, most excited to hand out treats

this year we went the no candy route (I am happy to say our house wasn't egged ot tp'd)
bonus to the no candy...the leftovers won't spoil by next halloween!

Happy Birthday Cassandra!!

Today she turned 24...
she has filled our lives with a constant reminder to slow down, experience the moment.
She has always moved at her pace...she trusts completely. is a true friend.  She is fair
and determined.  She is beautiful, and kind hearted.
She was home yesterday and part of today, so we celebrated with cake that she designed.
It has been an amazing 24 year journey, can't wait to see what she does with the next 24 years

Peppermint shake

Free with gift card purchase at Arbys
It was delicious !

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Election night

I have tuned in throughout the evening to watch the coverage on the election.
Discovering that something as simple as changing the station could portray the election in whole different light
It is hard to not remember another election night 16 years ago where I spent most of the night watching election coverage at the time I thought my inability to sleep was due to the election and wanting to know who won. Even after the winner had been announced I still couldn't sleep
I woke to a phone call the next morning from my dad and soon after the news that my mom had died.  
Finding that often today my thoughts have drifted back to that time.
My mom had offered to keep the kids while I went to vote I had said no telling her that I felt it was important that they go with to see what voting is about. I spent quite a bit of time in the days that followed feeling guilt that we hadn't seen her that night before.  
Hind sight so poetic is it not?
Today I went to the polls with my youngest, yes I still believe it is important to share and teach my kids what a privilege and honor it is to have the right to vote...my how things have changed in these 16 years, I wonder what she would think of these new little ones in my .life, I sense she would love them as much as those older ones ...I realize today that the guilt in those early days  for that choice I made on that election night was an unfair burden to add to my days....she certainly wouldn't have wanted me to feel that way.

I miss her daily..


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