And I'm really tired so I'm going to say goodnight cuz morning comes way too early with two energetic toddlers in the house! :)
Here's a sneak peak! ;)
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Stay Tuned!!!
I have been brainstorming and organizing and coordinating my photos and thoughts for my super-duper review of my Old Navy Spring Dress Sample Share! Stay tuned cuz I'm going to wow you tomorrow! :) I'm just too tired to do my very best on the final thing here tonight, so tomorrow, sometime during the day, it'll be here! :) This is just a "teaser" post. hahaha
And I'm really tired so I'm going to say goodnight cuz morning comes way too early with two energetic toddlers in the house! :)
Here's a sneak peak! ;)
And I'm really tired so I'm going to say goodnight cuz morning comes way too early with two energetic toddlers in the house! :)
Here's a sneak peak! ;)
Monday, April 25, 2011
Board Games
Another response to one of the questions from my Crowdtap discussion panel that I thought would be fun to include in my blog. I hadn't thought about some of these board games in years. And just thinking about them brought back great memories of playing them with my sisters, especially with my younger sister Miranda. She LOVED playing games, so did I, but I remember her asking "Do you want to play games?" I remember the smell of the coat closet where we stored them. They are still there at my parents house, I'm sure covered in dust. :) I look forward to playing them with my boys when they get older. It'll be something fun to do when we go to Grandma & Papa's house.
Here is my response to "What were your favorite board games growing up?"
"Growing up on a farm with four sisters and only one tv channel (public broadcasting) and no computer, we and played a lot of board games!!! Some of the board games we enjoyed were the more well known ones such as Pictionary, Scattegories, Operation and Guess Who?. But some of my very favorites are not ones I've seen in stores since the 80s:
Downfall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Pluto's Lost Bones
http://boardgamegeek.com/
Snoopy's Doghouse Game
http://boardgamegeek.com/
These games were well loved with many, many hours invested in them and that is reflected in the torn edges, creases and a few missing pieces! Lots of good memories thinking about playing them growing up. :) "
P.S. Another one I thought of after I posted this was "Victory Circle".
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5070/victory-circle
What were some of your favorite board games growing up??
Here is my response to "What were your favorite board games growing up?"
"Growing up on a farm with four sisters and only one tv channel (public broadcasting) and no computer, we and played a lot of board games!!! Some of the board games we enjoyed were the more well known ones such as Pictionary, Scattegories, Operation and Guess Who?. But some of my very favorites are not ones I've seen in stores since the 80s:
Downfall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Pluto's Lost Bones
http://boardgamegeek.com/
Snoopy's Doghouse Game
http://boardgamegeek.com/
These games were well loved with many, many hours invested in them and that is reflected in the torn edges, creases and a few missing pieces! Lots of good memories thinking about playing them growing up. :) "
P.S. Another one I thought of after I posted this was "Victory Circle".
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/5070/victory-circle
What were some of your favorite board games growing up??
Thursday, April 21, 2011
The Nature Trail
April 7, 2011
Discussion – Savoring Spring
"I feel so blessed to live where I do. There are a lot of places I can take my little boys to observe and enjoy the outdoors – and savor spring! One of the places I discovered this last summer is only about a five minute drive from our house. It is a Wildlife Habitat Area owned and maintained by the local Fish and Game. The neat thing is, it is located within city limits, but once you walk inside and are on the trail, you feel like you are in the mountains. They have a nice paved walking trail so I can take my two boys in their double stroller. Last summer, we went several times and saw rabbits (my favorite!), butterflies, birds of all kinds (they say as many as 98 species have been sited), a snake, and they have an underground observatory where you can see a crayfish, snails and tiny fish swim by. The boys loved that!
There is also a rock fountain when you first walk in with a bubbling pond and brook. There are benches along the trail where you go off the trail a bit and just sit and soak in nature. I felt like it was not only fun but also educational for my children and will be even more exciting this year now that my boys are a little older. I’m looking forward to taking there again, as soon as the weather cooperates!
There is also a rock fountain when you first walk in with a bubbling pond and brook. There are benches along the trail where you go off the trail a bit and just sit and soak in nature. I felt like it was not only fun but also educational for my children and will be even more exciting this year now that my boys are a little older. I’m looking forward to taking there again, as soon as the weather cooperates!
Photos below are from our two visits this week and last....
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| I had the parking brake on ;) |
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| The underwater viewing area of the little fishies! So cool! |
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| A Bloomin Tree ;) |
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| Levi checking out the pinecone |
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| Wyatt inspecting his pinecone |
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| One of the cute little rabbits we crept up on |
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| A hands-on learning experience |
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| My Little Dudes - Levi trying to escape |
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| Picnic in the Backyard - thanks to McDonalds :) |
April 20, 2011
"Last Monday and this Monday, I took my boys to the nature trail that I discovered last summer. It is less than a five minute drive from my house and such a treasure! I am going to try to take them there once a week.
I took my time and stopped along the way, pointing things out to my boys, like different birds flying overhead, and the little rabbit twitching it’s little nose and perking it’s ears in the air. We wait and watch and creep closer and then laugh as it bounds away. I pushed them along in the double stroller and let them touch the trees along the trail. We have played with the pine cones and touch the rough spindles. And of course, Levi had to stick one in his mouth to see how it tasted while my youngest inspected it and turned it over and over in his hands. I love seeing how differently they each react and learn.
These are such special memories. I took a few photos with my cell phone camera... We also had a picnic in the backyard when we got home. I treasure these times with my boys because I know they just grow and change so fast. I want to appreciate each moment with them.
These are such special memories. I took a few photos with my cell phone camera... We also had a picnic in the backyard when we got home. I treasure these times with my boys because I know they just grow and change so fast. I want to appreciate each moment with them.
Some more photos from the trail and just playing in the backyard. :)
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| I love the tree canopy |
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| Cuties :) |
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| Levi on his bike |
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| Wyatt got in there on his own. He was so proud. |
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| Then Levi had to come and sit on him. Brothers. :) |
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| Getting ready to go down the slide, with mommy's help. :) Wee! |
Mud Mouth & Lilacs
Discussion – Time & Presence
April 9, 2011
"...Something I read in one of our study books is from a book called Grace Base Parenting by Tim Kimmel …it stated that our child's three driving inner needs are 1) A need for security; 2) A need for significance ; 3) A need for strength. So the three valuable gifts we can give our children are: love, purpose and hope. Isn't that powerful! Let us grow our children up so they may have roots but also wings to fly! ... :)"
April 11, 2011
"... My oldest son Levi just turned two in February, and LOVES to play outside. He brings me his jacket and shoes, takes my hand, and says "OUTSIDE!! Peeez!" It has been raining so much lately and I would rather just stay inside where it is warm and dry. But I know it is important to him, so I've been bundling both my boys up in warm coats and taking them to our backyard even if it is overcast and sprinkling. Just even for a short amount of time.
Levi mostly likes to play in the dirt and this at first was annoying to me. I'd rather have him play on his plastic play structure, cozy coupe car or sandbox. Mostly because, he gets the mud and dirt all over himself from head to toe. BUT I have decided that he is washable. I usually just strip him down when we come back inside and give him a quick bath. He is thoroughly enjoying himself and it isn't hurting himself (with the exception of when he ate dirt and he got his mouth washed out! lol! see photo) Like Dr. Reivich shared in one of her stories about driving her boys around and getting lost and she was cranky but her boys were laughing - she made the decision to step back and just enjoy the moment. Sure, I could MAKE my son stay out of the dirt, but what good would that do other than just serve my own selfish desire to keep my son clean and make less work for me in the long run. I think it is important to let my boys enjoy life and if that means some dirt under the finger nails and down the diaper, so be it. :)"
Levi mostly likes to play in the dirt and this at first was annoying to me. I'd rather have him play on his plastic play structure, cozy coupe car or sandbox. Mostly because, he gets the mud and dirt all over himself from head to toe. BUT I have decided that he is washable. I usually just strip him down when we come back inside and give him a quick bath. He is thoroughly enjoying himself and it isn't hurting himself (with the exception of when he ate dirt and he got his mouth washed out! lol! see photo) Like Dr. Reivich shared in one of her stories about driving her boys around and getting lost and she was cranky but her boys were laughing - she made the decision to step back and just enjoy the moment. Sure, I could MAKE my son stay out of the dirt, but what good would that do other than just serve my own selfish desire to keep my son clean and make less work for me in the long run. I think it is important to let my boys enjoy life and if that means some dirt under the finger nails and down the diaper, so be it. :)"
Discussion – Savoring Spring
The question was about what are your favorite spring scents and what memories from your childhood do they make you think about? (paraphrased)
For me there are several scents that come to mind when I think of my favorites, especially ones that have memories attached to them. But I limited this post to my top three:*Lilacs- They are probably one of my very favorite flowers! Even though, they bloom here a little later in spring, the scent of them reminds me of the two large lilac bushes that grow on the boundary of my parent’s lawn. My mom is a huge gardener and I think of her spending hours outside, humming as she weeded and pruned and made her garden a display of beauty for everyone that drove by. I have one small lilac bush in my backyard at my house now, and I love when it starts blooming and take deep breaths drinking in the glorious smell! Wonderful scents and memories…
*Dirt – The smell of dirt, especially freshly plowed dirt, brings me back to growing up on the farm and riding on the tractor with my dad. He was a farmer all the years I was at home. He loves this time of year, and the crops just planted and some of the seeds just starting to grow. Such a special memory.
*Grass – Freshly mowed grass takes me back to the days of running track. I actually get a little tingling in the bottom of my stomach as I think back to track meets and getting so nervous before I would run a race. Even though I can’t run like I used to, the smell of grass makes me want to put on my running shoes and take off down the road for a jog!"
Being a Present Parent
Discussion – Time & Presence (Being a Present Parent)
Note: See my first post from today for a little more explanation of where these entries are coming from!
April 6, 2011
"As a work from home mother of two young toddlers, I find I get distracted by having my work computer right in our living room so it’s too easy to hop on the computer and work off and on throughout the day which is great, but it also makes it too easy to then get involved with checking my work and then personal emails, facebook, etc. And before I know it, an hour has gone by... The idea of being “unplugged” so I can be in the moment with my children when my energy levels are high and my mood is right is something I want to improve on. I think for me, just turning off the computer monitors and screening my calls and not having a kid’s video playing - even if it is for 15-30 minutes at a time to just be there with my kids will be something invaluable that I will look back on and cherish. They say these years when they are small goes by way too fast and I want to enjoy my kids as much as possible and instill in them that they are valued and loved and that spending quality time with them is important to their mom.
Since my boys are only two and one, they can’t tell me all that they enjoy doing quite yet, but I do know they LOVE to read and I try to spend time reading to them before nap time and before bed time. They sit in my lap and I let them pick the books they want to read, even if it means reading the same one over and over. Another thing I have done a few times, is have an actual “tent” time where we built a tent in our living room with a table and blankets. I am going to do this more often because not only does it literally shut out distractions, but it will bring me closer with your children and make it easier to “be in the moment” with my kids. I built a tent for my two year olds birthday in February. We had so much fun. We giggled and laughed all morning. I agree that shared laughter is something that is so powerful and deeply connecting and personal. I kind of feel like laughing with my children is a way I can communicate love to them beyond communication barriers even at such a young age.
I also liked the idea of a “mini-date” to the store with my kids. Right now it is really tough to take my kid’s with me as they are two and one and quite a handful when together so I end up going when Isaac is home to watch them. But I think if I took one of them, for a short amount of time, it could be a really fun experience. I also enjoy taking my boys to our backyard but usually let them run around on their own while I sit there an watch, because I am so tired! LOL! But I think by taking a few minutes with each of them while out there to point certain things out like flowers, birds or leaves it could make even something small like that feel more special for them and myself. Again, like Dr. Reivich said (paraphrasing of course), take advantage of what you have available in the real world and transform these every day moments into something sustaining for our kids.”
Since my boys are only two and one, they can’t tell me all that they enjoy doing quite yet, but I do know they LOVE to read and I try to spend time reading to them before nap time and before bed time. They sit in my lap and I let them pick the books they want to read, even if it means reading the same one over and over. Another thing I have done a few times, is have an actual “tent” time where we built a tent in our living room with a table and blankets. I am going to do this more often because not only does it literally shut out distractions, but it will bring me closer with your children and make it easier to “be in the moment” with my kids. I built a tent for my two year olds birthday in February. We had so much fun. We giggled and laughed all morning. I agree that shared laughter is something that is so powerful and deeply connecting and personal. I kind of feel like laughing with my children is a way I can communicate love to them beyond communication barriers even at such a young age.
I also liked the idea of a “mini-date” to the store with my kids. Right now it is really tough to take my kid’s with me as they are two and one and quite a handful when together so I end up going when Isaac is home to watch them. But I think if I took one of them, for a short amount of time, it could be a really fun experience. I also enjoy taking my boys to our backyard but usually let them run around on their own while I sit there an watch, because I am so tired! LOL! But I think by taking a few minutes with each of them while out there to point certain things out like flowers, birds or leaves it could make even something small like that feel more special for them and myself. Again, like Dr. Reivich said (paraphrasing of course), take advantage of what you have available in the real world and transform these every day moments into something sustaining for our kids.”April 7, 2011
"I have been trying to incorporate some of the things I learned during the webinar to my life and family. A couple things that really resonated with me were just spending times with my boys where we are unplugged from media.Another was the tent idea. This has been something really fun for me and my boys. I enjoy building forts with blankets and a card table, etc. but don't have the time/energy to do that every day. So we've mostly been using our Thomas the Train pop-up tent. It's quick, easy and has the same effect. I'm not able to squeeze all the way in, but both boys fit in and I play with them by sticking my head and upper body in. They think it is sooo funny. We giggle and laugh and sometimes bring books in the tent, or a toy or two.
But mostly it is just the experience of laughing and being together. I am finding I can do this daily or several times throughout the week. They even drag it out and want me to help them put it up. Such precious times and memories that I will treasure in my heart. Here is a photo from today. Pretty cute if I say so myself. :)"
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