Oh, Christmas Tree

This has always ben my favorite times of year and the kids and I have been having fun keeping busy while daddy is at work (this is his busiest times of year). Last week all 3 of them helped me decorate our tree-- well, it has becomemore theirs then mine. What did I ever hang on my tree before kids? I know we only had one Christmas alone as newlyweds, but I am thinking it was a pretty bare tree those first two years. Now, I love all their picture and hand made ornaments and how they hang them all around the same spot. They like to take them off and look at them and as long as they are not glass (those are high out of reach) i don't care since its only up for a little time andI want them to feel like they can enjoy it how kids enjoy things-- by exploring. They have been playing prarie Christmas and placing things from around the house under the tree and then crawling under it for a fort (we dont put the bottom two rows of branches on our tree since we know it makes a nice little hideout). They can only do this if I am close by just in case it tips, or, per se, Mommy wants to put her head underneath and play too. We have also had to take some ornaments o hot glue gun hospital, but they are the same ornaments that get glued every year and by the time the kids leave me (sniff sniff), the will all have rather long necks and legs and will be some of my favorites since they were so loved by little hands. merry Christmas!

Daddy- Daughter date time

My husband works weird and not your typical 9-5 job, but he loves his kids and tries to get creative with each of them. We have one daughter in between two boys and we want to be sensitive to her needs but also making sure that she is well, daddy's little girl. I want her to one day say, I want to marry a man who loves Jesus just like my daddy does.

Now that she is getting older and much more in to girly things she gets the idea of a "date night" much more. So, here are some ideas:

- going to a local restaurant when its not as
- a trip to the park for a bike ride, hike, time on the swings...
- ice skating or roller skating
- shopping at a more girly store and then maybe a daddy store so she can be well rounded ;)

I'm sure you get the idea. It is our prayer also to get some things set up through our church, so please pray as we take the lead on something new. Blessings,

Becky

p.s. here are some more ideas

http://theideadoor.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=458

Cute winter cupcake ideas

How cute are these little cupcakes? I love snow and snow men so I think I will be whipping up my own version soon :)

Cool Free Giveaway

Hey all, I am hitting up tons of party sites trying to get ready to plan my daughter's 4th Birthday party and an amazing bridal shower-- I know, a lot going on ;), anyway, one of my favorite sites is doing an awesome giveaway, so head on over and try and win! http://karaspartyideas.blogspot.com/

McDonald's Math Center

This is a simple and fun way to practice logical number association! First, ask a fast food place for some extra small size fry bags and then tape numbers on each bag. Provide enough Popsicle sticks for the child to count out each number for the coordinating bag. Child has to count out the correct number of "fries" to fill each bag. My daughter does the lower numbers and my son practices on the higher ones and the baby just likes to dump out all the "fries".

Happy Birthday to my Baby!!

Can't believe that my little guy is not just one-- but almost 14 months! Our camera was out of comission when he turned one, so I finally got these from my mom's so thats the reason for the delay friends :) We had a small family party where I made his favorite food-- Italian! Made meatball subs, baked wagon wheels, minestrone soup, dips and appetizers (I shaped one cheese ball into the shape of a pumpkin), and maybe a few other small things. I did a race that morning, so I was dragging by party time, but so worth it to see how happy he was eating his little cupcake-- Love at first bite! I do believe he may have seconds ;)

Fall themed Birthday Party

the setup was fun and as always, budget friendly :) I actually used one of my older son's sheets for the tablecloth, bought the leaves fabric and then cut it up and stretched its uses, and made all the goodies and decorations myself. The cookies are a chocolate sugar cookie with orange icing, the cupcakes were pumpkin pie with cream cheese icing, pumpkin pie with a pumpkin on top, pb and chocolate brownies, and then I also set out some candy corn and carmel corn.