Counting By tens

My four year old son loves his numbers, so I wanted him to really begin learning how to count by two's, five's, and ten's in a fun way, so we jump around and count 10-20-30-40-50... my three and four year old love counting this way. Then we do jumping jacks and count the same way till we get to 100 and then we all fall down. Its so simple and gets everyone moving and bruning some energy what with all the snow outside. My three year old has been really, really into coloring so we color on the windows and the tubs (test a small surface first) since washable markers are pretty easy to take off of everything with just a sponge. Since they are in to playing post office, I gave them tons of envelopes and stickers to write letters to people and then we use shopping totes for mail bags and resend them and mail them all over the house :)

Fall Fun

Fall is our absolut favorite time of the year! We live for it and totally embrace getting out at every possible moment! Today we voted and then turned over and weeded our sorry little flower and vegetable beds... but no matter how they look, we did it together! We have been loving just getting out and walking in the leaves and finding sticks. We built a fairy home out of all things nature and then knocked it down, but it was still so much fun! So happy fall!

Packing time

I love to pack so much! Really, the worse thing about a trip is the un-packing (although, its a lot easier... you're just tired from the trip). So today I began to pack for the trip that we leave for on Saturday and I have to be honest in saying that I didn't get too far. First, the kids wanted to wear their costumes that I was packing, and seeing how I wasn't sure if they would fit, we became decked out from head to toe. Then, since my son is Buzz Lightyear, he turned one of the suitcases into his spaceship and proceeded to "fly" it around the room. My daughter, ever the helpful fairie (for real, that's her costume) packed another suitcase with all of her favorite stuffed animals and books and then, herself. So, once we were done playing dress-up, they decided to un-pack the one suitcase that I had actually managed to start packing. So, I did get one suit case almost completely packed-- twice. Well, packing is its own little journey now:) Also, my "helpers" threw out some of my carefully organized notes on where to stop, what we're eating, and oh yeah, our reservation numbers. Our journey has just begun... plus my sweet husband is always telling me to plan less and enjoy more....

running the race...

I am so tired right now... its been a long couple of days. There are some crazy issues at Matt's work and it was a long, frustrating afternoon with the kids. We have our first family week long vacation coming up and right now I feel like I am trying to persevere and hang on until then to just escape and relax and be together as a family. And, as I was trying to brush my kid's teeth and unsuccesfully trying to dodge their sharp little teeth it suddenly dawned on me that I am in a much bigger race... not just towards vacation, but to Heaven. I was never athletic and the only races I've run have been in gym class, but they weren't pleasant. God never promised to make our races any easier, but He did promise to carry us when we needed it and stay by our sides. I am so comforted. We are blessed with many days where we as a family forget we're even in a race things are so smooth, but, when they are a bit crazy and topsy turvy and sleep deprived, its nice to know our Coach is still there just like He was when we were perhaps running down a hill and not up one. So, keep it steady and consistent and be diligent because we're not done yet!

Mommy forums

So, this past summer I "joined" a mommy forum and here and there have tried to keep in touch with the ladies-- I even went to two events. What I have finally concluded is that I am pretty sure that I was the only Christian on the entire site with over 300+ mommies! It was really frustrating because they were so into tolerating everything, except, oh yeah, people who make rock the boat and remind us what a moral or principle really is. For the most part, I really did behave myself and just kept my mouth shut no matter how many of them trashed talked their husbands, swore, complained about their husbands, and thought strange things were the norm. I don't want to say it was all bad, for the most part it really did deal a lot with potty training, snack time, etc...... but then I saw a post about politics and thats when I became really frustrated! I just dont understand how people can buy into some of the devils lies that are so obvious to a believer. I mean, hold up half of what a certain nominee is saying and believes in to the Bible and it just doesn't ring true!I finally really came to the conclusion, and be forewarned, I am not the first to realize something so obvious, but the media really does desensitize and make a lot of people who aren't in the word, buy into the world. What a difference... even on sesame street, there are brief flashes of same sex couples withthe children. So, when are cable ended, I was in total favor of letting it go. Sure, I may miss the cooking shows, but I have books... my husband was in complete mourning due to this being football season, but, lo and behold, you can watch that online now.... so, we are for now, television-less and are surviving!

* I don't want us to sound too weird, so I thought I should add that we do still have our dvd player and watch some movies with TVGuardian on.... so, one step at a time!

Book worms

I am undeniably a book worm... Matt often has to blast a bullhorn near me, set off an alarm, shake me, and still... I am totally oblivious to all that is going on around me. A good book is more then just a bunch of pages: it is a treasured friend that you can revisit at anytime by just lifting the cover. When I met Matt he shared my love for books (although, he doesn't become quite as a lost in them as me) and we proclaimed that we'd have them scattered throughout our home on coffee tables, bookshelves, end tables, etc.... well, the books that are actually scattered around aren't exactly the ones we had in mind, but our house is nonetheless filled to the brim with books. Picture books. We have two of the biggest book worms and I have to say, I enjoy the really good picture books right along with them! We read before naps, during play time, while making dinner, before bedtime... ahh, it's wonderful! We are big fans of the library too and we read over eighty books this summer (some of them about twenty times a piece) and earned these cute t-shirts! I encourage you, no matter how busy your summer to enjoy at least one good book with someone you love... reading can open many worlds!

Our favorite books:

1. Brown Bear

2. No, David

3. David gets in Trouble

4. Olivia

5. Fancy Nancy

6. Kiss Goodnight Sam

7. I ain't Gonna Paint No More

8. Goodnight Moon

9. Knuffle Bunny

10. Owen