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8 days to 8 years old!!
Can't believe my eldest is going to be 8 years old in 8 days!!
We are planning some fun things for her. We are doing a countdown... and every day she gets to do or open something special for the next 8 days.
And we are doing a little party for her... should be perfect!
We are planning some fun things for her. We are doing a countdown... and every day she gets to do or open something special for the next 8 days.
And we are doing a little party for her... should be perfect!
Maddie, 10 months
She's such a sweetheart, can't believe she's already 10 months old! In not too much longer, we will be celebrating her first birthday. She wasn't feeling well today when we took these photos, but I didn't want more time to slip away. I love the photo in the bottom right with the cheerio on her chin. Much love!
Merry Christmas!!!
Tonight was a treat! We went on a limo ride to see the Christmas lights. We even exchanged gifts with Jenn & Peyt and opened in the limo. Was a great night!
Merry Christmas... only 2 more days!
Christmas Bucket List
I wanted to post what we are doing for our Christmas Countdown this year, even though we are already 11 days in.
For the past several years, I've created an Advent Calendar, giving us a window to open with something to do each day. But in a season where there are many requests on our time and energy, that sort of defeated the purpose of the season. So this year instead, we created a Christmas Bucket List. That way, when we feel like doing something extra, we will pick something.
Our list is below. Just a few of them have specific dates, but for the most part, we just wanted to be free to enjoy the season.
Here's our list:
For the past several years, I've created an Advent Calendar, giving us a window to open with something to do each day. But in a season where there are many requests on our time and energy, that sort of defeated the purpose of the season. So this year instead, we created a Christmas Bucket List. That way, when we feel like doing something extra, we will pick something.
Our list is below. Just a few of them have specific dates, but for the most part, we just wanted to be free to enjoy the season.
Here's our list:
- Dec 6: Bakersfield Christmas Parade
- Dec 6: St Nicholas Day (Fills Boots with gifts, plus St. Nicholas: the story of Joyful Giving)
- Dec 7: Take a sleigh ride
- Dec 21: First Day of Winter Fun
- Dec 24: Homemade Pizza (A DH family tradition)
- Dec 25: Kneophla Soup (DW family tradition)
- Write a letter to Santa
- Meet Santa
- Deck the halls, Christmas tree & Yard
- Popcorn Garland
- Gift-making workshop (making home-made gifts for the ones we love)
- Christmas Cookies (If you make it, you gotta eat it!)
- Holiday Lights at CALM (If you live in Bakersfield and haven't checked this out, definitely do!)
- Family Game Night
- Annual Christmas Lights Drive (Haggin Oaks all the way!)
- Create Ornaments (Salt Dough & Otherwise)
- Gingerbread Creations
- Christmas Carol
- Bless another Family- (we are excited to sponsor family with Bakersfield Homeless Center for year 2.)
- Attend a local Christmas Tree Lighting
- Make a nativity scene
- Do something nice for a neighbor
- Read Christmas Books at the Bookstore
- ELF
- Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
- The Very First Noel
- Charlie Brown Christmas
- It’s a Wonderful Life
Things I plan to own before 2214
I've been in dreaming mode lately... it's a good mode!
When I have the chance to splurge $20 here or there, I buy some of my favorite things (fabric or candles or photo accessories).
But lately, i was dreaming and thinking what would i do if I had a little more to blow (yeah, right).
Kitchenaid Mixer... LOVE! I am currently trying to win one of these on some blog. Maybe I'll win!
Silhouette Cameo ... this thing is my crafting dream. The Cameo is a digitally-drive cutting device. You can load designs and fonts and it cuts it all for you. It cuts vinyl, fabric, paper... and more. ONE day!!
When I have the chance to splurge $20 here or there, I buy some of my favorite things (fabric or candles or photo accessories).
But lately, i was dreaming and thinking what would i do if I had a little more to blow (yeah, right).
Kitchenaid Mixer... LOVE! I am currently trying to win one of these on some blog. Maybe I'll win!
Silhouette Cameo ... this thing is my crafting dream. The Cameo is a digitally-drive cutting device. You can load designs and fonts and it cuts it all for you. It cuts vinyl, fabric, paper... and more. ONE day!!
Random other things...
A shop vac
An awning for our backyard
a playset for the girls
Some area rugs.
Okay... end of day dream!
Hope you are having a fantastic beginning of November with happy dreary skies and warm drinks! Much love!
Maddie in a GIANT Pumpkin
Happy Halloween!!
Here's a cute baby in a giant pumpkin.
Now go have yourself a good day.
Zoe's Blog
Zoe's taken an interest in blogging. http://zoemaep.blogspot.com/
Check it out. It was her own cute idea to write how-tos. :)
Check it out. It was her own cute idea to write how-tos. :)
Maddie's Pumpkin
This is Maddie. Behind her is a giant pumpkin.
We found the biggest pumpkin at the patch. We plan to clean it out and put her in it!
To be continued!
Preparing for Pumpkins 2012
We made it to the pumpkin patch today.
We have a bunch of cuties. And I'm really loving the clown costumes. (I had a hat for Maddie, too, but it's gone missing. Not sure if it would actually stick in her hair, though).
Funny, we don't usually buy any pumpkins at the patch. Usually we buy them at Walmart or something where the money stretches further. This time we actually did because we had a specific pumpkin project in mind.
I've been collecting ideas on how we can decorate our pumpkins this year (see the options i collected below). After showing the girls some different ideas, Sophia wanted to melt some crayons on hers, then drill holes in it... Zoe wanted to paint hers and then do a diorama inside it. Funny how quickly Sophia forgot her plan, though... I was grabbing her crayons and before I could she had started painting. Real fun, though. Their pumpkins are both painted cutely. Zoe still plans to do a diorama in her's.
We bought a giant pumpkin we plan to decorate (method still TBD) and then put Maddie inside it for some more fun pics. Fall seems so easy to be creative with.
Pumpkin Decorating Methods
Go Oldschool & Carve (Do it if you like a TRADITION & Getting MESSY)
- Freehand- this is how we did it when i was a kid and it was creative, messy & fun. You can't go wrong. Unless you want to skip the mess.
- Stencil
- Diorama
- Design, drill, add lights
- Drill & use as vase for flowers
- Freestyle or with stencils (can use a carving stencil)
- Painters Tape
- Paint, then Etch- I have got to try this
- Chalkboard paint- I love this little guy, but this doesn't seem practical at all
- Permanent Marker-- not technically paint, but close enough. Great way to make faces in a safe way!
- Do it up easy with either Pins or Hardware Crazy Faces
- Crayon Melt- this looks pretty, but messy
- Modpodge (Paper, leaves or GLITTER)
- Add pumpkin faces or head/ feet kits
Why I Go to the Park
I know I'm a big weirdo, but I hate the park.
But, it's easy to do it for them. Look how much they love it. It's intentional play & exploration, it's pure joy.
Each Monday, we'll be there. It's Sophia & Maddie's park day! This is their time.
But, it's easy to do it for them. Look how much they love it. It's intentional play & exploration, it's pure joy.
Each Monday, we'll be there. It's Sophia & Maddie's park day! This is their time.
Maddie: 8 months
8 months and constantly on the move! There's so much to investigate. :) She is still rolling, but having a great time doing so.
If your name is _________, make some noise!
I had the BEST day today.
I think it was that-- for once, it was absent of noise. One of our kids was away for the day. And because of that, there was no whining and no fighting. (When you take away one, the other doesn't want to whine on their own.)
I'd like to try to find some ways to cut the noise down. We have an "if-then" chart (which states what behavior will have which consequence).
But the consequences alone don't seem to prevent any of these noisy things. Oh. I want a peaceful home. One with helping, listening, loving attitudes and no whining or complaining. Is that just a pipe dream or can it happen? I'm game to try to see how we can have less noise. I'll be searching Amazon for books on the topic (but recommend 'em if know a good one), and seeking out others to see what has worked in their home (has anything worked in yours?).
Now, make some noisssssssssssssssse!
I think it was that-- for once, it was absent of noise. One of our kids was away for the day. And because of that, there was no whining and no fighting. (When you take away one, the other doesn't want to whine on their own.)
I'd like to try to find some ways to cut the noise down. We have an "if-then" chart (which states what behavior will have which consequence).
- If, Unattentiveness (Specifically to parents): Then, Loses a Media Ticket
- If, Unloving (Like Fighting): Then, Loses a Possesion
- If, Rude (Like Yelling in the House): Then, Time Alone
But the consequences alone don't seem to prevent any of these noisy things. Oh. I want a peaceful home. One with helping, listening, loving attitudes and no whining or complaining. Is that just a pipe dream or can it happen? I'm game to try to see how we can have less noise. I'll be searching Amazon for books on the topic (but recommend 'em if know a good one), and seeking out others to see what has worked in their home (has anything worked in yours?).
Now, make some noisssssssssssssssse!
Maddie is 7 months
She is such a joy! I love her smiles. She is at that age now where she rolls over every time she is laying down. She can't get enough :) She is almost sitting. And she is just over all a very sweet and precious little girl!
Budget Meeting
I finally readjusted our budget.
It is good to have a mini budget meeting every month just to evaluate how you've been doing. We haven't had one in a long, time... maybe a year.
We've been practicing budgets for almost 2 years. What an awesome life change it has been. We've never been bad with money, but in the past we would intuitively feel out that we've spent too much. Now having a budget brings so much comfort as we know what is going where.
We have some new expenses this fall which means some things also had to be reduced or dropped. One of those things that was dropped was babysitters. DRAT! We will need to get creative this year so have that time to connect. I dream of a weekly time! A few other things got dropped, but mostly our budget makes more sense going into this new season.
I love proactive thinking & readjusting. It's GOOD!!
How are you ready for this new season?
It is good to have a mini budget meeting every month just to evaluate how you've been doing. We haven't had one in a long, time... maybe a year.
We've been practicing budgets for almost 2 years. What an awesome life change it has been. We've never been bad with money, but in the past we would intuitively feel out that we've spent too much. Now having a budget brings so much comfort as we know what is going where.
We have some new expenses this fall which means some things also had to be reduced or dropped. One of those things that was dropped was babysitters. DRAT! We will need to get creative this year so have that time to connect. I dream of a weekly time! A few other things got dropped, but mostly our budget makes more sense going into this new season.
I love proactive thinking & readjusting. It's GOOD!!
How are you ready for this new season?
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