Family
Creative Gift Giving
Creative Gift Giving
Our family LOVES to celebrate! Holidays, birthdays, every chance we get to gather and rejoice together. Gift giving is one of my passions. I love to make homemade presents and I like to bless my children and grand children with gifts that are special and personal to each of them. But I am committed to being a good steward of our family’s resources and I must remember that I need to honor my adult children by NOT continually smothering their children (my grand children) with gifts. As our family grows I am also realizing that it is impractical to jump on the consumerism band wagon and BUY, BUY, BUY every new toy or gadget or fashion item that hits the racks or shelves. Plus, kids actually DO spell LOVE…..T..I..M..E.. So, I have been thinking about CREATIVE gift giving ideas.
Gifts that create memories and keep on giving….
Classes or lessons-music, dance, gymnastics, cooking, sewing, knitting, science, sports of any kind.
Tickets (to attend an event with the gift giver)- a sports game, a musical, a play, an art exhibit, a science exhibition
Memberships-to local zoo, Children’s museum, kid specific places like Pretend City, Aquarium
Books-the love of reading is the greatest gift you can give a child. You can start at local used book store or garage sales, investing in time tested treasures like Richard Scary books and fill in with other classics from your local bookstore
Personalized Items like sleeping bag, backpacks, purses for little girls, gym bags
Dress up clothes-go to thrift store or party stores after Halloween and stock up on great costumes
Cookbook and real cooking utensils, an apron and hat plus a coupon to cook with the gift giver
Pretend Play items– store, groceries, receipt book …
Stunned by the Beauty of God’s Creation
Towering mountains of sandstone, voluminous white puffy clouds casting shifting shadows, babbling brooks becoming rapidly flowing flash floods after sudden thunderous storms fill their banks with fresh rain water, incredibly interesting rock formations……….all part of experiencing Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks.
In Zion National Park, precipitous canyon walls and massive monoliths are seen in abundance. The Virgin river flows between them and these sand stone formations soar thousands of feet above the floor of Zion Canyon. We hiked to the top of the Observation Point Trail, an 8 mile roundtrip trail, rising 2,150 feet from the Canyon floor, to an elevation of 6,508 ft. The views from the top were breath-taking.
We forged the Narrows, a hike through the rocky river bed that took us to Wall Street where the canyon walls are sheer, near and so high that they appear like walls on either side of the river. We climbed over boulders and sloshed through knee deep water and were fortunate enough to take our trek the day before the big storm hit, which prevents explorers from trekking up the Narrows, due to potential flash floods which can be very dangerous.
In Bryce Canyon, where weathering and erosion create the statuesque rock forms called Hoodoos, the views from the top of the canyon are colorful and unique. The limestone pillars are formed by frost, snow, ice and rain enlarging cracks in the thin walls of rock. Holes are created and bridges form but eventually collapse to leave free standing pillars of stone. The immensity of canyon allows fantastic exploration opportunities. The trails weave through the Hoodoos, down into the canyon floor and go around and under archways and bridges. Our favorite trail was Fairyland Loop. It was long and steep but captivated us with rewarding …
Read MoreSending a Hug for Harvest
Harvest marks the end of growth, but hopefully growth never stops in your family! I know that technology is great and easy way to stay in communication with family and friends, but I hope and think that letter writing should never cease to exist! Sending mail shows a huge amount of effort and love and thoughtfulness! Because I love receiving mail, I like sending it as well, hoping that the receiver of my mail is as excited as I am to see real letters instead of junk mail or ads in the mailbox! Rachel has been teaching her girls about mail and how fun it can be to send and receive letters! So, I tried sending something a little less traditional to see what the girls would think…I sent them HUGS! Here’s how you do it…
What you Need:
Scrapbook or Construction Paper
Heart stencil (Optional- can always freehand)
Scissors
Markers
Stickers (Optional)
Ribbon
Tape or Glue
1. Choose some fun colors and/or patterns of scrapbooking or construction paper.
2. Cut out a heart. Write a fun message on the heart — I wrote “A Hug for (name)!” Add stickers to embellish.
3. Trace each hand and cut. Write messages on each of the hands.
4. Cut out 2 pieces of the ribbon however long you want the hug to be. I think each of mine were 12 in.
5. Tape or glue the ribbon onto the back of the heart and each hand.
6. You can even use a fun piece of paper to fold into a unique envelope for your hug!
7. Finally, send in the mail! And ask to be sent pictures once your recipients get their hugs or enclose the HOW-TO instructions and ask for a hug back!
What is the most …
My New Normal
Our family has had SO MUCH CHANGE in the past 5 years, it is hard to keep my head from spinning off. In the past 3 years alone, we have added 2 new son-in-laws and 5 new grandchildren to our clan. Change is in the air….I know that most people think of January as the time of life re-evaluation and yearly resolutions. Others think of springtime as the season of new life and new growth. But I always feel the strongest sense of new beginnings as we change seasons from summer to fall. School begins afresh, the evenings grow cooler and darker and the leaves begin to change. It may be because I absolutely loved school my entire life and looked forward to a new year of learning. It may be because during our Navy years, in all our change of duty stations, we packed up and moved in late August, to be ready for the new school year.
It is September once again, the signs of Fall are in the air and once again I have the opportunity to define “My New Normal”. What will this year bring? Sweet Ellie turns 3, in 2 months, and she and her little sister, Hanna, will both be BIG sisters in a matter of a few weeks when their new little sister makes her appearance into this world. 
So many new beginnings. So many changes. What changes will be required of me this year? What will be “my new normal”?
Yesterday I learned the difference between being an INSTRUMENT and an AGENT with regards to change. An instrument of change is ready to serve and willing to work hard to initiate change but usually is unaware of the greater power available to help manifest the desired change. An agent of change has …
Read MoreMuffin Mania-Back to School Secrets
School is back in session and moms everywhere are adjusting to the early morning routine. Making lunches, serving a healthy breakfast, helping everyone get dressed for school and making sure all necessary items are in the backpack are just a few of the essential tasks that must be completed each morning. I remember a few secrets from school days that helped our family stay organized…
1. Lay out the childrens’ clothing the night before, including hair accessories, socks and shoes.
2. Organize the childrens’ backpacks the night before, making sure important papers, books and especially any permission slips or notes to be signed by a parent are completed. Get the sports/ dance/ music/art bags filled for after school activities.
3. Grab the brown bags or special lunch boxes the night before and fill with everything except the sandwich and place in the refrigerator. Then all you have to do in the morning is make the sandwiches.
4. Plan and prepare some healthy breakfast options so you are not rushed or stressed in the morning. Breakfast is a very important meal and a special time to connect and talk together and pray before everyone goes off to face their busy day.
I love to bake muffins and it is amazing how many delicious and nutritious foods you can add to a muffin. Muffins can be made ahead of time (they keep well for a few days in the refrigerator or for weeks in the freezer). Serve with fruit, yogurt or scrambled eggs for a super charged breakfast. They can also be wrapped and placed in their lunch boxes for a healthy snack.
Here are a few really YUMMY, kid friendly, adult craved muffin recipes:
Triple Berry Muffins
2 cups flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon …
Last Minute Moms…We Are Enough!
Today I am feeling compelled to encourage my fellow “last minute” moms. You know us as the ones always scrambling, always a bit frazzled, and rarely completely done up head to toe (I personally pick one thing whether it be “real” clothes, make-up on, hair done, etc.).
I know I have thousands of things pinned on Pinterest collecting dust. However, I do know that even when I don’t have great activities planned out or fabulous meals on the table, my kids are for the most part HAPPY.
Ellie’s new thing is to ask me each morning, “What are we doing today?” Usually I have one or two things to tell her, but after each activity it is always the same question: “What’s next?” I often feel bad or guilty that I don’t have something planned and ready to go in the afternoon. While there is nothing wrong with being a planned, Pinterest-worthy mom, (in fact, I salute you!) there is also nothing wrong with leaving room to be creative and come up with things on the fly.
Most of our activities stem from some interests the kids have that day or week. I whipped up our Mailbox activity one day that Ellie was curious and interested in mail. Yesterday we were putting together our new stroller and my husband turned the box into a spaceship that we filled with toys and then let the kids sit inside the box and color. Brilliant!
I think time that isn’t planned is great for the kids’ creativity too. Ellie will create elaborate tea parties or trips to the zoo all on her own. I’m having a lot of fun seeing what she can imagine.
In closing, I just wanted to encourage you that it is enough to just be present with your kids. …
Read MoreRedecorating on a Budget
Moving can be stressful, but it can also be fun. The challenge of creating an organized living space on a budget has reminded me of my first 15 years of marriage. We lived in 7 different cities and 13 different homes in those early years, so I became the queen of reorganizing and redecorating on a budget. Today the possibilities are endless with all the retail stores that focus on organizing closets, kitchens, bedrooms etc, but when you are on a tight budget you need to do your research and find the best deals possible.
My daughter and her husband are just settling into their new apartment and I came to give them a hand. They had found a fantastic deal on a dining room table and four chairs but the cushions on the chairs needed to be recovered. So we headed out to the local fabric store with coupons in hand. She chose some beautiful canvas style a pollsters fabric that was on sale and we headed home to recover the cushions.
Start to finish, the project took about 2-3 hours but it was worth the time because the new covers for the chair cushions completely changed the look of the table and chairs. Here are the tools you need.
2 yards heavy duty canvas or upholstery
Staple gun and light duty staples
Screw driver
Scissors
Remove the cushions from the frame work of the chair with your screw driver.
Place the cushions one by one, face down on wrong side of canvas fabric.
Cut out squares of fabric the size of the cushion plus 6 extra inches all the way around. ( a 16 by 16 seat cushion needs a piece of fabric cut into a 28 by 28 square)
Place the cushion onto the wrong side of …
Read MoreAttitude Adjustment
I love when a friend shares something on social media that I really need to hear. A few days ago, a friend posted an article titled, “6 Ways Changing My Perspective Helped Stop My Kid’s Tantrums.” I almost didn’t read it, but lately I’ve been feeling helpless during my own kid’s tantrums. I’m so glad I took the time to read this blog because it was so helpful!
What really got me from the start was her quote, “It wasn’t until I changed my reaction to his tantrums and realized my job was to teach him how to calm himself that his tantrums ended.” I knew my anger during the tantrums was not helping, but gosh, silly tantrums make me angry! Especially in the car! There is nowhere for me to hide.
Here 6 tips were so simple, and just what I needed to hear. One of my favorite lines from her blog states, “My son needs to know I love him no matter what and not feel like he’s a bad kid for freaking out.”
I tried some of her tips today during not one, but TWO major tantrums. Two tantrums plus my pregnancy insomnia, girls waking up an hour early, and many other mini meltdowns would have normally been a recipe for quite the angry mom. But you know what? I didn’t yell or get angry. NOT ONCE!
The tantrums were pretty long and pretty loud, but I clearly saw how my attitude and my perspective influenced the duration and outcome of the tantrums. My daughter calmed down all on her own. By the second tantrum she said “sorry” all on her own. I ignored the screaming, kicking, throwing things and came up with positive ways to let her have space and calm herself down rather …
Read MoreMoving On Up
A few weeks ago, my husband and I were notified that we had been placed in Southern California for his rotations and last two years of medical school! We were very excited as this was our first choice of placement! However, we knew it would be a quick turnaround to get right to work to find a place to live in a very short amount of time. We went to look for our new home- our first time getting to actually pick an apartment since we have been married! We are definitely rookies as we didn’t know ALL the questions to ask and EVERYTHING to look for in each apartment; however, we think we still were able to find what we were looking for! Moving can be stressful, but it really helps to do research before on the area you are moving to! Contact friends or friends of friends who live or have lived in the area, and think about what you are wanting in your new home so that when it comes down to decision time you know what you are willing to potentially sacrifice and what aspects you will not budge on!
Here are some great questions and checklists to consider when renting a new home…
1. This checklist from LifeHacker.com is a great way to remember to ask the important questions and have a clear way to record the answers. The article states…
“The checklist form is in PDF format and you can download it via the link below. Just print it out and take it with you when you’re at an apartment showing, and fill out the two pages with the answers you receive. This will provide a nice refresher when you’re going back and trying to choose the right apartment. You may also want to …
Read More“You’ve Got Mail”
One of my favorite things to do is make and send hand-made or handwritten letters and cards. Ellie had developed a recent interest in mail and art, and I couldn’t be happier. We have had a blast the last few days making and sending cards to Ellie and Hanna’s friends.
Cultivate an interest:
We just happen to be reading books and watching shows about mail recently. I’ve received great advice from friends about learning at this early preschool age and that it should come naturally from play related activities. Because Ellie became interested in mail all on her own, this activity has been really fun for her.
Book we read: “I Miss You Every Day” by Simms Tabak
Show we watched: Elmo’s World “Mail”
Gather supplies:
Essential supplies are paper, crayons or markers, envelopes, and stamps. We had a lot of fun with stickers too.
Create a space:
Create a fun space that you can comfortably create your art. We tried a small table and also the dining room table.
Make your cards:
Let your kids be the artist. I only helped with writing names and the stickers.
Prepare the envelopes:
I briefly talked to Ellie about how to address the envelope. I said that her name goes on it because it is from her and then you write your friend’s name on it so the mail person knows where to send it.
The big thing Ellie was into (from Elmo and the book) was the stamps. I helped Ellie place the stamp on the envelop in the appropriate space.
Mail your letter:
We had a blast walking to the mailbox, but you can even go on a field trip to the post office to mail your letters. I prefer activities that don’t require a lot of in and out …
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