7 things I Love

I don't know why I picked 7....but just go with me on this one. There are the very obvious things, I tried to dig deeper.

Music....loud, when I can sing and pretend, hope and pray no one is listening! Like in the car, by myself. Does anyone else have the false sense of security that others can't see you behind the windows of your car. I am amazed at the power music has, to take you to a place you haven't been in many years, to bring a smile to your face or make you cry, to make you walk faster or want to go to sleep. I know this is not a new revelation, hence the mp3 revolution, but give me a break here, I'm trying to be philosophical.

Our neighbors....ever have one of "those" people in your life, we all have them. The song "find out who your friends are" was written about them...well we're lucky enough to have them a big strong stones throw away from us...about 1 minute from a phone call in the middle of the night, away from us. I can only try to list the phone calls I've made....my baby's not breathing right....I need eggs for the cookies.....I hear voices in my back yard....the garage is flooding....we're out of toilet paper for the birthday party...someone's arm hurts, they have a rock in their ear, they won't walk on their leg (fyi, they are paramedic, fireman, and rn wrapped up in one awesome package), the snowblower is broke and we just got 8 inches of snow (we didn't even have to ask on this one).... I try to have extra eggs on hand to repay all those favors, but goodness, I'm going to need to buy chickens. It's not only the things they do for us, but just their family in general that is a bright spot in our day. Thanks guys, never ever leave us, ok??????????

Soft sheets...I remember buying sheets for the first time and thinking, "like it really matters...sheets are sheets" now when I lay my weary old body on my 600 thread count softies, I realize...yep, it really matters.

Stetson... that's what Paperman wears, always has. nuff said.

My Sleeping Babies.... It's not what you're thinking...yep, they sleep, she's off the hook for a good 10 hours. It's the innocence, the renewing of their bodies and souls for another day of growing, learning and loving, it's all that it takes to make everything right with the world (mine anyway) to look at them so peaceful.

Sunsets and rainbows... One of my oldest and bestest friends and I used to have a saying whenever we saw a beautiful sunset.... "Wanna go?" That was over 20 years ago but I could still call her up, look out the window and utter those 2 words. She would respond "Sure!". I have passed this on to my kids too. Often we'll be driving and someone will say "LOOK!" with responses of "cool..." "wow" and in my head I hear "Wanna go??" We have also been known to jump in the van and chase the rainbow to get a better view.

The ice cream truck... yes, the prices and the music are both outrageous but they can't overshadow the pure excitement that rushes through this house with the faintest tune. Being willing to drop everything, grab a fistfull of cash and run down the lane (Paperman has been known to jump on the 4 wheeler with a kid or 2). It is ice cream, it is summertime and it is being able to give my kids everything they ever wanted (for those 5 minutes anyway).

I will do better....

Ahhh... back to reality. We've had house guests (my FIL and his wife) from Mississippi for the last 8 days. (I was told by a perfect stranger today that I had an accent...guess they rub off on me!) The times goes so fast during their visits as Paperman and his Dad are hunting (deer in the fall, mushrooms in the spring). The week is filled with family gatherings, fun and food. Guess that's why tomorrow, it's time for me to dig out the treadmill we pushed against the wall to make room for Christmas #1 today. There are plenty of fruits and veggies in the fridge, now I just need to figure out the menu for next week. Paperman goes back to work the next two weeks and I'm just not sure how to deal with that! We all get so spoiled having him around in the fall, when it's time to go back to the real world ...it's a bummer. I'm done with that complaining, as he has a job to go back to and for that I am truly thankful.

Advent Bags

I am trying something new this year. Once again, this is not an original idea, but I'm kind of throwing it together at the last minute, or hour. I guess it is December 1st, but I don't think the kids will mind if I'm a bit behind the 8 ball on this one.
The purpose of the advent bags is two fold. 1. To give us time to focus on others and Jesus' birth during the month. 2. A fun family activity.
I still need to get some bags to organize all the goodies and just did some ordering tonight, so those things will be put later in the month. We may have to do two bags some days depending on our schedule, and how creative I am. Here is what I have so far for activities and treats to include in the bags-

1. Make truffles. DD3 saw a recipe (picture) of some last week and has been begging to make them ever since!
2. Make sugar cookies. We do this every year...it's a mess, but it's a tradition. And thanks to Molly we have an awesome recipe! (I'll try to post it soon)
3. Make Christmas ornaments and deliver to the nearby care center.
4. Read Christmas books.
5. New ornaments dated 2008 for them to put their picture in and hang on the tree.
6. Christmas suckers!
7. Walk to see the neighborhood lights.
8. Kids pick supper (I'll have to be careful when I put this one in the schedule)
9. Jingle bell bracelets
10. Christmas songs on the piano by dd1 and dd2 and sing along.
11. Christmas coloring page
12. Nativity Challenge activity page
13. Read the Christmas Story.
14. Share at a salvation army kettle.
15. Nativity sticker pages.

I plan to put together decorated brown paper bags with directions/ingredients or supplies for each day. I'm hopeful that this can be a fun and meaningful experience for all of us.

We're home!

We went north for the weekend, 5 hours north to my Aunt and Uncles house in Wisconsin. It was opening deer season and that is a huge deal. There are blaze orange dots all over the county side as we travel and trucks parked at nearly every timber entrance. My Cousins, Aunt and I all chip in to feed an average of 20 people per meal for 3 days. It's a lot of food but also fun for everyone. After 3 years of practice it's down to a near science and we all get to enjoy time together and not just cooking and doing dishes. The "cousins" (some 1st cousins, some 2nd) range in age from 1 to 15. That does present some issues with trying to keep everyone happy, but luckily the over 9 bunch of kids are great with the younger ones. They did craft activities, played with kitties, watched movies and helped out with meals and the little one (ds). I had three revelations for this trip. 1. If you don't comb your 4 year old daughters hair (middle of the back length) for 3 days it gets some mighty tangles. (she did brush her teeth while we were gone!) 2. When traveling with children, you take the same amount "stuff" if you stay 3 days or 3 weeks. Our van held- 6 people, 5 pillows, 4 blankies, 1 pack and play, 2 coolers, 1 deer stand, 1 gun, books, movies, craft supplies, 20 outfits, 8 sets of Jammie's, diapers, 4 water bottles, 1 set of jumper cables (the battery is acting up) and all the miscellaneous items needed for a weekend away. 3. I wouldn't trade this special time with my extended family for anything, except maybe a cargo van.