Activities

Some recent activities we have done have included a children's museum, some home made play dough, and imaginative play with boxes. Bella told me that her box was a car so she put round stickers where the wheels go. We are having lots of fun this month!

Slow

Things have been a little slow in our house since the holidays. But you know what, that is exactly how we want it to be.

Sam and I have discussed how we don't want to feel like our life is just a large race to the next activity, location, event, etc. We want to have a simple and peaceful life. I know we won't be able to stay like this forever and eventually the children will have things they want to do and activities they are participating in. However, at this moment we can commit to a simple life and hopefully build a good habit for not over doing it.

During the week, the children and I only do 1 thing a day. If they have gymnastics for an hour one morning, that is the only thing we will do that day. The rest of the day is for playing and doing things at home. We won't run errands in the afternoon and we won't plan other activities for that day. I also try to have one day a week we don't leave the house at all. Samuel is my little home body and I know he appreciates an at home day once a week.

On the weekend, I will do errands on a Saturday while the kids spend time playing with Dada and Sunday is dedicated to church and bible study.

I am loving our slow paced life right now!

When Momma is Sick

I have been sick with the flu for the last few days. But that doesn't mean our house comes to a halt! Dada stepped right into sole ring leader and did all the kid duty, cleaning and cooking. And he did a great job!! I couldn't ask for a better partner. But when Dada goes back to work, Mimi steps in to save the day! She is here wrangling the wee ones, cooking meals, and making sure everything goes smoothly through the day. I am very fortunate to have a mom who is willing to spend her day off taking care of her sick daughter and wild grandchildren.

So when Momma is sick, the world moves on. Hoping to be back to functioning by morning!

Stages

There are stages with the children where I feel like I am barely surviving. They are either struggling with listening to me, or struggling with each other, or some combination. It usually causes angst and stress among us all and my days end with a feeling of defeat.

Then there are times when they are playing really well either together or separately, being really cooperative, and are just down right pleasant to be around.

I am glad to say that we are in a good stage right now. I am surprised, because I expected things to be a big adjustment after Dada went back to work after 10 days off, the excitement of the holidays and endless visits with family, but they adjusted beautifully. The couple new toys they got for Christmas from family members has kept them very entertained, and I still have some more tricks up my sleeves that I have stashed away for a later date.

I know we will hit another rough patch at some point, and that we will all get through it safely on the other end, but until that moment I will relish in this stage and soak up all the positive and pleasant energy I can!!

A New Game

The children have been playing a new game the past few mornings. One of the children will run up to the other and say "it's raining!" The other will then squeal, "run and hide!" And they will then run to the coat closet and hide. When they emerge a few minutes later, they are dressed head to toe in rain gear, winter hats, and boots. 

That is where I often lose track of the game and the senario, because all kinds of odd things get tied in, like tea time, bears and tigers, riding the train to Bethlehem, or catching the cows. I am glad they are playing together and that they share enough brain waves to "get" what the other is referring to when they yell, "bop the tum tum, bop the tum tum!" at the top of their lungs. 

Now for some totally unrelated pictures, mostly of more baby time....

Some Pictures

Playing with Math

The kids played with some early math skills today. Not the number kind, the shape kind.

I loved watching their little brains work on the new shape puzzles they got at the toy store with their gift card. Bella zoomed right through them and then started making shape pictures without the boards. Samuel Bryson worked very hard making sure he had the right shapes and put them in facing the right direction. He was so very proud every time he filled a picture board with the correct shapes.

Watching them do these kinds of activities makes me wonder what their strengths will be in school, or what they will gravitate towards, or what their interests will be. It's so fun watching them grow and learn!

Shopping With 2.5 Year Olds

This year the children each got a gift certificate to the toy store for Christmas from their Aunt and Uncle. I actually thought it was kinda exciting because they would get to pick something out all by themselves.

So today we made it a family event to kick off Dada's last day of vacation. We spent over an hour in the store and the children had lots of fun looking at everything. The rules were no batteries, as little plastic as possible, and it has to encourage imagination.

Both children left the store with a baby doll and a bath tub in which to wash their babies in. I was pleased with their selection, and I even like how Bella chose the ethnic looking doll over the more fair skinned looking doll.

A very successful trip and lots of fun!!

Christmas in Pictures