25 Days of Christmas

I have had too many ideas to make for Christmas (thanks Pinterest) and now I've put them off too long and I find myself overwhelmed. But we'll get around to to them or there's always next year. One of my projects was to make an advent calendar for our family full of activities to celebrate the season. I got around to picking 25 activities but haven't made the calendar yet. Oh well forward we move with the activities. I chose 25 activities to do that focus on Christmas, serving others,giving to others,  having fun and most important the reason for the season Jesus. I plan to do them all but since life usually happens we may miss a day here and there. And the great thing is if something doesn't go well we can improve it for next year. Christmas around here is a Santa free zone. This has been something I've struggled with for years. Prayed and thought about how I want to approach Christmas once children were in the picture. And we've decided as a family to not introduce him. If you are curious about that feel free to ask, maybe I will post my reasoning if enough are curious. But let me say that this is my own personal choice, I do not care if your family celebrates him. To each their own. So no judgement from me, I promise. But I understand many do not understand this choice.




Day 1 for our activities : Light the tree and share the Christmas story and act it out with the nativity. First of all I have felt so crazy behind because I always have my tree up the day after all that turkey. So all week I have been frantic about it not being up. But it was up by Dec. 1. Jman came downstairs and said "wow" and was quite excited. Immediately he found all the "balls" on the tree. We talked about how to treat the tree, we'll see that goes :).

 

 

 

Jman may think the Spiderman ornament is for him, but it is his mommas :)

 

 

 

We read the Christmas story and acted it out with his nativity. I plan to do this every morning until Christmas. Hopefully by then he will understand Baby Jesus is important! It will be our Bible story every morning. He already knows the Bible is special and can distinguish it from all the other books.  He loved all his figures mainly because they are "new" to him at least. While telling the story he picked up Jesus and said "Baby!" and started rocking him. (he's going to be such a great big brother!)  Christmas around here is focused on that little baby so here's to hoping today was a good start to our 25 days of Christmas.

 

 

 

 

Baby Jesus!

Pin It

November Sensory Box

I'm a little late this month but with good reason. We spent all of last week laying on the couch watching movies. But little man is back to his normal self. Non stop running and eating me at out of the house :). And he just now conquered the fridge water and is helping himself. Sure did miss my busy boy last week.

Today I emptied out the Halloweeen box which came with a lot of crying. Someone didn't like that idea. Since I live in the the state of two seasons, summer and more summer, there are no pretty leaves around here. Bummer. So I had to buy fake pretty leaves for our box. I did snatch some pine cones when we were at the renissance festival a couple weeks ago and found plenty of acorns in our yard for our box.

 

Jman is not very impressed with this box. Probably because it does not make a mess! What fun is that? He finally started to explore in it once he accepted the fact that there are no rice and beans to pour everywhere.

 

At least we can work on more colors with this box. We have blue down, now we can work on red and yellow. Even though J is not impressed I LOVE FALL!

Pin It

Take a look, it's in a book

Jmans book nook is done! I decided to turn his closet into a reading area, because we may have a few books in this house. I sorted through my hundreds of books and pulled in my reading barrel and some of my stuffed animals. (Still wondering what do with all my other teaching stuff) I love how much he loves books. We spend most of the day piled in books. I printed some of my favorite child quotes and hung them up. And now he has a space in can use for years.

Pin It

The Calm of the Storm

I love my little boy. He is the happiest, busiest guy I've ever met. He brings me more joy than I ever imagined. I really don't know what I did to be blessed this much. Our day consists of him running non stop, with about an hour nap in there. He would live outside if I would let him. I love how he has his set routines and as soon as he wake up he says "books books" and hands me his Bible to read a story. I love that he thinks he wants to watch TV and then sits still about 5 minutes for It. He is constantly busy working at something. Whether its finding yet another acorn inside, trying to screw things into the wall, wash dishes or hugging his bear. I wish I could see his thoughts because I know they are grand. He runs from toy to toy and back. He's beginning to make sound effects and mix his toys and create things. He is always covered in dirt even after a bath. It just always there. And somewhere amongst the running and full day of action, he stops and runs and hugs me. He takes a break from his busy mind and feet and expresses his love. Sometimes its one hug and he's off, sometimes its multiple hugs, or sometimes its snuggles. He is always sweet and kind but he takes the time to show it. It makes me so happy to see all these sides of his personality developing. And of course makes me melt that he wants to hug his momma. I love seeing that he is strong, smart, sweet, loving and funny. Here's to hoping Jman continues to grow into someone amazing and someone God will be proud of. Jack was a gift to me and the greatest gift I can give back is to raise Jack to be someone that brings glory to God.

Pin It

Knights, pirates and fairies. Oh my!

This weekend we traveled into the fantasy world where knights roam the streets and fight for their country's honor, Pirates set sail, fairies fly, men play with fire, people dance in the streets, and Tarzan swings in. That's right we went to the renaissance festival. We love this weekend of make believe and enchantment. People are decked out in costumes and easily engage you in their conversations. You will see the most beautiful to the most embarrassing of costumes. You can throw tomatoes at people and fly in giant swings. (Which Jman hated, sorry baby). Jman received his first sword and likes to start battles with it. There are so many things that go on that you just have to see it. It's an event we like to see each year. And sometime we will go in costume! Here are a few pictures but they do not grasp the true scenery of it all.

Pin It

October Sensory Box

The weather is cool (at least today) the leaves are still green, pumpkin patches are popping up, must be October in Texas.

I LOVE this time of year for so many reasons and so excited to share them with Jman. Granted it is not ever freezing in this city and the leaves go from green to brown, but I try to make the best of it. Jman and I plan many outdoor outings now that the heat has somewhat let up, and are excited to explore the world around us. Jman has already starting bringing things in the house, like rocks, leaves, acorns, snails. Time to start checking pockets before laundry time.

So with the change of months, its time for the next sensory box. This theme is Halloween. I filled the box with black beans and bought some small pumpkins and some bats and spiders to fill it. Jman immediatly starting oooing when he saw it. He enjoyed flying the bats, and filling the buckets with beans and pouring them back and forth. He started picking up beans that he would dump out, which is a nice thing. Jman thinks the best way to experience a sensory box is by being IN the box. What better way to do it? Love my little man.

 

 

 

I also created a felt pumpkin for Jman to decorate that is stapled to the wall. I cut out several eyes, noses, and mouths to play with. He hasn't quite gotten the hang of it, but he will. Maybe once we carve our real one he'll understand it a little more. Its good practice for the Christmas one I want to make.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pin It

Toddler Life

No! No!

Oh you didn't say anything? Sorry. Around here lately it is the proper response to well anything, according to my adorable 18 month old. So life on toddler land is a whole new world.

First off no more eating out. Three reasons, it's cheaper, healthier and easier! So Jman does not like to eat out. I thought he could throw food before but toddler throwing is so much worse it also comes with screaming and fit throwing. Sound fun? No ok we will stay home. So my thought is someone should open a toddler only restaurant so that these behaviors do not attract ugly looks from those that apparently forget, you went though it too.

Second, I have done something I said I would never do. Open packages in the store! Ah! But Jman has a whole new level of screaming when the raisins go in the cart and not in his mouth. It seems only raisins create this reaction. While on the store topic I HATE the HEB Buddy machine. He is not my buddy.

Third, having a child makes you do things you thought you would ever do. For me, it is celebrate Halloween. I have never been a fan of it. It was never a big deal. I didn't go trick or teach until I was in high school. But I find myself looking for the cute costume (which I will make the year) and planning Halloween fun. But I guess they are more fall oriented activities. Now this doesn't mean I'm going full on creepy Halloween. Just cutesy stuff. And I actually made a Halloween decoration for my house. (Gasp) I know. See pictures below. Although I have caved some on Halloween, I will not give in to Santa. We will not play that game around here.


Now despite all the wonderful new behaviors my child is showing I am still completely amazed at his new discoveries each day. He makes me laugh and smile so much. He is such a creative, smart, funny, athletic and absolutely cute little man!

Pin It