April ~ It's a New Month

I find that surprising someone each month, with "fun" mail, is rewarding in many ways. Today is a new day, a new month, and a perfect time to let someone know you love them.  Dig out your stationary or recycled paper, and make someone’s day this month.

End of Winter ~ Ideas for Next Winter

HeliumIdeas for a winter picnic in the snow

Glass half full or half empty?

The other night, when we were all seated at the dinner table, a discussion came up.  Typically, our tradition is to go around the table and say one “high” and one “low” of the day.  

(Borrowed from torqueperformancenutrition.info)

This time, the topic of a half glass of water came up.  Our 11 year-old asked what it meant by saying “half empty” or “half full.”  When we finished explaining the meaning to her, our 9 year-old daughter asked a question.

“So, Mom? Am I a glass half empty or half full?” she asked smiling up at me.

We both busted out laughing.  

She always has the funniest and unexpected things to ask or say.  One day she came to me and told me she “was in a pickle” and couldn’t remember when pajama day was at school.  School had a snow day anyway.  However, the school planned a “wish winter away” pajama party, and on that very same day, they had another snow day.

Today, she was tickled to be able to wear her pajamas and her hand crocheted slippers for the make-up day, for the “wish away winter” party.

Pummelo or Pomelo?

We were all surprised to see how this fruit tasted.  It is in season in February, and the kids loved it.  We plan to eat more of this fruit.

This fruit, after it's peeled, pulls away in sections from the center. 

First Day of the New Year

There's nothing better than sitting around in my pajamas, doing nothing but whatever I feel like, and enjoying leftovers from New Year's Eve.

We make our "chex mix" a bit different, and use Crispix cereal.  I was so lucky to have coupons for the cereal this year.  The cereal is not cheap.  This is a tradition for our family that I carried over from childhood.  We are fighting over the leftovers so I hid it earlier in the day. He he he!  They are already asking where I put it.  Ha ha ha! Around here you have to hide it if you want it later.

Christmas Classroom Parties ~ It's a Tradition to Make a Treat and Ornament

I volunteered to bring the candy treat for my 2nd grader's class.  It took a while to figure out what I would make.  I have made a lot over the years and did not really want to do the same things I have done in the past.  So far, I have about 17 snowman treat containers started.  Enlisting the help from the other kids has helped.  However, we do have to have them done by next week.  Eeeeek! 

Every child has been blessed with a hand crafted ornament for each of their classmates.  I've done this for all of the kids, and many times for each one.  Each Christmas I make, and hand wrap, a handmade ornament and make a creative treat container filled with goodies.  It's been a tradition of mine and now I only have one child in elementary.   I sure hope they like it.

I've been busy with a family member's health situation, and have been gone a lot.  I'm running out of time to get ready for Christmas.   The pets have even missed me.  I came home to find that one dog had stolen one of my slippers, and we still cannot find it.  He usually gives it back the same day.  He must be really mad at me.  I guess I have some schmoozing to do. 

Family Photo Albums Galore!

Now that I have spent about three hours working on my English paper, I think I deserve some fun.  The sun is shining and the weather is very nice today.   I'm not sure what I will be doing yet, but I do know what the kids are doing.

The kids are putting photos into the many photo albums we have.  I took my scan disk in to Wal-mart and ordered 500 photos (some were doubles).  However, this time the employee really messed them up.  They were all completely out of order.  This is making it more difficult. 

I now have only around 600 photos on the scan disk and have the albums caught up to January of 2009 and it's almost a year later.  Sheesh!  I really need to get better at developing photos.  If my scan disk only held 28, I would be forced to develop them more quickly.  But nooooo, it can hold over 1000 photos. 

We have the main family photo album, one for each child (where duplicates go), one for gardens, one for scenery photos, one for crafts, one for food and one for renovations (before and after).  The kids love looking at their own albums, so it's all worth it.  I started each album with photos from when I was pregnant with them to the current date.  When they graduate, it becomes a gift to them to keep, along with a hope chest.

Christmas Joys ~ Splitting Wood Day

We are already getting excited about the upcoming holidays! Last year we could not find enough blue lights to wrap around our large evergreen tree. Hopefully this year we will. Blue seems to be people's favorite, or maybe the stores are not stocking that color as much. The kids are already asking to put up the artificial tree, but I am standing my ground on that one - no trees until after Thanksgiving. We put the tree up too early one year and it didn't have good results. We actually have 2 trees. I found one at Goodwill for $4.00 during the off season and it's a good size tree.

This year I would like us to visit a tree farm and cut a fresh tree. I'd like to support locally owned businesses and we can mulch our tree after the holidays. I haven't had a "real" tree in a long time. Actually, I have never purchased a real tree since I moved out of my parents and was out on my own. Every year we looked forward to the fragrant evergreen smell coming from our fresh cut tree.

With 2 six month old kittens in the house this holiday, it could be very interesting. I can remember when the kids were very young. I'd have to put my artificial tree into a play pen to keep them out of it. It worked great.

Today, as a family, we are splitting wood in preparation for the up coming cold winter. So far we have not turned on any heat or used the wood stove. It's cold here today too.

We are singing Christmas songs and drawing and writing about the holidays. I am so excited we are planning a traditional holiday, with as much of it as homemade as possible, and keeping the focus on the real meaning.

Jump and sing today! Enjoy your family today!

Packing Kids' School Lunches

"Mom will you please, please write me a note and sneak me a piece of candy again?"

That came from my 7 year-old. What started as an apology to her, ended up a tradition this year. I took it a bit further and included all the kids, including my 12th grader (tee hee). The way I see it, I only have this school year to embarrass him. He recently got "snacked" and came home with a smirk on his face. He enjoyed it whether he said so or not (tee hee).

So, I better get to the store and stock up on small snacks and note paper (he he he).