could it be?

Ice in the dog water?  

Yep, the freeze is back and with it anxious kiddies just hoping for a snow day!

lucky seven

She got off the phone that morning and exclaimed, "Uncle P said seven was a lucky number!  I am going to have a lucky year!"

I had forgotten about lucky seven and was delighted that my brother pointed it out to her
on her special day.  

Per her birthday wishes, only cookies were served.  No cupcakes.  No cake.  A dear friend put me in touch with an amazing baker that made the most fabulous cookies.  They were perfect and tasted so good too!

She celebrated with friends that morning with a Rainbow Loom party.  The kids were so into their looming, it had to be the quietest party I had ever been to.  The instructor was wonderful and helped each kid with a challenge bracelet.  

Later that evening, we celebrated with the rest of the family.  

Once again, cookies were served.  No cupcakes, no cake!

 

We had a hard time getting seven candles to stand up in a frosted sugar cookie.  She blew out seven (actually eight candles because Momma miscounted) candles that were propped up in a votive holder instead.

It was a wonderful day of celebrations for my girl.  

7-year-old interview:

1. What is your favorite color?

purple, blue and yellow

2. How do you feel about being seven?

I feel big!

3. What is your favorite book to read?

"Ivy and Bean" from Auntie Beth

4. What is your favorite thing to do outside?

Swing and play with my sisters and Sadie

5. What do you like best about school?

Playing with my friends.  Playing baby and puppy on the playground.

6. What is your favorite food?

Chicken and french fries.

7.  What is your favorite thing to draw?

I like to draw Christmas trees.

8. What is your favorite subject in school?

Music, art, theatre arts...

9. What time do you go to bed?

7 o'clock

10. What time do you wake up?

5:30 am

11. What do you want to be when you grow up?

a mom

24 unplanned advent days

Each year, I find myself rushing around after Thanksgiving to put together a new and wonderful Advent activity for my kids.  Having a planned activity for counting down the days of Advent is such fun for kids.  One year, I wrapped up Christmas books for the kids to open each day and read, another year, I planned a special activity each day, and a few years back my kids had little chocolate calendars to count the days.  

This year, there was no time!  I think it had something to do with Thanksgiving being so late.  Before I knew it, December was in full swing and I had absolutely nothing planned.  I felt so bad that I had let this special time of year fall by the wayside.  When I sat scrolling through photos on my phone and camera, I realized that we had been celebrating the season daily.  It was all unplanned but it was all in preparation of December 25th.

So, if you were at all like me this year, take heart and know that your kids are enjoying the Advent season daily!  Even if it is just putting up lights, having a special treat, or driving around looking at Christmas lights after dark, the kids love it.

Happy Unplanned Advent Season!

1. decorating the house after dark is always fun

2. homemade decorations on the mantel are best

3. decorating sugar cookies with green frosting and special treats at a holiday party

4. visiting the big tree of lights downtown with old friends

5. decorating the tree in our home

6. horseback riding in the freezing rain at a mother-daughter Christmas camping weekend

7. decorating with woodsy decorations that remind us of our heritage and a cozy place we all love "up north"

8. Toot and Puddle Christmas stories on the couch before bed with Grandma

 

9. little ornament helpers get the tree ready at church

10.  walking our reindeer to the mailbox to mail and collect Christmas cards

11.  discovering snow nearby one sunny afternoon

12. a special trip downtown to see The Nutcracker with your dear aunt

13. fancy new hairdos for fancy big girl outings 

14. a cozy cabin on a blustery cold weekend

15. breakfast with Santa & Mrs. Claus

16. dressed in PJs and singing on stage for the preschool Christmas Sing-a-long

17. singing with the choir at church dressed as an angel

I will never forget the way you sang, "the wittle Word Jesus asweep on the hay,"  all your "Ls" sounded like "Ws" this year.

18. wearing a sparkly halo made just for you during choir practice

19. making cookies on a lazy winter morning

20. burning our wishes for Santa (an old family tradition)

21. a winter dance recital

22. bundled up, chasing the evening sun

23. finding and giving special gifts

24. taking time to write a little letter on a very special night

have you washed your hair?

Yesterday, my daughter woke up and promptly asked me if I had washed my hair.  In her arms, she carefully carried a large mirror, brush and a dish full of hair accessories.  Like any young girl, my girls love to play hair salon.  They know that if my hair is dirty, they can do anything they want to it.  Freshly washed curly hair does not get brushed -- mostly because it takes too long to fix.  I had to laugh when my girl knew to ask about the condition of my hair before she asked to play hair salon.  Thankfully, 2 of my girls have straight hair and can brush it all the time without frizzy consequence.

it's time

As their little silhouettes appear at the door to marvel at the lights, I can't help but feel warmth and delight inside my chest.  There is something so incredibly magical about this time of year with children.  They are filled with indescribable wonder that fills this season with so much hope and joy.  

May the light of this season find its way to you too!  Happy holiday season preparing!

time for s'mores

Yep!  It is time for campfires at dusk, the woodsy smell of Pinon wood, curious on-seekers, sticky fingers and sloppy S'mores.  The cooler weather has finally set in and Friday nights are the perfect time for S'more treats around an outdoor campfire in the backyard.

My big kids enjoy holding their marshmallows over the coals to achieve a perfectly roasted marshmallow for their s'more sandwich.  Most of the time, they get a lot of help from their Daddy to find just the right spot for their marshmallow to roast without catching fire.

Little sandwiches are made out of the roasted marshmallow, a Hershey's chocolate square and 2 graham crackers.

It is the perfect Autumn treat!

a pirate, pochantas and a mermaid

This year, there was no coaxing everyone to dress the same or within the same theme...they all had their own distinct ideas of what they wanted to be for Halloween (except the baby).  The costumes were fashioned by their Grandmother who can make anything their hearts desire.  Thankfully, no one changed their mind the week of Halloween!  They dashed from house to house with their little cousin in tow and a herd of neighbor kids.  The buckets were full quickly which meant the counting and sorting lasted far too long for a school night.  Nevertheless, it was a memorable night for a mermaid, pirate and Pochantas!  Hope your Halloween was fun!