Carefree stroll...

When was the last time you enjoyed a carefree stroll outside?

When was the last time you felt light on your feet as you drifted down the sidewalk?

Have you taken time to notice the grass and trees and their gradual change?

Have you looked up at the sky and the fanciful shapes the clouds make?

Have you taken the time to listen to your breathe as it fills your lungs with nourishing air?

Take time to enjoy yourself this weekend!

Mastery and Stair Philosophy

MASTERED:  the stairs -- up and down (WHEW!)

My little one has most recently demonstrated mastery of the staircase in our home.  This was indeed unplanned and not taught.  It merely happened one day when I thought she was playing downstairs.  Much to my surprise, I heard the pitter-patter of little feet upstairs.  At first I thought this was one of our animals but when I heard a sinister little giggle coming from the top of the stairs, I knew it was not a dog.  She also showed me that she can come down too.  Her technique is a Momma-approved safe one consisting of going down backward on her tummy.  She has become quite fast at this and seems to enjoy the thrilling ride down.

WHEW!  It feels good to know that your child can safely go up and down the stairs.

My STAIR philosophy:  When we had our big girl we chose not to put gates up on our stairway.  We decided that it would be best if she always knew what the stairs were and how dangerous they can be.  Gradually, she began to explore the stairway with our guidance.  Soon, she became a very cautious stair climber.  I think it is good to leave your stairway open because your kids will know what it is.  If you always block everything that can be dangerous, do they ever truly learn?  I also adopted this philosophy with my cabinets.  It probably takes more monitoring on your part (as parent) but I think the lessons learned outweigh the extra work.

What is your stair/cabinet philosophy?

Let me eat it, MOM!

My little one eats EVERYTHING!

I have heard of these kids but never expected to have one of my own.

Today she experimented with:

dirt from the flower pot (she has been experimenting with that for about 3 months now)

bar soap in the bathtub (yes, soap!)

leaves that are falling from the trees

the seat belt on the shopping cart at the grocery store (I know, you are probably thinking that is why she is so sick all the time)

flowers--the tiny bit that are left in our yard

It seems that most kids try all these things at one time or another but never do they keep coming back for more.  Seriously, eating soap every night in the bathtub and dirt from the flower pot any time she can.  I have my fingers crossed that this is all due to teething.

Meanwhile, my big girl lays happily in the grass lost in pepper dreams. 

 We harvested what looks like the last of the jalapeño peppers for the season.  

Monthly Organization: Project "Seasonal Storage"

This one is very simple.  It just requires some advanced thoughts to purchase storage container in appropriate colors prior to the holiday being over.  Time in the attic is also needed.

I get so frustrated with my attic storage.  My husband is the only one who ventures up there to retrieve seasonal decorations.  Half of the time he doesn't get the right boxes and I am left with bits and pieces of what I want.

I have decided to color-code our attic storage.  This sounds extremely type A and complicated but I assure you, it is easy! 

Target (and many other stores) sell colored storage containers each holiday in appropriate colors. 

Sterilite Storage Boxes

This year I am buying storage containers for each holiday and then I plan to store all my attic things in them.  Getting seasonal stuff down from the attic should be a piece of cake (i.e. orange and black containers are FALL and HALLOWEEN, green and red containers are all WINTER and CHRISTMAS).

I think it will be nice to see what I have at-a-glance with the colored containers.  I will also use a label maker to  note what is in each container.  

If you are at all like me, I have stuff in the attic that probably needs to be sorted and either given away or properly stored. 

Did you know?

via

Cardboard boxes attract nasty little bugs called "Silver Fish." 

The plastic container is a much better way to store things in your home.  I know, because we have recently had many run-ins with these gross little guys.  To top it all off...they can live for 8 years!!  YUCK!

*As a bonus, most of these containers go on sale immediately following their holiday.  Many times you can get them for at least 50% off!

What's in a part?

I am often puzzled at how to part my girls' hair.  I am a big fan of the side part with hair swept to one side with a small (not over-sized) bow holding it into place.  I think a bow put in a child's hair should be proportionate to the size of the child.  Nevertheless, when the hair doesn't naturally fall to one side or the other, which way do you part the hair?

With my little one, I have always parted it to the same side as her sister's....(thinking...wouldn't it be cute in pictures if their hair was parted the same way and styled the same).  Recently, her hair has taken on an enormous cowlick.  Even with water it doesn't lay flat.  I was describing this problem to my mother yesterday and she promptly removed the bow and combed the hair to the other side.  VIOLA!  The hair laid flat.

The wisdom of Grandmothers amazes me sometimes.

Do you know the proper way to find a part?

Totem Pole...

After having our children, my husband often comments on how he and "the boys" have fallen to the bottom of the totem pole.

Having kids keeps me busy...

Yes, I have NOT taken a photo of any of my boys for a long while.

Well boys, I am here to reassure all of you that you have NOT fallen to the bottom of any totem pole.

I still adore you all...
your over-sized paws,

the way you can no longer hear and love your sleep (even letting your little sisters play with you while you rest),

the way you paw me when you want me to take time to pet you,

and the way you boys stick together. 

In need of Sophie

We love Sophie.
She has been an invaluable teether/toy for my little babe.  She is perfect, not to mention, adorable!  Her natural rubber and soft squeak seem to soothe the little babe's gum's like no other.  Let me tell you, I have bought one too many teether toys searching for one that doesn't get thrown down after one gnaw.
Sophie is it.
Sophie is a giraffe...the babe loves giraffes.

Our dear Sophie has been misplaced.
I wasn't too worried because I knew after a day of ransacking the house  playing, she would turn up.
No Sophie.

The babe is now teething again and she is gnawing on everything.
This morning she reached out for the apple I was eating for breakfast.
I handed it to her thinking she would just hold it and then throw it down on the floor.
To my amazement, she sat and gnawed on the entire apple (down to the seeds) for 30 minutes.

Yes, 30 minutes!

It was the perfect substitute for our lost Sophie.