recycled decorations

We have a recycling pile by the front door. It's HUGE. It started because the recycling company would not deliver us a collection box. And they never come to pick it up. So we started collecting it ourselves, and Juan Pablo takes it to his work when it gets really outrageous.

I know there's a better spot for it than the front door. But somehow it works. It's like it's on it's way out, but it's not on the porch collecting spiders and bugs.

So the other day I was getting ready to add a lunch meat container to it, and I thought, "There must be something I could make out of this."

And there was! It became some kind of a snow globe.


And the snow was Isabela's idea. I couldn't figure out what to use...I'd gotten rid of that fake snow a long time ago because it just kept blowing out of the bag and getting everywhere....and cotton balls were too big. But Isabela said, "What if we grate a bar of soap?" And it turned out perfect! Powdery and it smells good!

imperfect

It's hard to write about a less than perfect holiday weekend. It was one for the record books in unhappiness.

But don't feel bad for us.

God surely can turn a bad situation around over the course of a weekend.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him...Romans 8:28

And He did.

Our thankful mailbox was definitely the highlight. Our only complaint was too few to open. Next year, we'll have to start on November first.


We took turns reading them one by one. I was pleasantly surprised by Joaquin's thankfulness for seasons and Isabela's grandiose 'God', 'Every day', and 'Everything'. (There were also the typical PSP, dogs and cats, and blankie and chupi.)


We hit the road shortly after that. It's become a tradition to stop by Bass Pro Shops on our way up to Thanksgiving. Our original plan was to surprise the kids and go to the National Zoo...but that didn't happen. Maybe next year.


Such a serious expression to be holding a pink gun.


And you better believe they weren't aiming for the ducks here.


This could be one of those 'see how much they've grown' photos, year after year.


I'll spare you the details of our Thanksgiving of silence. It wasn't pretty. Little eyes were watching us, and probably saw us at our worst.


They could feel the tension, and it affected them, too. I can only hope memories of the good will outweigh the bad.


So I did the only thing I knew to do. I picked up my Bible. It had been too long. But there He goes...turning it around for good.
And slowly the weekend started turning around, as well. I think a lifetime was lived in those four days. So much time.

And I believe that Thanksgiving has surely become my favorite holiday.

We climbed to the attic and brought down the boxes filled with decorations...and I finally realized that Christmas actually starts now.

At advent.


If you wait until December 25, while you're opening presents, you've missed it.

This year, we are following an advent book called, Celebrate Jesus at Christmas, and I highly recommend it. We're reading scripture, slowly setting up our nativity scene piece by piece, singing carols, and praying.



Today Isabela said a teacher asked her class if anyone was a Christian. (It must have had something to do with a book they were reading.) She said she was the only one who raised her hand. She said she was embarrassed, but I told her God wasn't. And I was so proud of her.

I'm excited about all the gifts this season of advent will bring...as we patiently wait...living our imperfect lives.

what's wrong with this picture?

Sometimes it's just easier this way.

happy Thanksgiving.

A quickie before we hit the road for Thanksgiving....I certainly couldn't have left the last post with 'the enemy' on such a grateful day. (And even I can admit, at times I'm thankful for you, PSP.)

Being a pleaser and a perfectionist can make holidays hard sometimes. The other day, Joaquin had an assignment to write about two traditions his family does at Thanksgiving. I got a small knot in my stomach and started thinking, 'Do we have any traditions? Are they worth mentioning? What will other kids write about?'

And really since most of 'the rocks' of my family have passed away (grandparents, parents) and since my husband's family lives in Bolivia and doesn't celebrate Thanksgiving...(except when I forced them to and almost killed his grandma)....the weight of holiday traditions now lies on my shoulders.

In my mind, our tradition at Thanksgiving was simply to eat.

But each year is different...and new memories are added. And I believe tradition is keeping the fun memories alive by repeating them...and confining the bad memories to a 'remember when' joke told while looking at old photographs.

So this year, I see some new traditions on the horizon.

I hit the library Tuesday to pick up some cooking and craft books for the holiday (...a tip I saw on the net somewhere) and in the toddler cook book was a simple recipe for cookie-cutter cookies.

Add friends to the mix, and I see a tradition brewing.


Isabela was a great chef, reading the directions, measuring, and including the smaller ones. I was busy starting dinner, so she was on her own. We moms watched them with wonder.

Would you believe we'd never made cookies with cookie cutters before? I think it's that wait time while it chills in the fridge that always put me off. Actually, it's a great little break between mixing and rolling for the kids to burn off some steam.


This year, we get to open our thankful letters...that is what I'm looking forward to. I can't wait to read what everyone wrote..knowing this family, the sky's the limit to what we might be thankful for.

And here's a game you don't want to miss. We did this one year, and it was hilarious. Everyone at the table writes an adjective on a piece of paper and puts them into a cup. Then everyone writes down the name of an animal and puts those into another cup. The cups are passed around and every person pulls one piece of paper from each. This becomes their new Native American name. (Anyone remember stinky armadillo?)

Games are fun traditions. Here's a printable one we're trying this year.

And we may have a secret tradition starting this morning. I'll let you know if it works out.

Meanwhile, I'm thankful to have this blog to write down my family's memories and my own thoughts. Thanks to all who read it! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving wherever you are. (And if you'd like a special prayer to say at the table today, here's a beautiful one. )

the enemy

On any given day, if I can't find the children, and the house is quiet, this is why. Meet my archenemy.

He's stolen our creativity.

He's stolen our family time.

He's lured my children away from adventures in the great outdoors.

I teeter back and forth on taking it away and giving it back. I've thrown it in the trash, but it reappeared. When rooms are kept clean for days on end, homework is done, and civility reigns, I think, "Why not?" and give in. But I regret it EVERY time.

It's been gone for the last few days.

Some of us have gotten messy with Mod Podge, or taken a mountain bike ride for hours in the park. We've played Uno and been to a birthday party.

The enemy is down. But I'm sure the battle is not over.

'tis the season

And the season comes earlier each year. We had our annual tree lighting last weekend, if you can believe that! But mindful of being thankful, it was warmer than it's ever been before.

I definitely need to practice night shooting with my camera...it's so hard to get a good shot! There was another mom right beside me trying to do the same thing...her kids were sitting on the same bench as mine, squirming and not looking, just like mine. I don't know why we always try to get these posed shots...the candid ones are SO much better.


Having kids makes you do things you would NEVER do if you didn't have them. Like stand in line for an hour for a balloon. I joked as we were the next ones up, "Let's go, I'm tired of waiting." But it was so worth it. Their balloons fit their personalities so well.


And somehow, I took this shot and loved it. These cheap light up toys sure make the kids smile. (And they keep them quietly mesmerized, too.)
I love this season...I hope it goes by slowly.

scissors, paint and glue

We celebrated another first this week. Scissors!

Diego did his first cutting on this cute squirrel printable. You can find it here at HP, but they have a LOT of other cute printables...great way to make you use more ink!


I've been using the whole family technique on lots of projects. Diego painted the paper for this bear, then I made a pattern and Joaquin cut it out. Diego glued it on and colored the ominous fall sky. This idea was from deepspacesparkle, a great blog for art projects for students.


Isabela was given a set of watercolors in tubes. I've never used the tubes before...always had the crayola watercolor trays growing up.... so she is having fun experimenting with them. She made this turkey all by herself.


Diego made these handprint ships that have been appearing on pinterest everywhere. I'm thinking of naming them after real pilgrim ships. I found this interesting site that records a lot of information about those ships, like the people on board, where and when they landed, etc. I think Patience, Love, and Blessing are good names for ships.


And what would Thanksgiving be without a paper turkey? Again, this was a collaborative project. Diego painted the paper. I found letting him use a sponge brush and acrylic paints turns out the best. Isabela cut out the pieces...and I glued and added the glitter.


There are so many creative ways to record thankfulness these days. I've always wanted to do a tree branch with the leaves hanging from it, but still haven't put one up. This year, we're doing a recycled idea and it's been a big hit. We made a mailbox out of our recycling...diaper boxes are the best!...and everyday, each of us adds a little letter of what we're thankful for. We won't open them until Thanksgiving, so there's a lot of anticipation for the big day. Isn't that what's great about the holidays anyway...anticipation? I saw this idea on one of my new favorite blogs choose to thrive.

thank you

It's not 11-11-11...but it's never too late to thank a veteran.
Thank you for all your sacrifices...so my family can sleep in peace tonight.

beautiful things

looks like fall

You should hear me as I drive down the street. The kids are probably sick of me gasping and saying, "Look at those trees!" But really, could they be any more beautiful?

We brought some of the color inside, last night. We printed GIANT leaves we found at Maymont.


Glitter haunted houses, that look more like sparkling gingerbread houses under a winter snow.


Hoot owls from toilet paper tubes and cupcake holders.


And a precious squirrel I found at Goodwill. He's waiting for us to collect some acorns for him. We'll get them soon, but for now he'll have to wait. I keep finding him all over the house anyway...someone keeps moving him.


And our grateful banner...in Spanish, G-R-A-T-I-T-U-D.


It makes me thankful just to look at it. (Never mind those wind chimes blocking it...I've moved them.)

today

This is an important picture.



I know. You've seen just as many of these pics as I have. But today's the day we hope to see more and more of those precious lips. We're starting to say good-bye to chupi....his binki, paci, whatever you may call it. No more hard plastic chupi kisses. Or at least not as many...we're slow going...just using it for naps and night-night...and today was a pretty good day.

It seems like all this 'big-boy' talk may have gone to his head....or he'd just like to be an '80s tennis pro.


Today was a special day for Joaquin, too. And a long one coming...he and I went out for his birthday. Yesterday he said, "I can't believe it's almost Christmas and we still haven't celebrated my birthday!" Unfortunately, my great idea of celebrating with only mom, dad and birthday kid never quite worked out how I thought. Soooo, we may be re-instituting parties for the coming year. The kids are thrilled.


And where do you think my spirited Joaquin would like to go with his mom? To paint pottery. He knew exactly what he wanted to paint, too...Rudolph.


I've been wanting to do this for so long...just me and him. It really is priceless to take out just one kid and focus all your attention on them.


Because one day, you'll take a picture of them, and wonder how they grew up so fast...and you might catch a glimpse of a future teenager...and there'll be a knot in your throat or a tear in your eye.


This month is all about being thankful. And I can't get this phrase that I read on pinterest out of my mind.

What if you woke up today... with only the things you thanked God for yesterday?

What a long list I have. Thank you, God.