Clean Mush

Today was a gray and rainy February day.  It was looking like it was going to be a long morning, so I decided we better come up with a fun activity quick!  I had read about the idea to make clean mush online and thought we would give it a try.

We started with two rolls of toilet paper that James was delighted to play with...

At first he was a little hesitant because I never let him play with the toilet paper!  But then he got into the fun.

He ran and stomped and made a big mess without having to hear the words "No James!"

Then the real fun began!  I grated a bar of soap... sounds crazy I know.  Next I put it in a big plastic container and mixed it with 1/3 cup of Borax.  Then I added the t.p. and mixed with warm water to make the mush.

I decided to strip him down to his onesie so we didn't make a total mess!  Then I gave him some spoons and cups and a potato masher and let him go to town.  He loved it!

I had fun too!  Ordinarily I hate to make a mess, but it was actually fun to mush around in and it smelled nice and clean!  It was a great way to spend an otherwise long morning!

Valentine's 2012

I got to spend Valentine's Day with my favorite little man!  

I always loved Valentine's Day growing up because my mom would make it a really fun day!  We always got a little treat... nothing big, but just something that was special that she knew we would really enjoy.  As a mother myself now I am finding fulfillment in watching my son and step-sons' delight as they share in this same tradition.  It isn't about the gifts... it's about seeing the joy on their faces as they experience love and know how special they are to us.

This year I decorated little tins I had left over from James' birthday party and put their Valentines in them.  They loved it!

James and I spent the morning looking at his new books...

And dancing with his frog that daddy and Drew picked out for him.

Then we went to story hour at the library and stopped to deliver a few Valentine treats to Nana and Pop, Aunt Lala and crew and our neighbors.

Later Drew got to open his gifts when he came home from school.  He was most excited about the sugar cookies I made him.  The quickest way to any 13 year old boys heart is through his belly!  We had a nice Valentine's dinner together and played with James before sending him off to bed.

It wasn't about flowers and chocolates or sappy cards... I am so not into that stuff!  Well, except for the chocolates part.  I have never met a mouthful of chocolate that I didn't like!

It was just a fun day with my favorite people in life!  Praise God!  He is the giver of every good and perfect gift from above and He has blessed me in abundance.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

~1 John 4:7

My Little Snow Bunny

It has been a pretty rainy winter here, which I am not complaining about!  But this past weekend we finally got a big snow storm and we woke up Saturday morning to nearly seven inches of snow!  It was pretty exciting, so I raced out to Target to buy James a pair of snow boots and stuffed him into his cute this snowsuit that I bought at a consignment sale last fall.  I thought he would love it!  But he was less than thrilled.  He hated the boots... due to the fact that his feet are so wide, it is very difficult to get this kid in a pair of shoes.  I mean, it took some serious huffing and puffing to stuff his feet in!  Once he was outside and he could run, he was just fine.  He looked hysterical!  Seriously, he reminded me of the little brother on A Christmas Story.  I think it took us longer to put all the gear on than he was actually outside!

It brought back all the nostalgia of my own sled riding days... waking up to see a fresh blanket of snow yet untouched by the world, bundling up and racing outside with my neighbors.  We would spend hours going down the hill in their side yard, building jumps, racing down the hill and then running back up for another turn.  Oh the calories I must have burned!  When we would finally tire out I would head back into our nice cozy house and drink hot cocoa by the fireplace.  My mom and I would set up a card table and work on puzzles while watching movies like Anne of Green Gables.  I'm so thankful for those memories and I hope to be able to create special ones with my own children.

Here are a few pictures of my own sweet little snow bunny...

He was loving it until he took a spill!  Then it was time to go back inside!!

To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. 

O LORD my God, 

I will give thanks to You forever.

~Psalm 30:12

Seaside Delightful Days

We recently traveled to Lauderdale by the Sea... a small town north of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a long winter's weekend of fun and sun.  It was wonderful!  We rented a small beach house just a few blocks from the shore and spent five days of uninterrupted family time, which is such a rarity these days with having a 13 year old and an 18 month old!  It was a much needed escape and we enjoyed every moment.

It was so nice to go outside without coats and let the kids run free!  We had a park just down the street from our house where Paul and Drew played soccer and James ran around like a crazy boy and got all of his bottled up energy out.

We took long walks, ate ice cream, sat on the beach, enjoyed funnel cakes at a street fair in South Beach and enjoyed leisurely drives down the A1A while James snoozed in the backseat... it was fabulous!

We arrived home late Monday evening to rain and wintry weather.  Ah yes, back in Pittsburgh.  Home sweet home.  We will miss you sun and sand, but we thank you for giving us a lovely and very memorable trip!

Until next time...

Our mouths were filled with laughter, 

our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

"The LORD has done great things for them."

the LORD has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy.

~Psalm 126:2-3

18 Months Old!

Dear James,

Yesterday you turned 18 months old.  Wow!  How did we get here already?  You are such a big boy... learning new things every day and surprising us with all you can do.  You have such a personality and you make me laugh and smile all the time.  You are a sweet little guy and truly a joy to be around!   We have our days, but you are a genuinely content and happy boy.  This is what you have been up to...

• At last check up you were 29 lbs and 32 inches, which is the 90th percentile for both weight and height!
• You are wearing 18-24 month clothes and some 2T's
• You take one nap a day usually from 1-4
• You sleep 10-12 hours at night.  Typically you go to be around 7:30 and wake up between 7-8
• You have lots of hair that grows quickly and we usually have to have it cut once a month!
• You are a very good eater!  Typically breakfast consists of half a banana, a handful of Cheerios and a scrambled egg.  Lunch is a peanut butter and jelly on wheat or homemade mac n cheese with a yogurt and sometimes a vegetable.  Dinner is two chicken nuggets or a turkey dog, green beans or corn and some sort of fruit.  Right now you love Dole fruit cups either pears or peaches.  You also like pasta with red sauce and pizzas made from english muffins.  Snacks are usually graham crackers or goldfish.  
• You still like your warm milk bottles, but have recently started to drink a lot more water.  You especially like to drink it out of a water bottle.
• You still love your pacifier and lovie and need those to go to sleep.  We are trying to wean you off the passie, but it is slow going!
• You talk all day long, but much of it is still hard to understand.  You are trying so hard to say words and get frustrated when we don't understand you.  I especially love when you try to say cock a doodle doo.  It is so cute!  I  can't stand it!
• You still love to read books.  Your favorites right now are Little Blue Truck, Chugga Chugga Choo Choo, Tumble Bumble and Dear Zoo.

There is so much about this time that I am loving.  I don't want it to go so quickly!  In a few months we will be welcoming your sweet little brother into our family and life will be different.  While I look forward to that time with excitement, I am also soaking up these last few months of just me and you.  These are precious days and I don't take them for granted.  You are my angel boy and I love you more than you will ever know.

Love,

Mama

Phipps Conservatory 2011

Every year we go to Phipps Conservatory for the winter flower show and to see Santa.  This year we decided to go during the week to avoid the crowds, which meant no Santa.  But we were fine with that since we had just seen him in Zelienople.  It's always refreshing to see so much color and life in the middle of December.  The kids have a ball running around and checking everything out... especially the huge train display.  We always get some great photos.  James was old enough to run with the big kids this year and he was in shock and awe at the trains!  I had to drag him out of there.  It was a good time!