Autumn Walks

We have enjoyed the last few afternoons of fall this week. The weather has been beautiful and I got to come home early two afternoons this week! We walked in the neighborhood and the children played on an old fallen tree - one time it was a pirate ship and the other day it was the Mayflower.

Gift Ideas

This a post for all of my mom friends who have asked me for an idea about gifts and are trying to plan Christmas for their little ones and the other kiddos on your list (or gifts to give others). I have LOVED getting ideas from friends about what they give or have received for their children and thought I would pass on some of those ideas. I would love to hear some of your ideas - if you have some ideas please let me know. Hopefully you can take some of these ideas and pass on to family members. Many of them can be simple and cheap and most of them help the children play, imagine and create rather than just be entertained. FYI - my children are 4 1/2 and 2 1/2.

1. Dress up box - last year my aunts got the children a plastic tub full of things for them to use to play dress up. They got halloween costumes on clearance, a couple of uniforms, a cowboy outfit and some random things like hats, scarves, vests, assessories that my children LOVE to play with. This can be extravagant or thrift store sensible.
2. Musical Instruments - Ukeleles, triangle, drums, tamborines, xylophone, rythm sticks, bells, etc. My children started their own band and named it "Rock-o Taco"
3. Books and Books on CD - My children love to get books and especially books on CD. I have a friend whose in-laws live far away and the grandma made a CD of her singing songs and telling stories. The child loves it, they hear grandma's voice and Mama gets a break from singing Twinkle, Twinkle for the 187th time that day. A thought, have grandma buy a book, read it into a tape and then give the tape with the book (DINGS inserted so the child knows when the turn the page). That's a ten minute or 6 hour gift to child and Mama.
4. Wooden Blocks, Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs and Legos - the possibilities are endless and it helps with fine motor coordination.
5. Little People - Fisher Price Little People have been a staple toy in our family since Samuel was 1. They still play with them and use them in their imaginary play. They are a great size for a shoe box to become a house, barn or gas station and they are chew, dirt and waterproof by being hard plastic. They also have a nativity set and a Thanksgiving set that make playing with the decorations easy.
6. Puzzles and Games - Like this Melissa and Doug one. And small jigsaw puzzles are great. We play board games as a family and make adjustments for the children (ex. for Samuel in Candyland he gets two cards and chooses which card he wants to use to get him farther but Lucy just gets one card and moves it). Memory, Bingo and Eye Spy.
7. Art supplies or an art table - Paint, crayons, glue sticks, coloring books, paper, stickers, cookie cutters as patterns and play dough. Also, my children love doing crafts like simple, cheap odd and ends they can glue on a paper or a piece of foam. At Michael's for $1 they have the sets of wooden cut outs (they come with markers to color with or you can use your own paint). Simple projects or the material to do something is fun and sparks interesting creations is great.
8. Puppets - My children are getting a homemade puppet theater this year - I'm trying to make one like this but there are a several ideas out there for table top ones. You can buy puppets or let your children make them (or make one for their sibling) out of socks or popsicle sticks.
9. Pet Rocks - This would have to be given to the right child but it's something even small children can make for their friends and it might just start a revolution. My children have loved their pet rocks and a few weeks ago when we saw a really large rock Samuel said "Mama that would make a really big pet!"
10. Catalog gifts for others - Such as World Vision or Heifer International or a local cause or ministry that you are involved with. I would like to do this more when they grow and can understand more but they do surprise me even now with what they know!
11. Pottery - Several years ago we gave our moms a plate with Samuel's handprints on it shaped like a reindeer (hands were the antlers and his foot was the head) and a bag with garden theme (fingers as bees, flowers, butterflies). I went to one of those pottery places but the same idea could be used for a tote bag, or paint your own pottery from Walmart. Look onthe web for some ideas.
12. A collection of something - give a collection of buttons, postcards, beads or something small and colorful. My children love to sort, hide and use a ziploc full of anything. It is amazing what they turn ordinary things into. Glass beads from are a pirate treasure, Buttons are sorted into colors and put in a glass jar and beads are used as necklace by one child and a "tangle rope" by the other (to tangle the enemy in when they try to reach the castle).
13. Memberships - Annual membership to the zoo, aquarium, state park or other place that makes it easy throughout the year to go somewhere.
14. Magazines - My children have enjoyed the National Geographic magazine KIDS. It is a good age for both of them and they are intrigued by the animals. It is a treat for them to get it in the mail each month.
15.Camping or Outdoor Gear - Even if you are not outdoorsy, children love to make tents and forts in the living room and put their sleeping bag in the floor with their flashlight handy. Lanterns, flashlights, bug catching equipment (we like the bug gun Samuel's friends gave him for his birthday), butterfly net, backpack, water bottle, rain boots, rain coat, basket for their bike or marshmellow roasting sticks.

OK - these are my initial ideas though we haven't used all of these ideas. I know all of these ideas can be improved upon and I would appreciate new ideas!

Play by Play..

As a write Samuel and Lucy are wrestling with Daddy at my feet in the living room. Here is what I heard to begin the fight -

Samuel said - "Ladies and gentlemen, for our fight tonight - we have Sister-Slam-Slam and Brother Bam-Bam in one corner and in the other corner Daddy-o!!! No chairs will be used for this match (pillows are sometimes used as chairs but not tonight) Ding-Ding-Ding...

Sister Slam-Slam and Brother Bam-Bam's signature move is the "belly button" where they try to get Daddy's belly button.

Oh what fun there is in the simple fun of time together -

Quotes

Samuel while looking at a book about the pilgrims and a picture of the Mayflower -
"Mama, is this a war vessel?"

While playing "Monster hide-n-go-seek"
Jeremy said "Ok, I'll be the monster and try to find you"
Lucy said "...and we'll be the tacos and you can eat us up!"

We are memorizing a Bible verse about being thankful and one about not complaining - as we focus on giving Thanks in all things.
As I was saying the verse "Do everything without complaining or arguing..."
Samuel had to add "..or whining!"

Fall Farm Fun

Here are some pics from time at the farm ...

Redneck art - writing in the dust on the window in the truck
Wait...Lucy is in the chicken pen and the chickens are out...
Lucy loves the chickens
After feeding all the animals - cats, cows, chickens, dogs

The baby chickens

Thanksgiving Tree

Thanksgiving season is here and I saw this idea from my friend Jessica last year and thought I would take it and make it part of our Thanksgiving celebration - a way to help us give thanks throughout the month. I took some packing paper and painted a tree and then made leaves. Each night at dinner we talk about things we are thankful for, who we are thankful to and then write them on a leaf (sometimes the children draw a picture on the back). The children like adding to our "thankful" tree every night - they also enjoyed painting the turkey at the bottom and owl for the tree.
"Let us come before HIM with Thanksgiving" Ps 95:2


After we painted the turkey and owl (that I printed from the internet) I let them paint whatever they wanted - here is where their personalities come out - Lucy painted "a Fall garden" on the bottom Left and Samuel painted "an Indian shooting a bow and arrow and a pilgrim holding a sword" in the bottom Right. We used the left over paint on our hands to make the tree in the middle. We had a great time and I look forward to seeing our tree full of leaves and our hearts reminded of what and to whom to be Thankful. Hope you are enjoying the Thanksgiving season - how are you giving thanks?

who is having more fun?

I think it's impossible to tell...
One dirty farm girl

The children are at Grandma and Papa's for a few days while we let the flu air out here. Thanks also to Grandpa Noonan (who was so sweet to meet me at 6AM at the Varsity to pick up Lucy for me so I could be at the hospital EARLY!) and our friends who have helped with the children in the last two weeks while Mrs. Jessica gets better!

It is such a great time to be at the farm and the kids are enjoying the chicken pen, feeding the animals, playing with Papa and picking up pecans. Samuel is very excited that Grandma is going to let him keep whatever money he makes from selling them at the end of the week. I'm so glad they get to go and enjoy the Fall weather...but I miss them.

Quotes

Earlier this week I picked up a neighbor's 3 month old from daycare and kept the baby until the mother got home from work. When I walked in the door from picking up baby Lexy

Lucy and Samuel: It's a baby! Baby Lexy! Yeah!
Samuel: "Mama, how did you get her...did Mrs. Valerie sell her to you?
Mama: laughing "No, buddy I didn't buy her I'm just helping Mrs. Valerie out"
Samuel: "So do we get to keep her?"

I love the fresh perspective on life children bring...

The honorable knight

Samuel was supposed to dress up for his school Halloween party yesterday, and as you can guess, he wanted to be a knight. BUT there was one small glitch - weapons are not allowed at school and even a foam sword counts as a weapon. After an emotional conversation about not being able to take his sword to school, Samuel said, "Mama, if I can't take my sword to school, I'll just be a cowboy." He never asked to take his pop gun to school but when he got home he took off the cowboy outfit and found his sword. I told his teacher about his declaration and decision to be a cowboy instead of a knight and she said it sounded like he was being an honorable knight - no honorable knight would show up to the party without his sword!

Update

I know this is a generic self-pic but I wanted to include it because it is one of the few of us I have in the last year and it showed my thyroidectomy scar. Several people have asked me about my cancer treatment and I thought I would give a quick update.

I have gone through my 6 month post surgery work ups and everything is fine. There is no sign of spread for the thyroid cancer and I will continue every 6-9 months with scans and every 3 months for blood tests for the next year. I think my medication (synthroid) is FINALLY regulated to the proper levels and I finally am getting used to taking medication every day. The incision has not healed as well as most (the doctors blame it on me being a redhead with "difficult" skin). It is beginning to feel better but still looks fresh/red 8 months later. There isn't much I can do about the appearance but let it remind me that I am still alive and can talk. It is also a good conversation piece for all of the patients I take care of during the week - it helps them connect to me in a "human" way.

Thanks for all of your prayers, concern and love. I appreciate all of the support we have had during this process and I'm grateful to the LORD for the great outcome of it all!

Crinkle Nose Smile

Nothing sweeter (or more mischievous!)

Art

Samuel drew this picture last week of a knight with a sword fighting a fire breathing dragon - I was impressed.

Post #401

For the past four years I have shared our lives on this blog (October 2005 - October 2009) and blogger tells me this is post #401. WOW! I am so glad I have these memories and I'm able to share with family and friends the everyday happenings of our lives - the trivial and the more momentous - I'm thankful for them all. I thought about this especially as we head into my favorite time of the year - Thanksgiving. I love it - pumpkin lattes, pumpkin muffins, fall colors, long sleeves and sweatshirts without sweating, cozy on the couch with a blanket and some coffee (oh, wait, I like that all year), time with family and friends without the hype and remembering the reasons to be thankful to the Lord in so many ways. "Oh, give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever" Ps. 106:1

Speaking of fall - Samuel has learned some "fall" songs at school. I have included a video of one of my favorites (especially because we have a beloved scarecrow in our backyard) Lucy loves to dance too.

"Scarecrow, dancing in the cornfield, scarecrow keeping all the birds away..."

My little Robin Hood

Mama: "Samuel do you have a clean pair of socks in your drawer"
Samuel's response in a serious British accent "I'm a afraid not, mommy"

Full of joy!

I love 'um!


I've been better this week about the blogging or so it seems (ACTUALLY, I made all of the posts on Sunday when I was resting from my busy week and post dated them for a different day of the week so that Papa could enjoy a new pic every day----I love the post date feature!) Nursing school has taken up more time than usual the last two weeks and will continue to do so until Christmas break - I won't tell you how little sleep I'm getting or how much I am reading (or supposed to be reading) but I will say that I am enjoying the experiences in clinicals (the 2 days a week I work in the hospital) and can't wait to get out and get paid to do this work and have more time to spend with my family...I miss them and enjoy any minute I get to play and enjoy life with these two cuties!

More Characters

We are so grateful to have wonderful neighbors. Mrs. Jessica watches Lucy and Samuel for me while I'm at school. She has two boys Jordan and Connor who my kids love to spend time with. Last Friday they came over and played for while - I had to share this pic of them after they got in the dress up box.