Run, Run, As Fast As You Can....

I love watching my child learn what is real and what is pretend. My desire is to help each of them figure these things out, rather than just answer every question directly.

Last week I told Sabin the story of the Gingerbread Man which he enjoyed and has asked to hear it again and again. Today I asked if he wanted to make a gingerbread man. Wide-eyed, her asked, "Will he run away?"

"Let's make one and find out", I responded excitedly.

I am pleased to report that not one gingerbread man ran away.

So we ate him, and him, and him.

Later I asked Sabin about the cookies. "Did the gingerbread man run away?"

"Nooooo." He giggled. Funny how quickly the serious became silly to my boy.

Peacefully BuZzInG,
Misty

Bye Bye Diapers

Although, her potty times are a bit unconventional, I am happy to report that Chloë is finished with diapers.

Peacefully BuZzInG,
Misty

Celebrating Advent

Each night we are eating dinner by candle light. There is a large plate with 25 candles on it. Twenty-four tea lights surround one 4" red candle. Night after night we light one more candle. Dinner becomes brighter and brighter each day we get closer to celebrating the birthday of the "Light of the World". Today we lighted 6 candles and it was almost bright enough to actually see the mess of rice Chloë made all over her space.

After dinner we clear the table and bring out "the box" (currently this is simply the packaging box that the set came in, next year I plan to have a specially decorated box).  Each night we start at the beginning of the story.  Daddy reads bit by bit while the children and I gather around the shelf adding each piece as he calls them out.

The pieces sit on a low shelf where the children can enjoy them. Before dinner their job is to make sure the pieces are all found and ready. They have so much fun placing the pieces. Sabin is especially excited to learn what the "new" piece is... and every night he wants to know if this is the night for Jesus.

Playing so Sweetly

Monster Trucks at the manger?



Chloë giving Mary a goodnight kiss

Peacefully Buzzing,
Misty

Season of Advent

This is our second year of celebrating Advent. Admittedly, last year was a bit of a flop. I plans were too great and with Joey out of town for much of it....

Anyway, this year I am keeping it super, super simple. Last month I purchased this and this from amazon.com. Ok if you don't want to check out the links... it's two parts of a Fisher Price Little People Nativity Set. These two sets, plus a cow and a chicken from the farm set we already owned and a picture of angels will give me the 25 pieces to tell a story written by Noel Piper which she mentions in her little book Treasuring God in Our Traditions, available FREE here. (Fabulous book by the way!) Months ago, I emailed the people at http://www.desiringgod.org/ and they sent this little story free of charge.

Allllll that to say, this is a wonderful and simple way to prepare for Christmas and help keep the focus on the Saviour. If you have a nativity set, you can make up you own story according to the number of pieces in your own set.

Peacefully Buzzing,
Misty

Unseasonable Warm

Our first snow barely covered the grass. As of yet, we have only had a couple of dustings. Sabin is still anxiously awaiting for sledriding and digging and snowmen and.... he asks a LOT.

However, the warmer weather has been appreciated as we continue our almost daily walks. We are really getting to "know" our neighborhood park. Some of the ducks have names now. A lonely little beaver was recently re-located and his home destroyed. But before that we saw his house and some of his "work". He had to be removed because he was stopping up the drainage system to raise the water (seems a crazy thought since this lake is about the size of 3 and a half football fields). He was also felling trees - not the scrubby trees in the wood, but the nice expensive hardwoods that were planted by the park-and-rec people.

Our trecks to the  park take anywhere from 45 minutes to a few hours, depending on weather and well-being. These days, Sabin pedals. He is getting very good on his bicycle. He's practicing his balance and is somewhat anxious to be rid of his training wheels.

Sweet Chloë rides in the jogger, while I try to keep up with her brother. We often have a little snack along the way.

Sometimes we stop for a while to investigate our surroundings; sometimes we're in a hurry to get around the loop. We travel just over a mile by the time we return home.

Peacefully Buzzing,

Misty

First Snow

Our weather here frequently delights us with it's changes.

Was it only three hours ago that we were discussing the need for jackets while driving to a small wood for a walk in the sunlight. Now we watch the rain become snow and the rooftops snuggle under a thickening blanket of white.

The forecast calls for cold and wet the next two days. I am very thankful we got some extra outdoor time in. The children kicked at the leaves, tossed sticks into the stream, and ran down paths and over bridges. I wish I would have remembered my camera.

Peacefully Buzzing!

Misty

And What Do We Do With All That Candy???

Why play with it of course...

While little sister napped, Sabin had the great privilege of making his very own "Big Rock Candy Mountain". (Or "big rotten candy mountain" as he innocently sings it.) He had seen something similar on a library video and asked if he could play with his tractors and the candy. I loaded various candies onto a large cookie sheet at the table. He entertained himself for an hour, eating very little. While he napped mama cleaned up.

Of course some of the candy did manage to escape the rubbish bin.

Don't worry there is plenty left.

Peacefully Buzzing,

Misty