Saturday, December 14, 2013

Sharing the Magic of the Season - with Elfie

It's that time of year, and Elfie has returned once again!
Elfie is our Elf on the Shelf, our personal "Santa spy" elf that comes the morning after Thanksgiving and stays through Christmas Eve. Elfie silently takes in the events that take place throughout the day, and each night flies off to the North Pole to report to Santa - Naughty or Nice.
 
This is the third year Elfie has been with us, and the boys anxiously awaited his arrival for at least two weeks before Thanksgiving!
 
Let's see what Elfie has been up to around the house so far...
 
His first morning back, he left the boys a message with Scrabble letters!

On top of the kitchen cabinets.

Taking a bubble bath in Mom & Dad's bathroom sink.

This morning Elfie attempted to make himself a hot chocolate - and ended up making a big mess in the process!


Swinging from the light fixture.

During the night before Clayton's birthday, we "barricaded" his doorway with crepe paper and hung paper lanterns in the hallway. Elfie joined in by writing Happy Birthday messages on the picture in the hallway and the bathroom mirror, and adding his own crepe paper decorations around the mirror!


Hanging around the dining room.

Fishing for 'Cheerio fish' in the toilet?!!
 
Reading the "Elf on the Shelf" book to some friends, over milk, carrots and milkbones.
We shared these photos with our friends at the Dairy Council of California, who also have an Elf encouraging healthy eating habits - #HealthyElf

Hiding out in the wreath on the pantry door - it took the boys well into the afternoon to find him here! Clayton was getting concerned that they had done something wrong and Elfie had not come back from the North Pole!


After Daddy had a talk with the boys about their attitudes one night, it became clear that Elfie is also listening in on the grown-ups!  Hmmmmmm.......

This morning we found Elfie camping out in the living room, tent, snow, trees and all!

 
I wonder what Elfie will be up to over the next few days!
 

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Guardian Angel

As I tucked our boys into bed tonight, our youngest casually mentions that we all have a Guardian Angel that watches over us. I said, "That's right, who told you that?"

Cole, 4 1/2 yrs old: "My brother."

Me: "And who is your Guardian Angel?"

Cole: "God."  

Me: "I think God is everyone's guardian angel. We each have our very own special angel, who is yours?"

Cole: "Jesus."

Me: "I think Jesus is also everybody's angel. Who is your very own, special angel? Is it a boy or a girl?"  
Don't ask why, for some reason I expected to hear him say GG Bob or Great-Grandma D, both of whom have passed away in the past few years and are constant topics of conversation in our house. 

Cole: "It's a boy. His name is Camel, he's a camel."

Me: "Your guardian angel is an animal?"  No rule against that.  "Where did your camel angel come from?"

Cole: "Mom, he's the camel who watches over the baby Jesus, he watches over me, too."


And so tonight I learn that the camel in our nativity scene pulls double-duty as a Guardian Angel for one of the most precious gifts in my life.

For this camel, I am eternally grateful and I am so glad that this conversation happened, or I may have never known.

I am thankful to be reminded of the faith, trust and magic held in the heart of a child. Tis the season for magic, and in this case, a little will go a long way. I suspect that tomorrow the tables will be turned, and I will be the one facing the questions. Trouble is, I am guilty of getting caught up in 'grown-up stuff' and losing sight of the magic. I do believe its high time I reconnect with my guardian angel, so that I am prepared when he asks who it is.

And so I pose the question to you... Who is your very own, special Guardian Angel?

Sunday, December 01, 2013

Sale thru Cyber Monday

For those who have asked about the lunchbox containers I am in Love with.... 


They are On Sale now thru "Cyber Monday" on Amazon - search "Easy Lunchbox"!!

Saturday, November 30, 2013

30 Day Series: Day 30 - The Magic of the Season

I am thankful for the Magic of the Season.


The days, weeks, months and year have flown by yet again. Thanksgiving has come and gone and it is now time to get into the Christmas spirit. 

This time of year brings the wonder and joy in our boys to a level we don't see throughout the year. The morning after Thanksgiving, our little Santa spy, Elfie, arrived, after a week of daily anticipation and growing excitement! 

Their giggles and secret talks with Elfie remind me that while November may be a month for giving thanks, December is a month for sharing joy and love. 

This year we will be helping our boys understand more deeply, all of the blessings in our life, and that there are many who are much less fortunate than we are. Hopefully we can help share the joy and Magic of the Season with others. 

And now... tis time to haul out all of those sparkling and glittery decorations! Happy Holidays!

30 Day Series: Day 29 - The Soil

I am thankful for the soil. For the dirt. For the earth that provides so much for us.


Over the next couple of days, we will watch the planter passing up and down the field. Sowing seeds of oats and alfalfa, all of which will be used to feed the animals on our farm. 

I love to watch the sowing, growing and harvesting of our crops, all fruits of the earth that help us nourish our bodies as well as the cattle we care for.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

30 Day Series: Day 28 - A Month of Thanks

I am thankful for the month of November, the season of giving thanks and the opportunity to take time to reflect on what I am thankful for in my life. Happy Thanksgiving!

30 Day Series: Day 27: Our Home

I am thankful for our home. 


I am thankful for a warm, dry place to rest our heads and enjoy our meals. Safe from scorching summer heats and icy winter weather. 

Monday, November 25, 2013

30 Day Series: Day 26 - Candlelit Dinner

I am thankful for candlelit dinners. 

 
  Even if it means candlelight over chicken noodle soup and salad. Tonight was the first time Chris and I have been home with no plans, and no kids in a very, very long time. 

We ate in near silence, enjoying the moment and relaxing a bit. I forget what it's like to have a conversation without having to stop to pour someone another cup of milk or cut their food. 

Sure, I miss the little guys.... But the grown-up time over candlelight and soup was pretty awesome, too.

It is so important for parents to be able to connect and talk without the kids, from time to time. When we do get the chance, I realize how little one-on-one time my husband and I actually spend together. I definitely need to make a better effort at making sure it happens more often. I love him so much, and being able to share time together makes us a stronger couple and a better team for our family. 

I am thankful for the candlelight that helped me remember what is important.
 
 
I am also Thankful for...
 
Check out these other fantastic 30 Day Series farm bloggers! 
  • My Generation: 30 Days of 5 Things
  • Confessions of a Farm Wife: 30 Days, By the Numbers
  • Janice Person: 30 Days of Giving Thanks
  • Beyer Beware: 30 Days of #farmsmatter
  • Pinke Post: 30 Days of Women in Agriculture
  • Homestead Hill Farm: 30 Days of Views from the Hill
  • Thoughts on Life: 30 Days of Ranch Life Memories
  • farmgirldays: 30 Days of Farm Related DIY Projects
  • Snapshots of a Kansas Farm: 30 Snapshots of a Kansas Farm
  • Life on a Real California Dairy Farm: 30 Days of Thankful
  • Morning Joy Farm: 30 Days of Family Agriculture
  • Minnesota Farmer: 30 Days: After the Harvest
  • From My Front Porch: 30 Days of Live.Laugh.Farm.
  • Rural Route 2: 30 Days of Farm Girl Memories
  • Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom: 30 Days of Blogging
  • The Field Position: 30 Days of Family, Food & Fun
  • Sounds Like Home to Me: 30 Days of Randomness with a Pig Nutrition Grad Student
  • Carolyn Cares: 30 Days of Thanksgiving
  • Kelly McCormick Photography:  30 Days of Simply Being
  • Wag'n Tales: 30 Days of Thinking
  • Ag Tech Talk: 30 Days of Ag Tech
  • Life of a Future Farmer: 30 Days of Life Through the Eyes of a Future Farmer
  • Anna-Lisa Smile: 30 Days of Life in Rural Nevada
  • Pannill's Gate Farm: 30 Days of Vivacious Redheads
  • Oskee 97: 30 Days: All in the Name of Good Fun
  • PVF Posts: 30 Days to a Sale
  • Willow Lea Stock Farm: 30 Days of Life on our Northern Illinois Farm
  • My Cows and Pigs: 30 Days of Cows
  • Dark Creek Farm: 30 Days on Dark Creek Farm
  • 30 Day Series: Day 25 - My Cozy Bed

    I am thankful for My Our Cozy Bed.


    Our warm and comfy bed is definitely taken for granted. Falling into a cozy resting place at the end of a long day... Waking up recharged, warm and toasty on a cold Fall morning... Having a place where the boys can climb in for snuggles, cartoons and tickles...
     
    I am so thankful for our cozy bed.

     
    I am also Thankful for...
     
    Check out these other fantastic 30 Day Series farm bloggers! 
  • My Generation: 30 Days of 5 Things
  • Confessions of a Farm Wife: 30 Days, By the Numbers
  • Janice Person: 30 Days of Giving Thanks
  • Beyer Beware: 30 Days of #farmsmatter
  • Pinke Post: 30 Days of Women in Agriculture
  • Homestead Hill Farm: 30 Days of Views from the Hill
  • Thoughts on Life: 30 Days of Ranch Life Memories
  • farmgirldays: 30 Days of Farm Related DIY Projects
  • Snapshots of a Kansas Farm: 30 Snapshots of a Kansas Farm
  • Life on a Real California Dairy Farm: 30 Days of Thankful
  • Morning Joy Farm: 30 Days of Family Agriculture
  • Minnesota Farmer: 30 Days: After the Harvest
  • From My Front Porch: 30 Days of Live.Laugh.Farm.
  • Rural Route 2: 30 Days of Farm Girl Memories
  • Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom: 30 Days of Blogging
  • The Field Position: 30 Days of Family, Food & Fun
  • Sounds Like Home to Me: 30 Days of Randomness with a Pig Nutrition Grad Student
  • Carolyn Cares: 30 Days of Thanksgiving
  • Kelly McCormick Photography:  30 Days of Simply Being
  • Wag'n Tales: 30 Days of Thinking
  • Ag Tech Talk: 30 Days of Ag Tech
  • Life of a Future Farmer: 30 Days of Life Through the Eyes of a Future Farmer
  • Anna-Lisa Smile: 30 Days of Life in Rural Nevada
  • Pannill's Gate Farm: 30 Days of Vivacious Redheads
  • Oskee 97: 30 Days: All in the Name of Good Fun
  • PVF Posts: 30 Days to a Sale
  • Willow Lea Stock Farm: 30 Days of Life on our Northern Illinois Farm
  • My Cows and Pigs: 30 Days of Cows
  • Dark Creek Farm: 30 Days on Dark Creek Farm

  • 30 Day Series: Day 24 - A Good Cry

    I am thankful for a good cry.

    A really good cry is usually followed by a loss of energy and a really hard sleep. In some cases, that cry may come while you are driving down the road and sleeping afterwards is not an option. 

    Yesterday was one of those days that they don't tell you about when you bring your sweet, adorable baby home from the hospital. Sure, you may be warned by your friends with children about the Terrible Two's, but those days seem so far away that you almost forget the warnings. 

    When each of our boys were well into age 2, we realized that the terrible two's hadn't arrived. They never did. Awesome! we thought. We've been spared! 

    Then came 3. Three was a little more difficult with each of them. They both began to grow their own personality. String willed. Hard headed. Stubborn. But independent and sure of themselves. 3 was nothing we couldn't handle. 

    Oh... but then came 4. We never saw 4 coming. We never. Saw. It. Coming.
    Even more hard headed. More stubborn. More strong willed. Oh, yes... It is possible. 

    Yesterday I needed to run a single errand. A quick trip to the grocery store. The boys and I climbed out of the car and before I could grab a cart, Cole started throwing a fit. I asked him to pick up his jacket that he dropped on the ground and you would have thought I asked him to walk all the way home, barefoot. 

    The scene escalated from there and after letting him scream and cry in the parking lot for nearly 10 minutes - I even made a video of over 3 mins to show him later - I loaded them back up and headed home. I made a call to my husband that I was on my way and would be dropping off a bundle of joy with him. 

    Nearly 15 minutes later I left our darling boy sitting on the front lawn, watching his daddy on the tractor, waiting for his chance to explain why he was there.

    I turned the car around and headed Back to the store. The almost 15 minute drive was mostly spent crying, a frustrated, exhausted bawl. Being a mom is the most wonderful gift, the best thing that has ever happened to me. 

    It's also the hardest. Holding your composure and waiting for them to throw a fit and get over it, or driving 30 extra minutes just to get some much needed grocery shopping done, deep breathing to the point where you think you're so light headed you just might pass out. 

    I'm thankful for the good cry, for being able to let my emotions go and come back relieved and ready to get back to it. Those cries may be few and far between, but sometimes they are the best medicine. 
     
     
    I am also Thankful for...
     
    Check out these other fantastic 30 Day Series farm bloggers! 
  • My Generation: 30 Days of 5 Things
  • Confessions of a Farm Wife: 30 Days, By the Numbers
  • Janice Person: 30 Days of Giving Thanks
  • Beyer Beware: 30 Days of #farmsmatter
  • Pinke Post: 30 Days of Women in Agriculture
  • Homestead Hill Farm: 30 Days of Views from the Hill
  • Thoughts on Life: 30 Days of Ranch Life Memories
  • farmgirldays: 30 Days of Farm Related DIY Projects
  • Snapshots of a Kansas Farm: 30 Snapshots of a Kansas Farm
  • Life on a Real California Dairy Farm: 30 Days of Thankful
  • Morning Joy Farm: 30 Days of Family Agriculture
  • Minnesota Farmer: 30 Days: After the Harvest
  • From My Front Porch: 30 Days of Live.Laugh.Farm.
  • Rural Route 2: 30 Days of Farm Girl Memories
  • Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom: 30 Days of Blogging
  • The Field Position: 30 Days of Family, Food & Fun
  • Sounds Like Home to Me: 30 Days of Randomness with a Pig Nutrition Grad Student
  • Carolyn Cares: 30 Days of Thanksgiving
  • Kelly McCormick Photography:  30 Days of Simply Being
  • Wag'n Tales: 30 Days of Thinking
  • Ag Tech Talk: 30 Days of Ag Tech
  • Life of a Future Farmer: 30 Days of Life Through the Eyes of a Future Farmer
  • Anna-Lisa Smile: 30 Days of Life in Rural Nevada
  • Pannill's Gate Farm: 30 Days of Vivacious Redheads
  • Oskee 97: 30 Days: All in the Name of Good Fun
  • PVF Posts: 30 Days to a Sale
  • Willow Lea Stock Farm: 30 Days of Life on our Northern Illinois Farm
  • My Cows and Pigs: 30 Days of Cows
  • Dark Creek Farm: 30 Days on Dark Creek Farm
  • Saturday, November 23, 2013

    30 Day Series: Day 23 - Little Buddies

    I am thankful for Little Buddies.



    Our boys have the sweetest buddies.



    Little guys to play, grow and share adventures with.



    Little guys who I love watching grow as much as I love watching our own boys grow.



    Little buddies with big hearts and wonderful laughs. Thank you for being you, and for being a part of our little guys' lives. 


     
    I am also Thankful for...
     
    Check out these other fantastic 30 Day Series farm bloggers! 
  • My Generation: 30 Days of 5 Things
  • Confessions of a Farm Wife: 30 Days, By the Numbers
  • Janice Person: 30 Days of Giving Thanks
  • Beyer Beware: 30 Days of #farmsmatter
  • Pinke Post: 30 Days of Women in Agriculture
  • Homestead Hill Farm: 30 Days of Views from the Hill
  • Thoughts on Life: 30 Days of Ranch Life Memories
  • farmgirldays: 30 Days of Farm Related DIY Projects
  • Snapshots of a Kansas Farm: 30 Snapshots of a Kansas Farm
  • Life on a Real California Dairy Farm: 30 Days of Thankful
  • Morning Joy Farm: 30 Days of Family Agriculture
  • Minnesota Farmer: 30 Days: After the Harvest
  • From My Front Porch: 30 Days of Live.Laugh.Farm.
  • Rural Route 2: 30 Days of Farm Girl Memories
  • Tales of a Kansas Farm Mom: 30 Days of Blogging
  • The Field Position: 30 Days of Family, Food & Fun
  • Sounds Like Home to Me: 30 Days of Randomness with a Pig Nutrition Grad Student
  • Carolyn Cares: 30 Days of Thanksgiving
  • Kelly McCormick Photography:  30 Days of Simply Being
  • Wag'n Tales: 30 Days of Thinking
  • Ag Tech Talk: 30 Days of Ag Tech
  • Life of a Future Farmer: 30 Days of Life Through the Eyes of a Future Farmer
  • Anna-Lisa Smile: 30 Days of Life in Rural Nevada
  • Pannill's Gate Farm: 30 Days of Vivacious Redheads
  • Oskee 97: 30 Days: All in the Name of Good Fun
  • PVF Posts: 30 Days to a Sale
  • Willow Lea Stock Farm: 30 Days of Life on our Northern Illinois Farm
  • My Cows and Pigs: 30 Days of Cows
  • Dark Creek Farm: 30 Days on Dark Creek Farm