Santa's elf at work...

The holidays are fast approaching.... shh... don't tell me how many days! I don't want to know! :)LaLaLaLa... picture me covering my ears!:) I know the time will go way too fast!! I have already started collecting the few store bought things that Santa will be bringing and am starting to get to work on a few handmade presents from Daddy and I too....

And then, just now, I happened on to a blog giveaway on my dear friend Robin's site that would put Santa's elf a bit ahead of the game ! They are the cutest little things and you really should see them! :) After having real little hermit crabs, I guarantee these will live longer! lol



Go check out this adorable give-a-way now!

ABC of Me

Stop by my book blog Books2BridgeMiles to see our newest project and be sure to check back on Mondays and Friday to join in on the fun!! :)

Sniffles coughs and moans....tips for helping to keep your family cold and flu free

Now that fall has officially arrived, our house (like so many others) have been fighting head colds and allergies as the weather decides on the temperatures it is going to keep and the trees and other plants begin to lose their leaves. It's pretty much inevitable that we are going to have some sickness come our way but I'm not about to go down without a fight! lol


I've already started making more warm healing soups and have started us all taking more vitmin C and D too but sometimes it's just not enough. Little kids can only "catch" so many of the sneezes and coughs so I try to make up for it in other ways...


With the days getting shorter, it's easier to sleep in a bit later (I'm sooooo thankful we can do that as homeschoolers) thus getting more rest..... lots of hot baths to wash away the germs... and I think the biggest help is the fact that I go around the house wiping down all the door knobs, doors themselves, light switches and anywhere else I can picture little fingers going.... While you're at it? Dont' forget remotes, phones and computer keyboards!! Why not just have a bath party for Little People? I shutter at the thought of the amount of germs those little guys collect!! lol


Another thing that seems to happen around this time of year? Tissue boxes become a new decoration in every room! ha! Why not just have them handy at all times?


My youngest is now probably too old for it, but we still use the grocery cart seat cover. It has a bit of padding to it so I'm sure it's more comfortable and she actually asks to take it in! My hubby gets annoyed having to carry one more thing in the store but I figure that it's just one more protection from the germs of a little kid who used it before us  that should have been kept home instead of going to the store spreading germs to strangers! :) And don't forget to wash the seat cover regularly too! :) Gosh, there is a lot of washing going on in our house right now. How about yours?


 I think that when it comes to keeping your family healthy, it's really good to think old school... keep them home when you can, put a hat on their head when they do have to go out and have something warm to eat or drink waiting for them when they return! :)That has me thinking.... I think I'll set another pot of tea on and start another knit hat.... you can never have too many! :)


“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Lysol blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

The search for the great pumpkin...

Fall is definitely here in the Pacific NW. It feels like we've been inching towards it in baby steps, being spoiled with a nice day here or there but now, it is here with a vengeance! The rain is starting to set in and I'm afraid my days of berry picking in the sunshine and wearing flip flops is over.... I could be sad about it but really I am looking forward to all the fall activities and tho we missed some this last weekend, we got the month off to a great start yesterday at the first of many planned trips to a local farm!

The kids enjoyed going thru the hay maze in the barn, which was a great idea considering how much it rains here! lol I just couldn't get over how pretty it looked with the lights cascading from the ceiling like a spider web! I love how this picture turned out but it still didn't capture it completely!

And of course, no trip to a farm is complete without animals to pet!!

And you know these little guys were a favorite :O) Say an extra prayer that we get a call in a month or so when they are in need of a new home! :") I left my name and number! lol

I think he was wanting to pet them but I so afraid that he was getting the wrong end of the deal! lol

Who doesn't love a good hay ride!? Again, this farm was really thinking things out by having them covered! We were lucky and it was dry while we were there but you know there are many wet days to come!

This particular farm also raised trees for Christmas time. We got to see all the trees in various sizes on our tractor ride!

When it was all said and done, the girls had each found their perfect pumpkin and we'd acquired two more for baking and 6 miniature ones to add to our fall decorating! It was a wonderful day out with friends (I feel so blessed to have other homeschooling moms to make this journey with) and a day full of new memories with my girls!!  Now on to the next farm in a few weeks for apple picking!!! :) Isn't fall grand?

The countdown begins!

I realized a few days ago how fast time is flying by.... its only 6 weeks till my big holiday craft show and I still have so much to do!! I sat down and made out a schedule of how many puppets, playfood and peg dolls I need to create each week to hit my target goal for the show!!  Needless to say, it's going to be a busy 6 weeks but I think I got off to a good start don't you think?!

Once I get a few more in the done pile, I'll be hosting a give away so be sure to check back often for a chance to win!!:)

What becomes of the broken hearted...

It's been a sad 24 hours in our house.... We lost one of our much loved ducks....not to sickness but rather mother nature in some way....we don't know details....only a handful of white feathers in a path leading into our woods. Meanwhile, Max ( the duck left behind) is just lost. He was the one that tipped us off that something was wrong when we saw him walking in circles in the backyard... him and his brother were never more than a few feet apart. The girls were beside themselves and I found myself at a loss. I'm sure I was a sight tho... walking around the back yard with a gun following feathers.... It's not that I really thought that I would find him alive. I guess I just wanted to be prepared.

It's been a whole day now, and it just makes me sad to look out and see Max by himself. I have feelers out to everyone I know looking for another duck or two to be his friends. I have a lead on one, so please keep your fingers crossed that it works out. I just got back inside from putting Max to bed and he was a nervous wreck. I actually had to get a hold of him and hold him while he calmed down and stopped shaking. I know it must be terrible going back to his pen and pond. He didn't even step foot in the pond today.... That's where I found the most feathers so I'm sure poor Max has bad memories.... I've never really thought about the intelligence of a duck. I wonder how long he'll remember this terrible incident... and if there is anything we can do to help...

The neverending battle....

.... of toys!!

How do you do it?! How do you have a house that looks presentable and yet kid friendly?! This is a subject that I struggle weekly, daily and hourly! lol

It was just last a week or so ago that I woke up and decided our school room needed a change and headed off to the lumber store with a list of measurements and came home with a pile of cut wood ready to assemble!! But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself! 

I, by no means have all the answers, or even any of the answers... and my husband would laugh if he ever read this but I do keep trying..... and keep trying.... so here's my top ten!

Ten best strategies for de-cluttering and organizing toys in your child’s playroom

1.Over the door shoe racks!! 
  These work great for more than shoes!


2. Big bowls from thrift stores...
  Work great for storing little toys and look nice on a shelf


3. Build in shelves
   Every closet has wasted space and each time we move I am out to find out how to use it to the best of my ability!!


4. Clear bedding bags
  You know, the kind that come with sheets and comforters? They work GREAT to storing toys and slide easily under beds!


5. Clear totes
  These stack easily  at the top of closets (out of reach of children). I have mine labeled with what's in them and the kids have to ask before getting them out! This ensures that the last mess they made is cleaned up before I will get more little pieces out! :) 

6. Sweater boxes
  They aren't just for sweaters! They word great under beds for bedtime reading, extra clothes and of course .... toys! :)


7. Wooden Cubes (or rectangles)
  These can be made from basic wood pieces you can have cut at your local lumber store. I bought a few of them from a friend and have made more since. They are easy to stack and have served the purpose of holding my scrapbooking materials, serving as nightstands for awhile and currently holding books!! 


8. Huge Bucket
  My girls have a never ending collection of stuffed animals! I think they are multiplying at night!! So we got those big buckets, in the gardening section, and they each have one in their closet to help corral their zoo!


9. Curtains
  I know this isn't really an organizing secret but it does make things look nicer!! Instead of having a shelf that is out there for all to see... why not cover it with a curtain and give the appearance of being neat and tidy! :)


10.  I know I should have something profound for it being the last one... but really I think it all comes down to.... if they play with it.... and really enjoy it, you'll make it work. If you are constantly finding it on the floor or cast off under the bed, is it really something they love or rather something they are casting off to get it out of the way of they things they do? :)

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hot Wheels® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”