What's been weighing on my mind

I plan on not buying any toys this year.

My kids are spoiled.  There, I said it.  I will freely admit defeat.  They are loved and happy, and spoiled.  They just have too. much. stuff.  Not only are their rooms filled to the brim with toys, so is an entire playroom in the basement.  It's not that they are bad kids by any means (although they have their moments, usually at the most embarrassing times), but they don't appreciate what they have.  Yes, I know my kids are 4 and almost 2, but you have to start young right?

We are dealing with an issue of destruction.  My kids are destroyers.  The 23 month old, yes.  It's perfectly normal at this age to still destroy things.  It is a "what happens when I do this" phase that I can't wait to end.  The four year old.  Nope, she just thinks that if something happens to one of her toys, that someone will just replace it.  And I am guilty of it.  When her beloved Ariel was eaten by the dog last year? I ordered one online and it showed up fully intact before she could even say Sebastian three times.  But no more.  This year my goal is to teach her about appreciation.  Less is more and all that crap.

I spent the weekend de cluttering both kids rooms.  Took an entire toy box out of the littlest ones room. And don't get me wrong.  There are still toys in their rooms.  Race cars, trains and tracks, and dinosaurs still live in Little Man's room, along with about a hundred books.  Little Miss still has her puzzles, books, My Little Ponies, and Barbies.  Things that have the little pieces that I still have to keep away from the littlest.  Everything else was thrown in the basement, which looks like a toy store threw up in by the way.

In my own honest opinion, my kids don't need to have a lot of toys.  The best toy in the world is already in their head.  Imagination should be nourished and grown.  You should be able to throw your kid outside with a stick and they should be able to spend an entire afternoon playing.

Don't get me wrong though.  I will still give my children things.  But those things will be educational, creative inducing, active toys.  The number one present I can't wait to give my kids this year?  Their own skateboards.  It will keep them active, they can race, learn a new trait, or just sit on it and roll.

I want to teach my children that less is more.  We don't have to have everything in the world to make us happy.  It's most likely a leading cause of divorce and why most Americans are unhappy.  We want everything because we expect everything handed to us.  My children are slowly becoming the same way, and I want to put a stop to it now.

What's the number one thing you wish to teach your children this year?

xo Stacie

An Under the Sea Mermaid party

*warning, I just photo bombed the crap out of this post!*

Over the summer our family went on an awesome vacation to the Florida Keys.  And we drove there.  From Kentucky.  All 17 hours.  It was a wonderful time spent with my entire side of the family all on the beach together.  On the way home we stopped in Tampa and spent time with my grandmother.  The kids were awesome in the car on the way to Tampa.  So we decided not to chance it and bribed the then three year old.  What did she want? An Ariel party.  Her birthday is in December so I (being one who hates all things characters splashed all over the place) just figured she'd forget about the whole thing.  We're talking six months.  Did she you ask? No.  Not. At. All.

  

Can't have an Ariel party without a "dinglehopper"!

A hand drawn giant Ariel coloring sheet kept the littlest kids entertained while the older ones played together.

Please ignore Ariel's horrible mouth and hand, I finally realized the kids would not care so I shouldn't either.

So enter a Little Mermaid party without being oppressively Ariel-ified.  I know she wouldn't of cared either way if there were pictures of Ariel everywhere you turned, but I just can't do it, just can't.  It's my own preference and I'm okay with it, and the family is beginning to understand too (although they loaded her up with some Princess shirts at Christmas and I've even been nice enough to let her wear them, to bed).  We choose the theme of Under the Sea Mermaid, it encompasses the movie without me having to print off ten thousand Ariels.

We made some super easy and tasty "sea glass" using this recipe.

homemade salt water taffy was a big hit with the younger crowd (very sweet)

purple pearl sixlets were often swiped by the younger brother *can't say I blame him*

I let her pick the colors for the party because I'm not a complete control freak (yes I am, who am I kidding).  She picked teal and purple, which might of been because she was holding an Ariel doll at the time and that's what she was wearing.  I added gold because I am slightly obsessed with that color right now.  I took it and ran.  Literally.  These kids just follow me everywhere so I have to run away and hide a lot if I want to play on Pinterest all day.  (totally kidding, sorta.)

a tissue paper garland that was super easy to make decorated the dessert table

So I was blessed with six months to plan for this little misses birthday party (to which I only actually did any planning the last month).  Having that much time to think about pin ideas on Pinterest and then forget about, gave me time to shop cheaply.  I'm happy to say I spent WAY less on her party by planning a little earlier than I would of.  I also made almost everything that I possibly could, including the party favors and candy!

oh look I finally finished that gallery wall I've been talking about for months!

blue kool-aid served as "sea water" which the kids loved!

barnacles, get it? :)

I completely forgot to save an invitation to post on here.  They were a true labor of love and I will probably never make invitations again.  We used card stock and cut out a billion sea shell shapes.  Add some glitter and a puff paint pearl, some ribbon and you have a beautiful shell invitation.  I used this picture from Pinterest for inspiration.

I always go slightly overboard on the dessert table and this party was no exception.  Homemade candies, cupcakes, cake, chocolate covered pretzels, oreo balls.... we feasted on some sweets.

A gift table decorated with paper garlands and goodie bags.

super easy paper garland.  Seriously these are going to be a stable from now on.

 Party favors were simple but fun! Hand painted Prince Eric and Ariels all around!  And let me tell you, these took forever to make but I was lazy about it and laid in bed watching Hallmark Christmas movies while painting these bad boys.  Little Miss still plays with her Ariel (Prince Eric is not cool because he is not a princess).  Parchment paper bags with gold polka dots contained all the goodies (including the array of candy on the dessert table).

Although this party took a while to plan, I had so much fun pulling it all together.  We had a blast during the party, I never even picked up my camera!! And clean up was actually very easy compared to past parties so I was one happy momma.  And the smiles on Little Misses face were priceless.  She loved it all, especially when all her friends showed up.

Little man's birthday is in a month.  I just got started with ideas.  But he's two, he doesn't care.  He just wants to lick icing off cake and open presents (it's the little things in life ya know).  I promise I will take better pictures of his party ( it is one of my New Year's resolutions you know!) and hopefully we'll have this computer fixed up so I can actually edit them!

Thanks for making it through this long photo bombed post! Hope you have a great weekend!

xo Stacie

This is four

                          

It's startling really how much my daughter reminds me of myself. I have to stop myself sometimes to remember that she is one giant sponge, soaking up my every movement and expelling it right back at me. I remind myself daily that she is little.  

                                 

Today. Today that little girl turns four. She doesn't notice the years flying by, the milestones she's passing with flying colors, the gray hairs she's giving her father and me. No, that little sponge is just soaking up her world. Content to play quietly with her barbies, or terrorize her little brother (who at almost two still doesn't talk and thus can't tell her that he's annoyed). She has a fierce yearning to soak EVERYTHING in, wanting to know why, how, when. 

                

Four has snuck up on me. When that little girl was placed in my arms the very first time, four seemed like twenty.  I felt as though we would never make it to four. 

Moms would tell you four was the golden age. The terrible twos a thing of nightmares, the sassy-ness of three? You drank that attitude under the table. Four was the goal you dreamed about as you pulled your hair out.  But we made it. Four. Finally. 

 It's hard to look back at the past without a smile on my face. Sure, those days that she drove me to drink (not really but damn close) are there. Boy are they there.  But for every tantrum, sassy remark, or complete disregard for anything that came out of my mouth, that beautiful curly haired girl had a smile, a hug, or a remark so far off the wall I almost peed my pants laughing. She makes every bad day disappear with just one silly gesture or kiss. 

I know the attitude is far from gone, she's my daughter after all. I will struggle tooth and nail with this strong headed girl. But I'm grateful for the opportunity. I want her to be strong willed, determined, and passionate.  I want her to make herself heard, just not in that screeching tone she likes to use right now.  I can already see the woman she will one day grow into. She has a distinct personality. Sitting in her room surrounded by books one minute, the next? She's acting out The Little Mermaid, every one of the characters, all her. And her imagination? Puts mine to shame, and I'm pretty proud of that aspect of myself. 

The past four years have flown by in a blur to me. I won't get all sappy on you and say, cherish it while you can, but seriously. Do that. She's four. Four!! 

We had ourselves a little photo shoot to capture the moment, in the cold.  She was bribed with not one, but two pieces of candy.  She was a champ, and I am sadly still an amateur.

Four is a new adventure here. An adventure I for one can't wait to embark on. First things first though, a cupcake for breakfast. You only turn four once right?

What does it mean to be thankful?

Growing up, saying thank you and please was drilled into my head. Some of the first words I taught Little Miss were those same two words. But what does it mean to really be thankful?

Teaching our kids manners is one thing, who doesn't want a polite kid? Teaching the meaning of being thankful to an almost four year old (the one year old doesn't count yet) is another story. To attempt this huge feat (in my eyes anything to do with the Little Miss is a huge feat) we created a new tradition in our house.  The "Be Thankful" board.

Our Be Thankful board is a huge board hanging in our living room. Every day each person in our family has to think of something they are thankful for and write it down. Yes, we are only doing this in the month of November (for now).  With little kiddos, you have to start small, but starting is the key to success.  We still try to instill a sense of thankfulness daily year round by being good examples.  We plan on starting a tradition of giving in our house too.  I think Halloween helped to teach me that even at almost four (an age where I personally thought being selfish was just in their nature), a child is happy giving without receiving.

Our giant board was also super easy to make! The most time consuming thing was waiting for the paint to dry!  This little sucker was a $4.95 mirror I found at a thrift store!! It was one of those tall mirrors that belongs on a dresser (you know that style, the one that is no longer cool?). And because those mirrors are "uncool" they are cheap and easy to find! 

Slap a little white craft paint and some (of course) chalkboard paint on that sucker and you have a giant board for all seasons. Thanksgiving? It's a thankful board. Christmas? Countdown, advent calendar, card holder, and on!! To say I'm excited over this project is an understatement! It also has a home on a wall that I plan on making into a big gallery wall, and this project totally kick started that project (because as I type this, it looks kinda silly being the only thing on that poor wall).

Teaching thankfulness is something that doesn't happen in a single month, for anyone. But a daily reminder right now as we enter into a holiday of gift giving (both kids have winter birthdays) is something I'm excited to start with my family, even if one of them was only thankful for "lions and giraffes" today. 

~enjoy

xo Stacie

I linked up to www.primitiveandproper.blogspot.com

What Halloween taught me

 I had this idea in my head that for Halloween I'd make costumes and the whole family would walk down the street hand in hand and everyone would exclaim "oh my look at that family! So lovely!"

When Little Miss said "mommy I want to be Ariel and brother Prince Eric and you be Ursula and daddy King Triton" I said "well of course!"  I was gung-ho about making everyone in the house a costume, pinning away the best ways to do so.  

Then a bit of reality hit. Homemade Ariel costumes are super adorable, don't get me wrong, but I wanted something that I knew would last better than what I could make (only used the sewing machine twice over here). So I thought, ok we'll buy her costume since a trip to Disney world is already in the making (feel bad for our wallets now). 

So off I set to make three costumes. And let me just tell you I'm a procrastinator. So I waited and waited. And finally two days before Halloween I finished my Ursula costume and the Prince Eric costume. Daddy got left out (isn't that how it normally goes?) but he was ok with because the idea of running around with no shirt on and a skirt just wasn't his cup of tea. 

Since it took so long to finish the costumes we didn't attend any special trick or treating events (our zoo has a pretty cool one we usually hit up). And I was ok with that. Until I checked the weather report. And we were predicted to have tornados. Yes tornados. On Halloween. Now when I was a kid I went out in the snow with no complaints, but never in weather that could produce tornados. So every city around ours changed their trick or treating dates to the next day (Friday). Our Halloween night was spent inside watching a movie and handing out candy to the five (yes five) kids and parents who braved the wind and rain. The kids didn't say one word. No whining to go out, no crying, nothing. I give credit for that to the movie we choose (The Croods-super funny). 

Real classy here: 

We are lucky enough that the grandparents live in the next city over and so on Friday we headed to their neighborhood for trick or treating fun. The city actually set a time for the evening but we weren't sure what it was. And here's where my lessons started. 

There was no walking hand in hand. Little miss took off with her cousin ten steps in front of the parents looking for houses with their lights on. Little mister? Oh his pace was two steps forward, three sideways, then four backwards. Carrying him? Nope. Wasn't happening (besides, then how could anyone check out his adorable costume?). And people commenting on the loveliness of our super cute Little Mermaid family? Didn't happen once. 

And because we headed out early and had four little ones in tow, we headed back early too. With no complaints. After that we sat on the grandparents porch. Little Miss had as much fun handing out candy as she did trick or treating. She actually was so sad when the kids were all gone! 

So what did Halloween teach me? For one, lower my expectations. For another? Kids will surprise you! Did I ever in a million years think my almost four year old would rather give candy than receive it? No. But seeing her do that made me a proud momma. Last thing I learned? The holidays are not about me anymore. No one cares that I spent a million hours agonizing over costumes, decorations (which no one saw on Halloween because of the weather), and how my kids will act. We had a great Halloween and so did the kids and that's all that really matters. 

How was your Halloween? Did bad weather effect you? Did you let this silly holiday stress you out like I did? Would love to hear from y'all!!

~enjoy

Xo Stacie