272/366: Pintember Booking

It seems that every night when I attempt to tuck my boys in for the night, I am asked for a bookmark.

I love that books are piled at their bedside.  I love that they are reading.

I don't, however, care so much for the "I need a bookmark".

So...here is my solution:

This is super easy!  And you are recycling!

We pay our bills on line, but still request paper invoices.  Every paper invoice comes with a return envelope.  This is a great way to use the envelopes with pre-printed addresses.

Just cut off the corner with scissors or a straight-line cutter.

Then...embellish!

The purple one is just colored with a purple marker.  I added a fun little hat.  The white one has ears (the corners of the envelope).

This is definitely a great craft to do with kids of all ages.

I have a feeling the boys are going to request some envelope corners soon!

Here is the inspiration post...also a really cute idea:

Source: dsharp.typepad.com via Carrie on Pinterest

11/366: Perspective

I was able to spend a little one on one time with the little guy this morning.  Big brother has Morning Fitness at the school for 40 minutes, so O and I spent that time at Tim Horton's across the street.  O has been so excited for this.  The alternative, riding the bus without big brother brought him to tears on Monday and I had to drive him in anyway.

The coffee shop has Wi-Fi...I love that feature in a coffee shop, library, book store.  O hadn't read his homework book so after a couple quick TimBits, we got to work.

As lovely as this was for O and me, I couldn't stop thinking about some friends facing terrible health issues.  It surely takes the hustle and bustle and planning and driving and normal everyday tasks that, at the time, feel so important and puts those into perspective.  What is important?  Really, truly important?  Committees, a spotless home, the perfect store bought gift? 

None of it.

Family is what is important.  Quiet time spent with the ones you love.

Praying for my friends and their family.

Do SomeTHING: Day 29

 I read some of my book last night while Big Boy was taking his shower.  It's a book that hits home. I've always wanted a farm.  Not necessarily a poodle, but neither does the author.  This book reminds me of the Bucolic Plague by Josh Kilmer-Purcell that bought the Beekman farm in Sharon Springs, NY and try to figure out how to switch from city folk, to country folk.

This one, I'm reading with Little Man.  We thought it was going to be a scary book, but as it turns out, I laugh more than Little Man gets a bit frightened.  We left off at the dust bunnies under the bed and he was so scared, until I showed him (yes, I was able to find one) what they are.  He laughed and laughed that adorable, honest, giggle of my five year old.  I hope that never dies.

Last night I rested with Big Boy on his bed.  And I fell asleep.  Woke up at 11 pm, totally missing my shows and all the "work" I was planning on.  I tried to go downstairs and do something, but it just didn't happen.

While laying with Big Boy, I was amazed at the comfort I brought him.  Just being there, not talking.  I love that boy.  He's discovering himself, learning about friendships, listening in class, remembering his homework (most of the time), and being a good kid.  He still has issues with some things that we are working on, but ever since we instituted positive only reinforcement, our lives have changed dramatically.  He is no longer punished for things he doesn't or can't do, his is rewarded when he does things efficiently.  Our home is privilege only TV/Screen time.  If he does his work, chores, and is kind, he gets rewarded with television or Wii time.  Such a simple concept, yet so extremely effective.  I wish I had gotten my head out of the sand a year ago and instituted this concept then.  I guess we all learn.  Raising kids, raising boys, and raising an ADHD boy is tough work and it is a learning process.  Trial and error.  I hope this trial works error free for the length of the school year.

Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.

Do SomeTHING: Day 27

Library!

My boys enjoy the library.  I hope that lasts a lifetime.  Each time they go, they discover new books, series or a better shelf of books.    Little Man chose Spork because the cover looked nice and it was propped up on the shelf.  I love how there are books open like that.

I got some for me, too.  The ice cream book (I made strawberry-watermelon sorbet last night), I Love Dirt, Primal Body and the Dalai Lama books.  We all need some enlightenment, right?

If anyone is still playing along, what did you do today?

 Do SomeTHING is a month long of creativity, project finishing, exploration, and imagination.  What was your THING for today?  Leave your link in the comments for us all to see.

Reading Challenge

I may have created a monster.

My favorite parenting magazine Family Fun by Disney had a couple summer ideas.  One, was a mom that set up a chart for her family to read books.  Each book gets a check mark.  The family member with the most checks at the end of the summer gets to choose a family outing.

Sounds perfect, right?  I whipped up a chart and stuck it on the fridge.  I couldn't wait to tell the kids about it.

They were both excited.  Immediately, O ran upstairs and before I knew it, had put his first check box on the chart.

Then a second.

And a third.

This is where it got all messy.  O is reading short phonics books.  Sam, not so much.  Well, Sam figured that he could read those same phonics books and get marks.

Back the truck up!

I don't want to count pages or anything, but that's just not fair.  A couple shaky voices asking about winning and losing and we figured that a third grade level book would receive multiple boxes checked.

And then O marks his fourth and fifth and all the way to eleven boxes.  This is in a two hour period.  I have created this reading monster, which isn't a bad thing, unless he is flaunting his reading prowess to his brother.

Which he was. 

I clearly have two very competitive boys.  Not only is this about reading, it has become a lesson in controlling emotions and not always being the winner.  Day one, people.  Day one.  So much for Disney's great ideas.  They clearly don't know my children.

I just wanted to encourage (yes, bribe) them to read.

Story Time

You may think these pictures are no big deal.

O was sitting on my lap reading me a story. I couldn't get over how adorable his little hands were, especially with that scorpion ring.

He sat on my lap and read this story.

Yes, it is a blank story.

But it was the best story I had heard in days.

I need to remember that it is these little moments that will never happen again and to enjoy them and not to try and get him off my lap so that I can do my work.

Blank stories are the best...so many possibilities.

What I'm Reading

Tom and I are reading this. It is our new bathroom book. I got it for Christmas and since I'm not much of a reader, the bathroom is the best place for me (I'm sure I'm not alone finding the most quiet, uninterrupted time in this room).

This isn't a cookbook, it's more of a coming to life book. The author, Shauna James Ahern struggled to find food that gave her life. For many Celiacs, life before diagnosis is often hellish. Not knowing what the cause of discomfort is, many would eat simple things to settle our stomachs: white bread or crackers.

What drew me to Shauna, is not only our common ground in Celiac, but her writing is beautiful. The words flow like the perfect stream, unpretentious.

I'm also kind of a groupie (some may say "stalker"). I follow Shauna's blog, comment with her on Twitter and dream of the day I can visit the restaurant where her husband, The Chef, takes care of patrons with Celiac in the most confident of ways.

I'm not sure how far ahead Tom is in the book, but I'm barely through the first half and would highly recommend it for anyone that enjoys eating, cooking, and touching food.

You can find this book Available Here

Caldacooty or Calacot

Another dreary, gray day with no hopes of a decent picture. This one was photo shopped a bit and still doesn't seem right. I always seem to pick the yarn that is difficult to photograph. Another day, another try.

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All bad photos aside, I really love this bag. The rippling came out just as I had hoped, including the little bit on the flap. This bag will go zipper less, but have a magnetic snap. It is the biggest purse I have made to date and I love it. This is a bag for the everyday gal that has a core group of items that must be carted around. It's simple and interesting, fun and purposeful, just like my friend. Friends, this is the Gretchen Bag.

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My intention is to make this available in my Etsy shop sometime next week. I need to wet it again to shape the side ripples or waves or undulations (looking for the right wording).

Did you think I was going to call it the Caldacooty Bag? Sounds kind of slinky and fresh, something Chelsea would say or carry. Maybe the next one.

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Sam came home today with a library book. I wonder how many school library books you can forget at home until they cut this little guy off? We now have three (and three cheers for me I know exactly where they all are, go figure).

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He brought home Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. A fantastic book with lovely illustrations. The story of a Father taking his daughter owling in the snow. The beautiful quietness of the book makes for a great bedtime story. I know this, because we own it. This is the second time Sam has brought home a book that we already have and/or read. But this time, he brought home the copy of Owl Moon because it had the Calacot Medal on it. Ours doesn't have the medal.

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And that makes perfect sense to me.

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And if you know Sam, I am sure it makes perfect sense to you.

Boy with Books

Loving this picture. What you can't tell is that he was very particular with where each book was placed. It was a lesson in stacking. A couple books slid off the pile to the right and he had to re-place them on top of the "pile".

Boy.

Books.

Yum.

Sharing an Apple is Nice

This is one proud Momma.

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Sam brought me a tablet of construction paper instead of a bedtime story book the other night. Then, he wanted to use the Craft-Lite Cutter, an "As Seen On TV" product. We don't have the one he loves to watch on TV, but he pretends that the light bulb is broken on ours. He proceeded to cut a single piece of paper into 20 or so 'schniffles'. Then, decided he wanted to make them into a book.

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What? Sam? A book? I don't think I ever jumped out of that deep couch so fast as I did the other night. String binding, glue, shipping tape, staples? Here I am rushing around trying to find the best way to make this book - my kid is being creative!!!

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Time out, Carrie, he is 4 1/2 - staples will be just fine.

He came up with the title, TRY TO BE NICE. Heart palpitations, creative AND sweet!!! Who is this kid? He has made all the pictures with a little lettering help from Grandma. It really is adorable. This will be one for the keepsakes box.

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And since we are talking about Sam, he enjoys talking on bananas.

After dialing his home phone number, he is often heard saying, "Hello, yes, a tree fell on our car, but we're covered."

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Maybe he watches too many commercials...