Christmas Time Is Near

The stockings are hung;  the tree decorated and the Christmas village aglow - a scene that escaped straight off a Norman Rockwell!

I regularly see the girls hovering over the miniature streets filled with carolers and ice skaters swishing around the town rink.  The excitement in their eyes is undeniable while breaking out in spontaneous singing "Frosty the Snowman......".

I will sometimes just quietly enjoy these moments, realizing their unadulterated, childlike innocence over time will make way for a more informed, logical mindset.  But my wish for them is that they will never lose this feeling of wonder and pure happiness and that they will stubbornly hang on to it especially in times when things are not going so great.  I know that it has kept cynicism out of my heart and I simply refuse to let that sense of wonder go.

With this spirit in mind, we were off to see some Christmas lights this weekend.  While tunes of the season filled the air, the girls were hanging out the moon roof;  blankets draped around their puffer jackets all the way down to their sock covered feet firmly planted on the console between hubby and I.

The chilly air found it's way down the open moon roof onto my lap, but hubby switched on our seats which kept us nice and toasty.  The flask of hot cocoa was resting against my left leg waiting to be enjoyed at a pit stop along the way where we roasted marshmallows around a huge bonfire.  It sure did not feel like fall anymore, but the weather was the perfect compliment to the twinkling awesomeness we all "oohed" and "aahed" about! 

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a day we celebrate the bounty in our lives;  the family and friends around us;  the wonderful gifts God has bestowed on us.

We say grace and we go around the table stating out loud all that we are thankful for.

We laugh, we eat, we craft, we read, we watch Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, we play board games........

we celebrate the time we get to spend together as a family!

Hard boiled eggs

Hard boiled eggs.

It's just one of those things we used to eat regularly growing up.  It's one of the British traditions that stuck around.  But I never bothered to make it for our girls;  until this week!

Caramel loved it!  She also enjoys the green salads with the hard boiled eggs you get ready made at grocery stores.  Fudge?  She almost barfed when she had it in her mouth.

New experiences............ You never know what your six year old's reaction is going to be!

A Lazy Saturday Morning

She got into our bed this morning.  She wormed her small little frame until under the covers and then she turned towards me.  A smile enveloped her face and her eyes shone with happiness.  It was the face of an angel.  I looked at it thinking this is the greatest blessing I ever received.

She put her little hand on mine and we swiveled our hands together.  Like leaves gliding to the earth.  Her tiny little fingers were guiding mine along.  She giggled and asked me "Mommy, why was I your kickboxing baby?"

"Just sometimes!" I said.

"I think I was screaming 'let me out of here!  I want to get out!'"  She patted my tummy lightly.

Then she snuggled into the hollow of my arm and said "I just love this bed!  It smells so nice!"

I folded my arms around her and gave her a kiss on the head.  Her hair smelled like sweet flowers.  I felt complete - complete and utter happiness. 

Happy Halloween !!

Mwa-ha-haaaaaaa!!!!

No, this is actually not our front yard, even though I sometimes think it could be after a long, hard day!  Just a decked out pit stop we came across while trick-or-treating!

Who knew keeping up with four, little monsters running all over the neighborhood to collect as much candy as humanly possible, could be so tiring?

A Day At the Zoo

As part of our "school" schedule we go on lots of field trips.   What we decide to do is dependent on the season, the weather and in all honesty whatever we feel like! Today we went to visit one of our favorite zoos.

The girls were so excited.  As soon as the car doors opened they stormed onto the lawn marveling at all the small pumpkins lying about in celebration of the season! Then they ran ahead to strike up a conversation with the owner.  He loves talking to the kids. 

Shortly after cajoling them into the reception area, a tour guide welcomed us and took us all around the property telling us fun and interesting facts about the animals.

Of course a big part of the fun at this zoo is interacting with the animals!  Many are roaming about freely and the kids may pet, pick up and observe as they please.

The girls loved having a conversation with the macaws!  And Caramel tried to pick up a baby goat and soon thereafter yelled out in disgust, because it's belly was wet (let's just leave it at that shall we)!

We also came across a cat munching on a field mouse it caught just a short while before we got there!  The mouse, although dead, was thankfully still intact.  They were intrigued since our cat has never munched on a mouse at home.  Knight is an indoor cat and thank goodness we do not have rodents running about.

Tonight both of them told me how much they appreciate me taking them on these excursions and having so much fun.  Both told me "I'm the greatest mom ever and that they love me soooooooo much!"  And aren't those the sweetest words ever to roll off our children's lips?!  Like honey.