Because it isn't just dishes...

I could have had the dishes cleaned up within ten minutes tonight.

Instead they took over 30 minutes.

You see I had a 'helper', who wanted more than anything to wash 'gishes'.

I am okay with a normal task taking more than three times as long because my three year old received so much joy from my undivided attention.

He was excited to help. Eager to wash every dirty thing he could find.

Those thirty minutes were not about getting the kitchen clean.

It was about letting my three year of know that I value his help. That even though he is small, he is important. That everyone should get their hands dirty and work.

Basketball Season Begins...

AJ had her first basketball game of the season today.

She plays in the 1st/2nd grade girls league at the local rec center.  This year she is playing with a great group of girls who are all 1st graders.

The girls had a great game today, but were outscored. 

AJ continues to amaze me with her athletic abilities.  She is a tiny little thing that just packs a punch.  I love watching her 'happy feet' as she hops around the court stealing balls and taking shots. 

She played an aggressive game.  Controlled the ball well and even sunk her first shot.  We are so proud of our "Little Stick of Dynamite".

Best Friends...

Turtle Beach on Siesta Key Florida

Old Traditions, New Traditions...

One of my favorite things about the month leading up to Christmas is all the movies, songs, and books available to us.

My kids love to snuggle up together and watch a Christmas movie, or read a Christmas book.  And you can bet that I am always playing Christmas music during the carpool.

One of the things I love most about Christmas books that are given to us as gifts, is when the sender adds a personal greeting in the front of the book.  I often do this with regular books throughout the year, as well.  There is nothing better than pulling those books out each year and reading the well wishes and seeing the photo of the family who gave us the book.

This year I am stepping things up a notch with our Christmas books, by wrapping 24 of them.  At first I wasn't sure I would have enough, but after I went Christmas book hunting throughout all our bookcases I was shocked to find we had PLENTY for the project.

I spent an afternoon wrapping them, while Aaron had all the kiddos outside playing in the leaves.  When they came in they found that the Christmas tree in Mommy and Daddy's room had many 'gifts' under it. Tonight, December 1st, just before bedtime we will unwrap ONE book and read it together as a family.  That book will then remain in the living room bookcase for the remainder of the Christmas season, for the kids to enjoy whenever they want.

I am looking forward to this special time with the kiddos before bed each night.

Laundry Day...

Occasionally I do laundry a little at a time, a load a day keeps the pile away.

But the way I have found to be the easiest for our schedule is to actually do ALL the laundry in one single day.  It can be anywhere from 8-12 loads.

I like to fold the clothes all on my bed, because that forces me to put them away in order to go to sleep. 

Not everyone can rock the double pop...

JP has always been a snazzy dresser.  The kid loves clothes and shoes.

Lately he has been enjoying sport clothes more often, so his nice stylin' clothes have been getting quite the rest in his closet. 

This past weekend was a great opportunity to blow the dust of his duds.

And I was pleased to see that the kid can still rock the double popped collar, of course with his trademarked spiky hair.

Who noticed his vintage addidas kicks?

The Day I Decided To DO Crafts...

Instead of just READ about them.

I am certainly not a professional, but I am very happy with the results.  Especially since this was the first time I used this particular stitch.