Valentine's Day in November

I don't have deep thoughts for you today, but I can't let a delicious moment like this pass without sharing.

Unusually warm for November, we are luxuriating in sunshine on the patio. I'm procrastinating. I have a 'to-do' list I want to accomplish before Thanksgiving, but something might get crossed off the list or postponed..... this is worth it. Weather doesn't follow my schedule. I'm healthiest and happiest when following the weather and adjusting my schedule accordingly.

Everyone knows how to cancel a picnic when it's raining, but what about canceling a household chore or even a workday for amazingly gorgeous weather? That's one thing I miss about living in Keystone, Colorado. When a big dumping of gorgeous powder falls, no one shows up for work that morning. Everyone is hitting the slopes, and it's not because they can't drive in snow. No. Everyone is driving their cars to the ski lift.

So, if you're stuck in a task you'd rather not be doing, or stuck in a moment you'd rather not be experiencing and you can't see the everyday-glory of it, drink deep from this entire day we experienced at my house. Let's enjoy these moments before the rush of the holidays and maybe even slow down in December instead of speeding up. Moments like this are hiding around every corner. Perhaps you'll see yours tomorrow, or perhaps you already saw a glorious moment recently. Share your glorious moment with us below...

An Unscheduled Moment

My children invented a game, this morning, which involved the little one pushing the big one out into the rain, dissolving in fits of laughter and repeating. I was drawn away from the kitchen to the intoxicating sound of their joy.

In my experience, creative, spontaneous play unfolds organically when children are given large amounts of unscheduled time to follow the whims of their developing brain in a safe and familiar location, like their own home. 

In spite of my strong commitment spontaneous expression, I constantly find myself feeling pressured by "schedule," "measuring my worth by production" and "number of organized activities," values highly revered by American culture. Certainly schedules, goal setting, planned activities and production have their place and have the potential to facilitate a certain amount of joy and satisfaction, but every human needs a balance of scheduled time and unplanned time. Some of us are designed to flourish in a more structured environment and some of us are designed to flourish in a less structured environment.

I'm still learning who my children are and what they need as individuals, but I know I myself thrive on large amounts of unplanned space to create and follow an unseen "flow." Perhaps it could be called an "unseen structure." In spite of this self awareness, I spend far too much time chasing satisfaction from rigid models of daily life. Today the example of my children, and their deep notes of delight in surprise creativity, beckoned me back home.

I welcome you to delay your next activity by another 39 seconds, walk into my home through this one minute video and relive this unplanned moment with me.....

"If you want to go far...

When She's Frustrating Me

Yes, I admit it, this human with this adorable face has the ability to frustrate me at times. Like now. I'm trying to talk to you, and she is clamoring to be held. 

Don't worry. I love holding this funny bunny. She gets loads of attention, but she just turned 9 months and now thinks we should hold her 24/7 

My solution? RV life provides seat belts in the couches! Now she's safely strapped in with toys, but she's sitting right next to me feeling special to be on the couch with Mommy. Problem solved.

"Who me?????"

Experience our Stunning week in Asheville! - click here

Daily Sink Baths - Tiny Living

If I feed her, she can sit anywhere. If she feeds herself wet cereal, she must sit in the sink and end with a sink bath. We actually use the sink for the three year old as well. She still prefers baths over showers and there is no bathtub in this particular RV or most RVs. But the unusual thrill of a sink bath is not lost on either of my baby girls! This fun event also serves as an opportunity for me to complete tasks in the kitchen while they still feel like they are "with me."

Experience our stunning week in Asheville!  click here 

oh wait! - did I forget to tell you?!...

...we had our first experience camping in a Walmart parking lot overnight. And we planned it this way! It's an RV tradition. When you're traveling and want to break up the trip, but you don't know how far you'll make it and don't have a reservation, you can pull off the road at any rest area, OR a Walmart parking lot. Walmart welcomes this because there is always plenty of space and it encourages shopping. RVers appreciate this because there's always an item or two we need on the go and we also appreciate the well lit lot with 24 hour security.

Samantha has a current fixation with sticks. Here she is, playing who knows what at a stand of trees next to Walmart. 

If you're gonna do Walmart, there's nothing like the early morning Waffle House tradition before getting back on the road. To be honest, sometimes we go for Waffle House even when we're not traveling. We love the diner atmosphere. Furthermore, the employees at Waffle House are consistently some of the most down to earth, pleasant people to take your order... even when they're hustling, bustling and sort of stressed. On this particular Sunday morning, it wasn't busy. Worship music filled the diner and all three waitresses were soulfully singing and dancing their way to each table.

Finally, there is nothing like good conversation over breakfast with this expressive little person...

Cinderella's Carriage Ride

Day 16 - 7:30am - Tiptoeing to Spy on the Girls

Two little heads, playing, waiting for the timer on the twinkle lights to go off so they can go play with Mommy and Daddy. This has been the common scene for many months. Only difference now is acting out this ritual in the context of RV life!

Samantha waits for the Bunny Clock to "wake up," at which point she crawls into Annabelle's bed to play until the twinkle lights go off, signaling permission to bombard Mommy and Daddy with energy.

"Twinkle lights aren't off yet, what are you doing in here, Mommy?"

Ten Cents for Valentine Magic

What does a three year old need for Valentine's Day? Love, a warm hug, a smile, and the opportunity to pass love on to someone else, is all this little girl in the picture above needs.

You can find a hundred cute ideas to make easy magic for a three year old. It could be as simple as a sheet of paper, marked with lines and scribbles, given to Sister or Daddy, but this girl does that in her spare time nearly every day. Gifts are her constant love language, sometimes several times a day. When she doesn't have access to paper and ink, it's anything she can get her hands on; a coffee table coaster, a stuffed animal, a small plastic Disney figure, you name it. If it's in the house, she will find something to wrap it in, even if it's a napkin. Then comes the presentation. With flair and theatrics, she presents her gift, and you'd better be ready to receive it with delight if you don't want heart break and a crestfallen face.

It takes creativity to make unique magic for a girl who makes magic every single day with common objects. My Mom delivered. A Valentine box arrived in the mail two days ago. In it were goodies for her granddaughter and what was the most magical gift of all? Magic lay in a ten cent creation to pass on to the birds in our yard. My daughter LOVES to spot birds, chase them, sing about them. Giving our birds a Valentine present was sheer genius. 

You can make this bird feeding treat in three minutes with string, Fruit-loops and a wire pipe cleaner, all for about ten cents. (crafting pipe cleaner can be found in the kids craft section at Walmart.) 

Bubble Blanket - Ideas for Fighting Cold Winter Blues

If you've never hopped in the tub with your toddler and invented new things together, like this bubble blanket, you should definitely consider giving it a try.  

It's been a rough two days.  It's too cold outside to really enjoy playing outdoors.  There isn't any snow or anything else to entice us.  Samantha is fighting an ear infection and is throwing tantrums we've never seen from her til now.  This impromptu decision to hop in the bathtub together after naps was inspired.  The time of day that is usually our hardest (after nap time til dinner) turned magical and harmonious.

Here in our home, bubble blankets are the latest fad.  (The water is only up to her belly button.  The rest is bubbles.)

Blueberries for Samantha

Berry Picking has been part of my life every year since childhood.  There have only been one or two years when I missed picking because I moved to a new state or country and didn't know where to go to pick that year.
I'm beyond thrilled to see that my daughter has taken an immediate shine to one of my favorite traditions. She immediately knew what to do.  I didn't give her a single instruction.

Sunshine Hallelujahs

Hallelujah, thank you Jesus, the sun is out!  After two months of very little sun, we've had several days of sun non stop.  We've taken our lunch outside every day.

Here in our home, when we spend time outside, we sleep deeper and we smile more.

Popsicles for Breakfast

Only when you've been up all night with a sore throat and fever you caught from Daddy, are you EVER allowed to have a popsicle for breakfast in my house.