My Little Loves

Things we do...

We have been without TV for over two years now.  It is by far one of the best decisions we have ever made for our family.  That being said, yes, we actually do have a TV unit.  It has been moved up to an upstairs room where the kids can play Wii or watch a DVD (we aren't completely unplugged).  What I mean is that we do not have 'TV' as in any broadcasted shows.  People sometimes look at me weird and ask me why.  I just don't think it improves my families life.  I do not miss the commercials taunting things we do not need.  I do not miss the news telling me about the latest perversion or crime.  I do not miss shows that make me lose brain cells or ones that capture so much of your attention that it takes time away from living life or spending time with the kids.  Mostly I do not miss the inappropriate crap that is shown during the shows and in-between the shows that are supposedly kid-friendly.  

If I need to know the weather forecast, I can look it up on the computer in a minute.  My mom will call me to tell me if I need to watch out for a tornado or something (I do have a weather radio).  I still keep up on current events by checking news links.  If there is something I need to know or watch (stuff for homeschool, recipes, or what have you), I can specifically look it up on the computer and be done.  Yes the computer can taunt you and drag you into the next rabbit hole (I'm talking to you Pinterest), but most times I find it easier to walk away.  Don't get me wrong, I still get an urge to veg out in front of the TV every once in awhile, and I can easily stream in an old show on the computer (and have on occasions). 

 

So what do we do with our time? 

 

Audio stories...

Adventures in Odyssey (great for the 8-10 range - 1/2 hour audio drama teaching moral and biblical principles)

Jonathan Park Radio Dramas (adventures based on real places and scientific discoveries)

Lamplighter (excellent character trait building stories)

 

Puzzles...

Sometimes the 750 variety that lasts for days.  Sometimes the quick 101 piece puzzles that take 10 minutes...

 

Read Aloud Books...

Currently reading Black Stallion.  We try to read a chapter a day together - most times when the one chapter ends, Nissa begs for another.

 

Games...

Some of our favorites are Fish Stix, Zingo, Ticket to Ride, and Monopoly Jr.

 

Play...

...whatever they want to play.  Just go with whatever silly idea they come up with - obstacle courses in the basement, monster, make a workout video (yes, Nissa wanted to do that one).  

 

Movie night...

Sometimes you just need to chill (I'm talking me here).  50 lbs of popcorn should do the trick.  (fyi - we are a big air-popped popcorn family...more specifically Boden.  This bag is mainly for him)...

 

Go for a walk, ride our bikes, fish, sled, etc...

I want the kids to enjoy being active, so we try to encourage time together walking on the trail behind our home.  It's in these moments when we feel really connected as a family.

 

Read, read, and read some more...

I am firm believer that kids follow your lead.  Read for yourself.  Read to your kids.  Do a bible study.  Learn something new.  Grow your mind.  Share what you are learning with your family, and have them share with you.  It gives you things to talk about together.

 

Hobbies...

Get a hobby.  Sew, knit, paint, play legos, exercise, cook, garden, read, build a model train set (insert your own passion here).  Find something that interests you and do it.  Teach them your hobby, or try to learn something new together!

 

Now don't get to thinking I believe we have it all figured out - far, far, far from it.  Sometimes we are in the living room and I'm reading, Ryan's listening to a podcast, kids are playing a computer game or ipod, or what have you.  Sometimes we are just staring at each other bored to tears.  Sometimes we all go our separate ways.  Sometimes I'm counting down the minutes til the kids go to bed when it's been one of those days.  You get the drift.  Nobody has it figured out, but being TV-less has brought my family closer together.

Coming out of hibernation...

If you haven't heard, Indiana had a large snowstorm a little over a week ago with some very frigid temperatures.  So cold, in fact, that I hadn't ventured out of the house for 6 days.  Not even to the mailbox.  

While my nature is to be constantly on the move, I soon found myself settling into the everyday life of just staying put.  As the week progressed, I found myself enjoying it more and more.  When the week was over and the weather warmed, it felt strange to put on pants without elastic and wear shoes again.

What did I do to pass the time?

Baked this yummy cinnamon bread ring...

Baked these soft wheat pretzels...

Made lots of soups and dishes out of this recipe book...

Listened to this music...

Worked out to this, this, and this DVD...

Read this book...

Played lots of games with this beautiful girl...

During that week and after, Boden could be found dabbling in picture taking...

 Here are some of his shots...

 

Let it snow!

I have to say that I love snow.  I love the way it swirls about and covers the trees.  I love how it buries objects leaving snow mounds in a multitude of designs to be unearthed at the next rise in temperature.  It's a constant reminder to me of the power and beauty of God's world.  We've been spending much of our day outside enjoying the huge snowstorm that started this morning.  Two enormous piles of snow accumulated near the street and at the edge of the sidewalk from our attempts and keeping the driveway clear.  One mountain had been turned into a sledding hill and the other a snow cave!

 

Back in the saddle...

It has been a long time since I've blogged.  My camera has been collecting dust and needs to get back into action.  I think I pretty much have a year of my kids lives undocumented by pictures.  Shame on me!  My thought process was that it's like groundhog day around here....get up, homeschool, go to bed...rinse, repeat.  But you know what?  There really are tiny moments that I should capture, so I decided that is something I need to change this year.  More pictures.  More posts.  I will start with my favorite from 2013...

Funniest...picture...ever.  Boden had this new army set and wanted me to take some pictures of him with some of the gear.  He was so serious about his poses.  I can't help but laugh at this particular one every time I see it!

We were hanging outside in our robes and pjs yesterday morning.  The 20 degree temp didn't bother us much because we like to play with our new outdoor cat Boden named Dottie.  He's not actually ours, but we feed him and love up on him so much that he comes to our back door everyday and waits til we see him.  That is my kind of pet.  

Nissa and her cousin Emma at Christmas time..

Boden and cousin Owen working on Legos.  Well, Bodie is trying to distract Owen with the directions so he doesn't bother him while he's working on his Legos...

Rocking out with his little guitar...

Lego creation that I was supposed to submit to the Lego Magazine for the Christmas contest...whoops!  Guess it can get some love on the blog...

The boys like bonding upstairs with a Lego wii game...

Post Christmas chillin'....

Happy new year!!

 

 

Spring time antics...

Boden is sending a picture of this Lego creation he calls "Robot Land" to Lego Magazine.  He told me he is going to be famous...how cute!

Chilling at the park...

Enjoying the first frozen treat of the season from the ice cream man...

My dad on the swing....hilarious!!...

Fires and smores!!...

Earth Day...

Last Friday our local Anthropologie was hosting a terrarium making class for kids to celebrate Earth Day.  Of course I had to sign right up for that when I heard about it.  Anthro, plants, crafts - some of my top favorite things!

My favorite sales gal, Brooke, was leading the class.  They had it decorated so nicely too but that is to be expected at Anthro!  There were all green snacks such as snap peas, celery, and zucchini as well as popcorn, sparkling perrier, and lime sherbet punch.

What a great item to take home.  The kids had a great time and I got to peek around at the new spring offerings there.  Win win for everyone!!!

Science kids...

In homeschool, we have been studying rocks - specificially memorizing the three basic types of rocks:  igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.  I purchased a rock kit from Scholastic so that we could actually see and handle the rocks that we were learning about and do so in a fun way.   The kit contained 9 rocks, three of which were in a block that the kids had to 'unearth' with a wooden stick and brush.  There was also a book enclosed so that we could identify the various types.

We have also been learning about volcanos.  Ryan picked up a Kitchen Science kit from Hobby Lobby and Boden has been quite eagerly attempting the volcano experiment...

Necklaces...

Nissa bought Boden a friendship necklace this past week.  She has gotten, given, or lost a few of these over the past year and I know Boden has been feeling left out.  We were at Justice the other day and Nissa let him pick out the one he liked the best for them to wear.  He took the black guitar and Nissa took the pink one.  It's been interesting to see how these two have really started to play well together and show love to each otherover the past several weeks.  Somedays I've felt like I was going to pull my hair out from all the arguing and fighting but for some reason things have finally turned a corner.  Boden has been obeying us and becoming a helper and doer.  I'm really proud of him.  He's getting to be such a big boy now.

Best Buddies...

Love my family!

Murder Mystery Party....80's style...

We hosted an 80's Reunion murder mystery party a few weeks back.  It was so much fun!  Everyone really got into their characters by what they wore and how they intermingled.  Look at all my amazing friends:

The Valedictorian and Band Guy...

The Newspaper Reporter and School Gossiper...

The Punk and Drama Queen...

The Stud (who shaves his head normally but was that night sporting a real woman's wig!!) and Pom Pom Captain...  

The Class President and Hall Pass Monitor...

AV Geek turned Movie Director and the Class Flirt...

The hostess in my 80's rocker outfit.  Total outfit from Charlotte Russe - $20 bucks!..

The Football Captain and Head Cheerleader...

This just speaks for itself...

The kit we purchased for the party came from A Night of Mystery.  I'd highly recommend that company.  It was really well laid out for a novice like me.  The party rolled fairly smoothly except for when it was time to have all the lights go out.  I had a couple lamps on so I had to casually turn those off which ended up not looking to casual before turning off the ceiling lights.  Ha!