The Answering Machine Captures it All

Yesterday we were finishing up some chores before heading out for some errands. The phone rang and seeing that it was a friend of E and knowing that she couldn't play I chose to ignore it. I heard the answering machine come on, but didn't hear the message. Right after that the friend showed up at the door. She doesn't live close, so her mom would have to drop her off. The kids filled her in on what what was going on and let her know that E couldn't play. Luckily her mom was still out there and took her home.

I later listened to the answering machine. It went something like this:
"Hi is E there. Hi E can you play? You can?"
Her mom in the background, "Have her ask her mom."
"Ask your mom. She said yes? Okay I'll be right over"

A little 5 year old had this whole conversation on the answering machine. She hasn't figured out yet that the answering machine records everything you say to it.

The Key is...

A few year ago M was playing with our keys. They suddenly disappeared and he couldn't remember for the life of him where it could be. We scoured the house and found things like the channel changer, some loose coins, my brothers keys which had been lost at least 5 years earlier (all in the couch), but no keys.

A few weeks later, while going through the pantry, I decided I should check the wheat to make sure it wasn't infested with anything discusting (obviously it isn't used enough). There in the wheat bag was the keys. I questioned M about this to find that he was playing a game. Drop them in and then put your hand in and grab and see if you get them. He didn't get them...and they ended up being left there.

When the keys dissapeared this time I remembered distinctly E offering them to me as I was leaving with R. I told her I didn't need them and asked her to put them back. Only they weren't back...and it was time to take the carpool. After searching everywhere I could think of I called the school to ask her. She informed me she had put them back.

We borrowed Grandma's car and ran the carpool to school then went and got and the extra key from R.

Later that day Hadley is so excited. She pulls the keys out of her purse. (One of several purses). She had put them in there the night before, but had forgotten.

I think we were lucky to have had her find them so soon.

Tree Hunt

One of our favorite traditions is going up into the mountains, finding a tree, and cutting it down for our Christmas tree.

This tradition started the first year we were married. We went up with Stan and Andrea and another friend. A few years later we had kids and they started coming. We have hiked in the snow. We have rented snowshoes. We have snowmobilled and fourwheeled. We finally bought our own snow shoes.

Each year the trees get better...or we get better at finding them.

This year was no exception.

A few years back we started spending the night a house my parents owned in Daniels. When the babies were young we stayed back with them and prepared a warm meal for the others to come home to. The home in Daniels has been sold so this year we stayed at a cabin my parents rented. We have slowly pulled them into this tradition. They don't get the tree, but they come and have fun with us (as well as making things more adventurous with fourwheelers and snowmobilles.)

This year we had everyone but Jo up there.

Again, another wonderful memory to share.

A new found blog

I love the simplicity of this girls projects.
I really want to try the white layered cutouts for my more whimisical Christmas room.
I'll take a pic if I do.
Photo is from her site www.alittlehut.blogspot.com

Poetry

A few years back Grandma made J a three ringed binder. Inside were the words to The Night Before Christmas. A few phrases were included on the bottom of each page and J then made the illustrations.
We love that book and pull it out each Christmas.

This year J is memorizing the poem for school.
So fun to have some meaning behind it.


Choose a favorite poem or story and type it up leaving room for illustrations. Then let your kids go to work. It's a great way to keep them busy while they are getting so excited about the upcoming events.

Here's another advent

This is one girls interpretation of Martha.

Makes me want to try it!

http://www.aliedwards.typepad.com/ is where I got the picture. She also is sharing a downloadable pdf of ideas to do during advent.

Time To Start Planning For The Holidays

This is from Target. $29.99
I saw something similar to this last year and have wished I had purchased it.
My sister in law did purchase it and then planned out 25 activities for December...from hot chocolate to skip school and go the big city.
I am starting to plan. I would love to hear your ideas.

Here is another advent calendar. I like the simplicity of it.
This is from Martha's site.