Gettin' My Pinterest On

So, I might have mentioned just how much I love Pinterest. It'll change your life a little bit!

Through Pinterest browsing, I've learned a lot about learning. I've fallen in love with the whole Montessori approach to education, which is largely based on sensory stimuli--language, culture and anything that can inform from the five senses.

When I see my girls playing; it's evident that everything informs their learning. So--to limit how I teach them to flash cards or books seems very one-dimensional.

So, I've sought out some Montessori-type activities/crafts that I can use to engage the girls. There are so many of these on Pinterest!

Most of these require some crafting on my part to get them ready for the girls. This one was my first attempt.

This is what the original looks like, just in case you don't click over:



Here were my supplies:

• 4"x2" box with lid on it from a craft store (the ones I got were a dollar each, or something like that).
• Paint. I chose 15 colors.
• Clothes pins. I opted not to use the ones that you have to pinch, because I could see them as potentially injury-causing, and I wasn't sure if their hands are strong enough yet.

The best part of this, is that all the clothespins fit neatly in the box.

The lid goes, and they can be put away. Easy storage.

At 22 months of age, my girls can match up the colors, although sometimes you have to point them to which side the color is on.

They are learning to manipulate the clothespin to fit over the edge of the box. Most of the time they're able to get a few on without assistance. 

They really enjoy doing this. They sign "colors" and ask for the box. I made two boxes, with the colors in different places for our girls.

It took me one naptime to get everything painted. It was ready to be use that same evening.

Cheap, quick, easy.

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I'd love for you to join our Mama Loves community! Do you have great ideas that make your life easier as a mama? Share them! Mama-ing is a tough gig sometimes. I've learned so much from my fellow mama bloggers! We'd love to read about what you're loving!

Quick Mama Loves tip for you today. Many of us depend on enjoy a nice cup of coffee in the morning. Want to get a taste of Christmas each morning? Sprinkle a little cinnamon in your coffee grounds before you brew your coffee. Yum! 

*Bonus--just 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon can lower cholesterol and help regulate blood sugar. Just one more reason to enjoy that cup of coffee!

It Is Well

Yesterday morning I watched the girls play peacefully. Happily. (1070)

They're awfully dang cute "doctoring" each other!!

I smile. I love it. Moments like those are sometimes fleeting. I savor them. Nurture them, even. (1071).

Just 18 hours previous, I was holding Hadley, who was crying in pain. Real pain.

I wanted, as every mama does, to take it all away. To bear it for her.

I began to sing It Is Well With My Soul as I rocked her and paced the floor.

Every time I sing that song, my thoughts go to the man who wrote it, Horatio Spafford.

Mr. Spafford lost his only son in the Chicago fire of 1881. Two years later, he lost all four of his daughters as their boat sank, Titanic-style, in the Atlantic, on the voyage to Europe. Only his wife survived.

Five children. Dead.

Can you imagine such sadness? Such loss? I have no words....

As his ship, on the voyage back to America, passed over the spot where his daughters perished, he wrote these words:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

And:

...though trials should come...
...Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

I often wonder if I could say that if something happened to our girls or Brad.

Remember when I wrote about Anna, who lost her son, Jack? Anna is blogging about this journey of sorrow. And really? She might be the bravest woman I've ever read. It's all there--this honest mix of anguish, hope, grief, joy, thankfulness, anger and humor. One thing she knows for certain in all this---it is well with her soul.

I want to be like that. No matter what happens, to seek God in everything, and whether my daughter is hurt, or I'm enduring something much worse---I can say, It is well with my soul.

A few more places I found God this past week:

1072. Compliments on the girls' behavior at church.

1073. Opportunities to serve.

1074. Community group.

1075. Drinking wine with Brad.

1076. Good health and quick healing.

1077. A sister who answers her phone when I really need her to.

1078. New recipes to try and ingredients to try them with.

Linking up with Jen, Ann and Heather.

Mama Loves: Pinterest

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! So glad that you've stopped by!

Mama Loves is a linky party where mamas can share anything that has made your life easier as a mama.

Maybe you've found: 

• a toy or book that captivates your child(ren)
• gear you just can't live without
• a recipe your choosy toddler gobbles down
• a parenting book that you've found perspective changing
• an activity that wears your kid(s) out (these lead to good naps, which we all love)
• an outfit that flatters your post-baby body and makes you feel fabulous
• or anything else you're loving--creativity welcome!

Share it with us! Blogging has made me a better mama, because I've learned about all kinds of great things, like those listed above, from mamas just like you. Here's your chance to share it with all of us!

To link your post up, click on the linky tool at the bottom, and follow the directions, it's really easy. You can also add this beautiful button to your post. Just grab the code in the box, copy and paste it into your post. Easy.

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• Check out lots of great Christmas gift ideas over here at Melissa's!
• Outgrown pack n plays? Find the perfect travel bed at Olusola's place.
• Keep your wee ones warm this winter. Check out Mandy's mama-must-have!
• Looking for a new, healthy (and tasty) breakfast treat? Check out Melissa's muffin recipe.
• Need a fun new activity for your toddler? Try a bubble table! Lauren will tell you all about it.  
• In a rush? Katie will tell you a great way to keep your toddlers safe without using a stroller.
• Feel like you never get anything accomplished? Try Wendy's handy tip!

So, Katie, Olusola, Wendy---you guys were right! Food pouches = awesome! They were the perfect travel treat for our girls over the Thanksgiving holiday! Hands down, one if the handiest inventions ever! Taking your toddlers out to eat? You need to get you some of these!

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Are you guys on Pinterest?

Pinterest is the greatest black hole of time. If I'm not careful, I can get on there Monday afternoon, and not emerge till Wednesday morning.

But I love it. And the girls kinda keep me from the whole Monday to Wednesday without a break thing.

I've suddenly become obsessed with finding engaging, challenging activities for the girls. Pinterest is full of those! Just check out a few that I've pinned (a.k.a bookmarked for those of you not down with the Pinterest lingo--get it? Pinterest. Pinned?). I've made/attempted a couple of these already, which I can't wait to share with you!

Our CSA, has given us some vegetables in our basket that have posed challenges for me. But, I can go on Pinterest, and type in "turnip recipes" or "cabbage recipes" and get hundreds of great ideas! Then, I can Pin those recipes on my own page to save and share.

You can follow me on Pinterest. If you don't already have an account, leave me your email address, and I'd be happy to send you an invite. And, if you're already on Pinterest, give me your info, so I can follow you!

Please join this big, wide world of Pinterest. Just don't blame me if you're unable to account for hours of your life. You've been warned.

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The one where I talk about llamas and dragons

So, my blogging mojo seems to have plummeted along with the temperatures this week.

Instead of giving you a bunch of congruent thoughts tied together, I'll give you some random stuff from the past week and a half.

*It may or may not be a sign from God that you should just turn around and go home when your kid yacks all over herself and the carseat 10 minutes into a six hour car ride.

*We chose keep driving.

*The smell of yack on the carseat doesn't go away very easily.

*Since we spent Thanksgiving in Milwaukee, we brought our girls' snow suits, hats and mittens along in preparation for the cold temperatures.

*It was at least 50 degrees every day we were there.

*This mama's heart was so blessed that the girls' Masa and Masi baby-proofed the house before our arrival (1064).

*Eye infections in toddlers really suck (and keep coming back).

*Antibiotic drops really do work (1065). 

*I'd rather hug a porcupine than put drops in the girls' eyes. 

*Someone needs to invent a way to make that process easier. There's lots of money to be made there.

*The girls learned two really important signs from their Masi and Masa. 1) dragon 2) llama (1066)

*You just never know when you might run into a dragon or a llama. It's good to prepare your kids for this.

*Watching the girls play "doctor" with their new doctor kit is awesome! (1067)

*Did you know that 25% of toddlers know how to operate smart phones? I have no idea what they're talking about.

*Having someone else read the same books over and over and over (andoverandoverandoverandover) to the girls is good. (1068)



*You never realize just how long Dr. Seuss books are until you have to read the 50+ pages at least 12 times a day. (1069)

Mama Loves: Good Libations

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! So glad that you've stopped by!

Mama Loves is a linky party where mamas can share anything that has made your life easier as a mama.

Maybe you've found:

• a toy or book that captivates your child(ren)
• gear you just can't live without
• a recipe your choosy toddler gobbles down
• a parenting book that you've found perspective changing
• an activity that wears your kid(s) out (these lead to good naps, which we all love)
• an outfit that flatters your post-baby body and makes you feel fabulous
• or anything else you're loving--creativity welcome!

Share it with us! Blogging has made me a better mama, because I've learned about all kinds of great things, like those listed above, from mamas just like you. Here's your chance to share it with all of us!

To link your post up, click on the linky tool at the bottom, and follow the directions, it's really easy. You can also add this beautiful button to your post. Just grab the code in the box, copy and paste it into your post. Easy.

<center><a href="http://pontificationsofatwinmom.blogspot.com/search/label/Mama%20Loves" target="_blank"><img alt="Manic Mother" src="http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv66/MaAldrich/MamaLovesButtoncopy.jpg"/></a></center>

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I hope you're all enjoying the beginning of this holiday season. Good conversation with family and friends, good food, good drink. It all makes me breathe a happy sigh.

Most evenings, after the girls have gone to bed, I enjoy a nice glass of red wine (or two).

Every once in awhile, I enjoy a sweet treat to go along with my wine.

Recently, a friend introduced me to a delectable indulgence that combines wine and sweet treats together.

ChocoVine.

 
Friends, mamas---if you enjoy chocolate, and a good libation every now and then. You should give this a whirl.

Seriously.

Your taste buds will dance and sing and twirl!

And, for $10, it makes an inexpensive hostess gift for all those holiday parties you'll be attending (buy an extra bottle as a present for yourself while you're at it).

Anyone find any great shopping deals they want to share? Can't wait to see what you're loving this week!

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Pirate Ship

Today, I am thankful for pirate ships, my friends.

Let me explain.

This past week, it was my turn to be sick. My husband was leaving town for three days, so I went to Urgent Care (1050) and got some good drugs (1051) before he left.

This wasn't the "out of commission" type of sick (1052), just the "cough, blow your nose, talk like a frog" kinda sick.

Kids don't really get it when you don't feel well. They still want you to read the same books to them over and over again (1053). I really am so very grateful that they love books, my throat on the other hand, was begging for a break.

During nap the girls' nap, the kind UPS man, who always quietly delivers to our door (1054), placed a very large box of diapers on our front door (1055).

I unpacked the box, and decided to leave it out for the girls to play with.

I told them it was a boat.

We decorated our boat (1056).

We love pirates around here. The girls will tell you that pirates say Arrrrh! Brynne has also been singing Yo-ho, Yo-ho around the house lately (1057), which is so cute I could just die. We have pirate bath toys too. Yup, we love pirates around here. So...we decided to make our boat...

...a pirate ship (1058).

We put on the appropriate attire (1059:

The girls filled their boat with their baby dolls, books, and toys for the journey (1060). Then, we sailed all around the living room.

Our pirate ship is the greatest and grandest ship in all the seven seas, and daily provides the girls with lots of imaginative fun (1061). 

Finding them like this completely blesses my heart (1062):

Two girls smiling at the camera is aaaarh-guably the cutest thing ever (1063).

Rest

As I type, it's a rainy, gloomy Sunday. The entire house is asleep. It's peaceful.

I listen to the gentle patter of rain.

My thoughts go to the idea of rest.

Sabbath rest.



As a mama, I feel the constant demand of mama-ing.

When the girls are awake I feed them, dress them, fix their hair, read to them, play with them, teach them, change diapers, referee disputes, and kiss bumps and bruises.

When the girls are asleep, I prepare meals, mend torn books, fold laundry, clean, straiten, organize, have my own meal, and sit down for just a moment to catch my breath. All, so I can do the above list all over again when they wake up.

It's constant, and I find myself questioning, even agonizing over whether it's enough. Mama-ing is an important job, after all. Tending to God's sheep.

In all of that, I often forget. I'm a sheep too.

I need rest. Physical rest, yes. More importantly, I need soul rest.

I need to intentionally sit and bask in the delight that God takes in me, his sheep, his daughter. I need to let the words, ...it is very good... that Jesus spoke when he created me, soak into my soul.

None of my lists above do anything to change God's delight and pleasure in who I am. Meditating on that is freeing, and brings great rest to my soul.

Practically? How do I do this?

Connecting with God is such a personal and intentional thing. Praying and reading the Bible are such Sunday school answers. While important and necessary, connecting with God is so much more than that.

I find Sabbath rest in my garden. He makes my flowers lovely and our vegetables flourish--that beauty seeps into my soul. Even in the winter--the bones of last year's growth is full of beautiful promise.

I find Sabbath rest in a good glass of wine. The complex flavors dance over my tounge--I whisper, Thank you, Jesus.

I find Sabbath rest in words. Writing. Reading. Listening.

How do you find Sabbath rest?