mom in the wilderness

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Monday, February 15, 2016

To My Valentines

Of course, I have quite a few Valentines.

But these are by far the cutest.

Mardi Gras baby sitting day (because schools and day care take a holiday for Mardi Gras) was combined with a Valentine party. We had Valentine candy and pizza and made a Valentine banner.

Pink and red hearts were pre-cut before the party. Each chose sizes and colors of the hearts they wanted. We lined them up and taped them together. And applied puffy heart stickers to our heart banners.

And the littlest one put all her puffy heart stickers on all by herself.

Happy Valentines Day to all my Valentines:

❤️ husband

❤️ kids and their spouses and girlfriends

❤️ grand kiddos

❤️ sisters

❤️ brother

❤️ And, blogger friends

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

The Latest in Pageants

The I'm After the Sunburst Nationals, there was Cinderella Preliminary. Always a great pageant. We've done every year.

Brynlee at just 1 year cried and wasn't happy. Which has been her usual routine lately at pageants. She placed Cinderellja Baby Photogenic.

And Brooklyn Cinderella Tiny Tot Overall Queen. Yay!! She did great.

The Walker Pine Tree Festival Pageant we've also participated in every year.

Brooklyn 3rd runner up.

She loves pageants.

Brynlee did awesome. No crying. No fussing. Walked out on stage by herself. But did not place. But that's ok.

A Circus Circus pageant. Just for fun. It was beauty dress and OOC.

They both got 3rd place.

Brooklyn in beauty dress.

Brooklyn a pop corn vendor.

Brynlee in beauty dress.

And little circus lion.

And a Christmas Angels pageant.

Christmas Angels

Brynlee - 1st, best fashion

Brooklyn - Princess (next to Queen), most beautiful, best personality, photogenic, and overall photogenic

She is so into pageants and going on stage.

And the Southern States Expo.

Brynlee - Prettiest eyes.

Brooklyn- Queen and best fashion

It's been fun.

Friday, January 1, 2016

End of 2015

Every year we say the year just flew by. Yet if we stop and reflect back on the year we've really crammed a lot into 365 days.

There is work 5 days aweek. There is 13 family birthdays to celebrate. That's averages one a month with holidays to celebrate threw in the mix. There's always vacation, house maintenance, yard work, hobbies, shopping, and boring tasks that take up the days in between. There's visiting and caring and helping family and friends. There's church and doctor appointments if you went. And a hundred other happenings I left out.

The last night of the year is a goodbye to the old and hello to the new.

So as we say every year at this time HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Santa gifts

We stopped to see the grands' Santa gifts. What fun!

Cohen, all of 3 and 1/2 years old is officially a dirt bike rider. With training wheels and the cutest helmet.

He's good at driving and the gas and the brakes. Just like his daddy.

And the girls a Elsa Frozen jeep. So cute. And they, too, can drive. Pushing the electric gas and steer.

Who doesn't like Santa? Except when you take your picture with him.

Monday, December 28, 2015

Joyful, Joyful Christmas

I'm

Christmas is the best. Everyone's on their best behavior, sharing, giving, receiving. Nothing could be nicer.

As our tradition goes we say grace and eat first. To get it out of the way. People can go back and eat more anytime later in the day.

We always read the Christmas story next. It's so sweet that the little ones are learning the Christmas Story.

At Thanksgiving Dinner we draw names for Christmas gift giving. By Christmas Day we're ready to exchange our Christmas gifts to each other. We've only been planning and waiting for a month.

Even adults tear into their gifts.

Kids again.

Adults again.

It was a Very Merry Christmas.

Christmas 2015 Starting at left around the couch -

Julie, Cohen, Brandon, Peggy, Bobbie, Jennifer, Chris, Brynlee, Larry (just the corner of his head), and Trent

Starting at left on floor -

Me, Joy (the new rescue dog of Trent and Natalie, thus the post title), Natalie, and Brooklyn in Natalie's lap.

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Pre-Christmas Day

And It's become a tradition. Fun. Joy. Peace. Christmasy. And everything tied into one.

Just me and the little ones for a full day of Christmas stuff. The pawpaw was in and out, mainly for lunch.

A pizza lunch with Christmas snacks was on the menu. We wait for the pizza delivery guy, the door bell rings, the dog barks fiercely and everyone bombards the pizza guy at the door.

Then there's project Rudolph. We've also done this same tradition at Easter with a bunny and egg project and Halloween with pumpkins and black cat projects. And I've got a Valentine Day in the plans.

We all had a special Christmas hat to wear for the day. Cohen - Star Wars. Brooklyn - Elsa. Brynlee - Olaf. And me the Santa Red Hat. These three year olds are very into crafting.

Even the 18 month old can make her own Rudolph. She keeps up with the big ones.

Rudolph's all done!

Then we sang Christmas songs. Turned a Christmas movie on. And opened gifts

that I brought just for today.

And played the rest of the day. Games and snacks over and over.

And no nap!! They love me for that.

We took a walk around the block to get some sunshine and look at the outside Christmas decorations at all the neighbors.

One happy day with me and them.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Plus More October Celebrations

The youngest of the middle generation turned 3-0 . Geez, time flies. So the family birthday cake for the month of October goes to Brooklyn for 3 years and Trent for the end of the 20's.