One of the highlights of my holiday season was snuggling my brand new niece. It was a freaky-fine miracle that all members of the extended fam were healthy so we could relish having a new babe around and take turns holding her without sneezing all over her.
And when I say take turns, I mean every now and then, one of us would pry her from Nana’s arms.
Last night, my girlfriends and I went out to a movie and some much-needed post-holiday catch-up time. My friend Jenny and I ended the night like we often do, sitting in a minivan way later than when we intended to go home (so, like 10:00) talking about parenting and relationships and mindful living and Michael Jackson.
Yesterday morning, the first snowstorm of the season dumped a nice, heavy 6+ inches of the white stuff on our town.
It was a gorgeous sight to wake to – that rolling blanket of untouched white spread across the yard out back, the shimmer of streetlight cast upon the smooth surface out front.
Greetings, friends!
Are you partied out? We are two days deep in holiday festivities, and now awaiting the arrival of out-of-town relatives so we can celebrate my aunt and the hubs’s late December birthdays.
The kids have been pretty awesome this last couple days. Minimal fighting. Mostly good manners. Fair display of gift-receiving gratitude.
Hello, Dearests!
I don’t know why I thought a few days before Christmas was a good time for this, but for whatever reason, I sat down at the computer and wrote a post about a time I was a big fat jerk. Click here to read all about it!
May your holidays be merry and jerk-free.
XOXO Stacy
While I addressed a mountain of Christmas cards this morning, my husband and I chatted about how a task that is an absolute nightmare for some is one of the highlights of my season.
No, I’m not talking about leaving the lights on every time I come up from the basement, or chronically abandoning my empty travel mugs in the car. I’m not talking about taking off my jewelry at night and leaving it on the bathroom counter, or neglecting the mail for days.
I’m not even talking about answering my phone when it rings (Sorry, Mom).
As a mom of three boys (6, 4,and 2), I’ve seen a lot of books, toys and trinkets come into the house over the last few years. I’ve sold or donated action figures galore. I’ve tossed broken bits of plastic toys and recycled dozens of plot-less, pointless books.
Some items, though, have withstood the test of time and earned their place of honor in the playroom closet. Here, I present to you my (unsponsored and unbiased) list of favorites that inspire creativity, imagination and/or problem solving in kids — the picky mom’s guide to gift giving, if you will.
Hey Everybody!
This Sunday is the first day of the Christian season of Advent, and I’ve got a new post up over at Her View from Home that’s full of suggestions for creating a rich and meaningful Advent, including some ways I intend to bring Advent to life for my kids.
I hope you’ll give it a read, then share with me the special ways you do Advent in your home.
Have a relaxing and connected Thanksgiving with the ones you adore!
Stacy
On Friday afternoons, my dear Kristen comes over for a little accountability group, which translates to three cups of coffee, catching up on all the THINGS that have happened since last week, and then glancing at the clock eight minutes before she has to leave to pick up her kids from school and saying, “Oh, wow, I guess we should group!”
REVISIONS OF GRANDEUR 