Backwoods Wife

{pretty, happy, funny, real} - the last one of 2011

 

{pretty}

 

The Christmas tree at Mom and Dad's.

 

 The Bird!  (Actually half of it, we ate the other side in the first round of Christmas food!)

 

{happy}

Disbelief at the giant bag of - wait for it (it's SO hard to be patient when you're six and anxious to see if your Christmas wish has been granted!) - STAR WARS LEGO!

 

 The three best cowgirls I know!  And one of their wonderful Grandmas. :)

 

{funny}

 

The helium filled remote controlled shark that swam around us Christmas night.

 

 

What happens when an otherwise full space has been emptied for cleaning and reorganizing.  It gets filled up again alright, but not necessarily with what you thought was going back in there.  They wanted to sleep in there all night.

 

{real}

 

 Real princesses!

 

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Frog first!

I have a lot of holiday goodness to share but there is also a lot of pre and post Christmas chaos to tame.  We were all ill with a stomach bug the week before Christmas, so a lot of the things I had planned and hoped to do just didn't happen.  Anyway, I'm trying to get the least inspiring tasks overwith first and then I can blog to my heart's content without the chaos nagging me in the background.

I leave you with advice from Mark Twain -

"Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day."

It is well past morning now, but it still seems like good advice.  Get that one thing out of the way that seems worst to do, and the rest of your day will go better!

 

 

 

A wondering

So, last night Dwayne had a serious thought that made me giggle when I heard it.  He asked out loud if the usually well behaved kids come home with rotten behaviour, do the kids who usually exhibit rotten behaviour come home and act more well behaved and use better manners?  Haha!  I had this mental image of reformed bullies and brats coming home to astonished parents.  Does anyone know?  Perhaps behaviour swapping occurs like lunch bag swapping... ;)

{pretty, happy, funny, real}

 

~ Capturing the context of everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

 

[pretty]

We are still loving the decorations we made for Riley's birthday over the weekend.  They are so pretty!  They are also part of our happy these days, we smile each time we look at them.  She and I had a great morning together working on these.  They were simple and quick to make!  Here's the link if you wish to try them yourself:  http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/tissue-paper-pom-poms-how-to

 

 

[happy]

This is a happy sight each evening, Daddy and baby snuggled up together, each happy to sit with the other and chat about their day.

 

[funny]

I bought these little guys on etsy for a game that my grandma used to set up for her children and grandchildren over the month of December.  The elves find a new hiding place each evening after the children go to bed and the race is on in the morning to be the first to spot the elves.  However, these are vintage elves and not quite up to the imaginative play of a three year old and a five year old.  They are now both headless and in need of repair.  I did take a photo of them in their broken state but it looked too gruesome to post, so here they are, posed and ready for repair!

 

[real]

A much warmer than normal November.  We are NOT complaining about that.  We are staying wimpier longer as a result though.  -21C suddenly feels very cold.  After a week of -30C that will be the new warm.  I am waiting for the "normal" temperatures to return, but at the same time wishing that they hold off until the new year.

Christmas Crafting

This morning we had a little crafting play date at our house.  So much fun!  The older girls made clothespin doll ornaments and the younger two kiddos played with toys while we moms chatted and sipped coffee.  ~insert happy sigh here~  I do miss creative activities and will have to try harder to incorporate it into our days.  Scheduling it in might be the best way to go about it.  Put it on the calendar and it just might happen!  Thanks Ainsley, Megan, and kiddos for a great morning!

These ladies still need their faces finished, but you get the general idea. :)

 

I'm kicking myself now for not taking pictures while the kids were working... 

Hams!

Silly faces!

 

A very uncharacteristic face!  I don't think the flash impressed her.

Where's the line to see Jesus?

Happy birthday Riley!

We have been birthday partying around here the last couple of days.  A certain little miss is now 5 years old.  WOW!  She has had a wonderful time celebrating.  I think she's enjoyed the preparation of making the decorations and getting set up almost as much as the parties themselves.  We did a grown up friends and family cake party last night and a moms and kiddos play date this afternoon.  So much fun was had at both!  Riley was really pleased with and thankful for her gifts and so delighted by all the people who came to share in the fun.

Decorations

Angel costume

"Calculator/bank account"

 

Glow bracelets in the living room

 

The birthday girl and her daddy

 

Happy at the end of the day

 

Thank you to all who sent cards, presents, facebook wishes, came to play, gave hugs, made cakes, and otherwise contributed to a very happy birthday for our sweet Riley!