Poem from My Husband

I received this poem this morning from my husband via email.  I really needed it.  I think all mothers would appreciate a poem like this...

By Byron McCoy

To A Mother

She holds the toughest job

That the world has ever known:

To raise and love two little ones

Until they're fully grown.

To everyone holding witness,

They swear that she is blessed,

But with anointed saintliness

There comes no day of rest.

Then come the day, alas,

When they are wholly grown

She'll stare with joy and broken-heart

As they go out on their own.

Still, she'll love them every day

In her unique and special way,

A love unbound and like no other:

That for a child by their mother.

Here's to all the times

When I neglect to pay my dues

To all the miracles at home,

You daily, always, do.

I know they're only words

Written to a page, but

"Thank you" and "I love you"

Are what I wish to say.

Kids Craft # 3

Kids' Valentines

My friend Megan inspired me to get our kids' hands documented more often than what I was doing.  I tried doing hand printed projects in the past but the kids did not want anything to do with it!  Therefore I broke the process up into a few days.  

The kids' handprints will be used for Valentines during this LOVEly season as well as pictures for their artwork frames that we have in our playroom (see below).

The frames are from Lil' Davinci Child Genius by Dynamic Frames

Homemade Craft # 4

Chalkboard Wine Bottles

I got this idea from a book a friend sent me recently.  With all the wine that we drink around here it's so easy to accumulate bottles! And these make such fun gifts!!

I ordered the chalk board spray paint off Amazon because our local Walmart didn't have any chalkboard paint.  The spray paint makes the process so incredibly fast! 

The chalk I found at Walmart was super inexpensive and the ribbon I used to tie the chalk onto the bottle was left over from Christmas ribbon.  

There are endless possibilities to these fun bottles!

Kids Craft # 2

Letter a Week

When I was growing up, I went to a wonderful woman's home while my mom went to work. This woman's name is Miss Joyce, or as some other's call her "Mom Mom".  Because of this woman I have made life-long friends, have respect for life more than I possibly would without her, and instill education in our children that she taught us while we were not in school.  

Below is an example of something that I have been working on every week with our children: A letter a week with 4 letter-related pictures.  I draw them because I feel like it makes each picture more personal and Miss Joyce used to draw the pages for us before we all could afford printers.

Every week I see a different fine motor skill develop with each child. And my husband is thrilled to see his children come to the refrigerator and point to the pictures and learn a new word almost everyday!

Happy Reminders

There are absolutely times that I feel I need to remind myself these.

Whether you are a stay at home mom or a 9-5er working at a desk you can get down in a rut.  

Remind yourself this and your day may turn out a little brighter 

Thanks Katie :)

Homemade Craft # 3

Walnut Monogrammed Ornaments

For our Christmas present from my husband and me to our family members (parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents) we made personalized walnut ornaments.  

The wood came from my in-laws' neighbors' yard (thanks!) and after my husband cut each of the ornaments I drew and painted the letters of the first initial of the last names.  We sprayed a polyurethane finish on the ornaments so they could last for a long time.  Some family members will use it as a coaster, as an ornament, or will hang it on their wall all year long :)  

I want to do this again!

Kids Craft # 1

It's cold outside and there aren't very many places to take the kids around our area for them to play.  In order for them to get some educational, artistic fun I decided to incorporate colors, counting, and ocean animals in this ocean scene.  Once I introduced the colors and animals the kids were able to place the animals and seagrass where they thought best.

 I placed their artwork on the fridge. The kids come up to their picture and point out colors and animals they can say.