Toss the Turkey, Trim the Tree!

After eating leftover turkey for a few days, I have just about all the turkey I can stand for now. I promise I won't toss it though! Instead I will put it in the freezer, forget it's there, find it in six months, question it's edibility, and THEN toss it. I feel much better about it that way, don't you?

I had a great time over the Thanksgiving holiday spending time with my family. It was nice to sleep in each morning and spend the days together. We did a little bit of shopping, but only after the Black Friday crowds had ebbed. We also got out the Christmas decor!

Honey Mommy and Daddy put up the tree one day and then decorated it over the next two days. The boys were so excited to put the ornaments on the tree! We explained that trees are to look at, not touch... so we'll see how many ornaments we find around the living room in the coming weeks.

I have to say it sure was nice to have some help reaching those high branches!

I think the tree turned out to be quite lovely, don't you?

Sometimes I like to sit and look at the tree all lit up in the dark, when the house is quiet and still. It helps me find the peace and joy in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

For Thanksgiving I had planned to put up a post full of photos of the things that I am most thankful for. Then this afternoon I got busy doing this instead...

I think it was time well spent, don't you? Jonah and I had a great time making hand print turkeys together!

I also realized that what I am most thankful for can be summed up in this photo:

My husband and two beautiful sons fill my life with love, happiness and laughter. I am so thankful they are a part of my life.

I am doubling up on Wordful Wednesday and Photostory Friday so I can spend more time with my family. Have a fun holiday weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hosted by Cecily

Best Thanksgiving Picture Books

Have I ever told you that I love being a Librarian?

The best part about my current part-time job at the public library is working at the children's reference desk. I only work a few evenings a week, but each morning after I have been to work Jonah asks me excitedly, "Mommy, did you bring me some new books from your library?!"

I love looking at all the picture books, and choosing the best ones to bring home. I also get first crack at the holiday books, which is awesome! I know Thanksgiving is almost here, but thought I would share with you my two favorite Thanksgiving books. I plan to purchase these books to so I can have them for next year.

"Run, Turkey, Run!" by Diane Mayr is sure to get your kids giggling and involved in the story.

Turkey knows is is almost Thanksgiving and the farmer is coming for him! So Turkey tries to hide in various places on the farm in hopes of tricking the farmer. Each time the farmer discovers the Turkey you get to repeat the line "Run, Turkey, Run!" which Jonah thought was hilarious!

This story has a fun ending that even had the moms at story time laughing... but you'll have to read the book to find out what happens!

Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes is a wonderful book about the spirit of gratitude that should be present in our Thanksgiving celebrations.

I love the rhyming text that helps remind kids of all the good and fun things that we have to be thankful for:

Thanks for umbrellas, for rain boots and puddles.
Thank you for Mommy and warm cozy cuddles.

The illustrations by Doris Barrette are really the icing on the cake for this book. They are absolutely GORGEOUS. I love the beautiful rich colors and attention to detail on each and every page.

I love these books, and so do my boys. So if you are looking for some fun Thanksgiving books, these are not only Librarian-Mommy recommended, they are also kid approved!

I am always looking to build my collection... so tell me, What are your favorite Thanksgiving books?

Winter Winds

The wind is HOWLING outside this evening! It is blowing so hard that our neighbor's trash can blew across the street to rest in the gutter in front of our house. It isn't just the wind either... the skies are heavy and wet, and the temperature oustide is dropping. We are sure to get a winter storm overnight and may even have snow in the morning.

Typically I am not a big fan of cold weather and snow. I like to stay warm and bundled up inside. However, in the past year my newly found love for photography has helped me to see the beauty of all the seasons. Even the approaching winter.

Instead of moaning and groaning about the cold, ice and snow (which I still do a little), I find myself looking at the world with new eyes. I look at things a little more closely and am amazed at the beauty I see.

Isn't is amazing how looking through the lens can completely change your perspective?

Brotherly Fighting, Brotherly Love

My two boys are starting to get a little better at playing together. Now that Eli is gaining speech skills, it is a little easier for them to get along. This is welcome news for me because now I don't always have to be the entertainer!

Of course there are still the inevitable misunderstandings and little temper flares.... and one boy smacks his brother on the head with a disputed toy. The funny thing is that the aggressor isn't necessarily the bigger, older brother.

So we have been working on playing nice together... and enforcing consequences (time outs) and saying sorry when we don't quite play so nice.

I don't appreciate the fighting, but what I do love is when Eli gets to tell Jonah he is sorry. It always ends up with a hug, which makes my heart smile.


Hosted by Cecily and Sue

It's Beginning to Look a Bit Like Winter!

I guess I can't pretend that it is still Autumn! Winter appears to be arriving in my little corner of the world. The past week or so it has been getting COLD. There has been occasional snow flurries that melt within a few hours, and temperatures are now dipping below zero overnight. This means that we wake up to find frost on everything!

I actually think that the frost can actually be really pretty! The grass and the leaves are all lightly frosted... like they got sprinkled with powdered sugar.

I think little ice crystals are very beautiful!

Especially since it's not my car window that is covered with ice! Thank heaven for a two car garage!

Fire Engine Fun

When we drove past the local cemetery a few days ago I had to do a double-take.

What are fire trucks doing at the cemetery?

I was a little confused because I couldn't think of anything that could possibly be on fire... but my boys definitely weren't confused, they were excited!

Look at the firetrucks, Mommy! Wow! Look at all the hoses!

Of course we had to stop and stare watch. The firemen had their hoses spread out down the driveway and were walking along them. I finally decided that they must have been checking for leaks or cleaning the hoses out or something.

We stayed long enough to watch the firemen turn on the fire hydrant and spray some water out one of the hoses! It was perfect entertainment for two little boys and we didn't even have to be in danger to see it.

I am sure that the firemen were entertained too. I had tried to look nonchalant by driving around the cemetery a little, but I think that pointing my camera with its big lens out my window while the boys cheered from the backseat probably blew it for me. Oh well!

Winner! Ecostore USA $25 Gift Certificate

Who says that the first person to enter a giveaway never wins?! Well here's proof that isn't true!

The winner of my Ecostore USA $25 Gift Certificate is Marilyn! She has confirmed her win already, so congratulations!

Thanks to all those who entered and thank you Ecostore USA for sponsoring the giveaway!

Adventures in Parenting- The Cyclist and the Missing Boy

The weather was so nice earlier this week that Honey Daddy rode his bike to work. Later in the afternoon I thought I saw him ride into the carport on his bike. So I told Jonah he could go outside and say "Hi!" to Daddy.

Then I put on Eli's shoes and we went outside. When we got outside, what do you think I found?

Nobody.

I could not see Honey Daddy or Jonah anywhere! I started calling for Jonah, but nobody answered. Then I started to panic. What if I didn't really see Honey Daddy riding in? What if Jonah went outside and somebody took off with him?!

I was freaking out! Then our neighbor told me he saw Jonah on his tricycle following after Honey Daddy, so I set off down the street with Eli on my hip.

I caught up with Honey Daddy and Jonah in the parking lot of the nearby church. It seems that Daddy wanted to go on a cool down ride, and Jonah went with him. Honey Daddy invited Jonah to go with him and didn't think to tell me! I was relieved and a bit peeved at the same time. But Honey Daddy apologized for not telling me before they left the house.

The funny thing is that I actually had my camera with me because I went outside to take pictures of the cricket Jonah had found. So I took some photos of my guys on their bikes together.

So what do you think? Will Jonah be a cyclist like his mommy and daddy someday?


Hosted by Cecily and She's a moron and can't remember...

Yogurt Face

Eli is getting pretty good at eating with a spoon. So when I was in a hurry and the boys needed a snack before we left the house, I just I gave them both a yogurt and then went to get a few more things done.

I guess I should have thought a little harder about my snack choice because this is what I came back to:

Is there something wrong?

I seriously laughed.. and then ran to grab the camera, of course!


What made it even more hysterical is that I had Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" going through my mind, but with the words changed: Y-y-y-yogurt face, y-y-yogurt face!

I love it!

Jiminy November Cricket!

I know some of you were probably thinking, "Yippee! Now that winter is almost here we will have bug-free posts over at Honey Mommy. No more creepy, crawly photos!"

Sorry to burst your bubble! My little boys must be bug-hunting experts! Just last week Jonah found this little guy hanging out on our back porch:

I have never seen a cricket up close before. He was pretty lethargic, so it was easy to catch this little Jiminy. He seemed to feel better after spending a few nights in our warm garage (until I had a moment to snap his picture).

But what do you do with a cricket in November? I didn't exactly want to keep him for a pet... but I felt bad letting him go because he probably won't last long in our current temperatures.

Maybe it was my conscience talking, huh?

Purple Mountains Majesty & the Slippery Slope

A few weeks ago we went for a family drive up the canyon. I was sure that we would find some gorgeous fall leaves that I could take pictures of. I was a little disappointed to find green trees, or completely naked trees with the leaves blown off by a recent storm. I also didn't count on the snow! There was even ice on the road. My disappointment quickly turned to apprehension.

We hit a couple of icy patches, but nothing too terrible. We even saw three cyclists heading down from the top of the canyon, which we thought was pretty incredible (and cold!).

Then we hit a large icy patch going uphill, around a corner. The problem wasn't really the ice... it was the car stopped on our side of the road putting on their chains. We couldn't get around them and so we started sliding backwards down the hill. It was so scary! There were cars behind us and oncoming cars trying to go around the stopped car in front of us. Needless to say it wasn't a good situation.

We weren't sure anyone could make it up and around the icy corner. Some of the cars turned around (with Honey Daddy's assistance). Eventually the car blocking the road moved and we decided to give it a try. I think I had my eyes closed and my hands clenched... and was so relieved when we made it!

Then I was having one of those moments where I felt like my fun family idea had turned into something of a nightmare. It was starting to get dark and we hadn't had very much fun... much less taken any nice photos.

But then we found some spectacular scenery at the top.

Can you see why I love living near the mountains?

Even though I went back up the other side of the canyon a week later and got some gorgeous fall photos, I still really love these. Maybe it's because I feel that I earned these photos.... maybe it's because they redeemed what could have been a horrible trip... or maybe it's just because they are lovely.

Hosted by Cecily and Emily

Losing Sleep Over Daylight Saving Time

The phrase "Spring ahead, fall back" helps me remember which way to move my clock for Daylight Saving Time. I always liked the "fall back" part because that means when daylight saving time ends we get an extra hour of sleep, right?

WRONG!

Apparently my kids did not get the daylight savings time memo. So they have been waking up at the exact same time they did before the time change... except now it is an hour earlier! Oh joy!

So I go to bed an hour later each night, and then wake up an hour earlier at the behest of my little people. I would like to say that I am getting more done because I am now awake another hour a day, but unfortunately the only thing I am getting is more tired!

Apparently I am not the only one! Since nap time takes longer to arrive than it used to, little Eli is completely exhausted and practically begging to take a nap. Then he crashes HARD.

I was afraid that I would wake him up by taking his picture, but I don't think a marching band could have roused him!

Jonah has not taken naps since the beginning of the year, but once or twice lately he has been so tired that he took a nap too.

This particular afternoon we were trying to wake Jonah up, but all to no avail. Honey Daddy even lifted up his arm, only to have it flop back down on the covers without even a flinch from Jonah. Apparently my boys play hard and sleep even harder!


This afternoon I actually had an hour to myself when both the boys were sleeping... at the same time! The house was SO quiet... it was lovely.

So maybe Daylight Saving Time isn't all bad... but it still doesn't make much sense to me.

When told the reason for daylight savings time the old Indian said…
‘Only a white man would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket and sew it to the bottom of a blanket and have a longer blanket.’

Farewell Halloween

First of all, if you didn't see our Toy Story Family Costumes, you just have to go tell me it was all worth while!

I couldn't let Halloween go without showing off the pumpkins we carved. Actually, I wanted to show off Honey Daddy's pumpkin photography skills. Isn't he amazing?!

Here is Jonah's happy pumpkin:

And here is the pumpkin that I did. I got over my desire to carve an elaborate pumpkin and settled for this one.

We had a great Halloween. The costumes are being put away and the pumpkins are rotting on the front porch. I think I am suffering from a Daylight Savings Hangover. I am also wondering what on earth I am going to do with all this CANDY?!

Ecostore USA $25 Gift Certificate Giveaway (and Review)

Sometimes it seems like it's hard to be "green" while raising young children. Who has the time or money to make sure that your products are environmentally friendly? Well if you are looking for little ways to make a difference each day, Ecostore USA is a company worth looking into.

Ecostore USA carries products for baby care, hair care, household products and even products the furry members of your family. Ecostore USA products contain No Nasty Chemicals and the site does a great job of listing what you will NOT find in their products with information about each one.

All of their products are made from plant- and mineral-based ingredients, free of toxic chemicals that bring people closer to nature with non-toxic, environmentally safe solutions that also help to reduce our carbon footprint.

I received a generous invitation to review 2 products from Ecostore USA. I chose the Nappy Balm and the Baby Shampoo.

Nappy Balm

Isn't Nappy Balm a fun name? In case you didn't know, in some parts of the world they call a diaper a nappy. Since Ecostore was founded in New Zealand, this diaper cream is called Nappy Balm.

When I decided to try this product, I wasn't sure if it would really work on diaper rash. After all, you need a product with some zinc oxide, right? Wrong! This product is entirely plant based and it works just great.

My little Eli gets diaper rash pretty often when he is teething. I tried out this balm a few times and the redness disappeared. At first I was surprised that the Balm came in a tub rather than a tube. Then I realized it didn't really matter because either way mommy is going to get some on her hands. This way you can actually control the amount of balm that you are using a little better.

Baby Shampoo

We have already used the baby shampoo several times, and it works great! It is not strongly scented or perfumy, like many store brands. Rather it has a natural fresh smell. I think it smells nice and cleans my dirty boys' hair just as well as any other shampoo we've used. The best part is that I don't have to stress so much about the boys accidentally drinking the bath water because no harm will come to your baby or our waterways from this shampoo!


The generous folks at Ecostore USA are going to give one Honey Mommy reader a $25 Gift Certificate to be used on any product from their website. Thank you so much Ecostore USA!

Win it!

1. YOU MUST DO THIS FIRST or all other entries will be DELETED! Please visit Ecostore USA then leave me a comment about a product you would LOVE to try other than the ones I reviewed (1 entry)

BONUS ENTRIES

2. Follow Me on Blogger (1 entry)
3. Follow ecostoreusa on Twitter (1 entry)
4. Become a Fan of ecostoreusa on Facebook (1 entry)
5. FOR 5 EXTRA ENTRIES - Blog about this giveaway, with a link to my blog and come back and leave the link to your blog post. Post FIVE separate comments that you've blogged about this.
6. Add my main button to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know that! Leave link to your blog.) (1 entry)

Giveaway will end on Friday, November 13th . U.S & Canadian entrants only. Please leave your email so I can contact you if you win. Many thanks to ecostore USA for this review and giveaway Opportunity!

“I received a product for this review on behalf of the company. All opinions are solely my own. Others who may use this product or service may have different opinions.”