Wordless Wednesday: A Snowless Late December in Minnesota -

We can hardly believe it & this is still Minnesota we live in. When this was our view... we thought the snow was here to stay:

 Munchkin was excited to bundle up & get the sled out for the first time this season with my poor hubby on "Giddy Up Horsie" duty.

Despite all those people dreaming of a White Christmas in the Twin Cities, we enjoyed a brownish-green one just as much.

On the 26th of December the temp reached 52 degrees - a record not seen since the 51 degree day back in 1936. And even though Tuesday wasn't quite as warm as Monday, my neighbor was out cleaning up his yard of fallen leaves on the riding lawn mover.  It was really too good to be true.

A year from now we may have the complete opposite going on so I thought it's time to blog about it... or we'll forget it really happened this way.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy: Twas The Night Before Christmas...Once Again or Last year's Christmas view: A Christmas Eve Tradition

Twas The Night Before Christmas...Once Again

I decided to take today off from work.  One day before Christmas Eve & I'm trying to decompress to prepare for the day ahead. I stayed up late the last two nights getting a jump on the gift wrapping.

This fiery Winter sunrise was the scene I woke up to...

...then I ventured out early in the day to get a few groceries for the long holiday weekend. We have no snow. Even though we got a little dusting today, it didn't last long - the sun came out & melted it all. This is the first year in my 40+ years that I ever remember having absolutely no chance of a White Christmas.

I made the easiest holiday snack possible - Rolo Pretzel Turtles.  They take no time at all & taste so good.  For those of you that know that I hate peanut butter & nuts in general in my food - this is different.  I actually love Turtles.  I love pecans in Turtles. Don't ask me why this one combination is different - I'm not sure it just is : ).

Munchkin & I wrapped gifts for my Mother-in-law, and godparents - five gifts in all. This was the first year that he wanted to help do the wrapping.  I let him be in charge of the tape. Earlier in the week at preschool, Munchkin had wrapped a present for us, that we will open Christmas morning. He proclaimed himself an elf & expert in tearing tape & taping the paper.  Lucky for me he did really well.  I was impressed. 

As we wrapped Munchkin starting telling me the words from "Twas The Night Before Christmas". When he'd get to the part where the reindeer names are - kept repeating the order until he got them right. Can you still name them? I admit I had to read them out of the book!

My hubby has a tradition of shopping every year on the day before Christmas Eve. After he quietly brought in his haul, while Munchkin was napping, hubby wrapped everything & put the gifts right under the tree. I was surprised - he didn't care to hide that those gifts were from Mommy & Daddy.

Me on the other hand carefully separates the things for opening on Christmas eve & wraps them all in white tissue paper. I then take the remaining gifts & wrap some in one pattern of paper (more from Santa). The other pattern of paper designates gifts from Mom & Dad. The little remaining things go unwrapped into the stockings.

In the morning Munchkin & I will bake cookies to be sure Santa's belly will be full. The reindeer will get carrots. We will go to Christmas Eve Mass & then spend some quality crazy bonding time with the in-laws. The tradition is that Santa visits the family while we are all together & all the nieces & nephews open Santa gifts at the same time. The older kids deliver them around the house to the younger ones.

I'm thrilled to be creating a series of  memory making events that hopefully will stick with my son as he grows & matures.  Hopefully those are some of the most important memories he have. 

To everyone who occasionally stops by to visit NightLight Journeys, I say thank you.  Embrace the true meaning behind the holidays. Remember why we are really celebrating.  Be thoughtful & kind to your neighbor, be generous with your time & money, It's our responsibility to do what we can to help those who are less fortunate.  

As I finish writing, it's now officially Christmas Eve... so Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to all!

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy: Wordless Wednesday - Santa List (Naughty or Nice?) or A Christmas Eve Tradition

Stream Of Consciousness Sunday: Holiday Home Stretch

What a challenging work week.  I couldn't wait for it to be over so I could decompress. Don't get me wrong I feel very fortunate to have a job, but this one can really break you down sometimes. Time to focus on the week ahead - It's week 22 of my Stream of Consciousness Sunday posts.

How can this year be 2 weeks from being over...already?!  I took inventory of everything I've purchased for Christmas. (Pretty good shape!) I placed a rush delivery order for holiday cards which arrived Wednesday & I knocked them out in a couple of days, mailing the last batch today. Better late than never.

It dawned on me that I hadn't purchased gifts for Munchkin's preschool teachers & the director of the daycare, which I do every year.  I made a run to one of my favorite go-to stores @Homegoods earlier today & in 30 minutes had everything I needed as well as a couple more things for my Mother-In-Law as well as Sister-In-Laws & Brother-In-Laws.  

I am the resident gift buyer of the family... for my hubby's family. It always helps to do a good portion of the shopping in advance throughout the year.  I can not deal with the frenzy of last minute shoppers - Drives me bananas!

We were also a couple weeks late with getting a Christmas Tree, but we finally got it today.  I spent the better part of the rest of the day decorating it... and it's done, but now I'm worn out again.  No wonder it's almost 1:00am & I'm still trucking along!(I won't tell you how many times I was distracted by Pinterest though!) 

How are you doing with your own Holiday-Do Lists?

 

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.

§         Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.

§         Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.

§         Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.

§         Link up your post at all.things.fadra

§         Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy: Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Another Big Milestone or Thoughtful Thursday - Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Thoughtful Thursday - Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

Last week ended on a bit of a sour note at the office & it set the tone for my weekend which was unbelievably busy.  I've been trying to stress less about the things in my life I can not control & sometimes life gets the best of me.

So I stressed most of the day Sunday after a nail biter of a Vikings vs. Detroit NFL football game which the Vikings could have won...if only...but didn't.  I wrote a Stream of Consciousness Sunday post about the next day's event - taking Munchkin to his Kindergarten Assessment, which people have told me is no big deal, however - I know my child. I know him very well.

It really was a big deal...for him.  Of course I'm wondering if I was subconsciously sending off my panic signals all the while I was trying to be the cool, calm, collected & reassuring Mom.  The appointment turned out just as I had imagined it would... with an unsuccessful attempt. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy. We had to leave & reschedule to try again another day. It just wasn't the right day or time for him & he was not in the mood to cooperate - no tears or tantrums - it just wasn't meant to be that day.

I consulted with a couple of  friends - one who I met via twitter, who calms my soul & knows my pain since she has a child with a very similar temperament & who is close to Munchkin's age.  The other is a long time co-worker/friend & I often serve as he sounding board & sometime I need her to do the same for me.

I went from such a high after teacher's conferences last week with Munchkin's teacher singing his praises & letting us know that Munchkin is more than ready for Kindergarten & how moved she was by some of his work which she saved to show us.

She urged us to frame it & the keep it to watch how this complex drawing shows the seeds of writing sentences, to which my hubby & I looked at each other thinking... really?! She also explained to us that Munchkin had thought up an entire story to go along with this picture, so she was writing furiously as he told it that day, trying to capture it.

When Munchkin asked to do some "homework" after dinner tonight it was like looking into our future & knowing that the hiccup we experienced earlier in the week will pass & will resolve itself with a little time.

In fact the very same day, Munchkin's teacher said how he had explained to her that "he knew he hadn't done it right, that he hadn't been cooperative & that he didn't do what Mom asked him to." She explained to me that he was just "so excited to go to Kindergarten" and said "how much he loved going to the appointment." I was floored to say the least. But, I had an awakening after hearing those words.

I know Munchkin will be fine & will pass his Kindergarten Assessment with flying colors the next time.  One day, very soon, I will look back & say "where did my preschooler disappear to? We now have a school-aged child." And I know he will thrive.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Through the Eyes of My Child or Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Last Minute Plans

Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Another Big Milestone

Ok. For Real...this is the latest I've ever attempted to write a #SOCSunday post. It's week 21 of my participating and I should be doing some work but once again I really don't want to do it!  Weekends are supposed to be all about family time, catching up on the housework & a little rest and relaxation.

Well, I succeeded in fitting in the first two things but had very little of the last one.  But isn't that usually the case?  Spent some time talking to some moms at Munchkin's little buddy's birthday party this weekend about deciding what school your child should go to.  Public vs Private, in district or open enrollment, language immersion, hoping & praying to get a full day slot... so many choices, so many logistics - so frightening.

Yes, I know all parent go through this, most many times over but it's still a bit overwhelming to think about planning the academic future of your child - step by step.  You want them to have the best opportunity to excel and you want the experience to be a positive one & that burden rests in your hands.

I spent some time digging through piles of "needs to be filed" "stuff" in the office tonight looking for the latest Immunization record which I needed to bring along to Munchkin's Kindergarten assessment.  It was in the 3rd place I looked - not bad considering the state my office is in right now - it's not pretty.

Anyway, people have told me not to worry, the assessment itself is no big deal, but I'm a bit nervous... Praying Munchkin wakes up cooperative & not cranky!   Here goes another big milestone in our lives. Wish me luck!

 

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.

§         Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.

§         Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.

§         Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.

§         Link up your post at all.things.fadra

§         Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy: Wordless Wednesday - Santa List (Naughty or Nice?) or Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Mom's Night Out

Stream of Consciousness Sunday - Through the Eyes of My Child

Can you believe it! Seems like I was just sitting here thinking about the hectic week I had ahead of me & here I am again - looking at the start of another busy work week. It's Week 20 of my Stream of Consciousness Sunday posts. Every day that goes by I'm continually amazed at the little man our son is becoming. 

He is so aware of everything around him & soaks it all in like crazy.  The other day I picked him up from preschool/daycare & he said "Mom, I get a little bored at school sometimes." I told him that's why he will get to go to Kindergarten next Fall so he has an opportunity to learn so many new things. He then said "you mean like how to tie my shoes?" I said "no, it's Mommy's job to teach you that, but most importantly you need to learn how to read."

He's been obsessed with dinosaurs lately - he talks about them all the time & usually when he gets something stuck in his head, you hear about it over & over.  So it was with "the Star in the Apple." He's been talking about there being a star in the center of an apple for weeks.  I had never heard of it so I didn't pay much attention when he'd mention it... that was until tonight.  

I cut 1/2 of an apple for him to eat before bedtime as I've done so many times before & right after I did, Munchkin said "Mom, you didn't do it right - now we can't see the star. You can't cut in from the top down, you need to cut it across the middle to see the star." 

I apologized & sent him away to munch his apple & then once he was out of sight I took a fresh apple out of the fridge. I followed his instructions & was surprised to find just what he had described - a virtual star in the center of the apple.

In 43 years I had never seen this before & it was because I wanted to experience something through the eyes of my child that I took a minute to find it. And I'm really glad that I did.  Have you ever done anything that you had not thought to do before, all because your child suggested it to you? I'm curious. Please share if you'd like in the comments.

 

This was my 5 minute Stream of Consciousness Sunday post. It’s five minutes of your time and a brain dump. Want to try it? Here are the rules…

Set a timer and write for 5 minutes only.

§         Write an intro to the post if you want but don’t edit the post. No proofreading or spellchecking. This is writing in the raw.

§         Publish it somewhere. Anywhere. The back door to your blog if you want. But make it accessible.

§         Add the Stream of Consciousness Sunday badge to your post.

§         Link up your post at all.things.fadra

§         Visit your fellow bloggers and show some love.

If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:  Wordless Wednesday - Santa List (Naughty or Nice?) or Stream of Consciousness Sunday ~ Gratitude