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Advent idea # 5 (25 days of reading)

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25 days of reading!

I love this idea–I read about how a mom had carefully wrapped 25 books and each night she read one to her child at night.  Then when her second baby came along she carefully wrapped 50 books and read each child a book at night (I thought this was crazy but I kept reading . . . ).   The third child she did the same thing (she is now wrapping 75 books!) and finally with the fourth kid the books were just put in a basket and they picked randomly.

I have learned from her and I have adopted the idea of reading a special Christmas book to my kids each night–and I did wrap them in white paper and I did number some of them . . . but I’m only reading one book a night!  and some are chapter books so I will spread those out over a few nights.

a basket of books

a basket of books

I didn’t buy the books all at once–I searched the house first–I found several books with a Christmas theme.  Then I stopped at the library and they have a used book rack–I went often and picked up a book here and there for 25 cents-$1.  Then I just needed a place to put them so I wouldn’t forget!

a selection of our Christmas books

a selection of our Christmas books

I’m enjoying this “new” tradition.  Tomorrow we will read a book before quiet time rather than wait until evening–this lends itself to lot of possibilities and I love planing in options.  My “older” son likes to stop and listen or read some of the longer books . . . my heart sings to see all the kids gathered in a layered mess reading.

Be Blessed as we focus on wonder of this season.

I’m linking up with  All things christmas, deck the halls

 
Is this White or Dark?/2 Comments/in /by

If a white shirt has red trim . . . is it white or dark?  (ok–that is totally made up–I don’t buy any thing in red, first of all AND I do not buy white shirts with trim of any color!)

I dislike laundry.

As my family grow I have had to change how I manage our laundry system.  As the clothes get bigger I need to wash clothes more often–because the hamper get fuller quicker.

These are the ways that I am currently managing our laundry.

  1. A house rule is that clothes are on your body, in a drawer or in the hamper.
  2. I wash athletic clothes separately.
  3. I will ONLY wash a full load of clothes.
  4. I have a lingerie bag for socks–I wash all the socks together–no matter what the color.  I do not sort socks.
  5. Each bedroom has a different collection process–see photos below.
  6. My laundry system has evolved from this post.
  7. I am sure that my laundry management system will continue to change :-)
upcycled tank tops as hanging laundry baskets (also great for diapers)

upcycled tank tops as hanging laundry baskets (also great for diapers)  I have seen this idea using “team” shirts.

I found these at Target and they fit perfectly! Love it when that happens!

I found these at Target and they fit perfectly! Love it when that happens!  I bought the rugs at Target too!

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my new 31 bag that has a divider–dark on one side–light on the other–or not!

I do dislike laundry but I am blessed with little people to wear the clothes, clean water to wash them and hands to fold and pray!  Be Blessed.

I want a country kitchen!

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I’ve always wanted a country kitchen.  Every vision board I do–includes a kitchen that is inviting and homey.  When we moved into this house I wasn’t thrilled with the black granite and the painted white cabinets–did I mention the pergo floor?  I thought it was way too FANCY for me.  My friend, Sandy said to me before we moved “I hope you get the kitchen you deserve!”  And I thought about that with each house we looked at . . .

I love my kitchen now–I decided not to try to make it perfect.  The cheap paint is chipping away and I’m letting it go . . . each time I scrub it feels more like a “real” country kitchen.  The pergo is not holding up to the number of miles walked upon it, and our table for 6 barely fits–but slowly I’m making it a country kitchen.

Today I’m writing over at Live Renewed.  Emily has this great series Green in 365–I highly recommend it!  Guess what I wrote about?

  • it is in the kitchen
  • it is beautiful to look at
  • they are upcycled
  • I’ve had them all my life
  • someone else made them
  • you probably have a few too!

Be Blessed.

I’m linking up with some of my friends Craftastic Party, motivation monday, create with joy, Busy Mondays, mindful mothering, and with Ann, The Better Mom, Rediscovering Domesticity, Titus 2 Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesday, Titus (2)sdays, Gradituesdays, Heart and Home, Whatever Works Wednesday, Wisdom Wednesday, Show and Share Wednesday, Saturday Show and Share.