Gift Ideas for my Family

It's awkward to make wishlists to share.  Feels like I'm asking for gifts, being greedy.  But family has asked for ideas so I thought it might be easier to share if I put it in blog format.  Let me know beforehand if it's something specific you want to give that might get duplicated by other family(I'll let them know it's taken).

Chance age 10- loves Star Wars, especially anything clones.  If anyone gave him cash he would spend it on more lego star wars kits(he has a big one he is saving up for).  This book "Clone Wars Adventures, Vol. 2"is on his list, costs $6.99 on amazon.  Cheap dollar tree ideas would be duct tape, bungee cords, Army men

Braxton age 7 is hard to buy for because he just doesn't ask for things!  Good problem to have, I know.  He has shown interest in those science kits you see everywhere.  He likes musical instruments.  Any cash given to him he will probably use to buy Star Wars or Monster Legos.  Cheap Dollar Tree ideas would be assorted tape, Army men.

Onaleigh age 4 is into fairies right now.  It all started with the disney Tinkerbell DVD's that we checked out from the library.  At night before she goes to sleep she looks at the fairy books we get from the library, her favorite books are by Cicely Mary Barker(they get the most time in her hands). On amazon I have seen that C.M. Barker has sticker, coloring, and paperdoll books, so those would be good ideas. She loves all things pink and girly.  She really likes getting cards in the mail so I think she would enjoy a card making kit. She would also love a Go Fish card deck.  She could use some cute hooks to hang her dress-up clothes on.  Cheap Dollar Tree ideas would be simple crafts(please NO craftfoam or playdough), jewlery, anything pink. Santa is bringing her How To Find Flower Fairies, Fairyopolis, & Flower Fairy Magical Doors.

Harm age 9mo loves everything that is not meant for him!  I prefer wood or cotton toys for him.  He likes cars, tipping over things his siblings stack for him, would probably enjoy some nice soft blocks.  A ball would also be a great gift for him.  Stacking or nesting cups. He is in need of one of those highchairs that strap into a regular kitchen chair or a regular highchair.  Used would be fine as long as it has a strap to buckle him in.
 
Chance and Braxton and even Onaleigh would like a DIY gift like this tent in a bag .  All the children seem to take after me and rash from any clothes or bibs that have polyester in the content. All of them love to be outside a neat sled, snowman kit, etc would be fun.  They have all been asking for a small shelf beside their bed to keep library books in, I have seen a DIY on how to make them and some are even just made out of spice racks.

Day at the Como Zoo

Saturday morning we got ourselves together and headed off to the Como Zoo in MN.  For the drive we listened to Winnie the Pooh on CD.  It's a small zoo, which is about all I can handle with a 5week old baby in tow.  First thing we spotted was the flamingos.  That pink was stunning. 

At this point I realised I forgot Harm's hat so we picked up one in the gift shop.  It was a bit too big but that worked out just fine.  He slept through the whole thing.

They have cute photo op type spots at the zoo.  It was a really busy day at the zoo so we only did one, the tortoise.

We saw bears, a lion, giraffes, zebras, very sleepy sea lions, and Onaleigh's favorite a gorilla.  We found our hands full so we didn't take many animal pics.

The kids had fun and so did I.

Time was running short so we made our way to Keith's favorite animals, the primates.  Chance got a kick out of the orangutans.  One had a plastic cup that a child must have thrown into their area.  Chance thought the monkey stole it.  He laughed and laughed.  Sadly the new gorilla forest habitat is still under construction so the gorillas were still in their small area.  I am so looking forward to them having more space.  I have always been bothered by gorillas in the zoo.  They look so human like that I hate that they are penned up.  Onaleigh was taken back by them.  She practically jumped out of her stroller when she saw them.  She watched and watched them.  In fact she didn't want to leave.  Had the zoo not been closing I would have let her stay till she was ready to move on.  So on the run we made it to the gift shop.  Chance got marbles, Onaleigh got a necklace, and Braxton got these little flashlights that go on your fingers.  I picked out a post card and a polar bear coin for my "smash book"(it's like an old school scrapbook).  We all made those souvenir penny things.  And off we went to the park outside the zoo.  The kids ran off the last of their energy and we took some pictures.



The weather was perfect.  I got to snuggle little Harm and hold hands with Braxton.  Chance got to check off his zoo trip in his Cub Scout book.  Onaleigh's wish to see a Hippo didn't happen.  We will be planning a trip to a zoo that has them sometime this summer.  I felt so blessed to have such a lovely day with my family.

Updates and jumping right into 2012

It's been awhile but that's okay I will jump right in!  It is 2012 and our family has grown.  Harm was born Apil 5th 2012. 

Chance 9 1/2yrs old.  He is doing great in his reading and math programs.  He finished one yrs worth of math this year already so we had to buy the next stage a couple months ago.  He loves to ride his bike whenever he gets a chance.  His dad and him ride all over town.  He loves to draw star wars characters and transformers.  He is still into building his inventions as well as other structures.  He is a great help to me around the house and with his younger siblings.  He has a strong sense of what is right and wrong.  I am so proud of him.

Braxton is 6yrs old and coming into his own as a little boy and big brother.  He is doing great with his school work.  He especially loves to work on the computer.  He has been doing Kindergarten this school year but soon it will be time to move him up to first grade work.  He is in Karate, which I hope will help him w/ focus but even more I hope it helps him gain more self confidence.  His imagination is huge.  I love his drawings.  The pictures and characters he draws do not come from TV shows or books but rather from his own mind.  Some days I wish I could go on a trip to his little world.

Onaleigh is 3yrs old.  She is transitioning really well into becoming a big sister.  I am amazed that she doesn't seem jealous of her new little brother at all.  In fact she adores him.  As long as you never refer to her as a "big" sister she is happy.  She insists that she is "little".  She loves to play outside,
play with her brothers, wear ribbons in her hair, and call herself a princess even while dressed head to toe in camo.  She can go from pink and sparkly to hand me down boy clothes and she is happy either way.  She is a bit of a broken record talking about wanting to go to grandpa's house, to Halloween, and any other place or time(like Halloween) that crosses her mind.  With the new baby in the house she has gotten to watch more TV.  As much as I hate to admit that.  Anyway her favorite show is Dragon Tales, I love listening to her sing the theme song.  She likes to paint and cook and is always my partner in crime. 

Harm is 5wks old now.  He was born at home.  We has another homebirth.  The 3 older children all got to be at the birth.  It was an amazing day.  Little turkey is a night owl.  We are all adjusting by staying up late and sleeping in.  He is starting to get more interactive, sometimes smileing back at us when we smile at him.  He doesn't care for waisted pants so sleepers, one pieces, and overalls is what he wears.  He is such a strong little boy always holding his head up to see the world.

My husband Keith has been my rock.  During the end of Harm's pregnancy I wasn't very mobile.  Harm liked to ride low in there.  And on top of that there is that hormonal rollercoster.  Then Harm was born and Keith was able to take 2wks off to take care off us.  Oh how I loved that and so did the children.  He cooked all the meals, all the cleaning, shopping, and all the homeschooling.  After he went back to work he made sure I had meals already precooked in the fridge for a couple weeks.  He is still doing a lot even 5wks after because of Harm's sleeping habits but things are starting to come into focus and I have been able to do more.

Then there is me.  I have been on a bit of a hormonal, emotional rollercoster.  All the joys of post partum.  But I feel like it's getting better.  The more I am able to get done around the house and the with the kids the better I feel.  I am very excited that Thursday this week with be 6wks since Harm was born.  That means I can start working out.  I need it to help improve my moods.  I know it's going to help a lot.  I got out this past week for the first time just the kids and I.  We made it to homeschool group.  That was great.  I loved seeing all our friends and getting hugs, gosh I need hugs.  They mean the world to me.  Been a bit lonely.  But that's a temporary thing while I get on my feet. 

Well it's pretty late now and I very much need to get to sleep. 

My biggest goal for this year to enjoy life as it is, to enjoy what I have and do what I can with what I already have.  I have been so blessed.