12 Old-fashioned Winter Activities for Toddlers

It is February in Minnesota, the month when all moms of toddlers start going CRAZY because the kids are STIR-CRAZY!! In the Fall, I thought to myself, "Hmm, it would be such a smart idea to make a winter activity list for those long winter days when the kids are bored." Well, it's no longer a smart idea, it's a survival necessity! :)

Bridal Shower: Maps & Twine

This past weekend I had so much fun celebrating one of my beautiful sisters' upcoming wedding! I've never done a post like this and I'm no photographer, so these are only phone photos, but these are some of the fun decorations we put together. This marriage represents several different countries, so I wanted to use maps for the decorations and add some vintage romance with white flowers, burlap, twine and glass jars.

Stop and Smell the...Moment

I'm sure every woman that has dreamed about being a mom has had certain ideas or pictures in her mind of what that would look like. Then it happens and you soon realize there are also many things you never pictured happening to you...like a diaper explosion in your lap... while flying in a crowded airplane! Or food in your hair. Or many other more gross things I won't mention.

Then there are those moments when you have to stop and realize, "this is what I dreamed it would be like" and enjoy that moment for all its worth!

A few of those for me recently have been watching my son running between the sprinklers for the first time in his life, laughing with delight...

 

He also helped me make a cake the other day and he actually listened and did his best to follow instructions!

 

I caught these two sitting in the same chair watching Little House on the Prairie.

 

Sibling love!

 As I've made sure to stop and enjoy these moments, I've been feeling more grateful and awed than usual at how much God has blessed us!

Like My Yard Decor?

Photograph

It's one of my favorite words because I LOVE looking at photos. I'm not a good photographer in the technical sense. I took a semester in college and just never really understood the dark room and shutter speed techniques. But I like to think I'm ok at posing, angles and cool photo ideas. Anyway, I get lost in another world when I start looking through photos, as I did this morning. I teared up a few times at memories and places and times that I miss. Like our first little quirky apartment, the simplicity of newlywed love and life, the ease of hopping into the car to visit close-by friends. Needless to say, I'm feeling quite nostalgic. But very thankful for the richness of my beautiful life.