But then when it comes time to turn it off, instead of the sweet, grateful little cherubs you were expecting, you find them to be discontent and a little grumpy? Though it doesn’t happen here every time, it seems to happen quite often.

I admit, I’ve been letting the boys have too much screen time lately, and I’ve been reaping the consequences…creativity replaced with boredom, and giggles replaced with whining. I felt like we needed a little break from TV and video games.

During the week we don’t do much, but on the Saturdays that Dustin works I often let them watch TV and play video games all morning. This weekend I decided to try something. Just don’t turn it on.

Why not give them a chance to play on their own for a while…to come up with something to do? We could save screen time for a little later in the afternoon. But, you know what? It lasted all day.

The boys built together with wooden blocks. They made pirate ships with the couches. They drew treasure maps. They fought (and fought, and fought) and worked things out.

A church that accepts both people and cars

Corban built the SUV and trailer that he had been saving the noodle box for. (Didn’t get a picture of that yet)

And they made the best marble run yet!

Amazingly, I got more accomplished too.

There was a lot more energy and laughter, and a greater feeling of peace at home.

So, this morning when Jackson and I were waiting for H and P to arrive, instead of turning on Dinosaur Train we got out the “narbles” again. I think this is something we could continue.

Do you ever take a break from screen time?

No more white flour. Lots of good bread to come.

It’s still cold and gloomy outside, but a little bit of green inside has helped remind me of the warmer days ahead.

Some cilantro the boys and I planted in the window. I think seedlings look so sweet when they first emerge from their resting place in the earth.

More seedlings popping up in the window. These are from a Christmas card that Nana sent us that had seeds embedded in the paper…how fun!

A houseplant I’ve had for nearly four years now. I think it’s supposed to bloom in May, but a couple years ago it randomly started blooming every February…like a good friend who knew I needed cheering up.

What’s cheering you up today?

image by melanieburger

I had a revelation this morning.

One of my biggest struggles, since my oldest child gave up his morning nap, has been finding time for my morning “quiet time”. I’ve tried getting up extra early to spend time in quiet meditation, reading, and prayer, but with a baby who still wakes up a couple times a night, that hasn’t worked. I need my sleep. But I also need this time.

This morning I decided to take my coffee to a chair in the living room and sit for a while. I took out a simple devotional book and my Bible, and I read and prayed a little while Jackson and P played. Though I ended up reading sentences in between acting as a pit stop to two little “dinosaur cars” who were running around the couch, I still found the connection I needed.

Maybe I don’t need to save this time for when everyone is asleep. I can read while nursing a baby or watching little ones play. I can remember and meditate on a verse throughout the day. I can occasionally take the time to stop, breathe, and pray.

In this season of life when I’m “on call” 24/7, I might just need to take multitasking to my spiritual life as well.

And maybe my little ones will see their Mama taking this time out, notice the calm that follows, and remember it.

Casting beautiful shadows on the snow…

…and lovely images on the walls.

Sometimes a little bit of sunshine is exactly what I need to lift my spirits.

What is lifting your spirits today?

First it was Lillian

Then Lily

Then Lily-bug

And now she’s just our little Bug

And a cute one, too.

What do you do when you need 20 valentines for your child’s Kindergarten class but you can’t make it to the store? Improvise!

I love stamping with little ones because it gives them a starting point to work with…sometimes a little less intimidating than an empty piece of paper.

These stamps are so easy to make. I made them first in a middle school art class (I think). They’re made from art gum erasers. You can get them at any craft store (they’re great for erasing on delicate paper without tearing up the surface).

First draw your shape on the surface. (I traced the circle from a quarter.) Then cut along the drawing with an exacto knife (or a sharp kitchen knife if you lost yours like I did). Be careful if you’re cutting while taking pictures for your blog!

Carefully carve around the outside edge, stopping at the edge of your design. The excess will pop right off as you cut. Again, be careful if you’re doing this one-handed while taking a picture!

There you have it!

Lots of stamping fun!

While we were choosing tile and grout we picked up some paint samples that we cut up to make a color matching game.

It’s been a couple years since we’ve experienced the satisfaction of that kind of home improvement project, but last week we were finally able to change an area that has been begging for improvement.

Before - A glimpse at our ugly wall and fireplace

We have very few “before” pictures since it was so hideous (though the picture of Corban as a baby makes it look much cuter). Missing from the picture is the mantel that was a piece of wood resting on brackets and the insulation that was visible across the top.

Work in progress

We got most of it done over the weekend, and then finished up in the evenings. (And, let me tell you, construction in the living room plus five young children running around equals fun, fun, fun!)

After

Aaah…Such a nice feeling to have it done! It’s just missing some nice art to hang over the mantel. It’s such an improvement that it lightens the mood of the whole house…something I especially need during the dreary winter days. Though it will likely be a while before we can do another big project, I have some ideas for some more budget-friendly decorating that I hope to get started on soon.

Do you have any projects you’re exited about?

But then I remembered that it’s February…the month when the dreariness of winter takes its toll on my spirits, and I start feeling like I have no friends, every hair day is bad, nothing fits right, I’m failing my husband and children…you get the picture.

So, with that perspective in mind, I’ve decided to give it one more try. Though I don’t have amazing things to share, I do enjoy the writing. Though I have mostly family and old friends as readers, I still love keeping them updated on our lives. And I love reading your blogs, sharing ideas, and meeting new people through the blogging community.

I’ve made a decision to focus a little more on the simple joys that get me through the dreary days. I hope that by sharing them I can create in myself the habit of a more thankful heart, and I also hope to hear about your joys as well.

So, here’s my first one:

Walking in to check on Lily, and being greeted by the calm, sweet smile of a well-rested baby. My sleep-sensitive baby is finally starting to fall into a good schedule, which has added much more peace and calm to my day. (And that curl at the top of her head…oh, so precious!)

What simple joys lift your spirits during a dreary day?

image by oceans

There’s something about coming home from Christmas traveling that makes me want to start fresh and clean house! Maybe it’s the living out of a suitcase and among the clutter of new gifts, the week of rest from the usual routine, or simply the start of a new year…or maybe a combination of everything. But the first of January always has me clearing out closets and cabinets (sometimes simply to make room for new things!), rearranging, redecorating, and reorganizing.

Though I still get an itch to do the same in the spring and fall when the pleasant weather picks up my mood, this year I’m making an effort to really take advantage of this “cleaning energy”, to get our home ready for the “cocooning” during the cold days ahead, and maybe shake off a little of the gloom that comes in January and February.

So far I’ve cleaned out our art cabinet, organized our desk and paperwork that had spread to our dining room table, and started organizing closets. We also have a little decorating planned…yeah!

The winter can be a really hard time for me, and I know for many others too, but these projects actually have me looking forward to all the inside-time ahead.

Anyone else doing a little winter cleaning?