The not-a-box disco party box

It feels like it's been raining forever! At least every day this week and last. The only thing that has saved my sanity is THE BOX. I spied the box at a neighbor's house. Seems they got a delivery. We're all tight on my street so I immediately asked for the box, dragged box to my house, barely got it through the door and then rejoiced in the peace and quiet the box brought to my house. Not so much the quiet because jailers and prisoners can be rather loud when an escape attempt is ongoing. The day after I got the box is when it started raining and raining and raining. (Good Lord, when will it stop?!) Which is sad because I had dragged the second big box to the backyard for more fun and it's now a sad pile of damp cardboard. 

Now when I first spied the box, all kind of ideas ran through my head. Ideas that I had pinned just waiting for the opportunity to show up on the curb. Should I make a playhouse? A reading nook? 

Holly/Life as a Thrifter

Come on, isn't this amazing?!! What a lovely little house. My hats off to this mom for all the love she put into making it. Wallpaper! A mirror! But before my fantasies ran away from me, I stepped away from the craft supplies and decided to just let my boys decide where the play led. So the box is unchanged expect for some markers and a barred window in the back for the prisoners. EXCEPT for the Christmas lights which hey, they were still plugged up so not too hard to add them to the box. I got the idea here. It's fun listening to the boys and their friends play or for us all to pile in to read books. 

To be honest, while I love the occasional rainy day best spent reading in bed, these days of damp are starting to get to me. We're promised some sun on Friday but that's after a chance of snow Thursday. Which at my house, will more likely just be more rain. Time for an inspirational quote: 

Download your own copy at Addicted2Decorating

Top books of 2012

Once again, here are the books that had us entertained in 2012. Previous lists here and here.

Joseph enjoyed hearing "The Three Bears" over and over. And if we weren't reading "The Three Bears," then mommy was re-telling the tale with much ad-libbing. One day Joseph suggested the three bears should really lock the door the next time they leave the house. I had some discussion with friends on Facebook as to what IS the moral of story? Is it lock your doors? Don't fall asleep while robbing a house? Buy better furniture?

"Nobunny's Perfect" by Anna Dewdney (of Llama, Llama fame) got checked out again and again from the library. Thanks to MayMay we got our own copy for Christmas. Joseph also loved "Big Mean Mike" from the library. I randomly picked it up off the new arrivals shelf only to come home and see that bunnies play a big part in the story. Yep, we're still surrounded by bunnies.

And dinosaurs. Joseph likes the "How do Dinosaurs ..." series by Jane Yolen. But his favorite dinosaur book is an old, scruffy one he found at the thrift store, copyright 1971. It's for much older readers so I thought it would be forgotten after we got home. Nope, he pulls it off the shelf again and again. I admit to passing most of the reading of the book off on daddy.

Will dove into the Magic Tree House books. And hasn't meet an Eyewitness book not worth flipping the pages. It was really amazing how boom, one random day his reading skills just took off. Like a switch. Now he's reading chapter books and acing the tests on them at school. We still read to him nightly, after he reads to us. "Ma Lien and the Magic Brush" (1968, Parents' Magazine Press) became a favorite thrift store-find. Again, I tend to pick up any PMP book I see and nine times out of 10, it's a keeper.

Much to mommy's happiness, I found the reincarnation of Douglas Adams, and his name is Jasper Fforde. I'm late to the party because the first book in the "Thursday Next" series was published in 2001. After I devoured all that was available, I picked up the next book by Fforde sitting on the library shelf, "Shades of Grey." The writing is fantastic, the plot complex and I was soooooo mad to come to the last page to see sequels mentioned but not yet written. Not to be confused with that other "50 Shades of Grey" which I will admit to reading. There are at least six Fforde books I haven't read yet so that should keep me busy in 2013. And I'll probably re-read all the Thursday Next books too. When I really love a book, I tend to read it too fast (and way into the night) so a second reading is always good.

Was there something you really enjoyed reading to others or by yourself in 2012? Got a long list for 2013 already? Please share.

(Free) Thanksgiving activities for the kiddos

Activity Place Mat

Whatever DeeDee Wants

Turkey Feathers Game

The Idea Room

Sticker Activity Book

Our Wonderfilled Life

Roll a Turkey Game (two versions)

Be Different Act Normal

Turkey Leg Placecard (fill with goodies)

Beurrista

Decorate the Whole Table

Paper Glitter

Best sand pies in town

Let me introduce you to a great little diner hidden in my part of town, Chez Tutor. The reviews are overwhelmingly positive with tons of repeat customers. Little folks come from around the block to make pizza and ice cream and pies, lots of pies. 

Inspiration from here and here*. 

Most materials, if not all, thrifted or repurposed.

*Okay, that last link is really eye candy for momma. 

Playing in the rain

"Peter Spier's Rain" 

Sometimes, a parent can forget that a kid just needs to be a kid. Sometimes, all it takes is a book to remind us how special and fun and messy childhood can and should be. 

For this post, I have to thank Vanessa at Silly Eagle Books for her post on Peter Spier and his mostly wordless books. A few days after the post, I brought home "Peter Spier's Rain" from the library. And a few days after that, it did in fact rain fairly hard at our house.

I took Joseph and his friend Woodrow out to play in the rain puddles (mom's still responsible — no thunder or lightning). They had a ball getting muddy. Then they had fun getting clean in the tub. Ain't it great to be a kid!

Work in progress

I've started to dismantle the nursery (sniff, sniff). With Joseph in his big boy bed, it's time to return the crib to Aunt Lenora. The plan right now* is for the nursery to be a computer room/playroom/whatever with the boys' room having a reading nook. Still not sure where the legos are going to end up. Or the art easel. But that's why it's a work in progress.

The train table got moved to the living room to act as a coffee table which freed up a lot of space in the boys' room. Next step was to move the little bookcase from the nursery into the boys' room. Yes, we have a lot of books. Yes, I know we have a lot of books. Books are awesome!

Now all this room is missing is some comfortable seating. How about this from the Land of Nod ...

Or (the real reason for this post) Hey Mom, let's make some Rollie Pollies ...

*I reserve the right to change the plan at anytime without prior notice.

Easter ideas 2012

Bunny Butt Cake/Betty Crocker

Bunny Tails (free printable)/The Idea Room

Orange Bunny Rolls/Budget Gourmet Mom

Hip Hip Hop (free) Easter Printable/Makoodle

Origami Tag (free printable)/Eat Drink Chic

Bunny Bean Bags/Two Straight Lines

Nest Cookies/Creations by Kara

Bunny Puppets (free printable)/Secret Agent Josephine

Easter Bunny Shoes/Minimoz

Easy Bunny Candy Pouch/Mer Mag

DIY Bunny Garland/Twig & Thistle

Paper Bunny Pops Craft (free printable)/Oriental Trading

For many more ideas, visit my Easter ideas board on Pinterest.

Books!!!

No, we don't need any more. The shelves are fully loaded, groaning with each added book. But I still want more and the boys don't complain. Thank goodness for library book sales. This weekend was one of my favorites at Emmet O'Neal. I always find awesome titles and a few vintage gems. A couple of these are going on eBay (or Etsy? I don't know. What do you think?). I've got to pay for this hobby somehow!*

I don't pick these books willy-nilly. My book sale strategy (of course I have a strategy!) is to first pull any book that looks interesting. I usually have quite a tall stack. Then I sit, have a look at each one, decide what I want and put the rest back.

Here are the highlights, from the top:

The only book officially for momma, "Lost in a Good Book" is the second title in the Thursday Next series by Jasper Fforde. I highly recommend. Especially if you miss Douglas Adams.

"Rain Makes Applesauce" ... reviewed here. So I wasn't going to leave it there.

"The Princess Book" ... is not your average princess book. The introduction tells us "many princesses are pink and pretty and protected." But the princesses in this book are "energetic, resourceful, funny — princesses who can run fast, think quick and look beautiful all the while. Princesses who will speak to girls of today." It almost makes me wish for a girl of my own to share it with. Because whether it's 1974, the book's copyright, or 2012, girls need strong role models.

"The First Book of Gardening" ... by Virginia Kirkus, 1956. This might be the book to get the boys and I playing in the dirt. It's written clearly and covers the basics. Best of all, the illustrations by Helene Carter are fantastic — black and white pencil drawings with the addition of light green accents throughout. Simple yet elegant. 

"The Daddy Book" ... Chris is getting this for Father's Day. You can find pictures of it here. It's far-out groovy.

"A Book of Christmas" ... This could possibly be the best find of the day. Copyright 1979, it's a 

3-D book with gorgeous illustrations by Tasha Tudor. In just about perfect condition too. Worth way more than the $2 paid for it. It's a very nice addition to the Christmas book stash.

Not pictured is an illustrated history book "Alabama Mounds to Missiles" from 1962. We've been enjoying it already. It should get a post all of its own.

Looks like the rest of the day will be spent trying to find a place for all these "new to us" reads.

Previous years' hauls can be seen here and here. 

*See a book you're interested in? Send me an e-mail.

Top books of 2011

It's no secret that I'm all about the books. To say we have a few is a vast understatement. 

Here are some of the more popular reads of 2011 as picked by my boys ...

"Stubby" by Marion Borden with illustrations by Art Seiden (one of my favorites). Not sure where this book came from ... it might have been in the big book grab box or the local thrift. After close to three weeks of reading it daily, Stubby had to go into hiding. Sorry Stubby. Copyright 1963. The book did bring some debate to our dining room table. Is it a sweet tale of a tractor looking out for the animals around him or the vast capitalistic machine intent on mowing down the little guy? You decide.

"Big Red Barn" by Margaret Wise Brown was also read again and again. It was a favorite with Joseph last year too. The classics "Good Night, Gorilla," "Goodnight Moon" and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?" were also on heavy rotation throughout the year.

"Sheep in a Jeep" by Nancy Shaw. I can quote this one in my sleep. Joseph has fun acting it out.

"I Took the Moon for a Walk" by Carolyn Curtis and Alison Jay was under the tree last Christmas. But it wasn't until about mid-year that Joseph warmed up to it. The pictures are wonderful and the text so relaxing. I love all our Alison Jay books. 

William is a little trickier when it comes to reading. He's well past the repetition stage. But there are a few that got a "read it again" request ... 

"Diary of a Worm" by Doreen Cronin. The "Click, Clack, Moo" author does not disappoint.

"Sir Toby Jingle's Beastly Journey" by Wallace Tripp. A thrift store gem from 1976, I'm glad I brought it home.

Now mommy too had some must reads for 2011. I fell in love with the "Hunger Games" trilogy. I've read all the books at least three times now. Looking forward to the movie showing in March 2012. 

Any reads of your own to recommend?

If only it grew on trees

Will: "Mommy, how do they make money?"

Me: "They have big presses and special paper."

.... long pause ...

Will: "Do we have that paper?"

(Mom: "I wish!")

What are they?!

I briefly mentioned that I have a part-time gig holding babies at Joseph's school (yep, paid to hold babies!). I'm changing diapers and fixing bottles until the nursery teacher returns from maternity leave. I was worried about juggling several babies at once but it hasn't been nearly as bad as I expected. Yea me for taking on a new challenge and stepping out of my comfort zone!

The babies and I like playing with the nursery's crazy alphabet blocks. I build, they knock down. Whee! No telling how old they are or how long they have been in the room. Aren't the drawings just wild? Dog? Seal? I think that one's a horse. Do kids today know what a candlestick holder is or a cable car? The real mystery is that block in the lower left hand corner. What is that? A helmet? Futuristic pod house on stilts? Will flipped it and says it's a boat. Any and all guesses welcome.

Book crazy, part two

Yes, that's a big box. Yes, it's full of books. 

No, we didn't need more books BUT of course we need more books!

Before I went to the downtown library book sale, I purchased a grab bag of sorts on eBay. A lot of 72 vintage children's books of various sizes and styles. While there were a few pictures, I didn't really know what I was getting. I had a fun time opening the box and seeing the contents. Turns out, I got quite a few gems. All for about 34 cents a book. Not bad! 

If you are a "Corduroy" fan, this name is familiar. But maybe you are like me and didn't know until recently how many other books Don Freeman has written and illustrated. This sweet family story is from 1957. Sid and Midge are two pigeons in San Francisco who find the perfect spot for their nest. Put it on your check-out-from-the-library list.

This one made me laugh out loud.

An interesting book with moving flaps/parts from a 1976 Folger's promotion. All the parts work which is the first thing I consider about vintage books with moving parts. But it is definitely going back on eBay. The clown on page 9 is rather disturbing and I don't even have a thing against clowns. 

One of the first board books? Copyright 1964.

Digging the illustrations! 

My favorite story has to be "The Husband Who Tried to Keep House." Anyone want to guess how well it went? Here's a hint: The wife had no problems out in the fields.

Groovy coloring books. Joseph will especially love these. 

Amazing collection of "little" books. 

This is the oldest book in the collection. Copyright 1944. Nothing to indicate that it is not a first edition. Could be worth more than all the other books combined. 

What I didn't consider when buying so many books, is where would I put them?! The shelves here are officially full so that's all the books I'll be purchasing for awhile.*

*Fingers crossed

Literary obsession

Actually, it's an old obsession but lately, it has gotten much, much worse. When the kids go to bed, I spend valuable sleep time scrolling eBay for must-haves. I hit the big church yard sales hoping to find paper treasure. I spend hours shifting shelves and bins at local thrift stores.

Of course I didn't came home empty handed — from Monday's thrift store visit, I brought home 11 books for $5. Three for Will, two for Joseph, three to put up in the closet for rainy days and three for eBay. Because I need to fund my growing vintage book collection. Right now, I'm trying only to buy books I like so that if they don't sell I won't mind so much putting them on the shelves. Being on eBay daily is dangerous though ... I'm in danger of buying more than I sell.

There are hundreds of vintage books out there. I can't rescue them all but I do gravitate towards certain subjects. I love ABC books, 1950s illustrations, nursery rhymes collections, hardcover "Let's Read and Find Out" books from the '60s and '70s. For awhile I was buying any bunny book I could, inspired by Joseph's bunny friends. Now I've leaning towards farm books if only to have something to read besides Joseph's favorite "Big Red Barn."

My latest bedtime reading? A book about children's books. 

I might seriously need an intervention!

Those terrible threes

Recently, a friend was voicing frustration over her soon-to-be three-year-old. I could relate very well. William did not have terrible twos, but good Lord, did I need some intervention when he turned three. All of a sudden, the whining kicked into high gear. I'm lucky we didn't have a lot of full-body-on-the-floor tantrums (though Joseph is going to make up for that, don't worry) but we did have ... I'm drawing a blank. I think I've blocked it out of my memories to preserve my sanity.

Being a first-time parent, I turned to friends, family and books — lots of books.

Here are my favorites:

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers by Tracy Hogg with Melinda Blau
I didn't read the first book, "Secrets of the Baby Whisperer," but wished I had after reading Hogg's book on toddlers. Luckily, the toddlers edition covers a lot of the basics from first book. And picks up at the 18 month age so you can get early benefits from reading it.

The Happiest Toddler on the Block by Harvey Karp, M.D.
Again, I didn't read "The Happiest Baby on the Block" first. But I found this book to be helpful. I didn't do everything it recommends but that's what you should do with any book — figure out what works for you and your family.

Liberated Parents, Liberated Children: Your Guide to a Happier Family 
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
I'm not a total hippie, granola momma ... okay, I'm borderline some days ... but this feel good book from the 70s has brought peace to my home. It helped me react better to Will and learn how to communicate with him that respects both of us. As soon as I finish reading it, I start again because I really want the message to sink in.

The Girlfriends' Guide to Toddlers by Vicki Iovine
Iovine might be the coolest playmate ever ... four kids after posing she still looks good and she's soooo funny. I recommend that every mom-to-be start with the "The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy" and continue from there because Iovine covers the first year, toddlers and more honestly and with wit. Now she's taking us into the teenage years.

1-2-3 Magic by Thomas W. Phelan, Ph.D.
To be honest, I have not read this book. But I do have it to read and I've heard wonderful things about it. I already count with Will (That's one, two ... I'm coming mom) and it works! Not sure if it's going to work with Joseph though so I better get to reading.

These recommendations* are just from my own experiences. Did I leave off a book you love? Please share.

*FYI, if you follow the link to Amazon and buy the book, I might get 10 cents. If you live close to me, just borrow my copies.

Top books of 2010

I thought I would share some of our favorite books of the past year. These are the ones that we read over and over and over again.

"Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs" by Judi Barrett — This was a favorite of mine growing up. Reading it again and again must be pay back for making my Mom do the same thing. Will knows many of the pages by heart and can "read" along. Daddy is the top choice to read it because he changes the words around ... the silliness keeps it fresh for Will.

"Ladybug Girl and Bumblebee Boy" by David Soman and Jacky Davis — This arrived in our mailbox from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in March. It's a wonderful FREE program that delivers age-appropriate books to both boys monthly from birth to age 5. Check the Web site to see if your area participates. While not all the books become favorites, they are all quality books that I see again and again on the local bookstores' shelves. "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats showed up this December. I'm glad I didn't buy it when it was in my hand recently.

"Cool Cars and Trucks" by Sean Kenney, a LEGO certified professional. It's a book of LEGO scenes with instructions on how to build them. Santa brought it last Christmas. Will paged through it again and again, quietly in his room. That's the best kind of book for momma! Thoughtfully Santa this year brought Kenney's latest, "Cool Robots."

While Will favors a few books at a time, I can usually talk him into something new to give Mom a break. Joseph though is at the age where repetition is key so we read the same books over and over and over. His favorites for the year were "Big Red Barn," "Goodnight Gorilla," "Big Dog," and "Good Dog Carl." If he is really sleepy, I can sneak in a new read.

For Christmas, Santa brought "Cats A to Z" from the fine folks at Stuff on My Cat. Mommy made a special request from Santa after Joseph loved, loved, loved the book from the library (I find the library a great way to try out books on the boys before shelling out dough). He laughs and laughs at the silly cats. Santa also brought "I Took the Moon for a Walk" by Carolyn Curtis. The illustrations are by Alison Jay who is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Besides the LEGO book, Santa brought Will the hilarious "365 Penguins" by Jean-Luc Fromental and Joelle Jolivet and "In the Town All Year 'Round" by Rotraut Susanne Berner. I can't wait to see if they become favorites in 2011.

Favorites of you or your children in 2010? Page turners for 2011? Please share.