Family Archives - Page 14 of 16 - Simply Happenstance

Letter’s to Santa

December 6, 2012

The magic has begun…..

Our home has been decorated since the day after Thanksgiving.

By husband is still attempting to install a couple more lights,

don’t worry we aren’t the Griswold’s but we do like lights.

In fact, for the past week we have been taking walks as soon as it

gets dark to view all the Christmas Lights in the surrounding neighborhoods.

We are fortunate to live around the block from a neighborhood

that decorates to the max with a fabulous display of Christmas Lights.

This neighborhood is as wonderful as Disneyland!

A cup of hot chocolate and a little fresh air, can put anyone in the holiday spirit.

And of course, our Elf on The Shelf has returned!

Yes, we are Elf people.

In fact we have had our boy Elf, Aubrey {yes, I know} for 3 years now.

This past Saturday, with all of the rain I took the kids to the mall in

hopes to visit with Santa.

The line of course was too long, so we visited a few stores in preparation

for our annual letters to Santa.

In Pottery Barn Kids, we stumbled upon the Author of The Elf of the Shelf.

Chandra Bell was signing books and delivering them straight from Santa,

of course, Miss Madeline hoped that Aubrey could have a friend.

Cutie has now joined our family…….

{yes, she is cute!}

With all of this holiday activity, it was the perfect time to

create our Christmas Lists/Letters to Santa.

A couple years ago, we actually received a reply back from the “Jolly old Elf”.

{Thanks Mr. Santa at the post office for answering my children’s letter!}

Traditionally I hand write the letters via what the kid’s dictate to me,

but this year I came upon this inexpensive find at Target.

It was a great find that was easy to fill out.

The Santa Lists are a tri-fold card in which you list the good things they have done

over the year, then the second section is the actual lists.

Four envelopes and four letters were in the package that was under $4.00.

A great way to make a list for family members as well as,

placing in the mail to The North Pole.

I found this gem near the holiday boxed cards.

Fingers crossed that we are lucky enough to receive a response from Santa…..

but then again the kids might just have to wait to see what actually comes on

Christmas Morning!

“Santa Claus is coming to town”.

A “Moment” with my Older Boys…

December 5, 2012

I recently had one of those {rare} moments that I think we all share as mothers….

maybe even as parents.

I watched my boys walk into school together after dropping them off at the side gate.

Ryan paused and waited for Seth as he got his backpack placed properly on his shoulders.

They walked into school, side-by-side, chatting and sharing what appeared to be a quiet laugh.

The sun glistened upon them showing off their auburn hair…

you could clearly tell they were brothers.

As I watched them….

for only mere seconds {as I had to keep moving with cars behind me},

I had that “moment” I just mentioned.

It was as if time slowed down and I was able to be completely present and focused on my boys.

I gazed at my children from someone else’s eyes….

not as their mother who was concerned about them getting to school on time,

or the crazy woman I was a bit earlier as I frantically packed their lunches

and prepared four different varieties of breakfast…

I was outside of my body, looking in at my boys from someone else’s vantage point

{perhaps from my subconscious}.

As I drove off, I prayed that God would imprint that precious image of them into my brain.

That He would help me remember their innocence and sweetness at that very moment.

That I could soak it all in and marinade in that feeling of being truly present.

*************************

Life has a way of consuming us and passing by too quickly.

Memories seem to get muddled and blend together.

It gets harder and harder to remember specific details of ordinary days

and special events as the days and years pass.

So, I hold on tightly to what I can…

to those everyday, routine moments that flash before my eyes.

I pray….

and silently BEG that they will stay little longer….

that I can continue to hold them in my arms…

carry them around…

tickle them…

gobble them up with my kisses…

and encourage them with my gentle words.

That they will always look up to me and be proud that I am their mama.

That they won’t shy away from my kisses good-bye and my prayers as they drift off into sleep.

That they will always look at me with love in their eyes

as they tell me I am the best mama in the whole world….

I’m holding on…

and grasping tightly to what I can.

Trying hard to remember to breathe it all in…

and be ever so present so I don’t miss these moments…

The Case of the Picky Eater and the Holidays…..

November 28, 2012

This past week we celebrated Thanksgiving with both sides of the family.

It was great to be able to do this, as my husband has been on shift the past three years.

I love being able to visit with everyone.

It is a nice time to catch up with what is new in their lives, as well as getting to know

the newer, and soon to be, new additions of the family.

All wonderful things to be thankful for.

It is all grand until it is time to sit down for the meal…..

The part in which I dread the most.

My palms sweat and it is time to answer the question,

“What is Mason eating for dinner, where is his plate?”

Uh oh….

The dreaded picky eater…..

My son is a picky eater and has been for the majority of his life.

He is like most kids on the Autism Spectrum, that crave routine and predictability.

This trait goes hand-in-hand with some children that also have a sensory processing disorder.

The sensory component means that he will eat the same few

meals over and over again without a huge fuss.

I know what you think… the kid won’t starve,

but he will, as it is part of this disorder.

Textures and smells create sensory stop signs for these kids.

Loud full houses and having to sit for extended periods of time

is extremely hard for a child who has a hard time sitting in school, let alone

a crowded dinner table

{I myself get overwhelmed after being around too much noise for an extended period}.

More often than not, it is a battle in which their behavior goes from

zero to 60 in 2.5 seconds.

Believe me I have tried it all… heard it all,

but I know as a Mom that we worked very hard with our son

and that this is the smaller piece to a very large puzzle.

As per Lindsey Biel, M.A., OTR/L and Nancy Peske’s book

Raising a Sensory Smart Child, if a child has food related

issues try to avoid food related battles at the family meal

and focus instead on pleasure of the company

{this book is amazing for any child}.

We see an Occupational Therapist for help with Mason’s Sensory Processing Disorder

and with his eating behaviors {thank goodness for Wayne Centra at Karate for All}.

Yes I would love to be that mother whose child eats

all of my homemade food and I wish I could say my son

loves all of his basic food groups, but that is something that

I know is in the far off distance… a work in progress.

I know that a special gluten free and casein free diet works for

some children on the Autism Spectrum, but Mother knows best

{well with the support of an educated therapist… wink wink}

I am just happy that my child is eating food.

It may be considered processed and babysitter like, but it is what is.

Luckily I am able to sneak in nutrients in places where I can.

For now I will be happy for the progress he has made and the

obstacles we have overcome, for they have been great… if not amazing!

So when we pull up a seat at a table please don’t ask,

“Is that what he is eating?”

For I am thankful for the boy he is, and not for how I would like the situation to be.

Sweet Dreams, Little Man…

November 27, 2012

This was just too cute not to share.

You see some kids have soft, silky, well-loved objects of affection that they take with them to bed….

not my Finn.

He claimed Sophia’s Ken Barbie doll a while ago and has grown attached to it ever since.

I tried to replace it with something a bit cozier for taking to bed, but Finn wouldn’t have it.

He has renamed Ken….

he’s officially “Da-Da.”

Super cute, since of course that’s what he calls Husby.

The funny part is that our Ken has the typical blond hair and blue eyes….

doesn’t quite resemble his Puerto Rican daddy!

Here is my littlest man…

Mr. Finn…

{aka Mr. Amazing}….

fast asleep with “Da-Da”

whom he clearly loves dearly…

sweet dreams, little man…

A Positive & Uplifted Home

November 24, 2012

In just two days my children head back to school after their week off from the Thanksgiving holiday.

It’s bittersweet, to say the least.

I am definitely one of those mamas that is happiest when my little ones are home with me.

I love our family time and honestly get sad not seeing them all day when they’re at school.

Of course, they do have their moments….

and we’ve actually had lots of those “moments” during the past week….

where the arguing and whining have become like constant white noise in the background of our home.

After my repeated pleas to get along, and incessant bouts of redirection,

I started thinking about the need to shift the focus of our house from complaining, arguing, and whining

to words of praise, feelings of positivity, and gratitude.

{I received an email from one of my dearest friends a few months ago.

It was about changing the climate of your home from complaining into praise.

I held on to it, knowing full well that it was an article worth keeping.

For those of you interested in reading it {I highly recommend it}, you can do so here}.

I personally think it is easy to get caught up in complaining and having a negative tone.

Unfortunately, it does set the climate of our homes.

We know that our kids learn best by our example.

Changing the atmosphere starts with us… as their parents.

Here are a few reminders to help keep the energy of our living environment more positive and uplifted:

{The Home Environment}

Create a home environment that is inviting and calm. I’m not sure about you, but I know that for Husby and I, we feel best when our home is tidy and organized so we can relax and enjoy the kids. I also love having a cozy place that is mine, so I can curl up and enjoy a good book from time-to-time. The kids should also have their own space within the home. Whether it’s a reading nook, a little hideout, or their room, it should be a safe and welcoming place where they can also relax. Here is more information on setting the ambiance of your home so that it feels more like a relaxing getaway {click here}.

{photo via: pinterest – reading nooks}

{Setting the tone}

Hopefully this goes without saying, but it’s best to use words in the home that lift each other up… words of encouragement and praise, rather than put-downs, name calling, and blaming. It also helps to physically get down to your child’s level to speak with them and make good eye contact. Truly practice the art of listening to your kids when they are speaking to you so that you can better understand them and their needs {for a great book on this, click here}.

{Monitoring Media}

In this day-in-age, we can’t be too careful in monitoring the various forms of media that our kids are exposed to…. such as TV, Internet, video games, music, etc., as well as the amount of time they are tuned in {click here for social media monitoring tips to use with your kids}.

{Time = Love}

Quality time spent with your kids can help cut down on their negative attention seeking behavior. You will be happier, as will your kids, when you put down your phone or whatever it is that’s drawing your attention away from them… and shift your focus to them. Some of my favorite memories as a kid were my parents playing Mastermind with me after dinner {heart smile}. A little bit of your undivided attention goes a long way, and won’t be quickly forgotten {click here for 100 ways to spend time with your kids}.

{A change of perspective & a gracious heart}

Sometimes all it takes is realizing that the tone of your house has been a bit off, or negative. Maybe it is just a simple shift in your perspective that your kids will take notice of and then emulate. Find ways as a family that you can share the things you are grateful for each day. In our family, we call this praise {praising God for what we have, and the blessings that have come our way}. In the article I previously mentioned about turning complaining into words of praise, she suggested having a family notebook readily available to all, to document the things you are grateful for each day {click here for tips on starting a gratitude journal}.