We have been super lucky and, except for a brutal cold snap during the beginning of December (we’re talking like -4F! BRRRR!), we’ve had pretty mild winter weather this year.  Like out in sweatshirts during the day, or maybe a light jacket.  Now, it gets chilly when the sun goes down, but that’s kind of what happens in the desert… even with daytime temps near triple digits.

However, being in my third trimester and about the size of a boat, I haven’t wanted to venture out with my crazy, energetic hooligans.  I just don’t have the energy or stamina to chase after them.  Especially that Little J… he’s into everything and has already developed selective hearing for the words “don’t”, “no”, “stop”, “get down”, “listen to me” and similar commands.  So, I made up the Boredom Buster Jar – Winter Edition.  It’s got activities that will (mostly) keep us inside – where I can contain the chaos (mostly) and we can still try to have learning moments (maybe).

Unfortunately, all the photos turned out blurry that I had taken of our jar – and the boys… hence, why they were blurry.  Then, that ever-curious Little J let himself into the laundry room (to which I always keep the door closed), climbed himself up three shelves to my tool bag, helped himself to my hammer and back down three shelves (whew, he doesn’t always nail the ‘back down’ part) with said hammer.  Hang on, it gets better.  Can you guess what he did with that hammer?  Well, let’s just say he came and told me “Bang, bang, bang.  It’s broke.”  It sure was… he smashed that jar into a billion pieces.  After I frantically checked him for cuts, scrapes, and deep, profusely bleeding gashes I cleaned it all up, relocated my tool bag and put a child lock on that door.  Apparently, he’s also mastered the turning of door knobs and can now grant himself access to any room without those annoying child locks.  Yay for that new skill?  I did not, however, replace the jar (fool me once…) and our activity strips are currently being housed in some super classy, missing two tabs, plastic Snap Ware.  Where was I while all this happened?  Doing the dishes.  So, moral of the story…?  Clearly, don’t do the dishes.  Right?

Anyway.  Here’s a little sneak peek at the Winter boredom buster printable.  You can download the watermark-free version of this page HERE.  If you would like 16 more activities and a blank template page to fill in your own fun winter activities you can find that in my Etsy Shop.

You can print as many copies as you’d like.  The image is designed as an 8″x10″.  You may share the printed copies, but please point others back here to this post for the file link.  No part or variation of this image may be reproduced, sold, or given away without permission from me, the designer.  I reserve all rights.  Yada, yada… legal jargon.  

Enjoy!

UPDATE: If you want the 2015 version of this printable, you can find it HERE.

I believe that you’re never too young to set goals.  Now, my nearly-two-year-old doesn’t have the faintest idea what that even means and I’m sure it’s still a foggy concept for my four-and-a-half-year-old.  At least in those terms.  But Big J knows what it means to work on doing something consistently (say brushing his teeth…) and he might not understand what a goal is, but he does have them.  He wants to practice drawing and learn to write his S’s better so he’s ready for kindergarten.  He told me.

So, I created a little page to help remind him of some of the things he wants to do this next year.  Hopefully, every time Big J sees his page he will remember some of the things he wants to accomplish and it can be a reminder, even though he can’t actually read what’s written yet.

Right-click, open in new window and save as to your computer.  You can then print as many copies as you’d like.  Image is designed as an 8″x10″.  You may share the printed copies, but please point others back here for the file.  No part or variation of this image may be reproduced, sold, or given away without permission from me, the designer.  I reserve all rights.

Okay, I try really hard to keep this blog uplifting and family-friendly.  I have been debating this post for a while and finally decided that I would go ahead and post it.  So, this is your warning.  If things behind the bedroom door are not of interest to you, then feel free to skip this post.  I promise, I will keep it tasteful.

Alright… so, December is one of my favorite months.  And one that I dread.  It always seems so hectic and busy.  Sometimes, I wish I didn’t feel like I needed to make a million Christmas gifts and host holiday parties and hang decor until there’s holiday cheer dripping from every surface of our house.  But, I love Christmas carols and lights and the trees.  I love December.

This December, I am pregnant.  Five months pregnant.  Not insanely uncomfortable yet, but tired and weary nonetheless.  On top of pregnancy drain, I chase after two rambunctious hooligans all day long and I’m trying to get all those gifts I mentioned crossed off my to-make list.  So, my poor husband crawls into bed every night with a zombie who is thinking about stocking stuffers and gifts for the neighbors.  Not very romantic, am I right?

So, in an effort to make sure he knows that he is still one of my highest priorities, I wanted to give him something.  Something that is super precious right now.  My time.  And maybe a little more of me than the Christmas-crazed zombie he’s been going to bed with lately.  I sat myself down with Photoshop and a mug of cocoa and made up these Christmas coupons for couples and presented them to him in the form of a surprise on his pillow one night.  I know it’s not the 12 days of Christmas yet, but intimacy every night for two weeks kind of scares my baby-infested uterus right now.  TMI?  Sorry, it’s the hormones, I swear.

I’m sure most of you of are super focused on your Thanksgiving preparations. However, I’ve got it pretty easy this week. Aside from entertaining two youngsters in the car as we hop from stop to stop on this crazy trip, my Thanksgiving prep consists of a single potluck dish.  Maybe two, if Mr Napping gets ambitious.  And, let’s face it, he will probably do most of the prep… Whew, I’m practically completely off the hook!

Because we are traveling, I’m limited to projects I can complete on my laptop… Luckily, digital designing is a passion of mine and I’ve got some printables for you this week!

While most of you are thinking turkeys and pumpkin pies, I’ve been working on our plans for next month. Christmas is my favorite holiday and I try to make it a special time for my kids and family.  To make sure we don’t forget any of our favorite traditions I’ve created a printable bucket list.

You can click on the image and open in a new window, then right click, “save as” and download the image to your computer or you can get a watermark-free, high quality version HERE.  Happy Thanksgiving!

What are some of your favorite holiday traditions?