Gabby's "Want" Present

For Christmas Gabby requested a checkers board for us to play and I couldn't resist a DIY Pirates vs. Ninjas Checker Set.  I saw this on Etsy a while ago and lucky for me I live near a craft store (Pat Catans) that has all the supplies I need so I don't have to have them shipped here and waste precious painting time.

I toyed with a couple of themes, Pink Ninjas vs. Black Ninjas, Batman vs. Spiderman, Monkeys vs. Bears... but I know my girl and pirates are totally her thing!!

I will post pics once I get the varnish on some of the little ninjas I started with! If you don't live near a store that stocks these cute little wooden peg dolls, I totally reccomend this great Etsy store!  Here is a link to some other neat ideas for the peg dolls... what do you think? Is this something your kids would dig?

It's The Most Nutty Time of the Year!

Well my friends, it has begun.... the frenzied holiday season. Today I saw workers draping lights on trees outside of a mall, heard Christmas tunes in a bookstore, and am seeing "HOLIDAY SALE" signs popping up left and right.

It is really hard to resist overspending, especially with "deals" everywhere telling you that you need this and that, making you feel guilty for not buying your child the newest toy, and pushing you into decorating your house befitting the cover of Southern Living.

This is the 3rd year that we will be doing our Rules of Christmas and I have even higher hopes of it's success now that Gabby is older. She can recite the rules to us when we are out and she definitely understands that she needs to make her choices wisely. I mentioned in my previous post that we are going to make the girls a fairy door and there are a few other things that we have in mind for them from Santa, but nothing that is going to push us into financial ruin.

I designed this notepad so that I can keep track of the ideas that I get for each person in my family, and so that I can mark off what I get and am not tempted to get yet another shirt or a toy that isn't on the list.

Here are directions on how to turn this into a real notepad which is nice if you have a large family that wishes to try this tradition out. And here is the PDF to print out, you can fit 2 sheets on a page if you landscape it.

In the next couple of weeks I will be sharing with you things I am giving the members of my family, since I don't have to worry about the kids reading the blog and ruining the surprise! Any ideas, hints, and tricks that you know are very welcome!!

The Importance of Fairy Tales

Lately I have been thinking a lot about fairy tales and their importance in a child's life. With me selling children's books, many of which contain classic fairy tales, I am re-reading many beloved stories such as Cinderella, Snow White, and Alice in Wonderland.

I really believe that there is a special place, an important place, in childhood for fairy tales. I know many people believe that fairy tales should not be taught to children because they are too scary, will confuse the child as to what is real, or that they are immorally wrong and go against religious beliefs. But what I think is that fairy tales help children understand how the world works, that evil does not win in the end, that the underdog can rise to the top if they believe they can, and that cheating does not pay.

I know that as parents we want to protect our children from the evils of the world, but the hard truth is that there are evils out there. Difficult decisions to make, battles to be won, and evil to conquer. What better place than in a story to introduce these concepts?

In an effort to keep the fanciful imagination alive in our home Klint and I decided that we are going to put up a fairy door in the house on Christmas Eve while the girls are asleep. A little door where the girls can leave notes, trinkets, and pennies along with their imagination. I imagine too that the Christmas Fairy (who will have to be named of course!) will also leave notes and bits of fairy magic in the house.  I am not scouring the web for a mini mailbox and some teeny numbers to go on the fairy's door. Here is a great little article about where to get some fairy supplies! This is where I shall be getting my door from, I can't wait to paint it and make it a one of a kind fairy door!

(EDIT: I now offer custom made fairy doors in my Etsy store here!! They are a wonderful addition for any space, even in little shops!)


(picture from Monkeytail & Wellington)

Friends

Gabby and her friend Shannon...

maybe it is just the mommy in me, but aren't these ladies gorgeous?

I love Shannon's beautiful blue eyes and Gabby's sunny smile to match her hair...

heart breakers in the making!

My Dream Home.... sigh!

Can you tell I like the color turquoise?

These photos and much much more can be found here!

Potty Time! Excellent!

So AJ has really started taking an interest in going potty. We had a really easy time of it with Gabby, she just trained herself one day when she was about two and a half. We really can't take credit for her success in the potty arena. But, realizing that are girls are so different, we decided to take a different approach with AJ.

First we had her practice wiping herself, a very important thing if you are a little girl! Then we had her sit on the potty when we went, so she can see what we do. AJ actually had a few successful trips to the potty this way. So this weekend we decided on Sunday to just let her go around in a tee shirt and undies, so that she can feel what an accident feels like and get the idea more of pulling panties up and down. (We did try Pull-Ups, but they are too close to diapers for her to get the idea enough). And what a day! In the morning there were a lot of accidents and I was thanking my lucky stars that we had hard wood floors. But, the afternoon was accident free, which I consider to be a VERY good indication that we are on the right track.

Later today, after nap time, we will resume Panty Time in Casa de Krebs! Hopefully, more updates to follow!

Print & Give- Halloween Lunchbox Notes

I love putting little notes in Gabby and Klint's lunchboxes, just little notes to remind them how much I appreciate them and miss them when they are away. Here is a printable for this upcoming week with 5 Halloween themed notes, just a little something extra to celebrate this spooky season! Hope your loved one likes them as much as mine do!!

download the full sized edition here

The List 2.3

It seems like it has been awhile since I posted a list... there is so much going on with Halloween here, holidays coming up, and the weather changing I guess time got away from me! Here are some really cool links to projects, decor, party ideas, and more!

Poetry is fun as it is with kids, but I think this cute list poetry would be really fun with Gabby, especially since she is on a zombie kick! (@ Let's Explore)

It is early to be thinking about Christmas, but I might want to get a jump start on this adorable wooden spool advent calendar... (@ Just Something I Made)

We love dressing up in costumes around here, but sometimes all you need is a mask and tail to transform into that favorite woodland critter! (@ Oeuf)

With Christmas only 9 weeks away I am not only thinking about gift giving but also charitable giving. Here are some great ideas to get you started on a very charitable holiday season with your family!  (@ Simple Mom)

Now that the weather is a bit chillier I know that I am going to have to have some tricks up my sleeve to keep all my little ones busy. This DIY Chair Tent would be perfect and looks so easy! (@ Instructables)

We have a Japanese platform bed and Gabby wants one too, but I love the look of a headboard. This is why these wall sticker headboards are a easy, cheap, and fun solution! (@ Blik)  ---->

If I was going to throw a monster bash I hope it would have food like this one!! (@ A Home Grown Life)

Leave it to Jill to not only make a cute homemade playhouse for her son, Oscar, but to do it so beautifully with felt! I wish I had sewing skills like these!! (@ Homemade by Jill)

Currently we are having Nerf Sword battles at our house... but I think if my family (especially the hubby) had their hands on these marshmallow guns, I would have to duck and seek cover more often! (@ FangleTronics)

If you thought all embroidery was about girly cuteness think again... total hotness in thread here...mmmm (@ Feeling Stitchy)

As the mommy of a biter, hiter, and toy taker I think that these "I'm sorry my kid is naughty" cards are a much needed addition to my stationary! (@ Tan-ja-reen)

Well that is it folks! Hope you have a lovely evening!

Apples to Apples

(pics courtesy of Melissa!)

Yesterday we went apple picking at an awesome orchard about 30 mins south of Cleveland. I am seriously a HUGE fan of this particular farm- Pick N Save. Not only do they have an enormous selection of apple trees, but the prices are beyond reasonable, they have a beautiful Friesian horse who loves to be fed apples, and there are even honey hives and chickens to look at! (Yes, I am a city girl and yes, chickens intrigue me!)


Last time AJ and I went with some great friends we got about 11 lbs of apples... and ate them all in 2 weeks. So this time around we got almost 20 lbs to cook, snack on, and make into lovely desserts! AJ loves picking apples, especially the bitty ones that she fondly calls her "baby apples". I love the realness of it all, the smells of the fallen fruit, and knowing exactly where they have come from. I was unaware that apples you get in the grocery store are actually LAST year's apples.... ugh! No wonder they have to color, wax, and chemical the heck out of them!


So look forward to some posts about apple crisp, apple dumplings, and such.... oh and be sure to send some links to YOUR favorite recipes my way!!! (20 lbs is a LOT of apples!)

Doing the Unthinkable

Today I started running... and knowing me and the fact that if I don't have some real motivation to keep at it I will wuss out, I started a new blog documenting the journey from now until June 2010 when I hope to reach my goal of cutting my jean size in half. Come check it out, give me some encouragement because heaven knows I will need it, and feel free to leave some running tips and tricks! Presenting Chubby Chick Running!!