I’ve written a post about portable puzzles before, but as the weather turns cold and we spend more time indoors as a family, I thought I’d share what we have been doing. Today we are starting our tradition of puzzle- making. Every year during Thanksgiving break, we get a new puzzle and try to finish it by the New Year. We are able to keep it portable and move it to whatever room we want to by keeping it on a bulletin board. The cork on the board makes it harder for pieces to slip onto the floor. It usually stays in the dining room, house central, where we can sit for a few and leisurely work on it. I find it is a great time to chill and chat with one of my girls. It never fails, if I sit and start working on it, one of them will join me. I love the memories we have made and conversations we have had while making puzzles, with candles lit and Christmas music playing!
Another way I encourage busy minds and hands is with a basket of card games sitting on a shelf. My girls are getting old enough to play each other. It is a great thing to encourage when I hear “Mom, I’m bored!”
I brought another shelf into the Living Room to put some board games on and also house some good family reading material. We have a ton of great games, but I find if I don’t have them upstairs on display, they just won’t get played very often, unless it is a holiday. I will switch the games out periodically as they play them so they don’t get bored with the choices. Boggle, anyone?
Back to the puzzles, we always take a picture of the finished product, which makes the tearing down process much easier on little ones.
This puzzle is from last year. I have vivid, precious memories of sitting there with my family and close friends, after surgery, working on that puzzle. It was nice to have something to do while healing that was interactive and in a central location so I could be with my family.
~Does your family do puzzles?
~What games are your favorites?
I know it is not Monday, but after such an amazing vacation with my family, I had to post about the gifts. We spent a week in Breckenridge and had a super good time. I am so grateful.
#536-#589
~LIFE. I am alive. He has brought me– carried me to this place of mountains I dreamed of when I was sick.
~standing on snow in shorts
~my youngest girl and her cousin, discussing Grandpa and Grandma’s generosity to provide this family trip
~amazing food everyday. Nourishing.
~a smile on my face that is hard to erase. How can I keep from singing and shouting His name?
~ a morning, 2- block walk alone to the Amazing Grace Natural Cafe
~granola w/ cranberries, bananas. Soy milk in a small metal pitcher. A ‘just-out-of-the-oven’ scone.
~listening to the locals banter. They are regulars here at this Amazing Grace cafe. I would be too, we would be friends, if I lived here.
~getting caught on my walk in the sprinklers
~candles burning in old church windows
~grandma bouncing grand baby
~brooks, streams and rivers
~grandpa chuckling to himself while reading from his Kindle
~energy to have FUN.
~His BIGNESS! He made these mountains!!
~on these mountains, my eyes seem to see the furthest east to west. This is how far He has removed my transgressions!
~cousins playing board games
~a life that is so very blessed.
~journals and books
~a fancy dinner with my mother-in-law and sister-in-laws. One of my favorite memories made. My heart bursts with love for them.
~the quaint shops of Breckenridge.
~my girls searching for the perfect souvenir to buy with the money Grandpa pulled from his pocket.
~white water rafting. The warmth of my wetsuit (we won’t talk about how they smelled). Safety.
~ my girls squeals of joy when rafting on white water
~Alpine slides and chair lifts
~cordless earphones in the car for our girls. A DVD player.
~ awesome time to bond with husband as kids watch movies in the car
~a private suite within a large family cabin. Our own kitchen and bathroom. Amazing.
~daughter overcoming her fear on chairlift
~alpine treetops. Viewing them from above.
~bumping into friends I have not seen in over 24 years!! So good to see you, Melissa & Jon!
~’fake’ Keens that worked just as well as ‘real’ Keens
~watching nephews rock climb. Their will and determination.
~bro-in-laws. Their unique personalities. Their love for their families. Their wisdom.
~cousins rock collections, their discovery of textures and colors
~the swiveling, wall-mounted t.v. in our suite
~family strolls, family time
~veggie pizza, served on white and red checkered tablecloths
~a leisure afternoon of shopping, when what the clock says just does not matter
~cupcakes with my cuppy-cuppy cupcakes! Sweets with my sweetie-pies!
~a- latte -a- day—-my vacation splurge
~a family train of twenty biking down the mountain. Our splitting up then meeting again creates the rhythm of the day.
~feeling so alive as I coast down the mountain. The words in my head–“The firmament shows His handiwork!!”
~forcing myself to not smile while biking, don’t want bugs in my teeth!
~baby bike buggy
~daddy taking his girls horseback riding so I can shop alone
~kind, patient zip line instructors
~safety on all 6 zips!
~little girls with big courage
~flying across the canyon, celebrating that I can!
~safety. Our trip ends with an ambulance and paramedics. They give our youngest 2 thumbs up after falling onto cement from 5 feet up. She wanted to help pack the top of the car, and proceeded to do so after being told no!! Ugh.
~a sore wrist, but not broken. A raw knee that can still walk. A red knot on her head but no serious head injury. Safe.
paper.
Got any coloring/art book favorites?
How about art supplies?
Andrew Peterson-Dancing In The Minefields
I am heading into a surgical center today to sit with my husband.
He is having surgery to have his knee repaired.
Exactly a week from now, he will be with me as I have surgery, a double mastectomy.
I had a friend write on my face book “He will be your hands, you can be his feet“
That is how we have worked these last 14 years. Joined together. Filling in the others weakness, and when we fail (which has been often), our Lord steps in and fills in the areas we were never meant to fill in each other.
There have been many, many bumps in the road. Life has not always been easy, but because of our faith and goodness of our God, we have been able to stay strong and get through the minefields of life.
I love this song. I love the idea of “Dancing in the minefields.” We are. We are holding tight to each other and getting through them, many times stumbling, but more often, we are, actually, dancing.
Todd, I love you.
Well I was 19 you were 21
Everyone said we were much to young
But we did it anyway
We got the rings for 40 each from a pawnshop down the road
We said our vows and took the leap now 15 years ago
Chorus:
We went dancing in the minefields
We went sailing in the storm
And it was harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
Well ‘I do’ are the two most famous last words
The beginning of the end
But to lose your life for another I’ve heard is a good place to begin
Cause the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down
And I believe it’s an easy price for the life that we have found
Chorus:
And we’re dancing in the minefields
We’re sailing in the storm
This is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for
Bridge:
So when I lose my way, find me
When I lose loves chains, bind me
At the end of all my faith
to the end of all my days
when I forget my name, remind me
Cause we bear the light of the son of man
So there’s nothing left to fear
So I’ll walk with you in the shadow lands
Till the shadows disappear
Cause he promised not to leave us
And his promises are true
So in the face of all this chaos baby
I can dance with you
Chorus:
So lets go dancing in the minefields
Lets go sailing in the storms
Oh lets go dancing in the minefields
And kicking down the doors
Oh lets go dancing in the minefields
And sailing in the storms
Oh this is harder than we dreamed
But I believe that’s what the promise is for
That’s what the promise is for
My girls have a week off of school for fall break. Today was the first day, and after chores were done this morning, it only took about an hour until I heard the words “Mom…I’m bored!” When I think of all the awesome things my sweet but spoiled girls have to keep them busy, I was pretty surprised to hear those words so soon into our break!
Here is what we came up with:
Legos, Art, Twister Dance, Karaoke, Sidewalk Chalk, Play-Doh, Nintendo DSi, Pop Beads, Computer, Hullabaloo, Puzzibits, KEVA Planks, Pop Beads, Beads, Paper Snowflakes, Doll House, Babies, Dress-Up, Barbies, Marker Board(Dry Erase Board), Hullabaloo, Scooters/Bikes, Lincoln Logs, Sticks, Crossword Puzzles, Piano, Basketball, Hide n Seek, Sardines, Trace Cookie Cutters, Bake/Cook, Doctor/Nurse, Beauty Shop, Lite Brit, Puppets, Puzzles, Tea Party, Tinker Toy, School, Play Food, Coloring Pages, Polish Nails/Toes, Boochie, Life, Battleship, Circus Game, Drawing Game, Parcheesi, Visit Library, Play At Park, Go For A Hike! Whew!