Saturday, November 25, 2017

Good Job, Momma.



Today, I woke up with a guilty-Mom attitude.

You all know the one I'm talking about -- that feeling that you just didn't do enough with your kids the day before. You didn't feed them the right foods. You let them watch too much TV. You didn't take them outside. You didn't play with them enough. You yelled too much. You were on your phone too much. You did chores for too long. You told them they were driving you crazy even though you swore you weren't going to say that anymore. You told them 'hold on' one too many times. You complained too much. You cried. You begged for some 'time to yourself' making them feel bad for wanting to constantly be with you. You were on the phone too much. You were on the computer too much. You didn't cook dinner. You drank too much wine before bed.

You felt guilty- beyond guilty.

You almost felt miserable.

Miserable as a mother because you felt like you just weren't measuring up to who you wanted to be-- or thought you would be at this point. You had all these plans for the day and for some reason, you barely made it through.

So, you wake up in the morning and you're still bearing that burden on your shoulders. You're still carrying it on to the next day-- which in turn makes you moody, upset, frustrated, lost, confused, bitter......

The guilty-Mom attitude isn't healthy, but how many of us bear that title?

It is vital that we Mommas take time at the end of the night to lay those burdens-- that guilt-- those feelings down at the feet of Jesus and try again the next morning.

We get so caught up in the things we didn't do during the day--

what did we do that qualify us as awesome Mommas in HIS eyes and our children's eyes?

Did your children wake up in a warm home?
Good job, Momma.

Did your children wake up and get a full belly?
Good job, Momma.

Did your children wake up and get clean clothes put on their bodies?
Good job, Momma.

Did your children smile through the day?
Good job, Momma.

Did your children get to school safely?
Good job, Momma.

Did your children have dinner before bed?
Good job, Momma.

Did your children have a warm bath?
Good job, Momma.

Did you tell your children you love them?
Good job, Momma.

Did your children smile through out the day?
Good job, Momma.

Are your children staying in clean, safe house?
Good job, Momma.

Did you have a conversation with your children today?
Good job, Momma.

Good job, Momma.

You're doing your best right now-- and even though it might have been a tough day-- you get a new day tomorrow. You get a new day to do your very best. You get a new day to be the best Mom you can be for your babies. And guess what? If you aren't that 'picture perfect Momma' you wanted for that day-- you still kept them babies safe and gave them the best life you know how.

Good job, Momma. In case you don't hear it enough.

Let the weight of the coulda, shoulda, wouldas go today and rest in the fact that you love your babies more than life itself and you get a new day tomorrow...


Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Ellie the Elf



How many of you out there participate in 'The Elf on the Shelf' tradition? If you aren't sure what this tradition is, you can read more about it HERE.

We have our own version of the 'Elf on the Shelf.' Here's what Ellie looks like:



She got into a lot of shenanigans last year-- and I venture to say she's going to be back again this year as well! Last year, we developed a 'Calendar of Ellie's Events' so we weren't scrambling every morning (because lets face it-- half the time we moved her at 6:59AM and the kids woke up at 7:03AM!) It was great to be organized and know our game plan every day-- our kiddos are getting awfully smart and ask a ton of questions if everything isn't perfectly planned out!

Here's our Ellie the Elf schedule this year-- and some ideas for you as well if you need them!

December 1st: A letter to the children about the Elf's return, their agenda, etc.

December 2nd: Elf bundled up in a towel on a shelf in the fridge.

December 3rd: Elf sitting on the couch with a blanket, bowl of chips/popcorn, remote.

December 4th: Elf wrote 'HELLO' on the sink with toothpaste.

December 5th: Elf stuck in glass with the sign 'HELP!' inside.

December 6th: Sitting with Christmas books and a sign that says 'Lets read a book together!'

December 7th: Have Elf having a slumber party with the Barbies (use socks as sleeping bags)

December 8th: Have the Elf riding a dinosaur.
*Buy candy canes for the Elf on the Shelf activity tomorrow

December 9th: Hide all candy canes and have Elf sitting on counter with a sign that says, 'Can you find all of the candy canes?'
* Buy breakfast foods for the next Elf on the Shelf activity

December 10th: Have the Elf sitting on the counter with a huge breakfast that he/she made.

December 11th: Have the Elf sitting on the counter with letters to each child telling them what the elf loves about them, appreciates that they do, encouraging them to continue being good, etc.

December 12th: Have the Elf taking a doll baby's blood pressure or heart beat with Doc McStuffins toys

December 13th: Have Elf take the family's under wear and hang it from the ceiling fan with the Elf hanging from one of the underwear as well.

December 14th: Have the Elf working underneath of a car with the toy tools.

December 15th: Have the Elf hanging from the rearview mirror in the car.

December 16th: Have the Elf make a snowman on the floor out of matchbox cars, trucks, etc.

December 17th: Have an indoor scavenger hunt sitting on the counter that the Elf created for the kids. (i.e. find something round, find a sticker, find a crayon, find something bouncy, etc.)

December 18th: Have the Elf toilet paper the Christmas tree.

December 19th: Have the Elf sitting on the floor with crayons and coloring books coloring a beautiful picture.
* Buy construction paper for next Elf activity

December 20th: Have Ellie sitting by the kid's pictures on the wall and have construction paper santa hats on top of the kid's heads.

December 21st: Have shoes lined up like a train all across the floor and have the Elf sitting in one of the shoes.

December 22nd: Have the Elf taped to the wall.

December 23rd: Have the Elf sitting in time out with a sign above him/her saying 'time out'

December 24th: Have the elf sitting reading a book to all of the dolls, stuffed animals, etc.

December 25th: Have a good bye letter written to the children and send the Elf back to the North Pole.



Can't wait to see all of the elf's shenanigans!

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

December Activities



Long Time No See!

Well, considering I stopped blogging when I was 28 weeks pregnant with baby #3.... and he just turned '3' years old.. I would say we have some catching up to do!

We had baby #3 a.k.a Lucas on October 23, 2014. He was a whopping 7lb 13oz (I know, I know.. I say whopping because #1 a.k.a Tayler was 6lb 3oz and baby #2 a.k.a Quinn was 6lb 12oz. Tiny wittle babes! 

So now we are a happy little family of 5. The husband and I have been married for almost 7 years and we are now proud owners of a 6 year old, 4 year old, and a 3 year old, LOL. As the saying goes-- our hands are full, but our hearts are totally full too!

I'd like to think we are a pretty awesome, on-the-go family. We love crafts and seasonal activities, which made me think... LETS GET THIS BLOG STARTED OFF WITH A BANG!

How about a December activity list that we can all do together?

December Activity List

December 1st- Do a Random Act of Kindness as a family.
*Bible verse of the day- Isaiah 7:14 (birth of Christ)

December 2nd- Make a paper chain counting down the days to Christmas.
*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 1:18 (birth of Christ)

December 3rd- Drink hot cocoa and watch a Christmas movie
*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 1:19 (birth of Christ)

December 4th- Make a countdown to Christmas Santa beard (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Deuteronomy 15:10 (a giving spirit)

December 5th- Make a snowman on the front door (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Proverbs 22:9 (a giving spirit)

December 6th- Make paper bag Christmas characters (LINK HERE, LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Acts 20:35 (a giving spirit)

December 7th- Fill out printable letter to Santa (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Isaiah 9:6 (birth of Christ)

December 8th- Do a random act of kindness as a family.
*Bible verse of the day- Luke 2:1-5 (birth of Christ)

December 9th- Read a Christmas story together as a family.
*Bible verse of the day- Luke 2:6-10 (birth of Christ)

December 10th- Write a Christmas wish and hang it on the Christmas tree.
*Bible verse of the day- Luke 2:11-15 (birth of Christ)

December 11th- Cut out paper snowflakes and decorate with them.
*Bible verse of the day- Luke 2:16-20 (birth of Christ)

December 12th- Drive around and look at Christmas lights
*Bible verse of the day- Proverbs 11:25 (a giving spirit)

December 13th- Make a paper chain Christmas tree. (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- 1 Corinthians 13:3 (a giving, loving spirit)

December 14th- Bake cookies and watch a Christmas movie/cartoon together.
*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 19:21 (a giving spirit)

December 15th- Do a random act of kindness as a family.
*Bible verse of the day- 2 Corinthians 9:11 (a  giving spirit)

December 16th- Make handprint Reindeer (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- John 3:16 (God's love/birth of Christ)

December 17th- Make paper light banner (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Luke 6:31 (the Golden Rule)

December 18th- Make paper plate Christmas wreath (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Luke 6:36 (Giving to others)

December 19th- Make paper cup snowman game (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Mark 12:31 (loving others)

December 20th- Make hot cocoa with marshmallows and watch a Christmas movie/cartoon together
*Bible verse of the day- 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 (the spirit of Love)

December 21st- Make a paper plate snowman (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- 1 Peter 4:8 (a loving spirit)

December 22nd- Do a random act of kindness for someone.
*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 2:1-2 (birth of Christ)

December 23rd- Make a construction paper Grinch (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 2:3-4 (birth of Christ)

December 24th- Open a Christmas present (possibly pajamas/movie)
*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 2:5-6 (birth of Christ)

December 25th- Sing Happy Birthday to Jesus and spend time with family
*Bible verse of the day- Matthew 1:24-25 (birth of Christ)

December 26th- Make a small paper chain counting down the days to 2018
*Bible verse of the day- 2 Corinthians 5:17 (a new life/new beginning)

December 27th- Make hand print New Year memory posters (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Ephesians 4:24 (a new life/new beginning)

December 28th- Work on a 2017 In Review page (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Colossians 3:10 (a new life/new beginning)

December 29th- Make a New Years Eve countdown ball (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Lamentations 3:23 (a new beginning)

December 30th- Make a paper plate clock (LINK HERE)
*Bible verse of the day- Jeremiah 29:11 (God has it all in control)

December 31st- Have a party to bring in the New Year!
*Bible verse of the day- Ezekiel 11:19 (a new heart/a new year)

I hope you will join us... and I hope this can be our welcome back into blog-land! I'll be sharing our activities each day and I hope you'll do the same!

- The Bays








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