I’ve been meaning to really sit down and do some writing on some things I’ve wanted to unravel with words, but it seems now is not the time as things keep coming up.  I go back and forth between challenging myself to wake up early, stay up late and make sacrifices to do some things just for me and letting it all go–drinking in my kids and riding the current where it takes us.  The past few weeks, I’ve been very aware that the stages my kids are in right now are some of my favorite.  Six, almost-four and nine months have magically rolled together like three cherries on a slot machine.  The payout is deep appreciation for the joy they bring us.

I’ll continue on with a traditional “enjoying” post, but before I do, I know there are some sweet readers who follow from the Philippines.  News footage doesn’t show us everything, but it’s shown us enough to get a glimpse of the challenges you are facing.  Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you, and we are following along as you rebuild what you’ve lost.

****** 

November has unwrapped some sweet moments for us so far, and we are grateful for right now.

A few weekend things we enjoyed:

Tonight, after watching Nella’s smile stay plastered on her face for a good five minutes, I whispered in her ear, “I’m so happy you are happy.”  Her joy is contagious.

Early sunsets mean pre-dinner family walks.  They are lovely.

Sidewalk stains that have turned into driveway graffiti–I hope they never wash off.

The following picture?  Yer welcome.  It’s my favorite.

Farmer’s Market Weather.
We’re entering Florida’s glory months which means the local farmer’s markets have begun.  We visited our first one this past weekend–not intending to, but we were driving by and felt lured by the mass of umbrella stands and the promise of finding a jalapeno hot enough for Brett.  He literally visited every single produce stand and put every poor farmer on the hot seat as he delivered the pepper interrogation.  “Why aren’t peppers hot anymore?  What happened?  Is there something wrong with the crops? Is it true that more wrinkles on a pepper mean it’s hotter? How hot would you say your peppers are? Can I taste one?”

While the Pepper Inquisition proceeded, the kids and I found better things to do.  Nella found fresh pickles, Lainey found finger puppets, I found used books and Dash found a dog on a leash to look at, so everyone was happy.

Raise your hand if your kid is obsessed with making rubber band bracelets.  Is this the Beanie Baby of 2013?  Local kids are obsessed, and never before have tiny rubber bands looked so cool.  Well okay–maybe when you had your school color rubber bands laced between your braces brackets.  I was never that cool when I had braces because I was homeschooled and our school colors were God and Jesus.  So I just went with clear.

But still.  Look.  Cool, huh?

Lainey’s new favorite game. 
It makes me laugh.
It’s called Wipeout. 
Basically, you ride your scooter really fast and then pretend to wipe out.  And I’m supposed to take pictures of it.  Which means neighborhood kids circle our driveway on scooters and throw themselves into the grass while their scooter keeps rolling along to hit landscape lights and knock out small children.  And then then they run to see the camera:  “Did you get it?  Did you get it?”  I laugh every time.

Okay.  Finally.  Want a present?  My friend Nici (shop, Dig This Chick), who’s been a frequent houseguest of this blog, makes beautiful things–many of which you’ve seen our family wear (my kids’ custom shirts when Dash was born and the Florida shirt Brett wears in every other post–he loves it).  Her GEOwares are unique and beautifully made, and she’s offering our readers a special discount–20% off using code DIGGYSMALLS, including sale section.  Shipping is always free and only $7 flat rate for international.  Make someone happy this holiday, and give them something to wear with a place they love.  DIGGYSMALLS…got that?  Enjoy. 

I’m over at BabyZone this week with 20 Ways to Raise a Creative Child (loved putting this one together) and joining their 30 Days of Thanks with 7 Ways to Say Thank You to Special People.

Happy Monday, friends.

This post is sponsored by Citrus Lane.

So we recently discovered Citrus Lane, a company dedicated to making mom decisions easier not only by providing an online community of support but by narrowing down choices to give you a one-stop shopping experience of the best children’s products.  The best part?  You don’t have to leave your home. The Citrus Lane Shop is stocked with an impressive selection of the most popular toys, books, puzzles and care products for babies and kids, but the real fun comes with their box subscription service.  You can sign up for their monthly subscription plan for as little as $21 a month and the Citrus Lane product editors will curate a box tailor made for your child with 4-5 products (together worth at least $25 and free shipping) from top consumer brands such as Green Toys, Barefoot Books, Honest Company, Skip Hop, Plum Organics and Aden & Anais.

This pretty little thing arrives at your door every month, and you and your kids get the excitement of wondering what’s inside.

Our box this month was tailor made for Dash, but Nella had no problem helping him unload it and running off with his bath toys.  The little wood elephant rattle is divine, and the Boon bath toys came just in time–our bath entertainment was looking a little shabby (like a headless Barbie and some old measuring cups).

Citrus Lane is a great way to discover quality brands and hip new products and to keep up with your children’s needs without all the guesswork. 

More charm added to You’ve Got Mail.  Check out the delightful selection of products Citrus Lane has to offer and their product guides from their growing community of moms and dads who are helping make parenting easier for each other.

Use the code KELLE50 to receive 50% off your first month order.  “Offer terms:  Can only be applied to monthly subscription purchases by new Citrus Lane customers.  It cannot be applied to 3-, 6-, 12-month packages, or gift subscriptions.  Subscriptions automatically renew to full retail price, $25 per month.  You may cancel anytime.”

Thanks to Citrus Lane for sponsoring this post.  And, as always, thank you readers for supporting the sponsors that partner with our family to support this blog. 

I’m practicing restraint, and I’m going to unleash holiday cheer in a slow monitored stream. Baby Steps. But only for the next two weeks, and then I’m not promising anything. I won’t tell you that I stood in front of a six-foot Santa at Costco today and pictured what he’d look like strapped to my roof. Oh wait,  I just did.  Starbucks unleashed their red cups, so I think it’s only fair that I set free one holiday photo from the shackles of my bursting heart.

Psst.  I found my kids’ special ornaments for this year, and I love them.  They make me want to do a holiday jig.  Or at least a festive herkie like that little ornament there on the left.

I am in good company though.  Brett took Lainey to Lowe’s last night to pick up a sprinkler part–a 20-minute job–and finally called me an hour later.  “Oh my God, you’ve got to see this place.  It’s like Christmas blew up in here.  You’re going to love it.”  He went on to describe the trees and the inflatable snowmen and the lights that blinked to the tune of “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” and all I could think was, “My God, what seven years of marriage will do to you.”  He’s been Christmastized, and I love it.  He even hinted around, waiting for my approval, that he really, really wanted to buy a new piece for our snow village.

“You know,” I said, “if you would have given me a snow village piece instead of an engagement ring, I totally would have said yes and you could have saved some money.”

Moving on.

I won a bet the other day, so I got to pick what we did for the evening.  No brainer: beach sunset.  Happy little things naturally unroll.

The family on the blanket next to us brought a boom box and played Frank Sinatra.  I should have told them how happy it made me.  I forgot.

Dash ate sand.  Like handfuls of it.

*****

And other little things enjoyed this week:

Post sunset ice cream shop.

*****

Their magnetic connection through crib bars when he wakes up from a nap.

*****

Blue Q socks.  (Blue Q is returning as a sponsor this holiday season, and they’ve stocked their shop with new socks like these.  I love them.  And listen.  The stressful experience of the annual family Christmas photo would not have gone near as smoothly this year had I not used Blue Q’s Control Your Family Breath Spray.  Lifesaver, I tell ya.)  They’re so pretty, I don’t want to put shoes on.  Stuff the stockings with stockings this year.  They have socks with fun naughty sayings too.

*****

After ballet pretzels.
She likes her snacks in little bags, and she’s very possessive of the snack bag.  Pirate’s booty ranks higher than pretzels, pretzels rank higher than popcorn. But the most prized snack bag award goes to the almighty Saltine.

*****

Baby Son.
Yep.  Eight months in, and I cannot not smile when I say “baby son.”  With his Chicklet teeth.  First holidays are the best, and–why yes, we have some rad plaid and bow ties set aside for the coming weeks.

*****

Water trumps all baby toys.

And a little video of a dog and her girl (pardon my shaky filming hands).

Nella and Latte from ETST on Vimeo. Song: Littlest Birds by the Be Good Tanyas

Midweek hugs to this special little online community.
Find some happy around you.  Enjoy it.  Pass it on.