January 6th--Day 6--Pinterest

Yeah, I am just going to go ahead and say it...you can expect there to be a bunch of days that I am grateful for Pinterest!  So many fun and easy and great ideas to be found, and this project 365 will be even more of an incentive to try them out!

So...we started, several days ago with black acrylic paint and a paper cup...we made circles in random joining patterns and let that dry.  Once Number 1 got home from school and I ascertained the homework level, it was time to break out the watercolor paints (and the camera).  I love projects that all 3 kids enjoy--nevermind that Number 1 lasted longer than the other two...combined...times three...or more!  

Nonetheless, the kids had fun, we created art together as a family and no screens were involved! I call this a total win! Plus I think they all came out well! Number 2 says she wants to finish hers over several day (hey, how long can a girl be expected to toil over one piece of paper a day anyway?) Number 1 did hers the way the project recommended (no surprise there) but says she likes the back of her page almost as much as the front! And Number 3, well, he isn't even three years old yet and it came out pretty cool!

January 5th--Day 5--Toys!

So today, in the midst of the clean-up of the freeze...seriously I can't describe the nightmare that is warming a house up at night--I am grateful for the things that aren't electronic that capture my children's imaginations and keep them busy!!

In all seriousness, I am really rather more grateful for something I didn't capture in photos, but I think I will make it a mission at some point...and that is friendship.  2 people in particular really went out of their way to help me and my family as we really struggled for several hours late last night.  I appreciate them more than I can even say.

January 4th--Day 4--Frozen stuff!

OK, really there was just so much potential here and I blew it, but by the time we got back home from Vermont to discover our house was at 40 degrees and falling at 8:30PM, I was far more concerned with keeping my children warm and preventing any pipes from bursting than I was with photography, but I did remember to take 1 picture...of my shampoo that had frozen solid!!!

Also, I didn't take these, but I did edit them, but still they don't count.  Here is day 2 on the mountain for the girls with their Daddy, Bampa and cousin Hailey.

January 3rd--Day 3--Nap time!

We escaped the snow storm (not really) up to Vermont yesterday afternoon, and Bampa headed off to work on Friday and the girls and Daddy headed to the mountain leaving me and my lil guy with less than my full arsenal of stuff to entertain him with.  Luckily for me though, he was tired, so today I am thankful for naps, and the non G-rated movies they allow me to watch!

January 2nd--Day 2--Snow Play

The first snowstorm of the year brings out the kid in all of us (and the desire for hot chocolate!)  So despite the bitterly cold temperatures, today I am grateful for the chance to play in the snow with my children!

January 1st--Day 1--New Beginnings

For a lot of reasons, reasons I won't share here--but ask me in person and I just might; I am doing another Photo a Day Challenge in 2014.  I am going to try to make this themed, something that makes me genuinely grateful everyday.  My guess is there will be some repeats, maybe a lot of repeats of theme, but not of images.  My goals improve my photography skills and my attitude, come along with me! Better yet, do one of your own and link it here.

New Year's Day, January 1st, the first page in the 365 page personal journal of gratitude. The new year is all about new beginnings right?  So today, I am grateful for the chance to start again, grateful for new life (even in winter!)

Leo-centric!

We took the kids to our fire station's open house. They got to put out fires, ride in the truck...it was a great time.

Kaylee reads to her siblings.

Sometimes it is nice to be useless. Rowan and Leo gave each other wagon rides while waiting for Kaylee's bus.