A walk down memory lane...

Today me, the boys, Mom, and Catalina took an afternoon outing to Siloam Springs. We played at the local park for about an hour and the weather was just perfect--60s! Then we walked toward Main Street and I just had to take pics of some very special places for me! The first one is of what used to be Vintage Inn restaurant. This is where my dear husband and I ate dinner on the night he asked me to marry him (about 11 years ago)! Then we walked across the street and onto the bridge where Phillip promptly knelt down on one knee, produced a ring, and asked me to marry him. I remember it all so clearly! :) The third pic is a shot from the bridge. Anyway, we had a good time this afternoon even though the kids were unusually whiney. :-/ We also stopped by the old Hico cemetery and found the grave of my great, great, great grandfather on my mom's mother's side--John William Daniels (need to recheck that). Fun afternoon!

Amy comes home with 2 boys in tow!

After 4 years in Uganda, Africa volunteering at Amani Baby Cottage, Amy has made it home with her 2 newly adopted boys, Emmitt (5) and Isaiah (3)! We met them along with Bruce at XNA last night. Jan was with Amy to help her fly home. She had gone 3 weeks earlier to help Amy with all the moving preparations. They made it in at 8:10 pm with all 12 of their bags! Boys were exhausted, but Emmitt hit it off with Daniel right away! :) Today we are snowed in or we would go up to the house to visit. And today is Emmitt's 5th birthday!

My little one

Just enjoying my Gideon today!

Snow day!

Daddy got off work early (he actually got a ride home, cause his car couldn't handle the roads). Daniel got to go out and play in the first snow of the new year!

Super cheap fun!!

Walmart had rope for $1, so I thought it would be fun for Daniel. But then Phillip turned it into something way cooler!!! I'm pretty sure this will keep Daniel busy for hours! :)

Inspiration from The Toddler's Busy Book

I am really enjoying reading and getting ideas from this book! Thanks to Lucy for introducing it to me! I have set up several "busy boxes" on my old tv stand (which, by the way, I am LOVING not having the tv in the living room anymore). These boxes will have new stuff in them each day to keep my boys occupied during certain parts of the day. I think the way I will set up the day's new schedule is as follows:

1) morning routine (wake up, eat, dress, devotion, chore)
2) morning busy box
3) free play
4) lunch/cleanup
5) outing/physical activity
6) rest time/quiet busy box
7) prepare for supper/daddy coming home
8) evening routine

So, I got the little baskets from Deals--$1 each. I've filled them with some new stuff (new markers, stickers, play-dough, etc) and some old stuff (puzzles, books), and some re-purposed stuff (muffin pan, sponges, etc.--ideas from the book). Daniel is super excited about the busy boxes! He wanted to look in them first thing this morning! My plan is to get as much of my cleaning stuff done while they play with the boxes. I'm interested to see how long they will play (especially Gideon). One idea from the book I am using today includes putting little balls in a muffin pan and letting Gid move them around from hole to hole. I am also modifying an idea to include water play with sponges in aluminum cake pans. There are so many neat ideas to use and change for my own purposes. I also want to do some cooking with Daniel today. Anyway, there's the short version of some things I'm getting from The Toddler's Busy Book! :)