Christmas Card 2018

Lazily linking up with Kelly for Seven Quick Takes with our Christmas card photo of our Seven Wonders.  

Too much prepping and wrapping and partying to write a post lately, but that's a good thing.  

There's also been some puking and coughing and ear-aching lately, which is not a good thing.  

But, 'tis the season!  

I hope you are all staying healthy, happy and sane at this busy time of year!

Have a wonderful weekend and a JOYFUL Gaudete Sunday everyone!!

7QT: Christmas Traditions

When we first got married, there was a little tension on deciding upon Christmas Traditions for our family.  Phil and I each had a few of our own that we wanted to continue, and that caused us to compromise and create a system that worked for us.  So here's the Top 7 Christmas Traditions we have (linking up with Kelly!):

1)  CHRISTMAS DECORATING

We decorate the (fake) tree and house on Black Friday while drinking cocoa with marshmallows and listening to Christmas music.  It's early to do it, but Thanksgiving has happened (no Christmas before Thanksgiving!!) and it's a day we are all at home from work and school, so it makes it easy to schedule.  

Making Memories for Every Martin

Lately I've been reminiscing (and looking back through old photos) of all the wonderful events we used to take our kids to when there were *only* four.  

My Jacuzzi Baby Turns Eleven

Eleven years ago, against hospital rules (state law?) Maggie was born underwater in the jacuzzi, after the world's fastest labor and my first natural delivery.  And the girl hasn't stopped pushing the boundaries since :)  

3 year old Maggie Moo

7QT: Confessing, Training, Preparing, and Flooring

Happy Last Day of November!  Linking up with Kelly of course...

1)

Alexander Blaise made his First Reconciliation last night! 

As soon as it was over, he said "You're right, it DOES feel so good!"  Then we went and picked out a treat at Cumberland Farms (his choice).  He picked BubbleTape (remember that stuff?!)

Screens, Tweens and Teens

Jenny asked me to write this post awhile ago, before summer had even started, but I think having waited this long and made it through another summer (aka screen season) has given me more food for thought to write this now. So I guess procrastination does pay off sometimes!

But not when it comes to family rules about screen times.

It’s never too early to discuss expectations, set rules, and enforce them even if it means being the mean parent. I recently came across this quote:

Read the rest of my article over at Mama Needs Coffee (thanks Jenny for having me guest post!)