letters of love

since we had so much fun with our advent activities, i thought we'd do a mini-version to countdown until valentine's day. i got these adorable little mailboxes at the always fabulous target $1 spot.  glued a $1.50 candle stick to the bottom, and voila... individual mailboxes for each of us.  aren't they so cute...i just had to share!

the kids are already having fun leaving special love letters, or treats for each other and us.  how exciting to see the little red flag up signaling the arrival of something special just for you!  beginning february 1st, i'm going to leave a little letter of love activity in their box each day. special little ways to show and share some extra love.

day 1: color doilies

day 2: pink milk cocktails

day 3: make a heart chain

day 4: bake a sweet treat

day 5: make a big mess creating valentine's

day 6: mail valentine's to loved ones

day 7: sing jesus loves me at the top of your lungs

day 8: play hug & kiss tic-tac-toe 

day 9: pick-out a valentine's sweets for a troop care package

day 10: paint a giant heart with your hands & feet

day 11: have a hearty day (all heart shaped foods)

day 12: make valentine's for friends at school

day 13:deliver treats to neighbors

day 14: scavenger hunt to find little valentine treats from mom & dad

xo!

planning

do you remember this post? well since october i've been in search of a new day planner.  searching and searching. you see i needed something that was going to make life utterly & completely organized...so that i never forgot an appointment, to-do item, idea, phone call (ha!).  but more importantly, as an intentional discipline as we started this new year - as a way of processing and preparing for all that is whirling in my head, heart and prayers for the year.  planning...

i gave the electronic / smartphone way a whirl...nope, i'm a pen & paper girl through and true.  i gave the pretty paper to-do list a whirl ...nope, since there was no accompanying calendar i was double booking my days left and right! i gave the wall calendar a try...but that doesn't work a lick when i'm away from home.

i picked up every single planner i could find at target, paper source, staples, etc and was finding issues with all of them.  too small.  too flimsy. ugly. boring. too many bells & whistles.  not enough bells & whistles. not great for daily to-dos and gym workouts and work, school, home stuff and big life stuff. but then i found this...the erin condren on-the-go life planner.

the layout is great - the days, weeks, months are broken out in a way that makes me eager to plan, make goals and cross those things off the to do list.  oh...and it's so so pretty!  the colors, text and little quotes throughout are so fun and inspiring. i love it!

i'm also using this in my quiet time, prayer and journal life...the daily draft by ann voskamp.  a sort of "set-up" to what gets added in the planner above...and a single piece of paper to carry around to jot down my thankful tuesday list and other bits, like a relationship to focus on or a verse to reflect upon.  i love it's simplicity...and that i can throw it in my back pocket or wallet on those days when the planner needs to stay in the car or at home so that i don't inevitably leave it at the playround, work, grocery store, etc (because that would for sure happen!).

i'm so very thankful for this renewed discipline and all the fruits that i'm sure will follow.  what's working for you - please share!

"for i know the plans i have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." jeremiah 29:11

thankful tuesday, 1/24

"be joyful in hope, patient in infliction, faithful in prayer." romans 12:12

• brotherly construction duo justin & wes
• bennett's sniffle snuggles
• sweet dinner and breakfast moments around the table.  embracing meal time.
• my hard working hubby
• grace for the good girl by emily freeman...and for putting me on my knees in front of the lord
• a hard look at my heart and letting go
• putting letters in the mailbox
• snow!
• a long, long sled ride
• glorious 50's (even if kids are sad to say goodbye to snow)
• ella's reading...a moment in time, yet a journey that has just begun
• book club with the girls
• sleepover at anya's
• cheering for the home team
• a kiddo "poo" phase - reigning it in...but also letting it go for the sake of innocent and over the top brother/sister giggles 
• ease of meal swap after a long day
• first note home from ella's teacher re: some hurtful behavior towards another child
• getting to the bottom of the story..."mommy, she does eat like a giraffe!"  

monster friends

meet the new little monster friends we made last week. super easy...and fun to see what design, colors, buttons and special requests this kids had for their mama monster maker!

snow sundaes

"m" is for...

mommy capturing our journey through the alphabet (half-way through!)

mittens

mud

mcdonald's 

mike mulligan & mary ann his steam shovel

m&m's (no brainer!)

muscle man masterpiece painting

milkshakes after school

happy national popcorn day!

i happened to notice that today is national popcorn day!  rightfully a very important holiday in the defoyd home....and a great opportunity to bust out wes' new whirly pop for a delicious after school / nap treat!  happy national popcorn day from it's biggest fans on the block!

thankful tuesday, 1/17

"I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made straight and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together." martin luther king, jr.  

• hysterical best part  / worst part dinner chats
• mud pies after breakfast (friday) and snowball fights after breakfast (today)
• antiquing
• ella's penguin lessons
• national geographic movie nights
• open gym at gymnastics on those days when you really padded floors and a place to bounce
• kind friends and my adoring family who made turning 32 simply sweet
• wes home for a long weekend
• old fashion root beer and burger outing with dad & mary
• discovering masterpiece classic, downton abbey (soooo good!)
• a weekend of yummy cold weather comforts...chili, steel cut oatmeal and hot chocolate
• bennett's first people drawings (just adore those potato people)
• pandora, chores and dance parties in the kitchen
• fabric mill inspiration with ella
• cleaned out pantry & lazy susan
• embracing a gluten-free diet
• finding my reading time after weeks of "wreathing" time
• powerful sermon message and mlk reflections on the price of freedom

she's as excited as i am

a few pics from our first outing to the fabric mills this season. ella is as excited as i am! bring on winter afternoons at home creating pretty things!

who needs snow?

when you can play in the mud instead?  it's for sure not been our typical january winter wonderland!  hoping for snow, but in the meantime embracing warm days & winter mudpies!

birthday balloons

while at the market yesterday bennett insisted on getting some balloons for my birthday.  i politely told him that mama didn't need any balloons...truly.  but he told me that birthdays are special, and that we needed some for my birthday.

so...we picked some out ,which of course rocked his little world...and sister's too. here's to embracing birthdays through the eyes of my children...thank you my little ones!

linking up at call me blessed!

"l" is for...

lipstick (how special to wear lipstick to kindergarten...only on l day though!)

 lincoln logs

 library

legos

love

 limbo

 letters

a most lovely "l" day withe my l is for little ones!

thankful tuesday, 1/10

• brother & sister's "sunnyside" sillies
• a gorgeous and special day in boston with wes
• shopping, dining and catching up with my favorite guy
• 60 degrees in january
• mom babysits...so good
• new recipes
• bennett's pom pom and sunshine snuggles
• ella's first official cartwheel...and all that followed
• being back with our community group
• hearing about friends' holidays and family traditions
• snuggling with sweet baby stephen...and amazing 2nd chance for this little boy
• january picnics (outside!!)
• early bedtimes
• pastor's wisdom
• drinks with the girls
• paper-source and sushi after work, solo
• commuting catch-ups with friends
• last minute lunch date with wendy & ethan
• friendly competition
• saturday morning local in-town activities...being apart of community
• sunday naps 

bits & bobs blogiversary

today is bits & bobs' official one year blogiversary!  i've had a little fun looking back at all the posts from the past year...and how this little space has evolved.  from my first post and the overall goal for keeping a blog...it remains true...as a way to share and remember in the years to come.  yet it many ways it's grown to be a bit more than that.  as a way to give thanks and praise for the sweet ways the lord is blessing our lives.  as a creative outlet whether it be for growing photography interests...or as a way to remember the projects and diy moments at home.  as a way to open my heart to share & reflect on those precious moments, that are so often fleeting, yet within this space are captured. as a way to grow relationships or meet new friends in this unique online way. as way to inspire and be inspired.

happy blogiversary bits & bobs...here's to all the memories to enjoy & capture in 2012! 

handmade holiday

a few years back we started a family tradition of making christmas gifts for family, friends, teachers, etc. i just love the preparations and time spent leading up to christmas creating and wrapping up handmade treasures for christmas...and love that we get to do this together as a family. it's a true family event! here's a little peek at this year's projects...

yarn wrapped wreathes with flowers. the full collection of various sizes and colors never got photographed before being wrapped and delivered.  i wish i could have captured it...they really were quite the wreath family!


the flowers alone made cute pins for teachers and little friends.  ella was quite the diligent elf  in helping to create these little treasures!

brother & sister elf  were also quite diligent in assembling these ice cream sundae kits for all their cousins!  how fun (and yummy) to pack-up little baggies of sprinkles, marshmallows, chocolate chips, nuts and containers of chocolate syrup. a simple and tasty present that was fun to prepare, gift and open!

another handmade holiday from the defoyd family...and already brainstorming for next year!

linking up here