Holly M Nelson

While everyone is making their New Years resolutions to be healthier and get fit, we keep to our traditions. For years, I have made Chocolate Gravy and Biscuits, scrambled eggs, and fruits. I always joke that " I will be back to my healthy eating tomorrow". I don't make this often because (it's not healthy) I want it to be special. And this is perfect to start the new year. For boys, I am convinced, love is spelled F-O-O-D.  Happy tummies make a great start to the new year.

After putting away all of the Christmas, my home feels barren. I miss the twinkle lights and red decor. So, I cozily drape blankets over the couches and chairs. I set candles around the home. Each week a child picks out a cheap candle from Walmart. I buy some small glass jar candles from Ikea, and I use an essential oil diffuser. I make sure we have sitting areas to be able to have great conversations with family and those who visit our home. I make our board games and cards easily available. I set out our baskets of books, magazines, and coloring books. I recently made an art table area in our living area. I have a bookshelf in the living area where the bottom shelf is for our seasonal kids books. So, I put away our Christmas books and replace them with winter books. Your way of making your home cozy could be different that mine, and that's okay. Just do whatever makes you and your family feel at home.

We eat together, even if it's huge meal or cereal. We eat breakfast and then I read family devotions to start the day off right. We eat lunch at the same time. In recent years, I was so ill that I let the boys make their own lunches. This did not go well. Too much food was wasted, not enough healthy meals were eaten, and bad habits started. Our oldest son, almost 20, recently told us mealtimes were best when we all sat and ate together. It was proof that my little extra effort towards meals made an impact. Once I began to feel better, I was able to turn it back around when I made the time to establish set meal times together. Just before dinner, someone is assigned the job of lighting dinner table candles, unscented, helping prepare the food, and setting the table. Sometimes dinners are fast, without a teen or two, and sometimes we linger and talk. It's amazing what conversations can come out of just taking the time to sit together and eat. I received a card game in my  monthly Faith box called What's Your Word?- which is actually an online store you will probably love to look up here. We ask a question at dinner and discuss it. Questions like, What did you learn from your biggest regret?, What does this world need more of? Even the surliest of kids looks forward to this discussion. 

In order for our home to be in order, we all have to play our part in making it a home. I am so independent that I like to do it all, but it isn't good for me and doesn't teach the kids responsibility. We make lots of big messes as a large family, and a family of all boys at that. It becomes unnecessarily stressful to do it alone. I let the boys decide what they would like to learn and be a part of cleaning. I love how Jack was excited about the toilets. Oh, to be young and fearless. Ha.  Everyone does their own laundry and their own rooms and beds, so there is no excuse or placing blame. Assigned responsibilities for the home for all are for keeping towels clean, sweeping, mopping, dishes, bathrooms, playroom tidy, replacing toys and books to their places, table cleaned, counters cleaned, and yard to be taken care of. 

Consider the responsibilities in order to keep your home and assign help.     

I have a basic rhythm to my days. Some could call it routines, like the page on here. Whatever you want to call it, life seems to be and stay in order if I keep to this rhythm. Read more about my basic routines HERE. 

Morning- quiet time, self care, start home care(chores like dishes and laundry), make breakfast, wake kids sweetly, devotions.

I say to wake kids sweetly because this sets the tone for their day. And when mom sets a sweet tone, great things can happen. I do not have easy risers, so this is an important rhythm. I then begin my day at work, writing, or running errands.

Afternoon- reading hour-or more, afternoon snack and tea, homework, play.

Evening- tidy up home, family reading time, plan for tomorrows events, self care, bedtime one on one talks, prayers.

Reading hour is something I haven't been able to do consistently, but I wholeheartedly believe it should be done. Over the years I've read classics such as Tom Sawyer and fun novels like My Side of the Mountain. I can't say it's the Norman Rockwell picture, I have surliness and defiance like everyone else. I know the impact it makes and the importance so I press on. Learn more of the impact it can make HERE 

I have also noticed that an established nightly bedtime routine will help the kids go to sleep with ease. I have never had an issue with bedtime, and I say it is because of this routine. I have only had issues when its out of sort. Please know I have very different personalities, and very difficult personalities. But, each little person has a soul that longs to be loved and understood. This will always make them feel loved. Yes, it takes time to spend quality time with each child, but it can be done. I've wasted time before on tv programs or social media, and I can't get back the time I didn't get to spend with them. We only get to raise them once, I don't want to waste it on useless things. My focus is on the everlasting. 

our basic never fail bedtime routine with kids- baths, brush teeth, one on one talks with each as they brush teeth and pick out bedtime books, snuggle in bed to read several picture books, read a chapter or two of our bigger book like a Magic Tree house adventure, read a devotion, more quiet,calming talks, prayers, and a good night kiss.  

 

quinoa lentil soup

Snowmen at Night

Snowy Day

The Hat 

The Mitten

The Three Snow Bears

Brambly Hedge- Winter Story

Winter Days in the Big Woods

Winter on the Farm

Owl Moon

Poppleton in Winter

Snowshoe Thompson

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

The Bravest Doge Ever- True Story of Balto

Winter of the Ice Wizard

Balto of the Blue Dawn

The Magic School Bus Sleeps for the Winter

The Winters Take, children's Shakespeare

Douggie Sled Dog Hero

Stone Fox

White Fang

The Lion, Witch, and Wardrobe

Winterdance

Happy Feet

Mr. Poppers Peguins

Snow Dogs

Little Women

Chronicles of Narnia

The Mighty Ducks

Frozen 

Miracle

Jack Frost

Eight Below

Ice Age series