PerryBuilt Family

Do you have a favorite New Years tradition ?  I was asked by my parents if we wanted them to take the kids overnight for New Years.  I really think that New Years is a time to be together and declined the invitation.  I love talking about our favorite things from the past year that we might want to continue or do again in the year to come and sharing plans of things we want to learn or experience. Reflect On The Past It's a wonderful thing to pause and reflect on the passing of time and we don't do it often enough. Even my daughter, who is only 9, said to me, that this year went by so fast.  Maybe it goes by fast when we are really busy doing things that we love.  And, as we get older, time seems to go faster and faster.  I am constantly surprised by my Time Hop App that shows pictures of the family only a few years ago and how much has changed in that short amount of time.  Pictures of my daughter from just two years ago with no front teeth. ...

One of the things that I think is adorable in backyards are bright furniture and cute signs.  It adds character and color in a very easy way. It can even be informative to let people know where things are when you are entertaining. Because my husband is an amazing contractor, there are always interesting scraps of wood left. Another thing is that I love inspiring (or just cute) quotes.  This year I taught myself how to print items out on the computer and adhere them to cupboard doors or pieces of wood to hang as signs with modge podge (available in many different finishes glossy or mat or even outdoor sealer from amazon or any craft store):  My husband actually cut the piece of wood down to fit the sign perfectly, I don't know how to use a table saw though. This is on the inside of a cupboard, but in an accessible place for when I need it when I am cooking.  Laundry Stain Removal Guide modge podged to the inside of the laundry cupboard. Great quot...

I let my daughter stay home from school on Friday, and she wasn't sick.  It was so funny because I didn't really think that was a very big deal, but I got a very mixed reaction. My husband asked why?  I said because she wanted to and she always wants to go to school.  I figured if she was tired, then why not follow her lead.  After all it is the holiday season, it's a crazy time of year, why not take a day where nothing is planned and we do what we want in the moment, with no agenda.  A friend of mine said that her mom called them "mental health" days.  I was allowed to play hooky occasionally when I was a child.  Maximum, maybe once or twice a year, so I didn't abuse it. Both of my parents worked full time so it was only when they could be home with me which wasn't very often. The holiday season is so packed with special traditions and getting together with family and friends that we don't see all of the time.  If you can, why not...

If you are on facebook you are probably sick of November, with all of the thankful daily posts.  My favorite facebook posts are the posts that start a discussion or prompt a comment, or gives me more information on a subject I am interested in that I did not have without it before.  I don't need a 20 something list of the things people are thankful for. What is important to me is teaching my children gratitude.  It's also important to me to show them gratitude by example, and I am not sure I am always so great at that.  I always remind them to say "Thank You's" and "Please's."  But, they don't often remember on their own without the reminder, and then they just hear me say it over and over and over again. More important than just having manners, is thinking about what is meaningful in you life; it's why you make the decisions you do, it's being appreciative of life's little gifts.  When we see a beautiful sunset, do we say thank y...

It's time to make room for all that extra stuff that comes with the holiday season. From cleaning out the freezer to make room for leftovers for Thanksgiving, to getting out the decorations and wondering what items to put away while putting the seasonal stuff up. Additionally, my kids are working on their Christmas lists and I am thinking, where is it all going to go? My daughter has a hard time letting go of things.  Call it an emotional attachment, or as her teacher put it a pack rat.  I sneak into her room when she is at school to clean out things and she rarely notices they are missing. I was discussing this with a fellow mom recently, and she suggested that this is a value teaching point that I should meet head on to teach her how to let go of items that are no longer played with.  And there could be some added incentives.  Used clothing stores, usually have sections for books, DVDs and gently used toys.  I could put the items in her name a...

I have been a little more motivated in creating some decorations this year for Halloween.  I mean we are in a house that we own now, so I can make things to fit our specific space. We live in the mountains and don't get many or possibly any trick or treators according to the neighbors.  But I think there is something festive about decorating for the people that might be driving by.  More importantly, I think the kids get a kick out of it.  Although it's been a bit difficult explaining to a 3 and 6 year old why scary décor is kind of fun, or even why being scared is fun. Have you tried to explain what a zombie is to a 6 year old? I didn't get a lot of reassurance it was understood. I finally used my favorite book recommendation site, A Mighty Girl , (I have a boy too and still: great title recommendations) and ordered a bunch of books from the library for their age groupings and hopefully that will help explain some of the concepts more in s...

This is my second year where I have looked forward to and dreaded being a slave to the school calendar and going back to school!  My oldest will be in first grade this year.  It seems that there are two sides to every point I am thinking of in saying goodbye to the beautiful Summer and hello to Fall. First off, I think we have had an amazing summer.  We had a few beach days, played in a pool that was given to us most everyday, rode bikes, gone to the aquarium and the zoo, gone camping, boating, maintained a garden, checked off several house projects, and done it all while we both (Perry Mama and Perry Papa) somehow worked and kept it all on track. Boy, am I tired; and still attempting to fit in a few final activities in the last two days before school inevitable starts at 8:30 on Wednesday of this week!!  OMG! I am looking forward to a longer school day, my daughter will go to school until 2:30 for the first time in her life!  But, I am going t...