Thanks to Lisa at Happyindolevalley@blogspot.com for my wonderful swap gift.
Beeswax candles, tea tree oil soap, 2 hot pads, a cork magnet and a sweet card.
It was such a great surprise to open the mailbox and find something other than bills. To be honest I sometimes open the mail box and if it is only bills, I leave them.
Well, this swap really motivated me to clean up my craft room.  I think I could very easily become addicted to craft swaps. All of this because a friend signed me up for a hibernation workshop with http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/
and then I found http://www.sweetpotatoclaire.blogspot.com/ and then I updated my blog (which I have really enjoyed doing-maybe now I can have a electronic trail of my life instead of a bunch of sticky notes that I lose)
and so the story goes.
Well, gardening is also on my mind.  I read that if you spend 100 on a garden you will gather the rewards 3 times over.  Let's hope that this years harvest does better than last years yield which =  a couple of strawberries, lots of kale, some snap peas and some squash that froze in an early freeze and 2 tomotoes that did not survive a wind storm.  Lets hope this year will be better.
I am presenting next week on early literacy and creating inviting environments in the library for children and families to engage in early literacy activities that focus on reading, writing, playing, singing and talking.  Going through all my old notes and pinterest boards has really motivated me to accomplish more at work as a childrens librarian and at home.  I have been reorganzing toys and hope to create play bins this week that I will alternate out for my youngest who will be 3 in April. Well...writing that number 3 really tugs at my heart strings, it seems like yesterday I had a newborn and now I have a BOY.
I am Blessed...

So what's on this weeks reading list:
Making HOme by Shron Astyk
Unconditonal Parenting by Alfie Kohn
The Artists Way for Parents Raising Creative Children by Julie Cameron
Heaven on Earth by Sharifa Oppenheimer-loving this one...
The Artful Parent by Jean Van'T Hul
Nurturing the Soul fo your Family by Renee peterson Trudeau
Creative Play for your toddler by Christopher Clouder
Remember that you don't need to read every page and every chapter.  Flip through the sections and notice what calls to your interests.  There are so many books out there that if you read through every page you would never get a chance to look at so many more.  Thats just my philosophy.
Sooo
The challenge of the week is to get the baby (almost 3) to sleep through the night (1) and in his own bed (2).
I will again begin the transition process by moving him to his room and sleeping on the twin.  I think I will also make him a chart that shows him his bedtime routine.  Here's hoping that by the end of Feb, everyone will be in their own rooms again.  I admit I love snuggling with him every night but he is a bed hog.

A dear friend of mine gifted me an online retreat called Hibernate with Heather Bruggeman witch lead me to joining in on a craft swap which led me to starting up my blog, which has not been of any importance to me until this week.  I find that it will be an interesting way to chronicle my life, much like a journal, but maybe I will refer back to it more often, not so much as a journal, but as a resource for things I find myself interested in, things I do, PINS that I actually complete.  So when I have moments of spare time, when I am not creating my family rhythms and meal plans on watercolored paper while my kids watch Daniel Tiger, I plan to write.
I finally realize (knock on wood) that life can be easier and I don't need to be so hard on myself. 
I really think my online retreat, my dear friend and finally finding some rhythm to my life helped me feel centered....at least for the past five minutes.
In all truth...Life is Good

My neighborhood this morning.  We never have snow days in Gunnison.  I feel sad that my kids will never have the joy of hearing the snowplow trucks and listening to the radio waiting for their school to be cancelled.  Almost two feet of snow out there.  I wish today was Saturday so we could watch the snow fly, watch movies and destroy the house.

A must read post from Little Hearts/Gentle Parenting.  I need to read this every day


http://www.littleheartsbooks.com/2013/11/29/the-gift-of-a-strong-willed-child/

along with this one

http://www.littleheartsbooks.com/2013/07/08/backtalk-is-communicationlisten/

documenting the quest

Much like my journal, my blog is incredibly outdated...well, with a new year... arrives new aspirations along with inspirations. So with two boys, a full time job and a ongoing never-ending goal of organizing,  simplifying and bettering our lives, oh and making time to have fun .... life is chaotic.  So this blog will chronicle the books I have read, advice I hear, ideas I have and bits of wisdom I have gathered all of which will help or hinder in attaining these goals.
So along with the words I write... here is a link to my pinterest account that visually documents "me"
http://www.pinterest.com/bookwitch13/

Slow family Living-Bernadette Noll
Drop more Love Bombs and Less F Bombs
Listen...Really Listen to what my kids are saying..Whining is not just whining but a sign of a greater need.
Sigh. Forgive. Let Go. Move On
Stop...Think...Make a Choice
Questions to Ponder...
What are my strengths as a parent?
Where do I fail?
Where do I get my ideas for parenting?
How should I encourage a stronger relationships with my kids?

My thoughts
How can I incorporate a Waldorf type rhythm to my life and parenting style.