A Few of Their (My) Favorite Things

The kids got a lot of great stuff this past Christmas. They are NOT hurting for new toys and clothes thanks to their generous grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, great aunts and uncles, second cousins, etc. I've even set a few specific gifts aside for two months from now when new toys become familiar to make sure they all get some play time. Christmas Part Two if you will.

One of the things Sebastian's pre-school teachers told us we needed to work on at home was playing games together so that he could learn how to be a good sport after losing a game. I remember throwing a high caliber fit or two after my brother beat me in any game, be it Candy Land or racing down the street to the next light pole, so I wasn't surprised that this was tough for him.

So, board games were high on the list this Christmas and he ended up receiving Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, a Dr. Suess activity game, and an Eric Carle game from three different parties involved. I'm rarely the one to play board games with Sebastian because Brett is much more enthusiastic with it and I assume the role of entertaining Ruby so she doesn't 'join in' but I temporarily put my apathy on hold when I saw this one. I mean, look at those kids playing together so nicely...and friendly squirrels! Best $2 I've spent lately.

This vintage puzzle map is another fun one. It was in great shape and I'm hoping it survives Ruby's chewing habit.

I've showed Sebastian all of the places that we've lived and recently traveled. He knows where Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas are and never hesitates to remind me that driving from one to another takes a REALLY LONG TIME.

I showed him where Seattle was and told him he was born there where the fish are.

Then I reminded him where I grew up and where his Big Papi and Grandma Mary used to live in California right near the top of the movie camera.

Another fun gift was this wooden clock puzzle and vintage aqua play phone. I remember this puzzle from my own childhood and loving that there were illustrations under each piece. Ruby, raised on iPhones, still somehow knew what this rotary phone did and likes to hold it up to her ear and walk around with it.

That is, of course, when she's not spinning records on her new record player. I found this one at our local Goodwill and it was in it's original box but had been re-wrapped. It had all it's records so I was hoping it still worked and it does! Now Ruby shakes her booty to Jack and Jill and Hickory, Dickory, Dock.

Sebastian has also been enjoying his new transformers, his first remote control truck, and a pair of wooden stilts that his great-grandpa made for him. He got a new bike from my parents but on our last trip out there the vintage school chairs left no room for such a bike in the trunk. Priorities, ya'll. Really it's just a good excuse to visit again soon, right Mom? ;)

We've finally packed all of our Christmas decor (except for the wreath on the front door that I keep forgetting) and I've been rearranging the living room to see how I like it best. There are still boxes piled in corners and my studio is ridiculous but we're making progress! Today's list includes laundry, organizing our bedroom, and a workout that I've been putting off.

What does your weekend look like? Any home projects? Don't forget to share any of your restyled projects in our Project ReStyle Flickr group. Yours could be featured on our blogs this Wednesday!

xoxo,
Rachel