Wednesday, November 4, 2009

novembering the house

On Sunday the little boys and I had fun sweeping through the house and removing all the Halloween stuff. We replaced it with the Thanksgiving decorations--it was fun! I love how the boys get so excited by these little rituals. I am no home decorator at all (I aspire to do better in the future . . .) but it is meaningful to me to see how these little family traditions affect the children. At some level I think they are nurtured by these rituals and hopefully will remember them as they grow and leave.
First thing in the morning we changed the postcard in the little frame, turned the calendar page, and turned the page of the Around the Year book. Dieter is always so excited to do that! We also did a little cleanup of the nature table. That ceramic leaf is something Jacob or Faith made years ago in elementary school. Same with the ceramic owl (made by Jacob).
The little pumpkins are also ceramics from Jacob and Faith. The squirrel nutcracker is something my mom was getting rid of last year, so a grabbed it. I'll have to get some nuts for the boys to crack . . .
Turkey candleholders--also from my mom. These have been around since I was a little girl growing up. I love having them now. Next weekend I'll pick up some candles for them at farmer's market.

Ken and I both really like the idea of observing a month of thankfulness and calm before moving on to the crazy holidays. I think these little changes in the home serve as a good reminder . . .

11 comments:

Holly C. said...

I love the term Novembering.

What do you mean-you are no decorator? Your home looks so lovely.☺

Mary Beth said...

Thanks, Holly C! You're so sweet . . .

suna said...

i wonder how you keep your seasonal decorations organized? i love the changes of the seasons but find it hard to keep track of "stuff".

Mary Meyers said...

LOVE your blog! What's the name of that puzzle? I think our grandsons would love it!

Jennifer said...

I think it's wonderful that you make your home go along with the seasons, I really must start doing that. Love that calendar, mind sharing where you got it?

Andrea said...

Wow you're on top of things...I think our jackolantern garland and paper bats will hang around a few weeks longer, but I did get out new Thanksgiving books I recently bought.

Leslye Leigh said...

That is such a great tradition. My boys are young, and I'm looking for traditions like that to start. Thanks for the idea! I'm new to your blog, and I love reading it!

Mary Beth said...

Suna--I am lucky because my husband is willing to carry big plastic crates up and down the ladder to our hot and dusty attic. He takes them down the month that we need them--in the meantime (when the decorations are in use) the crates live outside in the breezeway.

Mary Myers--do you mean the matching game in the previous post? It's "Pair Discovery" by Chelona.

Jennifer--it's a Nikki McClure calendar and I got it from buyolympia.com.

hanna said...

Just lovely. A wonderful little tradition to have, kids just love routines and traditions and little repeated activities don't they.
Your home looks lovely, I love your nature table.

Anonymous said...

the around the year book looks awesome. happy november to you! :)

Songbird Mama said...

i'd like to know what the framed art work in the background says....
and i love your "thanks" decor!