Winter is coming. It's inevitable. No matter how much we try and wish it off just a little bit longer, it's coming.
I find when the snow is here, it's here for good. There's no going back to those warmer temperatures. I found last year quite mild, and I'm really hoping for the same this time around. Don't get me wrong, it's still always too cold for my liking, but any year with not too much snow is a plus in my books.
Every year when we get those winter conditions, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, all the wild drivers come out of the woodwork, which is not a good time on the roads, the cold temperatures are too much and seasonal depression takes place.
On the other hand, Christmas is coming! That's the big one for me. It's nice to cuddle up on the couch with your warm tea or hot chocolate surrounded by Christmas decorations and lights. That's my favourite part about winter. I also love how busy it is for us when it comes to celebrating. All of my sons birthdays take place in the winter, making it such a fun, happy time of celebration. December, January and February are all birthdays, mine included. What a time!
This year, I'm really trying to declutter and organize as best I can, because I'm hoping this will be the last year in our home, which is sad but exciting to think about.
Rather than having a huge yard sale, I'm going to be listing some items for sale that we just don't need. Every year before Christmas I try and do this, as I find it helps us start fresh for the year ahead, especially this year with the move. The one non-negotiable being my 50 houseplants. That's a whole different story! The one big thing I try to part ways with is toys. I try and involve the kids in the process about giving away toys they don't play with anymore to another little boy or girl to enjoy.
This teaches them about giving (a positive lesson, in my opinion, and what the season is all about), and it's a big bonus for us as we get ready for the Christmas madness with all of their new presents from us and family. This was something I learned last year after they opened up their presents. There was way too many toys, creating so much clutter! Half of their old toys they didn't even play with at the time, focusing all of their attention on their newest toys.
One of the favourite toys of all of my kids are trucks. It's all about trucks, trucks, trucks in our home. They also love toys that they can learn experiences with and hands-on creations. Magna-Tiles are another favourite for them, with tons of imaginary play options. It's even a lot of fun for me to build! So much open-ended play.
So, with all of that said, as we prepare to get into the cold winter months, it's important to find the excitement and keep busy as it can be a tough go for some people.
