Easy Christmas Shoes

Remember how I bought these boots for Anna's Goldilocks costume. And a Walmart reviewer offered this idea? I love it! And my Walmart still has several pairs on clearance (contrary to what their website says). Maybe yours does too. ;^)

P.S. I was thinking that some jingle bells laced into the the front of the shoes would be cute too - but I didn't get that far.

Ringing the Bell

Silly Girls

Christmas Stress

I remember wondering why people got so stressed out by Christmas. I had two (or fewer or no) children, a healthy husband, a relatively neat house, no one being schooled, and my Christmas shopping done by Thanksgiving. I loved Christmas.

But these last few years, I finally understand. Sick husband, homeschooling, crawling babies, messy house, decorations that take weeks to get up instead of one day (despite the fact that what I put up drastically shrinks every year), and shopping that takes every spare moment (even when done online - and I'm finally almost done).

It seems that no matter how many pairs of jingle bell earrings I buy and wear. No matter how many Christmassy programs or parades I attend. No matter how much Christmas music I listen to, I just can't keep a hold of that Christmas spirit. It's lost under the weight of "one more thing."

Because when you're nearly drowning in baby, kids, school, laundry, and dishes. Even the simple things in Christmas are one more thing. Straws that break that camels back. And this year they're breaking me. Especially when you add the other kinds of straws. A missed church Christmas program after dragging three kids out alone in cold rain because the auditorium was full. Misunderstandings.

But don't you learn the most when your broken? Isn't that when you learn to become dependent because no matter how hard you try, you just can't do it all? I believe I have a seriously low learning curve in this area.

I need to learn from the Teacher. I need to hear Him. I want to love Him. And I want to love Christmas again.

Autumn Fires

Fall on the Farm

Thus begins the bloggy catch-up

back in mid-November:

making cider

making apple butter - he loves those overalls

and dreams of being a "Farmer Boy"-

doesn't he look the part?

her first time in the stroller facing

forward (not in the car seat)

the children requested, and proceeded to

sing several old hymns

The Bella Went Over the Suitcase To See What She Could See

Keep in mind, she's six months old still here - and crawling - and climbing. no rest for the weary (that would be me.)

Thanksgiving

Bella's first trip to Chocolate World.

This is always at the top of the kids list of

"things to do while at Gramma's"

Heading into Hersheypark's Christmas Candyland.

Note my dad with the stroller trying to veer off

to hit up a Dunkin Donuts for coffee before

we've even entered the main gates.

Rosie is beaming over the first ride on someone's shoulders

that she can remember -

it was so funny -

she didn't know what to do when she got up there!

cousins on the train


Gramma and Bella

watching the train

cousins on the little pirate ship


documenting Dad's inability to pass a
concession stand

the lights are coming on

Santa's reindeer resting up for the big night

cousins on the swing

the band they were dancing to

Isaiah's 19th birthday

Rosie and "Jack", which, incidentally, was Bella's

first word. She quickly added the expected "Mama"

and "Dada", although she did surprise me

by actually calling me "Mommy" too.

She's holding there waiting for some other

words that are half that good.

Probably something like, "go away!"

Pappy, Jack, and Bella

Thanksgiving dinner

Rosie's turkey

Anna Kate's underwater alien turkey

We went to a war museum thinking we could

enjoy the outdoor exhibits, but didn't realize that

there was apparently a 10-15 degree wind chill factor.

After near death-by-boredom, Ethan suddenly was

very interested in taking a picture of everything in this room so that

he could draw them later at home.

Brian's cake nearly burned down the house.

And I had to add another candle at the last minute -

36, not 35 - I can't keep track anymore!

our annual girl's breakfast - this is half of us :^)

We got to drive through the most beautiful sunset, I'd

ever seen in Virginia on the way home.

These pictures don't do it justice, taken through a window that doesn't

roll down, while going 70 mph.

It touched my heart, because, even though, I enjoyed

my time with my family,

it wasn't my favorite trip ever, I just

felt really off all week. Probably the fact that Bella

slept very little, and, thus, I slept very little, had

a lot to do with that. :^)

I'm so thankful for my family.

Bella crawling

Kids Stats

Bella - crawling and sitting herself up - she's really going to take off soon! I think she's going to get a second tooth soon. She hated banans a couple days ago - gagged on them. Even just a little mixed in her cereal. She loved applesauce. Ate the whole bowl up.

Rosie- quoted Psalm 113 almost perfectly for my mother until the last verse - "He gives the bear and woman a home making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!"

Anna Kate - first item on her "I'm thankful for" list today? "I'm thankful that we don't live when they stoned kids for disobeying"

Ethan - on filling out an "If I were a Pilgrim" worksheet question, "my life would be differnt because" - "NO electricity"

Need a great Thanksgiving website?

Look no further! Scholastic's got you covered. Take a voyage on the Mayflower, learn about daily life, and the Thanksgiving feast. Than be sure to go to the printables for :

readers theatre script and character puppets

a printable Mayflower board game or "Turkey Teller" game

standing paper Pilgrims and Indians

Thanksgiving stationary and recipe cards

a turkey puppet

period recipe: red pickled eggs

make oiled paper windows like the Pilgrims'

pilgrim draw and write page

bookmarks

Cute calendar and symbols

turkey graphing

make a Wampanoag picture dictionary

reward cards

make a Wampanoag house

cranberry activities

Plant pigment napkin rings are a really cool activity (that I'll probably have to save for another year)

Does anyone else find using an empty toilet paper tube for a Pilgrim hat snack holder (and maybe even the napkin rings) disturbing? Of course, you could cut down a paper towel roll.

There are a few more free printables and gazillions more if you become a site member.

Have fun, and Happy Thanksgiving!

graphic also a free Scholastic printable

Kid News

Ethan:

Chose to make his Christmas box for a 2-4 year old girl. I think that he's decided that little sisters must be his life work, for now at least.

Anna Kate:

Told me yesterday, "I want to do ballet until I'm twenty so that I can be a professional!"

Rosie:

When asked what she's thankful for: "My mom and my dad and my sisters and my brother and that we can go to sleep so we can grow. Going to play outside and have fun and come back inside and get a bath and go to sleep - all these things are so beautiful. And I will wake up and be a teenager because I grew, and I will love my children. My friends. And I'm thankful for everything. Amen."

And she always says "amen" the traditional way, not with a long a sound. :^)


Bella:

Trying to crawl - she gets in the right postition, but tends to go backwards. She covers a lot of distance, though. Loves to give kisses, and she gets pretty spastic when she sees her Gran or Pa.

Veteran's Day 2009

My great-grandfather died last week. He was a World War II veteran. So was my grandfather (different side of the family). One told great stories. One didn't like to talk about the war. He claimed to not have seen much. I think he still saw too much.

So tomorrow we honor those who served. The greatest generation is dying out and if you have the privelege to have these family members or friends still with you, I encourage you to go and listen to their stories while you can. And thank them. Don't forget the grandpas and uncles who fought in Korea and Vietnam and the brothers and sisters who served in the Middle East.

The US Dept of Veteran Affairs has put together a wonderful teachers guide this year. I look forward to reading through most of it with my kids tomorrow. It includes activity pages, a readers play, and coloring pages. It also has an article about the role of Walt Disney in the war effort (during World War II). Here's a nice propaganda film referenced in that article:



We'll also be reviewing "Flander's Field" and making the poppies for remembrance that we didn't get to last year.

Fourth Annual Thanksgiving Psalm Memory Challenge

This year's Psalm is 113. We crashed and burned last year during the worst of the morning sickness. This year's looking good!

Praise the LORD!
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!

Blessed be the name of the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore!
From the rising of the sun to its setting
the name of the LORD is to be praised!

The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD!


We're also memorizing:

"Father We Thank Thee" by Ralph Waldo Emerson - the kids think it's cool to immediately be able to say nearly half of it by just saying "Father, we thank Thee" or Father in heaven, we thanks Thee" at the appropriate times. :^)

"Now Thank We All Our God" is our hymn for the month




We'll also be reviewing Psalm 100, 150, and 67 from past years, as well as "Come, Ye Thankful People, Come" and other Thanksgiving and praise hymns.

Our Morning Worship readings are from the Psalms this month. We read Psalm 18 yesterday which lead to learning the praise song "I Will Call Upon the Lord".

For our writing this month we're going to have on ongoing list of things we're thankful for and some nice copywork to make into a Thanksgiving book. That's the plan anyway. :^) Here are some link for nice handwriting paper for this.

a to z teacher stuff here and more here


So will you join me in my Thanksgiving Psalm memory challenge? It can be for your family or just for yourself. Leave me a link to your post with your chosen Psalm or just write it in the comments. Let's make this a month to focus on learning to praise the LORD with every moment and every breath.

Praise the LORD!

graphic courtesy of Kaboose