Here's To A New Year...

I'm either nesting or having a case of needing new beginnings. I've probably thrown out six or seven garbage bags full of junk in the last two days.  It feels good to clean, regroup, reorganize and prepare for the new year.

2008 has had it's glory, but there were some serious rough spots. We're finally feeling settled and at home in our new community - it's taken almost a year. 

We said goodbye to 2008 with a wonderful jazz service at our church, followed by a kid friendly party at our health club. The children rock climbed, jumped on inflatables, and generally ran around until near exhaustion. Which is why the house is still quiet this morning. (Except for Hubby who is downstairs tackling one of his many projects. This requires loud music, apparently, usually of 1990s variety.)

Happy New Year!

Not Good.

I need a Mister Misty. Somewhere around this time in every pregnancy, I start dreaming of DQ's sugary, slushy treat. I also start chomping on ice if the baby happens to be a boy. 

Big problem. Dairy Queen doesn't do them anymore. What? It's now the Artic Rush and they are SO.NOT.THE.SAME.

I've tried twice now, just hoping some disgruntled teenage worker got the recipe wrong the first time around. Nope. 

If any DQ people are listening, bring back the Mister Misty!

Happy Anniversary and Christmas Recap

Hubby and I are celebrating our 12th anniversary today. It's a bright, sunny-shiny day, just like it was 12 years ago. Only the thermometer registers about sixty degrees warmer. (We were married in twenty below weather in Minnesota). 

Christmas continues of course - liturgically and stuffily speaking - there is evidence of it everywhere. New toys strewn about, new dolls freshly dressed and sleeping in strange nooks and crannies, new books left open on couches. It's everywhere! But it's also Sunday, so that can wait...

We continue the tradition my parents started, of posing with a "number of Christmases together sign." This is usually taken at the worst possible moment, with all of us grumpy and underdressed and not wanting to be photographed. But I love having an album with these less than perfect pictures. This year, for the first time, no one is screaming or hiding their faces. Instead it's the chubby, I'm-almost-30-weeks-pregnant-and-about-to-fall-over-face of yours truly.

Toddzilla hasn't stopped playing with his new construction set.

Sharing french toast in new Disney themed pajamas.

Modeling more Disney themed attire... Do you see a pattern emerging? 

Mickey called Christmas morning to let them know a big trip is in the works! 

"Gramma loves the funky clothes!" 

So said the girls upon receiving these new outfits. 

Obviously, so do they!

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you and your families a beautiful Christmas. God bless you!

A Night In Bethlehem

We spent the fourth Sunday in Advent in "Bethlehem..."

Making bread at the market bakery

Pounding out copper to make jewelry with the locals

And running from the Roman soldiers!

Liberty Girls Club, Meeting 2

I completely forgot to post about our last book club meeting. (Not that anyone minds, but this blog is also my record of our lives as home schoolers, so I've got to keep on top of it!)

The chosen book was Addy's Surprise: A Christmas Story. The girls and I read the whole series because we had never read any of the Addy books. While it is definitely the saddest of the American Girl Doll series, it's become my favorite by far. I think we read the all six books in two days because the girls never wanted to stop. 

The hosting mom and daughter had all the girls to their home the week before our club meeting to practice a shadow play of the Christmas story, just like Addy and her friends do in the book. They performed it for us at the actual meeting. The play turned out beautifully - they used a large sheet and lighting to achieve the right effect. One girl read the Christmas story from Luke while the others, in costume, acted it out. 

The girls also made little rolled fabric dolls for their American Girl dolls. 

We're already looking forward to our the next meeting in January.

Self Portrait: Age 4

Toddzilla is into eating raw oatmeal right now. I came downstairs, found him plopped on the couch with a bowl half full of the stuff.  The rest was surrounding him on the couch and floor. When I told him he'd have to clean that up, he replied, "We'll do it together because it's your oatmeal but my fault."

Weekend Wrap Up

• I should be writing a message I need to give to a MOPS group for their Christmas Brunch on Tuesday. I'm going with the theory that sudden inspiration will strike late Monday night. 

• Hubby was busy most of the weekend with church stuff, so I took the children to one of those very manageable, everyone's buckled in, drive through lights tours. One of our state parks provides an awesome display of electricity in action. Lots of "ooohhhs" and "aaahhhs" from the backseat. It was a hit.

• The girls had their choir concert this afternoon. There's not much sweeter than over 100 children dressed in their finest, singing Christmas carols. My camera battery was DOA. Not a single picture.

• I vowed not to do any sewing or knitting for Christmas. But an idea struck and now I'm stuck. Must finish. Fast. (Only everyone wants to "help," so fast is not the way we'll work).

• We are loving The Wheel On The School right now. Great writing, lots of laughs, and too much information about storks. I'm sure that last fact really piqued your interest.

Oh so humbling

Home education provides so many opportunities to see how much information you've forgotten over a lifetime. I told Bobo recently that water boils at 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and didn't even flinch when her next question asked: what is a normal body temperature for humans? "So our blood boils when we have a fever?" Oops.

Today she needed to list all the perfect squares up to 100. Are you kidding me? She's eight. Down to google we went. I'm sure I could have figured it out on my own (?!), but why not teach her how to do a little research as well?

It's All Very Confusing

St. Nicholas came to us on Sunday morning, rather than Saturday, because one of my daughters was supposed to be at an overnight. We got the dreaded middle of the night call to come get her when she got sick. (This is why I'm opposed to slumber parties, but that's a whole different post).  

So the children were all excited for their gold coins and dollar bills. But then we had to remind them that most Lutheran children don't celebrate the saints so how 'bout not mentioning your good fortune in Sunday School? I can just imagine the rumors, "the pastor's kids worship the saints! Scandal!"  

On a serious note, we do love the saints around here. We love their stories of faith and sacrifice. Martin Luther loved the saints too, so it's not like we're out of line. 

"These Boys Are Treacherous!"

So said little Elbow this afternoon, when too many cooks in the kitchen played havoc with the girls' Easy Bake Christmas Cookie Marathon.

Actually, our entire day was a bit treacherous, but we won't go there. 

Crockett managed to get out and enjoy the snow a bit - so we've got that going for us.

Best of Today and a Taste of Tomorrow

• Bobo played a duet with her dad at our home school group Christmas party this afternoon. Elbow played her violin as well, and the boys belted out a song about God's love bubbling over - complete with lots of blowing and popping sound effects and motions. (Crockett wasn't really supposed to be on stage, but he never misses a chance in the lime light).

• The girls worked all evening on a report on Manta Rays for our science group tomorrow. They also decided to concoct a short play about a little manta ray boy going to the cleaning station (which really happens, who knew?) and faking a sickness to obtain his mother's tasty soup. 

• Tomorrow I get to take my girls to lunch and shopping - a little girl's day out between music lessons and science group. Happy almost Friday!

Advent Lapbooks

I mentioned these before, but they're worth repeating. So far, this has been a great afternoon project for us. Especially if we can get to it before Crockett wakes up from his nap.