On the Fifth day of Christmas

The great day has arrived...Christmas break officially starts at the end of today's school day!!! Mere words cannot convey how happy I am about this, lol. I plan to thoroughly enjoy the time, though it will undoubtedly fly by. My husband has accumulated some bonus days off from working on a special project at work, so we'll be getting to see quite a bit more of him than usual...can't wait!!

ON to the 12 days of Christmas. We've been adding a new tradition each year as our kids grow older. Some small, some not so much. So this year we decided to do the 12 days of Christmas activities. If only I could have looked into my crystal ball and foreseen that I would have a marathon migraine (going on day #4) during this same time...wouldn't that have been nice? But, honestly, it's been somewhat of a distraction. And the kids have had such a good time looking forward to each evening's activity. That's what it's all about, right?

This is what we've done so far:
Day 1) Game night of Christmas Trivia- SO much fun! I couldn't believe how much my boys knew about Christmas traditions in other countries.
Day 2) A very awesome Christmas puzzle- Even the 12-year-old I babysit was enticed away from his portable game system (which I can never remember the name of, but I do know that it costs a small fortune, lol).
Day 3) Decorating/painting ornaments.
Day 5) Decorated sugar cookies. Wild-looking bunch, don't you think? ;)
Day 4) Read/Listen to The Christmas Shoes. Write Christmas letters to grandparents.
5) Watch It's a wonderful Life.

Some of these activities we would normally do during the Christmas season anyway. But it's definitely added a little extra excitement for them to be able to look at the list and know it's a sure thing each day. And knowing that they were looking forward to it helped me to push through my aching head. Its made for some wonderful evenings, accompanied by hot chocolate, sparkling cider, and a little Nat King Cole and Rosemary Clooney playing in the background.

Good times, good memories~

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Can it possibly be only 17 more days until Christmas? I'm not even going to give excuses for not doing a Thanksgiving post. Suffice to say I did my fair share of being thankful and had a wonderful time with family and friends.

No pictures except for this one

due to the fact that lately anytime we go to an activity/gathering I forget to take pictures. But taking pictures of food I remember...wonder why that is?

This past Friday Hubby and I once again went to the Singing Christmas Tree with a group from our church. This is my favorite activity of the year. We had a wonderful time and, once again, I forgot to take along the camera... at least I'm consistent.

Saturday evening we went to a progressive dinner with our adopted adult Sunday school class. I should clarify that we are the adopted ones, due to the fact that we are both teaching 2nd grade kids during the time period that the adults meet. It was SO much fun. I have to admit it's nice to hang around with people your own age from time to time.

Just 9 more school days left until Christmas break...and so much work to do. After the break we'll be doing our state testing, which I actually look forward to... in a way. The Professor will be taking the writing test this year in addition to math and science. So he will be doing a few practice runs between now and then, including a 600 word research paper he's working on right now.

I CANNOT wait until this coming weekend when I will be able to indulge my intense desire to finally do some holiday baking! In plain language: I'll be baking up a storm. Our church is having it's annual Taste of Christmas, and so I'll have the perfect excuse for indulging in some holiday baking. I'm looking forward to trying a few new recipes, as well as some traditional ones. Our aprons are ready and waiting...and since I ALWAYS remember to take pictures of food, you can come here to drool :)

I have more to say (due to the fact that I have been posting so little) but the school books are beckoning. So maybe I'll manage to pull off posting two days in a row; we'll see.

Happy Tuesday~

I'm finally getting with the program

It only took me two years of blogging to get a background. I wouldn't want to rush into anything...

Hopefully it won't be too much of a sensory overload. Honestly, some backgrounds make my eyes cross with all their effects. I suppose a tendency toward migraines doesn't help. So I'm trying this on a strictly trial basis.

I just couldn't resist the red and green. Good night to all~

Just in case you like a deal...

Yes, I know I just did a post a few hours ago. But every time I come across this deal, I kick myself for not sharing it. So if you've never tried Restaurant.com, now might a good time. If you enter the code GIVE you can get a $25 gift certificate for $3...not too shabby. My family of 5 (with one child now considered an adult menu-wise) would usually cost about $35 to eat out plus tip. With this certificate the cost is $3 plus $10 (required purchase of $35 with the $25 certificate) plus tip.

The downside is that sometimes it's hard to find a local restaurant that goes along with the plan. So we usually take advantage of it during family trips or when we're heading up to the big city (that would be Portland:). But it might be worth checking into regardless. They also take Paypal if you're like me and don't like to give out credit info on the web. This savings code is good through 11/22/2009.

I think that's about it. Have a good weekend:)

When hard work pays off

We have been working industriously this week to get enough of our school lessons done to have the whole week off for the week of Thanksgiving. I admit I am so looking forward to the break! I've been itching to get to some baking, and am definitely looking forward to spending time with extended family. I love the Thanksgiving holiday!

So since school is mostly what we've done this week (with a few fun activities thrown in to keep us all sane) I thought I'd share a few pictures.

I have to admit to a fondness for charts, so I try to insert them into our curriculum whenever I can. Here's a few from this week's lessons.
Working on a puzzle of U.S. Presidents to go along with the Artist's History studies.
Here is my Princess with her word wall and her latest favorite book When the Elephant Walks.

The Professor working on a writing project.

We tried our hand at making corn husk dolls. The Princess seems to think they're some sort of novelty, and is having quite a bit of fun with them. And I'm wondering why I should give her store-bought toys for Christmas if she can be happy with something this simple? Kind of makes one think...

My boys love to do science experiments. Here we were testing the effect different enzymes would have on a variety of foods. The gelatin we used was different than any I had used before, and had the distinct smell of a very dead animal.

Stained glass art-work

This weeks reading material: The Moral Compass. The Professor picked this book out for one of his writing projects. After looking it over, I thought we could all benefit from it.

And last but not least, some fall-themed treats that were almost too pretty to eat :)

My Anchor Holds

Though the angry surges roll, on my tempest driven soul,
I am peaceful, for I know, wildly though the winds may blow,
I've an anchor safe and sure, that can evermore endure.

And it holds my anchor holds; blow your wildest then, oh gale,
on my bark so small and frail: by His grace I shall not fail,
For my anchor holds, my anchor holds.

I can feel the anchor fast as I meet each sudden blast,
and the cable, though unseen, bears the heavy strain between;
Still I stand the tempest's shock, for my anchor grips the Rock.

Troubles almost 'whelm the soul; grief like billows o'er me roll;
tempters seek to lure astray, storms obscure the light of day,
But in Christ I can be bold, I've an anchor that shall hold.

I'm thanking God today that we don't have to bear the storms of life on our own! This song has been going through my mind the last few days. It's an old favorite, that has really never grown old.

In Gratitude to our Veterans

In just a short while, we'll be leaving to attend a Veteran's Day service held at our church. The Professor will be playing in the band ("V is for Victory") and he's excited about getting to perform.

From the time I was a child I've been fascinated and a little awed by those in military uniform. Of course, who doesn't look better in a uniform? It definitely adds that little something to even the plainest person. But I was also taught to respect what that uniform stood for. And the sacrifice (in war time or peace) that it entailed.

My grandfather fought in World War II (Army), my father (between wars) was also in the Army. My husband was a Navy man, his two brothers Air Force. And I presently have a nephew serving in the Marines. I'm not bragging, just proud of them all.

My favorite period of History (and I have a great love of the subject) is the World War II era. The men and women of this time have been called "The Greatest Generation", and aptly so. They stopped Hitler in his tracks, but at such a high cost of sacrifice. As so many of them are passing on, I can only hope that we will never let our children, as well as future generations, forget how so many of them paid the ultimate sacrifice, their very lives.

So I want to express my gratitude on this day to all who have served our country, both living and dead. Because of you we enjoy the freedom that we so often take for granted. May it never be said that your sacrifice was in vain.

The people have spoken... yet again

I steer clear of posting about most things political, or at least I think I do. Sometimes it's better that way. But I just couldn't resist this time.

You see, there's nothing that gets my ire up (or at least very few things) like big-wig politicians who think they know better than the people who put them into office in the first place.

That's right buddy (or ms. so-and-so), without me you wouldn't have that nice cush job. And far too many of you have lost sight of that fact.

So don't get too comfortable in that plush office with all the accompanying perks. Because if you don't listen to the people, you're so out of there.

And you might want to re-think that "not representative of the people" statement given to the drive-by media... because unemployment can be a hard, cold fact. And the people have their eye on you. We're not so easily fooled.

That's one of the things that makes our country great: Government of the people, by the people, for the people. It's up to us to make sure that doesn't change. As much as it is within our power to do so.

DISCLAIMER: Honestly, I don't hate these people. They just really bug me sometimes.

EDIT: Check out this proposed amendment by Joe Wilson. Regardless of how you feel about the whole health care issue, I think many people would support this amendment 100%. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. That's my nugget of wisdom for the day ;)