� Comments (1) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Well, it was a pretty tame (lame?) day here on the first.

Butterfly & Bunny switched the sugar in the bowl to salt for Daddy's coffee.  Good thing I warned him first, but he played it up good! ;o)

Lunch was homemade nachos - the tortillas had sugar instead of salt.  The "salsa" was a strawberry sauce, the "sour cream" was vanilla yogurt and the "cheese" was orange-dyed coconut!!

Dinner was PB& J "sandwiches" - cookie dough baked to look like bread with PB&J on it.  YUM!  And Family Fun's Fake Fries.

We need some fresh ideas!!  Kim at Life in a Shoe has a Mr. Linky going on to get ideas.  I tried to comment, but I can't get the comment box to pop up (which means I can't READ the ideas either!) GAH!  I'm off to surf the blogs in her Mr. Linky, hoping for some fun fool fuel for next year!

Peace,

Katie

� Comments (5) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Everyone always tells me my NYE "party" (our family only) sounds like a blast and they wish they had heard the ideas sooner.  So here is our traditional NYE plan!

It starts with hats, masks & streamers, of course.  Every holiday/celebration here is heavily decorated! LOL

There is a basket of 6 colored bags with clock faces on them, one for each hour from 5pm - 10pm (also, not-so-coincidentally, one for each dc in their fav color!).  Each one contains clues or supplies for what we'll be doing that hour.  The youngest opens the first bag...

5pm - Make your own pizzas!!  NYE is the ONLY time all the dc participate in pizza making.

6pm - Something quiet, like bubbles (usually a no-no indoors) or glow sticks, so no "excitement" since they are digesting! LOL

7pm - Scripture cake!  A few days before NYE, I spend some time praying over which verses to include.  These get written on small pieces of cardstock, wrapped in foil & hole punched at one end.  Tie a curling ribbon through the hole and insert card into the cake with the ribbon sticking out.  We take turns picking a card, which becomes "our" verse for the coming year.  I've saved these and it's really a blast looking back to see how apt they were!!

8pm - Limbo & dancin' to the oldies!  This year, we'll include Twister as well since we got it for Christmas.

9pm - Celebratory Drinks (some type of float or freeze, OR a hot drink depending on the weather) & BALLOON BAG!  The highlight of the night, eagerly anticipated throughout the YEAR.  I stitch 2 paper tablecloths together with yarn, leaving a long "tail" (holes were punched along the long lengths of the tablecloths).  Three sides of this are taped to the ceiling, leaving one small end open and room to stuff!  Add 75+ blown up balloons into the "bag"  Some years, we've also gently thrown in some confetti or even SMALL treat bags.

At the stroke of "midnight" - which here is just late enough so the dc feel special, but early enough that they are all still awake and not too grumpy - we pull the string like a rip-cord and all the stuff falls out!  They love then chasing the balloons around with forks or sitting on them to pop them.  NOTE - YES, I know that balloons are a choking hazard, and YES we are VERY careful to clean/vac immediately after!

The fun drinks are toasted & shared, the littles start to "drop" off - and then we take pictures where they "fell" with placards stating the time they fizzed! LOL

10pm - anyone still awake will engage in another quiet activity - bubbles, glow sticks, board games, photo albums... whatever we picked for this year

IF anyone is still awake at midnight, we watch the local fireworks from our LR window.  Usually there are 0-3 takers, no more.

Most of these things, NYE is the only time we do them.  That keeps them special.  It is the only time I make Chex Mix, we have loads of munchies and have to take the traditional, official pic of our 110 lb blag lab wearing a party hat!!

Most of the ideas are NOT original (FamilyFun.com is my favorite holiday site for fun ideas), but we've adapted them and made them our own.

Peace to you,

Katie

� Comments (4) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Well, Alaska is of course similar to the rest of the US, but we had maple frosted doughnuts, smoked salmon on crackers and salmon pie!  Uh, the fish was not a big hit with most of the dc.

China's Christian population is only about 1% - though if you do the math, that's a LOT of people! - so of course Christmas is not a big deal.  But we had chow mein, egg rolls & fortune cookies for lunch after we made paper lanterns!

We had fun trying to speak Madagasy (Santa is Dadabe Noely) and tried some canned lychees for our study of Madagascar.  No one liked those, either!

We are SNOWED IN and Daddy is home, so no school today! 

Peace,

Katie

� Comments (2) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Butterfly (10) made a beautiful Lucia Bride on Saturday!  Instead of Saffron Rolls, we made Maple Sticky Buns and served coffee & cocoa.  Since we don't know the "official" song, she sang "Away in a Manger" as she served first her Daddy, then her brothers, then her sisters and me.

For supper, we had Swedish Pancakes and Holiday Ham Balls.  Plus I surprised the girls with an authentic Swedish Angel Chime - they've always wanted to see one!

After supper, Butterfly, Bunny (8) and I bundled up and went to see a local living nativity presentation.  It was very well done!  Bunny especially loved the "cllamas" - the llama's dresssed to look like camels! LOL

Last night, we started a devotional (that should have been started 12/1!  Oops) called Looking Forward to Christmas: Family Devotions for the Season by Jon Farrar.  We'll be reading three entries each night instead of one.  There is a short Bible story, prayer and activity/discussion questions for each day.  We really like it!

Very light school this coming week - we're "visiting" countries that don't celebrate Christmas much and places in the US that are similar to CO with a few twists!

Peace to you,

Katie

� Comments (2) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Today we revieewed the Chanukah story, then played the dreidel game.  For lunch, we had Star of David breadsticks and THE ABSOLUTE BEST Potato Latkes I've ever made.  The dc have never been crazy about these, but I got a new recipe this year - authentic from Russia according to the website.  And instead of the applesauce we usually coat them with, we tried the suggested sour cream on top.  Except I added a sprinkling of brown sugar as well.  Oh, MY!! MMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmMMMMMMM!!!

Then we made a menorah out of cut-down wrapping paper tubes.  Each regular "candle" is about 5" tall and the center Shammash is 8".  Every child got to decorate at least one, and my artsy Butterfly (10) made the extras (8 total).  Some dc wrapped theirs in wrapping paper, some painted and some left it plain but all used seasonal stickers to dress them up.  We wadded up aluminum foil to put in the bottom of each so it would stand up.  Then I covered a piece of cardboard with foil and placed them on it in a row with the big one in the middle.  We'll stuff a bit of yellow or orange tissue paper in the Shammash and in one "candle" each night of Chanukah!

 We decided to open their gifts to each other one per night (so 5 there), then I'll give them each a small gift or candy each of the other 3 nights.  We've never gifted over Chanukah before, but we do like to spread out the gift opening so that it is not overwhelming.  This fits right in!

One more week, then I need to gear up for our annual HUGE New Year's Eve bash!

Peace!

Katie

� Comments (0) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Light day today, since we're "cheating" and celebrating St. Lucia Day on Saturday.  We read some web articles about Christmas in Sweden, then made a double batch of my nearly-famous Scandinavian Almond Bars. MMmmmMMMMMM!! 

'Course, we are doing math & reading daily.  Just so you don't think it's ALL fluff & games over here! LOL

Renee - I wrote a post HERE about the web resources I'm using.  The book I have is as old as I am and is called Christmas Stories Round the World edited by Lois S. Johnson.  Any book of stories would do, I suppose, but I like this one because it has a page describing traditions for each country with each story and WONDERFUL full color illustrations.  Probably OOP (Out Of Print) though. 

I don't have a "plan" per se, we just pick 3-4 countries a week.  I try to find an interesting folk tale that describes Christmas in that country, either in a book or online (Google search is my friend!).  Then I look up the country at one of the websites I mentioned in the above referenced blog entry.  I find a recipe or two, then head out to World Market to find some goodies from each country (runs me about $50 - I just take it out of either the Christmas or Homeschooling budget).  We generally act out part of the Christmas celebration with props around the house as well.

Maybe in my FREE TIME I should write a unit study?  BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

I HIGHLY recommend trying this out one year.  The dc have a BLAST and we really learn a LOT about other countries.  More importantly, my older dc are learning that Christmas is NOT about the jolly fat guy and presents under the tree in most countries.  (BTW - we "do" Santa per dh.  Not complaining about that - it just gives a different perspective!)

Peace,

Katie

� Comments (1) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Yesterday, we learned about Christmas in Russia.  We had to do quite a bit of Russian history first since we had never really discussed the 1917 Revolution.  You see, religious ceremonies were banned by the Communist Party so the common people switched their celebrations to New Year's - complete with tree trimming and a Father Christmas-type figure dressed in blue called Father Frost!

We read Baboushka and the Three Kings (the Caldecott winner for 1960) and learned the legend of a little old lady delivering gifts to children (the same as La Befana in Italy).  Bunny (8) dressed in "peasant" clothes and carried a basket of toys from room to room.

We also read Another Celebrated Dancing Bear (a FIAR title) then made two recipes from the FIAR Cookbook - Russian Teacakes (which are like "Wedding Cookies") and Russian Buns - a favorite of dh.  We're skipping the Russian Cabbage Soup, and are NOT trying borscht again!  I never could get the dc to eat either.

Tomorrow (Wednesday 12/13) is the day Butterfly (10) has been waiting for all year.  She will be the Lucia Bride (Sweden) this year!  HOWEVER, since Daddy leaves for work so early she will have to wait until SATURDAY!  Have I mentioned that waiting patiently is not a trait she happens to possess??!?  We will study Christmas traditions of Sweden tomorrow anyway, since it is Santa Lucia Day, but just push the celebration to Saturday.

Peace!

Katie

� Comments (1) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Last week we popped down under for a Christmas visit (figuritively speaking, of course!).  Since it's summer there for Christmas, Santa shows up on a surfboard!!  Some folks have Christmas dinner - on the beach!  Or out camping!  I'm sure my homeschooling sisters in the southern US can relate - but not THIS New England born gal! LOL

We studied the government of Australia per the dc's request (similar to Canada it seems), ate Australian black licorice (YUM!!), had Marmite on toast (GAG!!) and made the "national dessert" of New Zealand - pavlova!  i don't think it came out right, but it sure was delish!

We had fun singing Aussie Jingle Bells at http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Luptons/237700 ! (hyperlink function is not working)

I love that my dc are so interested in other countries and traditions - I just wish the countries they picked this year were more, uh... traditional!  It's not feeling very much like Christmas here talking about all these southern & island countries or countries that typically don't celebrate Christmas!

Off to Russia - hey, at least it snows there for Christmas! *wink*

Peace to you,

Katie

� Comments (2) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

There are few Christians in Japan so Christmas is mostly a secular holiday.  The Japanese do copy a lot of our American customs - Santa, trees, gift giving, card sending...  Those who ARE Christians typically spend Christmas doing for OTHERS and not focused on their own families.  Christmas Eve is a time for couples, much like Valentine's Day here.

The BIG holiday in Japan is New Year's.  They spend 4-5 days celebrating, exchanging gifts & honoring ancestors.  The main focus is on clearing all debts before the new year.

We read the story "The Gift of the Old Pine Tree" from Christmas Stories Round the World.  Then we made mochi - a sticky, sweet Japanese dessert made from rice flour.  We ate a hard rice candy - as well as the rice paper wrapper!  And we talked about the importance of staying OUT of debt and being good stewards of our resources.

Peace to you,

Katie

� Comments (0) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

We started with a story from our Christmas Round the World book then read the printouts from the Christmas in Italy websites.  The celebrations in Italy revolve around Il Bambino Jesu (the baby Jesus) and the presepio (creche) so we set up our big Nativity set. 

The dc thought that having an ugly old lady on a broomstick (La Befana) deliver presents to children was a hoot!

We had pasta for dinner, of course, and a scrumptious Chocolatty Ricotta Pie.  We'll be having some panettone (fruity Christmas cake) in the next day or two as well

What are YOU all doing for school this holiday season?

Peace,

Katie

� Comments (0) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

OK, OK so not really.  In actuality, it's 17°F and snowing but we learned about Christmas in Hawai'i.  That counts for something, right??

We learned about Santa's outrigger canoe and about traditional Christmas food - like luau!  We ate macadamia nuts & pineapple, then made Chicken Long Rice, Coconut Cake & Mele Kalikimaka Punch!

We looked at all the souveniers that friends had sent along from their trip to Hawai'i (when they took our travelling Curious George).  The girls put on leis and danced thier version of the hula - which looked a bit like a demented macarena, but who am I to judge?  They had a ball!

We are HOPING to go to the new luau restaurant for some take-out appetizers, but we'll see if Daddy is willing to go get it.

Next week, it looks like we'll be "going to" Italy, Japan &  Sweden!

Peace to you!

Katie

� Comments (1) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

We read info about the Polish Christmas traditions from the web, then read "The Bell Ringer of Pinsk" from Christmas Stories Round the World.  Christmas Eve is the Festival of the Star - the Poles eat nothing that day until the first star is seen in the night sky.  Then they feast at a table spread with a white cloth under which is some straw (to remind them that the Christ Child was born in a stable).  The first thing they pass around and eat is the oplatek - a flat bread stamped with a picture of the Holy Family. 

We're making Walnut Raspberry Rugelach (cookies) and Piernik (honey bread) today - as soon as the twinkies give me a free hour!  LOL  Oh! and we tried some sesame crisps that were made in Poland.  MMmmmMMM!

We listened to the VeggieTales Christmas song about the Polish Christmas food - hilarious!!  But now I'm craving pierogi & kielbasa & cabbage & stuffed peppers & ...  My Nana attended a small Polish church when I was growing up and I LOVE the food!!

Polka, anyone??

Peace,

Katie

� Comments (0) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Sure, and it's a fun time we're havin' today!

We started our "trip" to the Emerald Isle with the story "The Christmas Donkey" from the book Christmas Stories Around the World.  Then I read about celebrating the holidays in Ireland from web pages I'd printed. 

The fun holiday in Ireland is December 26, St Stephan's Day.  Boys (and sometimes girls) dress up in costumes and go from house to house carrying a long pole with a bunch of holly on the top.  They sing and play instruments and the hosts give them treats.  It's called the Wren Boys Procession and we had fun acting it out (in the house - not the neighborhood.  They already think we're wacky! LOL).

For our Irish Christmas treat, we steamed a canned plum pudding and had Irish Breakfast tea to go with it.  We listened to a Celtic Christmas CD while we ate, then tried out a few Irish jig steps.  The fake Irish brogues were flying thick as well.  Me poor ancestors must be a-rollin'!

We'll have Irish oatmeal for breakfast before moving on to... POLAND!

Peace to you!

Katie

� Comments (0) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Christmas Around the World will be back at our house!  It was such a hit last year, the dc are all begging to do it again, but with different countries.  You can check out all of LAST year's adventures HERE.  (sorry - I had to delete the pics)

So I'm a researching FOOL this week!  The dc have requested Christmas in:

Russia

Hawai'i

Sweden (repeat)

Italy (Sicily, specifically)

Japan

China

Alaska

Ireland

Poland

Australia/NZ

Madagascar (giggle)

So far my fav websites are Christmas Around the World - be sure to check out the recipe link on the left sidebar there as well; Why Christmas is fantastic, too; Christmas in Hawai'i - lots to explore!; and of course, go here for RECIPES - type in a country name in the search box.  Taste of Home magazines have quite a few national recipes as well, and besides - they are fun to peruse!

I'll be keeping you posted on our "trips"!

Peace to you,

Katie

� Comments (1) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Sorry this is late, I wanted to put it up last week for you!

April Fool's is HUGE here, for food.  We don't usually play tricks, but are wild with food.  We've done the colorful cupcakes (Meatloaf frosted with colored mashed potatoes - great fun), and this year we ARE doing the Chicken Not-Pie.  Both of these and other great ideas are at FamilyFun.com 

OK, easier-to-sneak-past-the-dc ideas:

*Make Jell-o in their regular drinking glases the night before (after bed?).  Stick a straw in before it sets!  Looks like juice, but...

*Dye the milk with food coloring if you don't use see-thru containers.

*One year we did Pizza Day!  Breakfast Pizza (crescent roll crust, scrambled eggs, sausage, cheese, etc); biscuit or English muffin pizzas for lunch; REAL pizza for supper (no trick!) & a cake dessert pizza!  It was tremendously funny - "What's for breakfast?" "Pizza!"  "What's for lunch?" "Pizza!" etc...  Doesn't need to be made in secret.

*oh!  The easiest year was the one where I switched everything around - Lasagne for breakfast, normal lunch, pancakes for supper.  I made the lasagne the night before & told the dc it was for a family at church.  Which it was.  US!!

Tricks - The dc love to switch out Mark's towel for a hand towel or washcloth while he's in the shower!

And OUR fav as parents - switching the dc in their beds 3/31 after they're all asleep!  With our AS kids who may freak, we've kept them in the same bed but moved them head-to-foot so they wouldn't feel left out. 

Nowadays, I can make REGULAR food for 4/1 and the dc think I'm tricking them because I always have inthe past.  They expect it, so the trick would be to NOT make funny food!

I think this year, we're doing green eggs & ham for b-fast, the deli-sandwich-that-looks-like-a-cake for lunch and the chicken not-pie (with a REAL chic pot pie to serve after the dessert-y trick one) for dinner.  OH!  And definitely the Jell-o juices - haven't done that one in a LONG time.

Peace to you!

Katie

� Comments (2) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Teena wanted to know what we do for other holidays, so here is our Valentine rundown.

Valentine's starts the night of Jan 31 when the dc hang decorated pocket hangers on their doorknobs.  The SVP (Secret Valentine Pal) leaves small gifts every night for 14 nights (Oriental Trading Company is great for supplies!) - a Valentine pencil, sheet of stickers, sucker or notepad - things like that.  Also, the dc are encouraged to leave things for each other - notes, coupons for chores, Valentine cards, etc.

The final gift (night of 2/14) is usually a small box of Russell Stover's chocolates.

The family night before Valentine's Day we do Bible studies on Love & Sharing and make Valentine's for each other & others outside the family.  One year, we memorized some of 1 Corinthians 13 together to the tune of "Frere Jacques" (start with "Love is patient" and you can get to "It keeps no record of wrongs" if you improvise an extra line.  Just don't repeat lines like the original tune!).

Valentine's Day ALL food is red, heart-shaped - or BOTH!  Pancakes with dyed butter, red oatmeal, heart-shaped biscuits & gravy are some past favorites for breakfast. Lunch is usually heart-shaped sandwiches (pb & red jam) or pasta (one year, I splurged & bought specialty heart-shaped pasta!!).  Dinner is almost always homemade heart-shaped pizza, though one year I remember doing chili in a heart-shaped bread bowl.  Dinner is a candllight affair, and I alone do the clean-up!  (as a love gift to THEM, though I usually get a couple of volunteers as a love gift to ME)

Dessert is usually a heart-shaped chocolate fudge torte with raspberry sauce.

Also, there are Valentine decorations up all over. 

Can you tell I like having a reason to celebrate?  LOL

Some years we study about St. Valentine as well.  Often, we'll watch our wedding video and look at the photo albums.

So there you are!  A KatieCO family Valentine - SEASON!  LOL

Peace to you!

Katie

� Comments (3) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Yeah, I know.  We're still studying Christmas!  After Bug's "flaming mule" comment, I needed to set the record straight! 

Did you know that adults in France don't exchange gifts until New Year's Day?  We may try that next year - get hubby some great finds at the "after Christmas sales"!

We, of course, made a yule log today - "buche de noel".

Here is Bee mixing up a storm...

and enjoying the "fruits" of her labors!! (Chocolate IS a fruit, right??  No, no, wait - don't disillusion me!!)

We sang some French carols and spoke in "zilly ahk-zhents" and had a ball.

NYE tomorrow - I guess we're done with Christmas.  Though Butterfly mentioned today that she wanted to hear about Christmas in Italy, and Bunny keeps singing Mele Kilikimaka...

Peace to you!

Katie

� Comments (1) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Everyone always tells me my NYE "party" (our family only) sounds like a blast and they wish they had heard the ideas sooner.  So here is our traditional NYE plan!

It starts with hats, masks & streamers, of course.  Every holiday/celebration here is heavily decorated! LOL

There is a basket of 6 colored bags with clock faces on them, one for each hour from 5pm - 10pm (also, not-so-coincidentally, one for each dc in their fav color!).  Each one contains clues or supplies for what we'll be doing that hour.  The youngest opens the first bag...

5pm - Make your own pizzas!!  NYE is the ONLY time all the dc participate in pizza making.

6pm - Something quiet, like bubbles (usually a no-no indoors) or glow sticks, so no "excitement" since they are digesting! LOL

7pm - Scripture cake!  A few days before NYE, I spend some time praying over which verses to include.  These get written on small pieces of cardstock, wrapped in foil & hole punched at one end.  Tie a curling ribbon through the hole and insert card into the cake with the ribbon sticking out.  We take turns picking a card, which becomes "our" verse for the coming year.  I've saved these and it's really a blast looking back to see how apt they were!!

8pm - Limbo & dancin' to the oldies!  This year, we'll include Twister as well since we got it for Christmas.

9pm - Celebratory Drinks (some type of float or freeze, OR a hot drink depending on the weather) & BALLOON BAG!  The highlight of the night, eagerly anticipated throughout the YEAR.  I stitch 2 paper tablecloths together with yarn, leaving a long "tail" (holes were punched along the long lengths of the tablecloths).  Three sides of this are taped to the ceiling, leaving one small end open and room to stuff!  Add 75+ blown up balloons into the "bag"  Some years, we've also gently thrown in some confetti or even SMALL treat bags.

At the stroke of "midnight" - which here is just late enough so the dc feel special, but early enough that they are all still awake and not too grumpy - we pull the string like a rip-cord and all the stuff falls out!  They love then chasing the balloons around with forks or sitting on them to pop them.  NOTE - YES, I know that balloons are a choking hazard, and YES we are VERY careful to clean/vac immediately after!

The fun drinks are toasted & shared, the littles start to "drop" off - and then we take pictures where they "fell" with placards stating the time they fizzed! LOL

10pm - anyone still awake will engage in another quiet activity - bubbles, glow sticks, board games, photo albums... whatever we picked for this year

IF anyone is still awake at midnight, we watch the local fireworks from our LR window.  Usually there are 0-3 takers, no more.

Most of these things, NYE is the only time we do them.  That keeps them special.  It is the only time I make Chex Mix, we have loads of munchies and have to take the traditional, official pic of our 110 lb blag lab wearing a party hat!!

I'll post pics tomorrow if anyone is interested.

Most of the ideas are NOT original (FamilyFun.com is my favorite holiday site for fun ideas), but we've adapted them and made them our own.

Peace to you,

Katie

� Comments (7) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Well, I didn't have much teaching to do with THIS one!  The dc were all proud to tell me everything they knew about Hannukah - which was everything *I* knew as well!  So I just passed out the gelt & everyone got a dreidl and some stickers.  We played the game and had latkes with applesauce.  YUM!

Bear & Bunny & Bee - Bunny won the most!

Peace to you,

Katie

� Comments (3) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

I thought I'd make a list of my Christmas favorites:

* Favorite Song Mix-Up:  Bug singing "See the 'flaming mule' before us" instead of "blazing yule"!!  Bear's version of "Feliz Navidad" is a close second.

* Favorite Photo Op:  All 6 blessings in Christmas pj's under the tree - and it only took 2 tries to get everyone smiling!!

* Favorite New Tradition:  Our (now) annual game fest Christmas Eve with Nana & Granpa Mel 

* Favorite Gift Given & Received:  Given:  the Ziggy stuff I found for my dad & the "Nana's Old Family Recipe" Date Nut Bread I made as a surprise for my mom; received:  a Victorian style glass nib pen & paper set with 6 colors of ink!!!

* Favorite Moment:  A toss-up between my sweet dh having everyone - including my unchurched Mom & her s/o - pray before opening gifts Christmas Eve and my beautiful dc spontaneously singing "Happy Birthday Dear Jesus" before dessert Christmas night.

* Favorite Funniest Moment:  When dh & I discovered we were expecting the same gift from each other - but neither of us bought it because we thought the other one would!! (CD from the Christmas concert we attended recently)

* Favorite Quote of the Season:  Bear was taking things out of his stocking and found a chocolate pop - "Gasp!  I dot nay-nay! (got candy)" in a very hushed/awed voice and Butterfly saying over & over "It CAN'T be, it CAN'T be!!" as she opened her Vet Set.

Consider yourselves all tagged if you'd like to make a similar list!  I'd love to read them, so let me know!

Merry Christmas to all, and God bless us, everyone!

Peace to you!

Katie

� Comments (2) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

We had fun today singing some rousing English carols, studied English Christmas traditions (which we follow closely, the dc were happy to see - they were waiting to read about "their" Christmas and where it came from):  tree (adopted by Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria in the 1840's), stockings, roast turkey...

They do, of course, have some traditions we DON'T follow but had a grand time with - namely the afternoon address from the Queen (making THAT one up was a scream!) and pulling Christmas crackers:

Bee & Bunny have at it!

Bear & Bug giving it a go!

Inside the crackers are a paper crown, a toy and a riddle.

"Why didn't the skeleton go to the party?

He had no BODY to go with!!"

Ahem.  Anyway, the dc are glad that we follow some ethnic traditions - even though the ones we have are remarkably like the ones practiced by huge numbers of other Americans! LOL  (Dh is Swedish & English; I'm English, German, Portuguese, Irish and a sprinkling of other stock as well - guess that makes our dc true melting pot Americans!).

I may not have time for a daily entry this weekend, of course.  And you may not have time to read one anyway if I did!  So here is wishing all of you a

VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!! & HAPPY HANNUKAH!!!!

Peace to you,

Katie

� Comments (3) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

The children have new blog names!  I've decided to use their "pet" names.  Therefore, our family consists of Bug, Butterfly, Bunny, Bee, Bear & Cat.  OK, that settled, the whole menagerie went to SPAIN!

But first, we went to World Market to get gourmet licorice for a Christmas gift.  BAD idea.  I went in to get a bag of licorice and came out $42 poorer!!  I love this store.  I picked up some special gifts for people on my list, but I also got some supplies for the rest of our Christmas "trips".

Here is Bunny with a bit of marzipan candy "fruit" for our Spain study:

In Spain, we learned that they set up a Nacimiento (Nativity) during the Christmas season and worship the Savior, so we did, too:

They have a pastorale - children dress up (the boys as shepherds - thus the furry shoulders) and travel around singing & playing music about Jesus.  We had fun decorating our instruments!

The children there believe the Magi bring their gifts on King's Day (Jan 6). 

It is so interesting how each country celebrates in unique ways!  I talked with dh last night and we will be changing our Christmas season next year.  Stockings will go out on St. Nicholas Eve (Dec 5) and we will open our gifts from each other on Christmas Eve.  Christmas morning will be a quiet day of carols (though with 8 of us, I suppose carols won't be "quiet"), Scripture reading and feasting!  We will still go to the grandparents in the afternoon for gifts - a compromise for now as we evolve this celebration.

Thoughts?

Peace to you!

Katie

� Comments (0) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Christmas in The Netherlands... which is called Holland... but the people are Dutch.   Then Saint Nicholas comes to Amsterdam on a ship with his white horse.  From Spain. Huh??

OK, maybe THEY'RE not confused, but my dc were a bit!

Making Dutch Spice Bread

Munching on Dutch Windmill Bars & Dutch Cocoa!

Oh!  I almost forgot the "best" part.  The dc all remembers the Dutch girl singing the Sinterklaas song from Miracle on 34th Street (the original), so we grabbed our cocoa and all sat down to watch the movie together.

I really think the dc are enjoying our "Christmas Around the World" - I just hope they're LEARNING something! :-)

Peace to you,

Katie

� Comments (5) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Oh, now THIS was fun!!  Most of the Scandinavian countries have a special rice pudding that they make at Christmas time.  Hidden inside is one whole almond and the person who has the almond wins a prize.

Who could it be?  Is it me??

The winner!!!

We were disappointed that we didn't get to talk to Daddy's friend Peter when he was in town last week, since he is FROM Denmark.  Maybe next time.

Next year, I've already marked the calendar to learn more about each of these countries & holidays and to celebrate them on the RIGHT days (wasn't organized enough this year).  The dc are very excited, and I have always tried to find ways to spread out the "gift-y-ness" of this time of year so that the focus can be on CHRIST on Christmas.  I pointed out in our studies today that ALL of the countries we've learned about so far do not celebrate with gifts on Christmas Day - that day is reserved for feasting, attending church and reflecting on God's gift to US - Jesus.

All of the children excitedly decided they'd like to do the same thing!  Yeay!  Now I just need to figure out the logistics of it with dh and extended family.  Every other year, we spend Christmas Day with one of two local sets of grandparents.  Hmmm... maybe we'll keep that as is for now, but open all of their gifts from US on Christmas Eve?  Still thinking... autistic children survive through routine and tradition.  Although they all said they WANT to change how we do Christmas, actually following through could be another matter entirely.

We'll continue our country holiday studies through this week AND next - focusing on Boxing Day, New Year's & Epiphany next week.  It helps with the "post-Christmas let-down".

Peace to you!

Katie

� Comments (2) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Went to Iceland today!  We read a story about a traditional Icelandic Christmas - the children there look forward to the 9 Christmas goblins bringing them gifts on Christmas Eve.  Lights throughout the house are kept burning all night in honor of the Christ Child.  The dc thought this was a good idea - we may do that next week, though it would make it difficult to sleep I think.

We then baked a Icelandic Christmas Cake - VERY yum!

Tomorrow we're going to make a tabletop tree out of dowels, just like in the story we read.  They have to import trees from Norway or make their own, according to the story (which admittedly is a VERY old story - this book was published the same year I was born!!).

Next week, we're off to England, Spain & Holland!

Peace to you!

Katie

� Comments (3) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

It's fun exploring the holiday traditions of our heritage!  It's also fattening...

In Sweden, they celebrate Saint Lucia Day on 12/13 (we missed it by a day.  Ah, well).  The oldest daughter dresses up as the Lucia Bride and serves breakfast on a tray to the other members of the family.  She wakes them with her sweet singing (we skipped the serenade - M can't carry a tune!!).

We read two stories of Christmas in Sweden, looked up our ancestral home on the Web & made pepparkakor (Swedish Ginger Thins) & Scandinavian Almond Bars.

Off to Iceland today.  I'm lovin' it!

Peace to you!

Katie

� Comments (2) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Well, the "trip" to Sweden got postponed (dh is Swedish, so we're waiting for the weekend so he can learn, too) so we went to GERMANY!

We talked about Martin Luther and the Reformation, the legend of the first Christmas tree, and St. Nicholas.  We sang "Away in a Manger", "Joy to the World" & "Stille Nacht" ("Silent Night"!) - all written by Germans.

We read stories of Christmas celebrations in Germany and Austria, then made lebkuchen - a German spice cookie.  Oh, they were delicious!

Then we made a dozen or so ornaments to take to the nursing home this weekend.

So what's doing at your house for school this Christmas season?

Peace to you,

Katie

� Comments (1) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Last night we went to Mexico for our "Christmas Around the World" study.  We read a few books from the library, made farolitos and had tacos, Spanish rice & cinnamon apple tortillas. :yum

We had a blast singing "Feliz Navidad" along with the radio, but th best part was hearing J's version!  (He's 2)

"Please Mommy-Dad,

Please Mommy-Dad,

Wanna wish you a Merry Dismus

Wid bar-bee-dyue dauce!" (with bar-B-Q sauce!)

I think tomorrow, we'll visit Sweden!

Peace to you!

Katie

� Comments (1) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

2 C flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 C butter

1 C sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp peppermint extract ( I use a bit more)

10 drops red food coloring

10 drops green food coloring

Extra sugar

Combine flour & baking powder; set aside.  Beat butter until soft; add sugar & beat until fluffy.  Add egg & extracts.  Beat in flour mixture then divide dough into thirds.  Color 1/3 red & 1/3 green.  Cover & chill 1hr.

Preheat oven to 375°.  Divide each color into fourths.  Roll each into 1/" diameter rope.  Place red, green & white side by side and twist, keeping the ropes together.  Slice into 1/4" pieces; roll each piece into a ball.  Place 2" apart on a cookie sheet.  Flatten with the bottom of a glass dipped in sugar until 1/4" thick.  Bake 6-8 minutes.

Makes, ummm, a lot.

� Comments (1) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Frosted windowpanes, candles gleaming inside...

Here is a picture that K took this morning.  He's our budding nature photographer and he couldn't resist the rare occurance of *S*N*O*W* to practice with.  6" of snowfall almost never happens here!  I just love looking at the world through his eyes!

Busy day here today.  I'm taking 3 dd to see a free production of Handel's Messiah tonight while dh takes the rest of the crew to a Polar Express movie night at church.  I'm sure they'll be a lot of snow play between morning church and these evening events.

I hope you all have a blessed day.  I'll leave you with an excerpt from our Christmas newsletter...

As a family, we’ve enjoyed building family traditions and spending oodles of time together.  The homeschooling lifestyle suits us well.  We’ve recently found a new church home and we are enjoying the family atmosphere and hands-on ministry opportunities available, even for the children.  Jesus is the center of our home and the Lord of our lives and we are grateful to be in a church that promotes and encourages these attitudes. 

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.”  Romans 1:16

Do you know the power of God?  Have you given your life to Jesus?  This Christmas season, don’t get sucked into the business and activity without first meeting (or becoming better acquainted with) the first and best Christmas Gift ever given.  Jesus came

“that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10

Choose life, and keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas.  May His blessings be yours throughout 2006.          

Peace to you,

Katie

� Comments (2) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link

Last night, all 8 of us - even the "I don't like music" 11yods - sat around the tree singing carols from The Family Book of Christmas Songs and Stories.  Never mind that more than half of us can't carry a tune in the proverbial bucket, or that the baby only says "Ba-ba-ba" and drools. 

Mama led this crazy choir, being the only one with ps music training who also happens to be one of the 2 family members who is not tone deaf!   Though truth be told, I flubbed sensationally on the high notes trying to harmonize on "The First Noel".  We had such a good time, we want to organize a true caroling party at church!  Quite a grand idea for a bunch of shy people, but our desire to reach out to others is greater than our fear of appearing foolish.

After one selection, Daddy read the devotion from Christ in the Carols by Christopher and Melodie Lane.  And at the end of all our singing, I read O. Henry's classic Gift of the Magi for a bedtime story.

What a sweet, peaceful time of worshipping together, learning about advent - waiting for the Lord.  The candles flickered and scented the air with peppermint, the Christmas tree lights gleamed and cast magical shadows on the walls.  Our hearts were softened as our thoughts turned towards each other and to King who brings us love, joy and peace.

This Christmas, remember that what you do need not be PERFECT, but motivated by love.  Give of yourself from the heart.  Take the time to slow down this busy season and reconnect with your family and your Creator.

Peace to you,

Katie

� Comments (3) � Post A Comment! � Permanent Link