It's time to say goodbye to 2007.  What a year it has been!  We're making fun plans to celebrate at our house, so I thought I'd share in case you're looking for ideas too.  I didn't come up with this myself, I'm honestly not sure where it originated, but I first heard about it from my best friends on the web over at Five in a Row. 

I've put together a small lunch bag for each hour beginning at 5pm.  Each bag has the time on the outside with a small poem attached.  Inside the bags are the treat or activity for that hour.  Here's is how it will all play out:

5pm-party hats, crackers, and horns in the bag

"It's time to start the party

Count down to the new year

We'll open one bag each hour

Until 2008 is here!"

6pm- homemade pizza ingredients in the bag

"Pepperoni, green olives,

sauce and cheese.

Let's roll that dough!

And make dinner please!"

7pm-Play Yahtzee (dice in the bag)

"The time has come to play a game

Can you guess which one?

Roll the dice, score a full house,

Get the highest score and you've won!"

8pm-Ingredients for S'mores in the bag

"A better snack there will never be,

If you're camping or by the sea.

We must wait for '08 and little bit more,

But while we do, let's enjoy a s'more!"

9pm-make noise makers (pipe cleaners, beads, and jingle bells in the bag)

"2007 will soon be gone,

In will come 2008.

Let's make some noise and have some fun

This is going to be great!"

10pm- the movie, The Music Man, and popcorn in the bag

Pick a little, talk a little,

And popcorn too.

Time for a movie,

Will this one do?"

11pm- mugs and hot chocolate mix in the bag

"I know you're getting sleepy

Only 1 more hour to wait

So let's have some hot chocolate

While we wait for '08."

12 midnight (5 minutes before) champagne glasses with sparkling grape juice in the bag

"It's time to say good-bye to '07,

Watching the ball drop will be great!

A hug, a kiss, a sweet drink for the toast,

Happy New Year, it's 2008!

Happy New Year Everyone!!

In 1967, the year I turned 4, all I wished for Christmas was the Mrs. Beasley doll that Buffy played with on Family Affair.  I was granted that wish.  A few years later, during a move from Florida to Arkansas, Mrs. Beasley disappeared, never to return......until now.  I've often lamented losing my precious friend.  My mom has felt terrible for years for giving her away.  But this Christmas, my hubby found a vintage 1967 Mrs. Beasley doll, in perfect condition and working order.  I received her as my Christmas gift from him.  I wanted to share a picture of Mrs. Beasley and me at Christmas in 1967.  I'll soon add one of Mrs. Beasley and Me in 2007, exactly 40 years later.

I grew up in the Southern Baptist Church.  Advent was not a word that I was familiar with though, until just a few years ago.  Celebrating the Advent Season was not apart of the Christmas traditions in my home or in my church.  But for my family today, it will be a tradition.  I've been busily planning our study of Advent and Christmas.   Ben and I are really excited!  I found this advent calendar unit study online at and thought it was just perfect.  It's very meaty, way more there than we could possibly accomplish.  But I read through each day and decided we would attempt to use a lot of it. 

So today, I've been going through each day's activities and choosing what we would learn and do and made a list, according to these categories:

Advent Wreath-lighting the candle

Bible Verses-we'll read these when lighting the Advent candle

Words to Know-one or two vocabulary words related to the Bible verses

Books to read aloud.  One book we'll be reading aloud each day is Bartholomew's Passage.  This book is designed to be read throughout Advent.  We'll also be reading many picture books.

Arts/Crafts-one project per day, Christmas ornaments or some other kind of decoration mostly.  We may even set up a small Christmas tree in our family room to decorate with these projects.

Christmas Carol or Hymn--we'll listen to the songs throughout the day, hopefully Ben will learn the words to most of them

Holiday Traditions/Symbols--we'll learn how these traditions began. I'm also thinking of maybe doing the Christmas Symbols lapbook from Knowledge Box Central.

So the first thing I had to do was find an Advent Wreath.  I found a Nativity Advent Wreath that I just fell in love with at and it is now on it's way to my house!  To be very honest, I had to do some research on the Advent wreath and the meaning of the different candles.  Here, I'll share what I found out.

The candles of the Advent Wreath include:

The Hope (or Prophecy) Candle:  This candle represents not only the Biblical prophecies about Christ's birth, but the very feeling of anticipation which God's people experienced over hundreds of years as they awaited His coming. Advent is a time when we can, in our own way, join the generations of God's children in awaiting our Messiah. Of course, Advent encompasses both the arrival of the Christ child and His second glorious coming which is yet to occur!

The Peace (or Bethlehem) Candle:  This candle represents the preparations made for the coming Christ child. Bethlehem is an appropriate place to signify preparation because, even though no room was available for Mary and Joseph when they came, God had orchestrated events so that Caesar Augustus called for a census to be taken. Joseph and Mary had to leave Nazareth so that they could register in Bethlehem and the Scriptures below were fulfilled!

The Joy (or Shepherds') Candle:  The shepherds represent the message of great joy that is brought to the world about Jesus' birth!

The Love (or Angel) Candle:  This candle represents the love which God shared with the world when He sent His Son, Jesus! Another theme for this week is sharing--the angels announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds and they shared it with others. The magi also left the baby Jesus and probably shared the wonderful news of the Savior with everyone they met! So this week, as we read through the story of Jesus' birth from Luke 1 and 2 and light all four Advent candles, remember that the light of Christ can only shine brighter as it does on your Advent wreath if we SHARE the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world!

The Christ Candle:  This white candle represents Christ! Our Messiah, Jesus, Light of the World is finally here!

I spent a good deal of time going through the Advent Calendar I mentioned above.  I changed a few things around, added or subtracted some scripture, and substituted some different books, crafts, and hymns.  And now I think I have  the perfect schedule of activities for us.  I hope you find it helpful and perhaps it will inspire you to plan some activities for this Season of Advent, a glorious time for us all to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

Day 1

~Advent Candle-Light the very first candle on the Advent wreath today--the Hope candle.

~Read the Bible Verses: Psalm 62:1-5, Isaiah 26:3, Isaiah 40:28-31, Hebrews 10:23

~Word to Know: prophecy

~Books-begin Bartholomew's Passage by Arnold Ytreeide (a passage of this book will be read each day of Advent when we light our advent candle), Waiting for Noel: An Advent Story by Ann Dixon

~Arts/Crafts-set up Nativity Advent Wreath

~Christmas Carol/Hymn-O Come O Come Emmanuel

~Holiday Tradition-Advent

Day 2

~Advent Candle-Light the first candle, the Hope candle

~Read the Bible Verses: Isaiah 11:1-5, Jeremiah 23:5-6, Isaiah 53:1-6

~Word to Know: righteousness

~Books-Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect by Dick Schneider, The Legend of the Christmas Tree by Rick Osborne, The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs, and Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry

~Arts/Crafts-pinecone Christmas tree ornament

~Christmas Carol/Hymn-O Christmas Tree

~Holiday Tradition-The Christmas Tree

Day 3

~Advent Candle-Light the first candle, the Hope candle

~Read the Bible Verses: Isaiah 42:1, 5-6, Isaiah 60:1-3, 19-22

~Word to Know: light

~Books-The Light of Christmas by Richard Paul Evans

~Arts/Crafts-stained glass candle holders

~Christmas Carol/Hymn-O Come All Ye Faithful

~Holiday Tradition-Christmas Lights

Day 4

~Advent Candle-Light the first candle, the Hope candle

~Read the Bible Verses: Daniel 9:24-27, Micah 6:6-8

~Words to Know-Messiah, annointed

~Books-There Was No Snow on Christmas Eve by Pam Munoz Ryan, Winters Gift by Jane Monroe Donovan

~Arts/Crafts- paper snowflakes

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- Handel's Messiah

~Holiday Tradition-Christmas Colors: red, green, gold

Day 5

~Advent Candle-Light the first candle, the Hope candle

~Read the Bible Verses: Galatians 4:4-5, Ephesians 1:9-12,

~Words to Know-incarnation

~Books- The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

~Arts/Crafts-graham cracker gingerbread house, hang candy canes on our tree

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- Little Drummer Boy

~Holiday Tradition-Candy Canes

Day 6

~Advent Candle-Light the first candle, the Hope candle

~Read the Bible Verses: Numbers 24:17,19, Revelation 22:16, 2 Peter 1:19

~Words to Know-scepter

~Books-The Christmas Star by Marcus Pfister, This Is the Star by Joyce Dunbar, Only a Star by Margery Facklam

~Arts/Crafts-origami stars

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- O Holy Night

~Holiday Tradition-Christmas ornaments

 Day 7

~Advent Candle-Light the first candle, the Hope candle

~Read the Bible Verses: Malachi 3:1, Luke 1:67-79, Matthew 24:36-44

~Words to Knows-messenger, forerunner

~Books-The Last Straw by Fredrick Thury

~Arts/Crafts-make homemade Christmas cards for neighbors

~Christmas Carol/Hymn-God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

~Holiday Tradition-Christmas Cards

Day 8

~Advent Candle-This week, we will be lighting the Peace Candle. First light the Hope Candle, then the Peace Candle. 

~Read the Bible Verses: Micah 5:2-5, Revelation 21:1-4

~Words to Know- shepherd

~Books- The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado,  Saint Francis and the Christmas Donkey by Robert Byrd

~Arts/Crafts- fluffy lamb ornament

~Christmas Carol/Hymn-O Little Town of Bethlehem

~Holiday Tradition- candles

Day 9

~Advent Candle-Light the first candle, the Hope candle, then light the second candle, the Peace candle

~Read the Bible Verses: Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11, Jeremiah 23:1-6, Revelation 22;12-17

~Words to Know- recompense

~Books- The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden

~Arts/Crafts-beaded ornaments

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- Go Tell It on the Mountain

~Holiday Tradition- The Salvation Army Red Kettles

Day 10

~Advent Candle-Light the first candle, the Hope candle, then light the second candle, the Peace candle

~Read the Bible Verses:  Luke 1:11-25

~Words to Know- angel

~Books- Bright Christmas: An Angel Remembers by Andrew Clements

~Arts/Crafts- angel tree topper

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- Angels We Have Heard on High

~Holiday Tradition- Mistletoe

Day 11

~Advent Candle-Light the first candle, the Hope candle, then light the second candle, the Peace candle

~Read the Bible Verses: Luke 1:26-38

~Words to Know- salutation, annunciation

~Books- Mary's First Christmas by Walter Wangerin, Mary's Treasure Box by Carolyn Kramlich

~Arts/Crafts-holly fingerprint art

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- Mary, Did You Know?

~Holiday Tradition- Holly

Day 12

~Advent Candle-Light the first candle, the Hope candle, then light the second candle, the Peace candle

~Read the Bible Verses: John 1:1-9

~Words to Know- witness

~Books- The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jan Brett

~Arts/Crafts- 12 Days of Christmas booklet

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- Twelve Days of Christmas

~Holiday Tradition- 12 Days of Christmas

Day 13

~Advent Candle-Light the first candle, the Hope candle, then light the second candle, the Peace candle

~Read the Bible Verses: John 1:10-18

~Words to Know- grace

~Books- Silent Night: The Song and It's Story by Margaret Hodges

~Arts/Crafts-snow globes

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- Silent Night

~Holiday Tradition- abbreviation "Xmas"

Day 14

~Advent Candle-Light the first candle, the Hope candle, then light the second candle, the Peace candle

~Read the Bible Verses: Mark 1:1-11

~Words to Know- repentance

~Books- Through the Animals Eyes: A Story of the First Christmas by Christopher Wormell

~Arts/Crafts-pie plate ornaments

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- Do You Hear What I Hear?

~Holiday Tradition- Yule Logs

Day 15

~Advent Candle-This is the week of the Joy Candle for Advent!  Light the Hope and Peace candles, and then the Joy Candle.

~Read the Bible Verses: Matthew 2:9-12

~Words to Know- worship

~Books- The Story of the Three Wise Kings by Tomie dePaola,  The Clown of God by Tomie dePaola 

~Arts/Crafts- Cinnamon Christmas Ornaments

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- We Three Kings

~Holiday Tradition- Gingerbread

Day 16

~Advent Candle-Light the Hope and Peace candles, and then the Joy candle.

~Read the Bible Verses: Luke 2:8-20

~Words to Know- glory

~Books- A Certain Small Shepherd by Rebecca Caudill

~Arts/Crafts- gift wrap fans

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- Hark the Herald Angels Sing

~Holiday Tradition- Gift-giving

Day 17

~Advent Candle-Light the Hope and Peace candles, and then the Joy candle.

~Bible Verses- Psalm 98

~Words to Know- praise

~Books- The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola

~Arts/Crafts- poinsettia napkin rings

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- The Christmas Song

~Holiday Tradition- Poinsettias

Day 18

~Advent Candle-Light the Hope and Peace candles, and then the Joy candle.

~Read the Bible Verses: Isaiah 61:1-3, 10-11

~Words to Know- exult

~Books- The Real Santa Claus: Legends of Saint Nicholas by Marianna Mayer, Flight of the Reindeer: The True Story of Santa Claus and His Christmas Mission by Robert Sullivan

~Arts/Crafts- Santa ornament

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

~Holiday Tradition- Santa Claus, elves

Day 19

~Advent Candle-Light the Hope and Peace candles, and then the Joy candle.

~Read the Bible Verses: Zephaniah 3:14-17

~Words to Know- zion

~Books- The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

~Arts/Crafts- jingle bell ornament

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- Silver Bells

~Holiday Tradition- Christmas Bells

Day 20

~Advent Candle-Light the Hope and Peace candles, and then the Joy candle.

~Read the Bible Verses: 1Chronicles 16:8-36

~Words to Know- joy

~Books- The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski

~Arts/Crafts- reindeer ornament

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- Joy to the World

~Holiday Tradition- Reindeer

Day 21

~Advent Candle-Light the Hope and Peace candles, and then the Joy candle.

~Read the Bible Verses: 1John 4:7-19, 1John 5:20

~Words to Know- rejoice

~Books- Cranberry Christmas  by Wende Devlin, The Nutcracker by Janet Schulman

~Arts/Crafts- string cranberry garland

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky

~Holiday Tradition- The Nutcracker Ballet

Day 22

~Advent Candle-We have reached the last Sunday of Advent!   This is the week of the Love Candle for Advent!  Light the Hope, Peace and Joy candles, and then the Love Candle.

~Read the Bible Verses: Luke 1:5-25, Luke 1:26-56

~Words to Know-love

~Books- The Christmas Day Kitten by James Herriot

~Arts/Crafts-angel paper chain

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- What Child Is This?

~Holiday Tradition- Nativity

Day 23

~Advent Candle-Light the Hope, Peace and Joy candles, and then the Love Candle.

~Read the Bible Verses: Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:57-80

~Words to Know- truth

~Books- All for the Newborn Baby by Phyllis Root, Silver Packages by Cynthia Rylant

~Arts/Crafts- Christmas carol booklet, bake a Happy Birthday Jesus cake

~Christmas Carol/Hymn- The First Noel

~Holiday Tradition- Christmas Caroling

Day 24

Merry Christmas!

~Advent Candle-Today we light the past 4 candles of Advent and then the white candle, the Christ candle.

~Read the Bible Verses-Luke 2:1-20, Matthew 2:1-12

~Books-Away in a Manger illustrated by Thomas Kinkade

~Christmas Carol/Hymn-Away in a Manger  

~Holiday Tradition-Nativity

For the past 2 weeks, Ben and I have focused our studies on more patriotic themes....Election Day and Veteran's Day. 

For Election Day, we used a unit from www.homeschoolshare.com based on the book The Ballot Box Battle by Emily Arnold McCully.  This story was about a lady named Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a famous leader in the struggle for the woman's right to vote.  It jumpstarted our study into the history of voting in America and how our government officials are elected.  We also read a couple of other very informative books:  You Want Women to Vote, Lizzie Stanton? by Jean Frita, VOTE! by Eileen Cristelow, and America Votes:  How Our President is Elected by Linda Granfield.  Ben and I also held an election of our own:  The Ice Cream Election. 

On Election Day, we had lunch at a local deli and visited the library.  We brought our Ice Cream Election ballots with us and asked people we encountered throughout the day to vote for their favorite ice cream.  We also polled family members and each other.  Everyone really seemed to enjoy it this activity, especially Ben.  Afterwards, Ben and I went to the polls so that I could vote.  He was very curious about who I was voting for and why.  I was able to find and print off information about our local candidates to show him.  Here are a few pictures from our Election lapbook.

Here is the cover with a photocopy of our book and some election clipart.

This is the lapbook opened up.  It is probably the smallest lapbook we have made.  But I decided with the Presidential election coming up next year, we can add to it then.

Here you can see the inside of or vocabulary minit book and our Ice Cream election ballots and tally sheet.  The winner of our election was Strawberry Ice Cream!  (Ben was quite disappointed having voted for chocolate)

Here you can see the inside of our Vote minit book, where Ben figured out not only how old he needed to be to vote, but when he would be old enough (2018) and in what election he'll first be able to vote (2019).  You'll also find his "voter registration" card and some info about the requirements to become the president, a senator, or a representative.

In this section of the lapbook, you'll find information about the amendments to the constitution that changed age, gender, and racial barriers to voting and information about the republican and democratic parties and their symbols.  There is also a sheet of copywork The copywork is the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote.

This week, we have focused on Veteran's Day.  Using the printable booklets from www.enchantedlearning.com, we were able to learn about the different US Armed Forces, their basic jobs, and their flags.   We also read a couple of good books, including:  The Wall by Eve Bunting and  Pepper's Purple Heart:  A Veteran's Day Story by Heather French Henry.  Ironically Mrs. Henry lives here in Louisville and is both a former Miss America and married to a local politician, former Lieutenant Governor, Steve Henry. 

We also watched the Reading Rainbow episode based on The Wall and a National Geographic documentary about Arlington National Cemetary.  And we read several entries from a wonderful book, The American Story by Jennifer Armstron.  This book chronicles American history in short story format 100 different tales.  There were stories about WW I, WW II, and the Vietnam War. 

We were also fortunate to have recently visited Arlington National Cemetary on a trip to Washington DC and were able to see the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknowns.  Ben was mesmerized by this ceremony and it was a great jumping off point for this study.  I'm including a slideshow presentation of that ceremony in this blog entry.

As a service project, we are putting together a care package for our friends' husband and father, who is currently serving in Iraq.  We love you Damon, Christi, Dana, Dylan, Nate, and Jenna and so appreciate the sacrifice your family is making to keep us safe!