'Trimming the Tree' is usually used to refer to decorating the tree, as figure of speech.  However, we actually had to do some serious 'trimming' of our spruce tree in order for it to fit into the house, through the doorway and into the tree stand.  Once it was righted, we did more trimming to give it a classical Christmas tree shape.  Our porch is covered in pine branches that we have cut off this tree!

This tree is traditionally decorated with multi-colored lights, some blinking, some not.  Daddy and Nate were the masterminds who made quick work of getting the light strands ready (not because they were tangled, but because we had to replace some bulbs).  Quinn helped Mama put the lights on the tree and then Kent was given the honor of placing the first ornament (his new football ornament) on the tree.  Then Quinn hung his new ornament (green hot rod), then Nate hung his new ornament (black and white kitten).

Once the new ornaments have been hung on the tree, then the decorating begins.  While Mama unpacks all of the ornaments and sorts them out for each person, the men of the house keep busy decorating the tree.  The boys do a fine job and the end result is a jam-packed, festive tree ready for Santa...

After the tree is decorated, we top it with the angel and put the Thomas the Tank Engine train track around its base.

We always have fresh cut trees in our home at Christmas time.  We typically have 2 trees: one in the library (tall and skinny with colored lights and kid-friendly ornaments), one in the family room (short and fat with white lights and fragile, delicate ornaments).

Most years, we head to Jarrettsville Nurseries, a nearby tree farm that is quite popular.  But, this year, we decided to patronize Environmental Evergreens, a tree farm about 1/2 hour drive from home that nurtures its trees in an eco-friendly way (without sprays, etc).

We bundled up, grabbed the two-man saw and ventured out to the wooded acres in search of our trees.  We found the library tree first... a very tall spruce that we topped off to make a 7' tree.  The boys each took a turn with the saw.

Here's a shot of the proud tree hunters and their prize tree!

This spruce was so fat, that it wouldn't fit through the wrapper machine, so we had to tie it down free form on top of the truck to get it home!

We head out to cut our Christmas Trees tomorrow.  So, tonight, we kept up our Christmas Tree Eve traditions.

Our first stop was Valley View Farm where we enjoyed looking at all of the decorated trees and the Christmas Village display.

We each selected a new ornament to put on our tree.  The selection of ornaments can be overwhelming.  Here is a photo of the boys pondering a samplng of their choices. 

This year, Daddy was the first to pick his ornament (which is rare!).  Nate decided quickly too; he chose a black & white kitten.  Quinn had the hardest time deciding since he really wanted a Batman ornament, and there weren't any; he came home with a green and black hot rod instead.  Kent had the quandry of choosing between Superman and Football - his two passions in life.  He decided to go with the football since it would be a nice way to memorialize his first year playing on a team.

After we enjoyed the sights at Valley View, we headed to Kenilworth Plaza to see the train garden.  It's such a kid-friendly display with lots of interactive buttons and fun, favorite characters and themes.

This year, we especially enjoyed the Circus Tent, the Ravens Stadium and, as always, the bridges that extend over the fountain.

Before we left, Daddy snapped some photos of the boys with Mama by the fountain...

A Christmas Grace By Garry Cleveland Myers, Ph.D. Highlights Founder

Not only for the things That we can taste and touch But for what Christmas brings Of kindness, love, and such, We thank thee, Lord.

Our family has many traditions for this time of year…  all of them are special to us.  Each year, we try some new things and drop some things that don't work quite as well for us anymore.  Here's a recap of the various ways we celebrate the holidays.

Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, we only listen to Christmas music and audiobooks and read Christmas books.  We really try to immerse ourselves in the season since it lasts such a short time.

·      This year, we started the season by watching The Nativity Story which I think we’ll continue to do to officially start the Christmas Season for our family – it is a nice reminder of the true ‘Reason for the Season’.

·      We have a homemade garland of mini stockings that hangs in the kitchen bay window which serves as our official countdown to Christmas which Granny made for the boys.  Usually, she brings it over the week after Thanksgiving so its hung in time for December 1^st – each stocking has a little surprise in it and the boys rotate turns each day (fortunately it works out evenly… 24 stockings; 3 boys; 8 surprises each).

·      We have a Celtic Advent Wreath that serves as the centerpiece on our kitchen table during the month.  We light the candles and say a prayer before dinner each night of Advent.

·      The night before we get our trees, we visit the renowned Train Garden at the Shops at Kenilworth in Towson.  In its 18th year, this fascinating display has become a holiday spectacle for many families in anticipation of the vast electric train exhibit which features bridges, animated figures and interactive push button animations and can be viewed from two levels. 

        Afterwards, we head to Valley View Farms in Hunt Valley where we admire all of the themed decorated trees and each child picks a new ornament for the tree (the ornaments that they amass over the years will go with them when they leave home, to put on their own trees).

·      We've been cutting down our Christmas trees at Jarrettsville Nurseries since 1997.  We wander through the fields of trees looking for two perfect trees: usually 2 Douglas Firs: one tall & skinny; one short & fat.  After we setup both trees and put on the lights, we decorate the tall one in the library by the fireplace (easy access for Santa) with all of the kids’ ornaments and the short one in the living room with all of the fragile, fancy ornaments. The kids' tree is complete once the Thomas the Tank Engine train is setup beneath it.

        Finally, we snuggle up with hot chocolate and watch The Santa Clause movie with Tim Allen – this year, we’re going to ‘camp out’ under the tree for the night.

·      During the day on Christmas Eve, we make chili and cornbread... and we bake.  We make a sugar cookie tree and a standing snowman cake then decorate them.  We also head to the Bel Air Bakery in downtown, historic Bel Air to select pastries, donuts and cookies to enjoy on Christmas morning (we don’t like to be bothered with making breakfast).

        Then, after the evening service, we come home and we all put on our red plaid pajamas, watch either Miracle on 34th Street or It’s a Wonderful Life.

        After the movie, Joe reads ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ to the boys.  Then they put out the cookies, carrots & milk for Santa & his reindeer, move the fireplace grate to the side so that Santa doesn't trip then off to bed.  Whew!

·      On Christmas morning, we gather around the nativity, Daddy reads Matthew & Luke from the Bible, the baby Jesus is placed in the manger to complete the nativity and we sing a few hymns and carols.  Then, we feast on our goodies from the bakery before we venture into the library to see what Santa brought.  The boys are amazingly patient while we snap photos and take video.  All of us stay in our Christmas pajamas the entire day.  We enjoy a fresh roast for dinner with all the fixings, including pumpkin pie with cool whip.

·      On Boxing Day, we head to my parents home in Baltimore to celebrate with our extended family - ranging between 30-40 people.  We hangout there for the entire day - we have a big feast of turkey, ham and/or lamb, exchange presents, play games, watch movies, and finish the day with a trip to the Wise Avenue Fire Station Train Display.

In order to emphasize the spirit of giving, we have several projects each year that we complete as a family…

·         Shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse – each boy fills a box for a boy his same age.  Each boy write a note, draws a picture and includes a photo of himself to be included in the box along with all of the goodies.  This project has proven to be a wonderful opportunity to illustrate the many luxuries we have in the United States and how we take them for granted. 

·         Gift donations through World Vision – each boy reads through the gift catalog and picks a gift which he funds 50% from his savings which we match.  We opted to work with World Vision because it offers a wide variety of giving options at various financial levels making it more appealing to the boys.  We believe that this project is an excellent way to help the poor and needy in the world.

·         Toy donations to the Empty Stocking Fund sponsored by The Aegis (our local town newspaper) – the boys each select a toy from a local toy store for a boy the same age.  Then, we personally deliver the toys to the drop-off at the Jarrettsville Fire Station.  We first discuss the boys' own gift wishes and encourage them to select one of those toys to give.  This project has become very meaningful to the boys because they recognize that there are needy in our local community.

·         Caroling with fellow HAHSA homeschoolers at Lorien Nursing Home - this is new this year, but something that I've always wanted to do.  We'll be making some cards to hand out to the residents to cheer them and serve as reminders of our visit.

Do you celebrate Saint Nicholas Day?

In fourth-century Turkey, there was a generous bishop by the name of St. Nicholas, now considered to be the patron saint, or protector, of children.

His feast day is December 6th.

I've just reserved a pile of books about the REAL Santa Claus (aka St. Nick) from our local library and I can't wait to share them with the boys as they have been asking lots of questions lately.  In the meantime, I've been doing some online research...

I highly recommend that you check out the St. Nicholas Center website.  Its jam-packed with info, resources, and more... There is also the St. Nicholas Society website too which is dedicated to the true Father of Christmas.

Today’s Santa Claus is derived from a figure of a Dutch folk tale. This tale tells the story of the real Santa Claus, St Nicholas, a bishop from Turkey who bestowed presents on the poor people. Thus was born the legendary figure of Sinterklaas and your favorite Santa Claus is the result of its American mispronunciation.

Y'know, I had always believed that the modern-day image of Santa Claus in the red suit was a result of savvy marketing by Coca Cola.  Apparently, that is an urban legend, according to Snopes... nothing but cokelore.

It turns out that the lovely pictures of Santa wearing the red coat, the fur boots, and having a long flowing white beard were derived from the Russian figure Ded Moroz or “Grandfather Frost”.

It's amazing how the legend of Saint Nicholas has been embraced around the world. Here's a list of the many international names given to Saint Nicholas/Santa Claus to share with your kids...

Afghanistan: Baba Chaghaloo

Australia: Father Christmas

Brazil: Papai Noel

Canada: English Speaking: Santa Claus

French Speaking: Pere Noel

China: Shengdan Laoren

Denmark: Julemanden

Holland: Sinter Klaas

Egypt: Papa Noel

England: Father Christmas

Finland: Joulupukki

France: Pere Noel

Germany: Christtindl

Hungary: Mikulas

India: Ganesha

Iran: Baba Noel

Italy: Babbo Natale

Japan: Hoteisho

Netherlands: Kertsman

New Zealand: Father Christmas

Norway: Julenissen

Peru: Papai Noel

Poland: Gwiazdor

Portugal: Pai Natal

Russia: Ded Moroz

Spain: Papa Noel

Sweden: Jultomten

Turkey: Noel Baba

United States: Santa Claus

We watched The Nativity Story this evening to begin our month-long celebration of Christmas.  It really is an excellent reminder of the true meaning of Christmas...  an inspiration to put aside all of the hype and focus on God's gift to us all... Jesus.

Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday around here mostly because its always a huge family gathering (usually hovering no less than 30 people).  This year was no exception and the kids had a wonderful time.

Kent said he was especially thankful for his cousin, Ellie, because he doesn't have a little sister.  Here's an adorable shot of the two of them from today.

Well, the Bero Boys were suited to protect this night... two soldiers and a superhero.  Mom and Dad had nothing to fear as we braved the dark night to Trick or Treat.  Nate was a U.S. Army Soldier, Quinn was a Roman Soldier and Kent was.... Superman!

We joined forces with our many cousins for the trek around the neighborhood and came back to trade for favorites.  Afterwards, Aunt Erin really made the Halloween festive with games and arts/crafts for the kids.  Of course, we watched It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.

We joined in the AWANA festivities to celebrate the season au costume.  We feasted on hot dogs, chips, apple slices, baby carrots and apple cider.  Then the quest to collect stickers for our cards began... we played lots of games and came home with armfuls of arts and crafts.  Gladly, we handed in our completed cards in exchange for treat bags full of candy.  Hmm... do we still need to Trick or Treat tomorrow night?

Each year, we visit Belvedere Farm to pick our pumpkins to be carved into Jack o'Lanterns for Halloween.  This year, God blessed us with an idyllic day... the weather was absolutely perfect!  We had a wonderful time and picked some great pumpkins.

Showing off the bounty of Belvedere Farm

The biggest pumpkins we could find!

Enjoying the hayride back from the pumpkin patch.

Hanging out on the old, blue wooden tractor.

Spending the day surrounded by the love of the wonderful Bero men is the best birthday present I could ask for...  but, God blessed me even more by providing a beautiful day and happy hearts all around.

After the boys presented me with their handmade cards, we met up with Aunt Erin and Ellie to enjoy brunch before heading downtown to the Baltimore Museum of Art.

At the BMA, we marvelled at the craftsmanship of the cultural collections.  We were so enthralled with the Thorne Miniature Showcases that we visited them twice (and learned that a larger collection of 68 rooms is on display at the Art Institute of Chicago, which we plan to visit soon).  But, we most enjoyed the Matisse Galleries where we went on a great 'I Spy' expedition which kept all of us busy admiring and observing the many works of art on display.  We plan to head back soon to see the special showcase of the Matisse Sculptures set to open at the end of October.

On the way home, we enjoyed a dinner of fried chicken to satisfy Mom's cravings before rushing home to have some homemade birthday cake and ice cream.  This year's birthday cake was especially endearing because it was baked with lots of love: Quinn mixed up the custom colors of purple and pink icing to decorate it.  It was delicious!!

Kent and his cousin, Nicholas shared a birthday cake, after having a blast at Nicholas' party at Tumble Town earlier that day.

Kent's wish for his 6th birthday was to ride the 'Dragon Boats' at the Inner Harbor.  Well, God shined his grace down and gave Kent an absolutely beautiful day to spend outdoors on the water.  We were the only riders and had the waters to ourselves.  Kent did an excellent job navigating the dragon around the harbor - we got a close-up look at the submarine which was very cool. After a tour of the Constitution ship, we lunched outside on the Pavilion patio deck (Kent had a cheeseburger, of course).  Then we headed over to Fells Point by way of the Water Taxi where we enjoyed some delicious ice cream and chatted with the Tugboat Captains.  It was a very full day!

Being homeschoolers, we don't get 'School Pictures' taken.  However, we do get portraits done at JCPenney somewhat regularly.  We get individual shots and also a group shot.  This one came out really nice, don't you agree?

We headed to Harrisburg for the Annual Kipona Festival again this year.  We enjoyed the Pow-Wow as usual, especially the Aztec Tribe Family Dancers.  While waiting for the fireworks, the boys selected feathers and beads to have custom necklaces made for them.

Well, the 2 weeks of camp went by quickly and the boys had a great time!  Nate was ready to stay for the next session but Quinn was happy to see us and head home.

Nate shows off his t-shirt with the signatures of his camp friends.

Our seasoned campers.

Kent and Mom were a match in their red shirts... all geared up for the July 4th parade near Granny and Pops' house.

We were eager to see the boys for Visiting Sunday.  We brought our swimsuits along with a nice, big picnic lunch.  We were excited to have some fun with them.  They had alot to tell us and were happy to show us around the camp and introduce us to their new friends, cabin/teammates.  It was a great afternoon together.  The boys were ready to bid us farewell, though, so that they could enjoy the special activities planned for the evening.

Several families met up to watch the Fireworks at the playing fields by Jacksonville Elementary in Phoenix this evening.  There was live music to provide a backdrop to the friendly conversations while the kids took turns rolling down the big hill and playing tag.  As twilight approached, we handed out glow necklaces for the kids and settled in to watch the sky light up with colorful explosions.  Afterwards, we gathered at one family's home which was within walking distance and enjoyed each others company late into the night.

Seems like all is well for the Bero Boys at CSC....

Quinn and his teammates are ready for some fun in the canoes.

Nate and a friend are hanging out during Free Time.

It has become a Bero Tradition for the boys to attend summer camp at Camp St. Charles in St. Mary's County along the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay.

Quinn had been eagerly awaiting his chance to finally go to camp since Nate first went in 2005.  Now that Quinn is 7 years old, he is now a very proud CSC Camper!  We drove them down yesterday and got them settled in and fed them some comfort food before we headed back home.

Nate & Quinn bunked together in Cabin 2, which won the Honor Cabin award the first day!

Nate and some new friends playing an Ice Breaker game.

Congratulations are in order for Cabin #2!!

In keeping with a Bero family tradition, we celebrated Father's Day at the Annual Chili Cook-off at Fiore Winery today.  Although Mom packed a hearty lunch, the guys had their pockets stuffed with quarters so that they could sample all of the chili concoctions folks had prepared for the event.  We met friends of ours there for some nice fellowship and fun.  The kids kept busy playing bocce ball and performing daring acts on the swingset.  Dad couldn't have been happier.

The boys eagerly await the Jarrettsville Carnival each spring.  They know that it arrives in town after Memorial Day and they start the countdown.  This year, we went to Family Night and hooked up with some friends.

This year, Nate informed everyone that he was 'too old' for the little kid rides and resorted to riding the Big Slide exclusively (except for Mom's persuading influence to get on the Carousel).

Quinn had the Ride of his Life on the Dragon Rollercoaster!

Riding their 'Hogs'

Ready to get SCRAMBLED!

We have been rising before the sun for the past several years so that we can enjoy the breathtaking scene of the Preakness Hot Air Balloon Launch at Oregon Ridge.  Approximately 2 dozen balloons from all over come for this event.  We stop for donuts and chocolate milk on the way so we are bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when we arrive.

During a trip to the library recently, Nate colored this page as an extra special treat for me to make this Mother's Day extra nice. He kept it as a surprise and presented it to me this morning.

Mother's Day is pretty predictable but always special... when the boys were younger, we used to visit a different zoo every year but now we head to Longwood Gardens so that Mom can enjoy all of the spring flowers, especially the tulips.  This year, the boys surprised me with some homemade tulips:

The boys enjoy it too because there are so many fountains plus the tower plus the outdoor children's garden.  So, we pack a picnic and we're off for a relaxing day outdoors to enjoy the beauty God had bestowed upon us.

We wanted Daddy's birthday to be special but everyone had such a full, busy day.  Still, we made time for a special celebration for him because we love him.  Daddy absolutely LOVES the Pepperidge Farm Three Layer Chocolate Fudge Cake, so that's what we had waiting for him when he got home late this evening.  The kitchen was festively decorated, the boys had handmade cards for him and we all enjoyed a big plate of cake and ice cream before bed.

Nate made this picture especially for Daddy.  It shows him wearing the Birthday Crown which is a Bero tradition.

So, to bring it all full circle...

Turning 9 years old is a big deal.  This year, Nate got his first pocket knife and couldn't be more proud.  He knows that it is a priviledge and that he must demonstrate that he is responsible enough to possess it.  Another sign of Nate's growing maturity is his strong analytical ability.  That's why we headed to the National Cryptological Museum today... because Nate is a natural problem-solver and detective.  It was a very interesting museum and we were able to decipher some secret codes using the specialized equipment there.  Very cool.  Once we were through at the museum, we visited the spy planes on display nearby.  We learned alot about the different tactical methods and equipment used by the CIA and the different military groups.

On the way home, we stopped to eat at Potbelly Sandwich Works then took a tour through one of Nate's favorite places, the Bass Pro Shop at Arundel Mills Mall.  Nate wanted to check out the hunting knives they had for sale.

Quinn had so much to tell everyone about his weekend at Camp St Charles that he wouldn't stop talking the entire evening!  He played ping-pong, fed the horses, watched the movie Zathura, ate at the Canteen, made all sorts of new friends, played kickball, made ceramic ornaments...  this list just goes on and on...
which makes Daddy and I very happy and confident that Quinn is ready to head off to summer camp this year.

This weekend is Parent-Child Weekend at Camp St. Charles and Quinn couldn't be more excited!  They headed out late this afternoon with the car packed with all of the essentials they'll need to keep warm and have lots of fun!  Quinn has patiently waited two years for this weekend... I hope its as great as he wants it to be.

The boys woke up with eager eyes hoping to find one of the hidden eggs before his brothers did!  The Easter Bunny was very creative hiding all of those eggs... he really makes it hard sometimes.  And, the baskets were tricky to find too.  Nate was really worried that he didn't get a basket this year.  What a relief when we had every egg accounted for and all three baskets found.

We headed to Aunt Erin's for dinner and the Big Hunt.  All of our extended family was there and the men did the hiding as usual - all around the house, front and back yards.  Martin teamed up with Nate since his eggs were hid extra well while Kent, Quinn and all of their cousins managed on their own.  Each child had a specific color egg to search for which kept it fair for the little ones.  Nate had pale green, Quinn had green and Kent had orange eggs.

Our kitchen was busy with the creative juices of three boys eager to decorate their Easter Eggs.  We filled our special mugs with vinegar, dropped in the color tablets and went to work.  Quinn was the master of the crayon this year... he made personalized eggs for everyone.  Nate was intent on making the most colorful eggs (with a two color minimum) while Kent was going for the most vibrant colors.  All of the eggs came out beautifully.

Quinn had a surprise waiting for him at Spanish Class last week... a party and a pinata!  He brought the pinata home and we took it with us to Aunt Erin's house (because we knew she had candy!)...

We hung it on the tree outside since it was such mild weather outside (look, Quinn is wearing shorts in March!).  We grapped a mop and started swinging!  Candy was everywhere!