During the month of December, I like to read Christmas books with my children. They are much older now, at 17, 15, and 11, and my voice is very raspy this week, so I'm not getting much reading done. I like to read one of Arnold Ytreeide's three books during the days and weeks before Christmas but with my sore throat (raspiness) and the fact that I was out of town 3 days last week, I have not even started this year's selection Jotham's Journey, the first of the three books. It seems that we won't be reading it this year but that is okay because we are getting in several FUN trips that I posted about earlier.
Besides our outings, we like to make peanut butter balls (also called buckeyes in some places) at my parents' home each year. She used to make them alone and save them for closer to Christmas but we all like to snack on them each week when we visit so we volunteered to come and help her make more. We will go and do this sometime this week, I think. They are very easy to make with a short ingredient list of peanut butter, chocolate, powdered sugar, and butter or margarine. They are a bit messy to make though as the peanut butter mixture tends to cake onto your hands.
Sometimes the kids help out and other times they don't. It doesn't matter though, it is a labor of love. Plus my sister, mom, and I are doing it together and enjoying some good fellowship. When we get done catching up on what all is going on with each other, we will put on one of our many Christmas movies. Mom has quite a collection that she has recorded from television through the years. I may have to post about my favorite Christmas movies later.
In years past, I have done a daily advent with the kids. I thought I had blogged about it before but I cannot find it so I'll tell you about it now. You wrap up a small item for each day of December through Christmas and number then or be sure to keep them in order some way. Each day you let the children open the item and then you share the scripture and how that item relates to the season. I got it from a forum on AOL y-e-a-r-s ago. I couldn't find my copy this year so I looked online and just as I suspected, someone did indeed, have it out there in cyberspace.
My mother started something with us girls, my sisters and I, about a dozen or more years ago. It is something I look forward to every year. Maybe you can adapt it to some special people in your life. My mother takes my sisters and I out to eat and then to see a movie. She pays for it all. She is such a giving person!!! This year Tiffany will be joining us. Mom probably would have let her join us sooner but I thought she should wait until she is older. She is 11 this year and you cannot wait to do EVERYTHING until you are 13, so when asked this year, I said ok. She is very excited. Truth be told, I'm excited too.
We made a candy wreath one year. We liked it but it was made with peppermints and those are NOT my favorite, at all, but I just saw that you could make this with almost any individually wrapped candy. Hmmm, I wonder if I could do it with Hershey Kisses? I actually think we got the idea from another activity we have done in the past, the Advent Calendar.
The Advent Calendar is really neat because it has several things to do each day. It has a recipe, craft, online game, e-card, coloring page and/or activity page every day. It has several of these each day, not necessarily all of them every day. Please preview, as each person is different with what they let their children come in contact with. When my children we very little, we did not do ANY thing with Santa because we did not want to confuse them. Some of the movies with Santa in them now make some very good "arguments" FOR Santa's existence. I never wanted my children to question if Jesus was real because of me telling them about fictional characters. As they got older and could definitely tell the difference between real and make-believe, I have allowed the Santa thing.
Molly has a nice little advent scripture calendar that is nice to have and use. I'm trying to find it on her website but cannot. She gave it as a freebie to newsletter subscribers last year. Basically all you do is write a scripture reference that tells of Christmas (either prophecy or actual events). Then daily you lift the flap with the date on it and read the verse for the day.
I think that is enough of an epistle for one day. I'll go for now. Enjoy your holiday season!
I don't know about you, but I am having a wonderful holiday season!!! I like to plan some kind of memory maker each week throughout December. Now the challenging part is to keep it as economical as possible.
One of our favorite memories was Zoolightful, which was an event at the zoo. They had some nice decorations. But they also had some fun activities. In one of the buildings they had someone dressed up in holiday attire (I don't remember what they were dressed as though) and painted the children's faces. There was another building where they had paper, crayons, and a relief shape for the children to do a rubbing of. Then we went to the cafe, I cannot remember if we had to buy the cookie or if they were included but I think they were included, and they got to decorate a cookie with frosting. We rode the train, which was decorated too. It was a very fun event, unfortunately they have not had it in recent years.
Rhema always has a beautiful light display. We usually go see these. It is a free event. They do sell hot chocolate and what not and I believe that they have a donation box if you can do that. The lights are gorgeous. They have part you can drive through and then part that you can walk through. I love the light covered bridge! This year they said that the lights are set to music. We didn't go anywhere last year, so I am determined to do some things this year! We will be doing this one this week! Whoo hoo!
We did something new this year. It is called the Bethlehem Walk. This is another free even hosted by a local church. They only do it one weekend (Thursday through Sunday) of the year and you have to make reservations even though it is free. When you arrive, you check in with someone dressed in period costume (my extended family went together so I made reservations for 15 but only 11 of us were able to come) and then they take you into a waiting area where they are performing some Christmas carols. We really enjoyed the fun they had with the 12 Days of Christmas as they had a person for each day and had them have some kind of prop for their part.
When it is your group's turn, someone else in costume comes to get you and takes you to another area where you are introduced to the walk. They hand each participant a piece of paper with a name and description of either family members and/or occupation. Then your guide, in our case "Cousin Daniel" comes in and tells us that we are going to Bethlehem to pay our taxes. The next, approximately 45 minutes, is spent walking outside and encountering different aspects of the nativity, from Roman soldiers to angels to arrive at the town of Bethlehem to pay our taxes. Once outside the town, where you can find several snacks, you are time warped to the resurrection. The end of the walk bring you back inside a town area where they have different activities set up and even cookies and hot drinks (cocoa and hot cider). There is a place to make a bookmark stamped in Hebrew, a rag doll, grind some wheat, pet some bunnies, fill out a comment card, sign the guest book and you can leave a donation if you'd like. It is set up very nice and was an enjoyable memory made this year. When I asked my extended family what they thought, all agreed it was very nice and would do it again (all except my dh who really isn't into all of my Christmas memory making but goes along with me--what a dear).
Next week we are going to try another new event for us. We are going to go to the Christmas Kingdom. They are supposed to have over 1000 inflatables ranging in size from 4 ft to 20 ft. Most of it is a drive-thru event BUT there is also an area to walk through that has lights and more inflatables. They also have a carriage ride or hayride both for a fee. This is only their 3rd year but they already have over 1000 inflatables. It should be pretty neat.
I'll post more later about some of the other, smaller things we do throughout the Christmas season since this post has gotten so long. I hope these things will get you to looking around your area for some things you can do to make memories this season!
I keep hearing that Thanksgiving is the lost holiday, here in the USA, sandwiched in between the getting of lots of candy and the getting of lots of gifts. But I have to tell you that it is not like that for my family and me.
Thanksgiving is the kick-off of our holiday season. It is the beginning of special times with family (my parents, siblings, and their families) and my God. It is a day that we have steeped in much tradition. You see, when I was a child we lived in the same state as my mother's parents and the majority of her 6 siblings and their families. We would get together on Thanksgiving and have a huge feast and time of fellowship. We played games and sang songs (we are a very musical family) and enjoyed being with each other.
When I was in my early teens we moved to another state, the one my father's mother and only sister lives in. Things were much different in that state, if for no other reason than there were a lot less people. Needless to say, Thanksgiving was a much quieter and less active affair. For several years we did go back to the other state for Thanksgiving but things were changing. We realized that we needed to do something to help us enjoy the day more because after an early dinner, watching football just wasn't cutting it for us girls. (I have 2 sisters and no brothers.) My youngest sister and I have learned to like football but that was slow coming for me. Anyway, we girls decided that we would put up our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving. We did this for many years. Then after I got married, we stopped for a while. But when my oldest was a toddler, we started doing it again—I had missed being a part of putting up my mother's tree and the fun we had. I remember clearly the first year that we helped put her tree up after I was married, my husband had borrowed a video recorder from his sister and we recorded it. We had a ball!!! It was sooo fun and my son loved helping.
As the years have passed, we've changed what and how we do things several times as the children have grown, allowing them to help but not requiring it, as their interest has changed. But one thing that remains, we look forward to this wonderful season from the fourth Thursday of November through the first of the new year. Having traditions that you look forward to is what helps change the emphasis from getting to enjoying.
My mom, sister, and I have been Christmas shopping together several times and have so enjoyed getting ready for the holidays. We like to have our shopping done by Thanksgiving. I'll tell you, we have been dog tired when we finish a day of shopping but we have accomplished a lot and enjoyed ourselves too. We are having fun doing it and thus taking away the feeling that it is a chore to be done.
We started hearing Christmas music and the weather turned cooler and I just get the warm fuzzies and eager anticipation of a wonderful time of year. Later I will post about some of our traditions that we enjoy.
I trust that this post will encourage you to look forward to the coming season and not look on with dread of the hustle and bustle. Just like the rest of life, it is what you make it. If you think it will be hectic and frustrating, that is what it will be for you. If you think it will be enjoyable and wonderful, then it will be for you. Yes, there may be difficulties and annoying situations, but if you keep it in perspective, you can find the enjoyable and wonderful parts and focus on that.
I had some good advice some years ago from somewhere online. I was encouraged to stop and think about the season. I was also encouraged to ask my family what they wanted to do. We don't say yes to everything available and make/take time for family (immediate and extended) making enjoyable memories. I encourage you to find out what is important to you and what will make your holidays an enjoyable season and then pursue it.
For those that aren't into the cleaning aspect of the Holiday Grand Plan, there is another plan, by the same people, for you. Christmas Countdown is a 6-week Christmas planner. It does NOT include the cleaning aspect of the Holiday Grand plan but does help you prepare for a smooth, enjoyable Christmas season. It starts the last week of October and goes through the first week of December.
I'm going to make me a Christmas Preparations Notebook (or section in my Home Notebook). In it I will have both plans (Holiday Grand Plan and Christmas Countdown).
I had every intention of doing the HGP this year but with the rooms we are adding to our home and all that we have to do to get it done by Thanksgiving, I don't see it happening this year. I guess I'll have to do the detailed cleaning after the new year or next spring. Of course, there is still time to do some stuff but I just don't see it happening with the remodeling going on. (Yes, I know it is just an excuse. )
Know what I saw the very next day after I took those pictures of my daffodil and iris stems? I actually had 2 daffodils bloom! I was amazed! Right now they are almost all bloomed; beautiful! I'm going to have to go check on my Redbud trees; they are sure to be budding very soon! I cannot see them from my windows until they are in FULL bloom, and then just barely. I just looked and I think I see some hint of purple blossoms back there, but it is dusk, so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to know for sure. I really am going to have to consider moving one of the smallest trees up to our yard somewhere instead of back in the woods.
I trust you had a wondrous Resurrection Celebration yesterday, as did my family and I. It was a FULL day! We did attend the sunrise service, which made for a long morning, to begin with. It was good to Worship the Lord early on such an important day. (Although I'm questioning if it should be celebrated now or after Passover...but I won't dwell on that DEEP subject now.)
After our regular service the church had an egg hunt. They actually had 3 separate ones! One for preschoolers, one for elementary, and one for EVERYONE else. (Mind you, I go to a very small church.) I really did not intend to participate in the 'elders' egg hunt; I'd had my high heels on for about 5 hours and my feet were really hurting. But then they said that they had prizes! All prizes were gift cards to Wal-Mart: 1st=$20, 2nd=$15, and 3rd=$10. Certain eggs were pre-selected as the winners before hiding them. Well, I decided to look. We were almost done and I hadn't found a single egg! No biggie...it was just fun to watch those adults looking for eggs. LOL
My sons were the egg hiders and one said there was still at least one or two eggs out there and gave a VERY BROAD area to look in. I remembered that last year, they had hidden eggs at my parents' house for the younger ones and hid one up in a tree. Sooooo, I looked up and what did I see??? I called him over to get it down for me because I couldn't reach it. Then he walked to another area and said that there was one over there too. Several of us walked in that direction and I found it too! Guess what! They were the 1st and 3rd place eggs! Whoo Hoo!!!!! I won $30 in gift cards to Wal-Mart! Praise God! Now I just have to pray and ask Him what I should spend it on.
After our morning service, we had a covered dish dinner (before the egg hunt). So after the egg hunt, we had to help clean up...more standing in those high heels. Ugh! We finished cleaning up and went to my parents' to visit. Normally we get together on Saturdays but my sister requested we switch to Sunday so her 2 year old could do an egg hunt ON Easter. (Their church did it on Saturday.)
Also, my middle son's birthday is tomorrow, so we celebrated it yesterday as well. (We would've celebrated on Saturday if we'd have gotten together then, but no big deal as he wanted money for a new mp3 player and he's 15 this year, a day doesn't make any difference.)
We didn't get home until around 9:00pm, one very long but fun day! I hope you had a great day as well.
I am amazed that it has been a week and a half since I have written. I'm apologize to those who are faithful visitors.
I've been busy; like who hasn't been? We've moved my sister again. Tonight they are sleeping in their own home again; I'm guessing that my parents are having granddaughter withdrawls. I know they have thoroughly enjoyed having my niece around; she's 2 years old and a real sweetie!
Being the thoughtful and sharing family we are, my brother-in-law shared his 'cold/flu' with my parents, my his wife (my sister)—I think she got it too—and now my husband! Whoo hoo! How thrilling! This is one thing I wish we hadn't all felt the need to share. LOL! My children are all fighting it in various degrees, as well. Oh well, at least we don't have things we HAVE to do for the next few days.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We were thrilled to see the Green Bay Packers win their game!!! Whoo Hoo!!! We had a delicious meal, even though I did not stick to my diet as I had planned. We watched Santa Claus 3: The Escape Clause. And we took family pictures for my parents Christmas card.
When I was just 14, we moved from OH to VA. Finally one year we did NOT go back to OH for Thanksgiving and found ourselves bored!!! We decided that we needed to create some traditions of our own. That is when we decided to start putting up our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving night.
Throughout the years, we have stopped and re-started this tradition a few times. As the years have gone by the children have gotten in on the tradition as well. My parents have had an artificial tree for as long as I can remember. All the ones I remember had branches of varying lengths to be inserted into the center pole. When the children were small they helped sort the branches and brought them to my mom and I as we put them in the pole and 'fluffed' them out. Then after we put the lights on the children got to put on the ornaments.
As the children got even older, there were a few times they did not participate. I guess they felt they were getting too old. Last year Mom got one of those trees that have the branches already attached. I loved it . . . we got it up so quickly AND it didn't hurt. Well, my youngest, who is now 10, really missed helping with the branches. My mom, sister and I missed the fullness of the older tree, as this new one was skinny and taller than the older one.
Mom said we could put up the old tree if we could find a way to rearrange the living room furniture that wouldn't cramp everything and everyone. Well, my youngest sister was really motivated and did it. So back up to the attic went my mom to bring down the 3 boxes that held the tree BUT that meant we'd need the guys' help because of all the other boxes of Christmas decorations piled in the garage, in the way. They willingly participated (and then back to XBox Live they went).
We were met with one problem after another. The stand would NOT level out, bricks wouldn't stabilize it, and part of the light strand went off and on and off again (and then back on after we found the problem) to name a few. I asked if it was worth it several times and we kept plowing along. My niece and daughter enjoyed bringing the branches and my daughter even got to put some of them on the pole. Of course, we had to unstring the last strand of lights and put it on tighter so that we could get by with just the two large strands of lights. Then the children came in and put the ornaments on. My oldest, 16, helped my niece put them on. It is so neat to see them all interact.
After the ornaments, comes the plastic snow flakes, which I get to do! Sometimes I get to do more of the snowing than others; this year I shared and even my dd helped flock the tree.
Well, after all this, we decided to play an old favorite family game—Dutch Blitz. My children even played with us (my mom, sister, and me). Although we did not keep score, we had an absolute blast!!! We learned long ago that we could play this game without the 'official' cards by removing the jacks, queens, kings, and jokers from the deck and using the aces as 1's. We just make sure that we use decks that have backs that are unique—no Hoyle cards here.
Well, my husband lasted pretty long, considering he felt worse as the day progressed, and we left around 10 or so (we are having differing opinions as to what the actual time was, my sons and I). It was a day to be truly thankful! We even got to see my other sister and her family for a little while. I pray that God bless them and direct their steps; and provide a good working vehicle for them to get around in, very soon.
(Me and my dd, Tiffany on an easy to climb tree limb on vacation in VA in 2007.) These are my ramblings on homeschooling and whatever else comes to mind.
Counting Down
The Holidays are over and I'm not quite ready to start a new count down yet. Maybe I should start a counting up the number of days I've stayed on my "diet".
)
I really am going to have to consider moving one of the smallest trees up to our yard somewhere instead of back in the woods.
Tonight they are sleeping in their own home again; I'm guessing that my parents are having granddaughter withdrawls. 
I know they have thoroughly enjoyed having my niece around; she's 2 years old and a real sweetie! 
This is one thing I wish we hadn't all felt the need to share. LOL! My children are all fighting it in various degrees, as well. Oh well, at least we don't have things we HAVE to do for the next few days.