FOR TODAY


Outside my window...the sun is slowly beginning to rise.  Although cold, it was nice being outside, briefly, with Miss C.  Through the bare trees, one could see that moon was still out and the horizon is turning shades of pink. 



I am thinking... of things it would be fun to do with the family.  There are games the boys got for Christmas that we can play with, possibly take a hike through the woods, and some necessary shopping to be accomplished.



I am thankful for... a chimney repair guy, who is willing to squeeze us in today, though his schedule is booked through January.  During a wind storm last weekend, the cap to our chimney was blown off.  He's a great guy and honest businessman if you need a referral ~ Phoenix Chimney & Venting, Inc.


From the learning rooms...pulling a few things together, hopefully today, for next week.  Think we'll be adding some work on



From the kitchen...biscuits, chocolate milk, coffee, coke, and biscuits fixings.



I am wearing...pajamas (so what else is new when doing this style of blog post!)



I am creating...still working on shawl; not much has changed in the last 6 days


I am hoping...to have a great day with the family.



I am hearing... humidifier running and family noises.



Around the house...slow start to the day.  Ready for the day, but still sitting and lingering over coffee.



One of my favorite things...being warm and cozy under a blanket!



A few plans for the rest of the week:  Getting back into the routine of school, hanging out with some friends.  Not sure what else.



Here is picture for thought I am sharing...the moon and day growing brighter.  At the time of writing this, the picture was taken well over an hour ago!

FOR TODAY


Outside my window... it has started snowing.  We may just have a White Christmas.


I am thinking... how nice it would be to have a fire (in the fireplace) and a nap today.  Wonder if I can convince anyone else how nice that would be.


I am thankful for... a messy living room, happy children, and a husband making hot chocolate.


From the learning rooms...not much today, we're on Christmas break.


From the kitchen... Kevin is heating up milk for hot chocolate he got for Christmas.  Thankful he wants to share.


I am wearing...pajamas


I am creating... another triangle shawl.  I really enjoy knitting!  So much so, Kevin bought me some supplies.


I am hoping...to take a nap.  Yup, I'm tired and didn't even stay up late last night.


I am hearing... humidifier running.  Toys being played with, conversations from one room to another.


Around the house...not much is going on.


One of my favorite things... hanging out with the family!  It's enjoyable when everyone is getting along.


A few plans for the rest of the week: no definite plans for the week.  More hanging out!


Here is picture for thought I am sharing...(and may have already shared this) a photo of Charlotte and a family photo!

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Twas the day before Christmas and nothing was stirring at our house.  It's quiet, mostly, and a slow start to the day.  Breakfast is in the oven, coffee is being consumed, dog's been out, animals fed.  Not such a bad start to the day!

It's been a pretty good year for us.  We've survived the Home Study process and have an adoption application in at Adoption Answer.  We're officially waiting to be matched.

The boys finished up 4th and 1st this past May.  We took a few weeks off and started 5th and 2nd lightly through the summer.  Both boys have enjoyed being involved in Cub Scouts and Tae Kwon Do this year.  They're progressing and earning their ranks in both activities.  Thing One is a Webelo 2 and will move onto Boy Scouts near the beginning of 2011.  Ian is a Wolf  this year and enjoying it.  Both guys are a Senior White belt in Tae Kwon Do and looking forward to testing for their yellow belt.

Kevin continues to work at The Emmes Corporation as a Senior Software Programmer.   Hard to believe he will have been with the company for 15 years next month.  Only down fall with his job is the 30 plus mile commute, one way.  In this economy, that's not such a bad thing.  Outside of work, he's been active in various ministries at Burke Community Church  (BCC).  Probably his most favorite is playing bass, with a close tie for second in the various aspects of Men's Ministry.

This year, I've enjoyed attending Breakaway, the Women's Bible Study at  BCC.  During this past fall semester, I joined in with some of the ladies to preform skits at some Breakaway.  It's been fun getting to know a few ladies a bit better through this.  Learned a few things knitting this year.  Started off by learning how to make a hat.  Also learned a few new stitches. 

I hope you have a Merry Christmas while celebrating the birth of Jesus.

Tuesday Tidbits

Tidbits on a Tuesday, from our house to yours!

• Days are officially getting longer.  Although we may still get a lot of snow, it's mentally a nice thing to think that we'll be getting more sunlight.
• Went to Costco today.  Did the usual, go with a short list and spent over a hundred.  We did buy a present for Kevin from Thing One and Thing Two.  It's something I am sure he'll enjoy.  So far, it is the biggest under the tree.
• We're watching "Narnia" this afternoon.  Closest thing to a Christmas movie, on DVD, which means we don't have to go downstairs.
• Our dog, Charlotte, is such a snuggle bug.  She's keeping my side nice and warm.
• We'll be having a non-traditional Christmas Eve meal ~ California Pizzeria BBQ Chicken Pizza.  Costco had samples and the boys thought it was pretty good.  We'll be keeping our Friday Pizza tradition, while having something a bit different.  We just need to figure out what service to go to.
• Only one more present to wrap.
• Only one more present to buy.
• Only a few more thing to buy for each stockings.

Merry Christmas!

It's just around the corner

and if you blink, Christmas will be over!  We begin celebrating tomorrow, officially, with Kevin's family tomorrow.  Hoping the weather holds out for it.  Last year we got snowed out!

This next week, I hope to have fun with the boys all week.  We still have a lot of fun Christmas books to read, Mad libs to do, and more baking.  Want vacation to be fun, but hopefully without the t.v. ~ well maybe some movies.  Then there are some long walks to take with my Christmas present, see below!

 Ms. Charlotte got her last shot today, so she's good to go for exploring.  It'll be fun to get out w/her, especially since she's a coon hound and really seems to enjoy being out.

She isn't my only gift this year.  Also bought the Willow Tree Nativity set.  There won't be a whole lot under the tree this year, for me anyway, but that's okay. 

Now that you know what I've gotten for Christmas, what are you getting?

FOR TODAY

Outside my window... it's dark, windy, and raining!  Already feels like a gloomy day.

I am thinking... how nice it would be if our 10 year old slept in in the morning.  He's been waking up early and LOVES to talk first thing in the morning.

I am thankful for... a descent nights sleep.

From the learning rooms...more on Christmas today.  Hope to get to the mad libs again today.  The boys seem to be enjoying Christmas School.

From the kitchen... no wonderful smells coming from that room, unfortunately.  A lot of dishes to be dealt with.  Want to help?

I am wearing...pajamas

I am creating... a manger for our nativity set.  I really need to spend some time and finish it up.  Have been "putzing" with yarn as well.  No particular pattern, just playing with scraps.  Need to create a more Christmas Festive header for this blog as well!

I am hoping... to get a lot done today.  Wasn't all that productive yesterday!

I am hearing... the wind whip rain against the house; our 10 year old playing with legos in front of the Christmas tree; sounds of the fridge working; clicking of the keys.  Quiet morning noises.  Lovely sounds!

Around the house... is so much to do.  For once I'm not panicked over it.  It'll get done when it gets done.

One of my favorite things...  is knitting (most know that I suppose).  I enjoy the challenge of new patterns, picking out yarns, running my fingers through the different styles of yarn while at the store, and the monotony of it - (at times, it's kind therapeutic how repetitive it can be).

A few plans for the rest of the week:  Seems that the remainder of the week is geared toward our kids.  Tae Kwon Doe, scouts, co-op, Quest Sold Out (5th and 6th grade youth group at our church).

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...the boys after doing well at their first Tae Kwon Doe tournament.

Beginning of Christmas around our house

Yesterday, the boys and I began our Christmas Unit Study (when we got around the to actual unit, Thing Two said something along the lines of "Finally, we're going to study someone from Heaven!")

They were totally excited that we began with a movie ~ "The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey".  After this, we began "Mad Libs Very Merry Songs and Stories".  It's my desire to do one of these every school day, to start the day with a bit of fun.

When looking through the local libraries database, I cam across "Stories Behind The Best Loved Songs of Christmas" by Ace Collins.  This is working well so far because after the silly mad lib, we're finding out a bit of the song, as it was originally written.  Yesterday's song was "Jingle Bells" and here's yesterdays lesson:

Dashing through the cats,

In a one-zebra open horse

V’er the Thing Ones we go,

running all the way.

Dogs on bobtails ring,

Making pigs bright.

What fun it is to build and sing

A sleighing song tonight!

Jingle stores, Jingle stores

Jingle all the way!

Oh, what fun it is to hang

In a one-zebra open sleigh

The song "Jingle Bells" was written by James S. Pierpont in approximately 1840.  His father had asked him to write a song for Thanksgiving, YES, Thanksgiving!  The song came about after watching young men riding their sleighs and James joining in the merriment.  After the song was written and preformed for annual Thanksgiving service, it was a huge success and the choir was asked to perform it again at Christmas.  It gained popularity, through word of mouth, and became more widely known when, in 1857, the Salem Evening news ran a story on it.

Our first day of Christmas lessons was a success!

The tree ~ 2010

Yes, the yearly debate began ~ who gets to put the star on top of the tree.  Fortunately we just have the two kids, so our routine works out well.  Even years (like 2010) Thing One gets to put the star on top as he was born in 2000.  Odd years it's Thing Two's turn as he was born in 2003.  Of coarse that prompted the "How will we do it when we adopt?"  Okay, lets take that one when it happens.  If we adopt an infant, it won't be an issue right away.

Thing One's turn to put the star on top!

View from directly in front of the tree.

Visit to Yorktown, Virginia

Although Yorktown wasn't the same time period as Jamestown, it is relatively close.  We spent part of a day there and at Yorktown's beach area.  Was pleasantly warm that day!

Camp's kitchen.  The fire pits were dug into the ground to minimize sparks burning down camp.

Government didn't have enough tents for families that came along.  Wives would have a "tent" out of whatever was available.  She may also do laundry to earn some money.

Musket demonstration.

Few turkeys roaming around Yorktown.  They escaped the Thanksgiving feast.

Thing Two was chosen to be a part of the cannon demonstration.

Canon after being fired!

Pretty Chicken!

On the beach, burning off energy!

Our builder dude!

Grass of some sort!

Surprisingly good picture.

Still digging and finding time for a picture.

Time to sit on the rocks.

Visit to Jamestown, Virginia

We finished up our Pioneer Unit Study this past Friday and took a trip down to Jamestown, Yorktown, Williamsburg Virginia area.  Here are some highlights of Jamestown.

Hole in perimeter!  Got to stick your head out.

The other kid seeing if his head will fit.

Yup! I fit through.

Here's my better side.

Armor for the day!

In Jamestown's Church!  Really!  They aren't normally this still.

Iron work.

Scrapping out a trunk to make it into a boat.

How the Indians slept.

Thankfulness

We did a bit of shopping yesterday, as Kevin was out of cold medicine that is okay to take with all the other stuff he is on.  While at Wal-mart, I took a bit of time to look for a this computer lap desk I'd seen a week or so earlier.  It's one that gets a lap top up, so that air can circulate underneath and not run so hot.  Not such a bad investment as I've already fried one mother board.

So today, I am thankful for my little lap desk, as we're working on school stuff.  I am able to get my computer at a good height while sitting on the floor (and it's not making my lap to hot).

My MacBook, on the desk, attached to the T.V.

 

Top of the lap desk.  You can have your lap top flat or propped up.

This little desk even came with a light that plugs into a USB port.

Here's my thankful item today.  It will probably go up on our Thankful Tree tonight at dinner.

Today is

November 5, but you may have already known that.  It's also a Friday - woo hoo, home made pizza!!

This of course means 20 days until Thanksgiving.  Our Thanksgiving tree is coming along.  Had originally hoped to get a leaf up each day, but reality sets in and it doesn't always get done.  It is looking pretty good though and hasn't dropped a leaf yet!  Bonus!!

With Thanksgiving plans settling into a nice routine, I'm already looking at Christmas! LOL as I just got a fall header on the blog.  The other day, I took advantage of the "Thing's" being at Tae Kwon Doe and went to Hallmark.  They were finishing putting out some Christmas things.  It sure was fun looking through their stuff.

Of course it got me thinking of activities to do around the house to keep the boys off the computer and TV.  Found a few more ideas to add to my list of things to do.  So far we have:

1. Make a wish list
2. make chocolate covered pretzels
3. make oreo truffles
4. decorate the tree
5. send out Christmas Cards (John & Terri, if you are reading, you'll still hold the title of early bird in our house)
6. possible pictures for said cards
7. tour neighborhood for lights
8. make mint brownies
9. make peppermint play dough (have been meaning to do this for years and hope to get it done this year)
10. watch "Polar Express"
11. watch "The Christmas Miracle of Johathan Toomey"
12. make peppermint bark
13. nature hike
14. go for hot chocolate

I've got a few more to fill in, but time to do so!

A day of firsts!

Today is a day of firsts for me (and our household).  The day started with my first mammogram.  All in all, it wasn't so bad.  One hears enough about being squished, that honestly, it wasn't all that bad.  Bright side ~ left with a special dark chocolate bar.  Funny side ~ the gentlemen sitting next to me (one waiting room for all radiology appointments) was called back before me.  Evidently the technician typed in the wrong pager number and total the guy he probably really didn't want a mammogram.  Wonder if she did that intentionally to make me laugh.

The other first for our house, the first fire of the season.  We'll be sitting in the fireplace room toasty warm today.  Woo!  Hoo!!!

Pretty side of life

Amazing how, if one would only look up instead of down, pretty life can be.  Such is the contrast when looking out the front of our house.  Should we look down, we see this:

All the effort we put into our front yard this summer, taking out the dead oak tree, trying to level the front yard, sod, grass seed, work in flower beds, etc., has been greatly disturbed!  We've been promised that everything will be completed by tomorrow.

Now, if I were to look up, even just a bit, I am gazing into glorious fall colors, like this:

And here's a better view of the same tree:

Let me be looking up today, from where my grace and salvation comes from.