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!!!