November's Posting

It's all about tradition.  It's all about who puts the star on the tree.  It's all about remembering the "rules" that keep the tradition going.

Thankful this year, no one needed me to remember those rules and they just knew who's turn it was.  Thankful for a son not need a step stool or ladder, for the first time to get the Star on top of the tree.  Such a weird sensation, to see the man cub doing his thing without help!

Merry Christmas!

 

The boys woke to their doors being "tp'ed" in red crepe paper!

 Stockings first!

 One seemed more happy than the other!

 Yummy breakfast.  Home made cinnamon rolls!!

 Quiet kid because of fake mustaches and new books!

Another kid busy with 100 feet of para cord!

Our version of "Elf on the Shelf"!

Trimming the Tree

It is officially the Christmas season at our humble abode!  We got the tree up, light, decorated, and a number of other things done.  Outdoor lights will be dealt with tomorrow!  :)

Here's Thing Two putting the star on top.  If the year is odd, he does it.  If the year is even, his brother gets the priviledge.

Stocking Stuffers, Presents, Christmas 2014 is coming

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Brown cooper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
. . . . .

Yup, you probably know what is coming next, "These are a few of my favorite things!"

It is getting to be that time of year, the time to plan ahead for Christmas.  So here's some of my favorite things that will work for just about anyone:

• Autumn Hill Candles - we know the owners, Mike and Paula Kamorski.  Great friends and they make an awesome product.  I can not burn candles from anywhere else because of my allergies.  Theirs are soy wax and cotton wicks; totally natural and burn clean.  Scents the whole house wonderfully.  Check them out, great people, great product, great company!!
• Duct Tape - need I say more.  Great for crafting, filling a stocking, and good for repairs too.
• Water bottles - still trying to figure out which is the best bang for the buck, but makes for a great stocking "hog".
• Good Chocolate - this year it will be Dove or Cadbury most likely.
• Gift Cards - favorite stores and restaurantnts are always appreciated
• Cash - a universal gift
•  Pajamas - a family tradition for Christmas Eve (may even find some for myself this year)
• Legos - we are still buying them and probably will for many years to come!
• Minifigures
• Art Supplies
• Music Supplies - capos, tuners, strings, picks, etc.
• Chapstick
• school (or team) spirit sweatshirt
• home made anything (tweaking many things as gifts ~ knit, bread, vanilla extract)
• buy local from small business; see Autumn Hill Candles, or honey (can hook you up there too), check out Etsy (know a few folks over there too!)
• replacement things that are stocking stuffer size ~ I am gathering my list for my own family
• favorite movies that you'd love to have in your line up.  I'm thinking of "Elf", "White Christmas",  "It's A Wonderful Life" as a pre-season gift; the weekend of Thanksgiving to  get the season going.
• Look through the ABC Family Movie Line up to set up the DVR (okay, not a gift, more of a tradition)
• Some not so fun, but practical: new spinny tooth brush and hair brush for their stocking
• have had a request for a small jar of peanut butter and a chocolate bar
• favorite box of cereal that might be normally forbidden (if it isn't to unhealthy!)
• good quality kitchen gadgets

There you have it, a few of my favorite things.  What are yours for receiving or giving?

St. Nicholas

Thing Two asked about Saint Nicholas today over lunch.  They wanted to know the origins of St. Nick and how it got changed into Santa Claus.  Here's a link we read over, but the highlights are:

• born during the third century
• he was born in what is now the Southern coast of Turkey
• born of wealthy parents
• both died, when he was young, during an epidemic
• he believed in selling off what he owned, giving to the poor, and following Christ example
• Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, he suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned
• so many Christians were persecuted, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers
• after his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325
•  he died December 6, AD 343
•  anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, December 6th

Many legends are floating around regarding with regards to what St. Nicholas did.  Here are some of those:

• three daughters, of a poor man, needed dowries.  It is believed that St. Nick gave bags of gold for each girl to cover the dowry; it is from this legend that some believed a gold ball was used, at times ~ from here oranges were put in the stockings drying on the hearth
• another tells of Basilio being kidnapped during the festival honoring St. Nicholas and being used the rulers cup bearer because he didn't know the language.  Basilio's parents prayed for his safe return.  It is believed that St. Nick returned Basilio, on the eve of the next festival, in Myra with the rulers cup still in his hands
• "Today he is venerated in the East as wonder, or miracle worker and in the West as patron of a great variety of persons-children, mariners, bankers, pawn-brokers, scholars, orphans, laborers, travelers, merchants, judges, paupers, marriageable maidens, students, children, sailors, victims of judicial mistakes, captives, perfumers, even thieves and murderers! He is known as the friend and protector of all in trouble or need.

 

Info used from: St. Nicholas Center Copyright © 2002-2012 St. Nicholas Center

Christmas Choir

Burke Community Church's Kid Choir preformed their Christmas Program this evening called "The Christmas Puzzle". It was fun to see our son perform. He seems to truly enjoy being on stage and hamming it up.  Here are a few photos from the evening:

 Four cousins, snowed in and bored.

Grandma gets them putting a special puzzle together.

When certain portions are put together, music starts playing.

 The prophets sing of Jesus coming!

Who's the cute kid on the left?

 Angels singing!

 Mary's turn to sign.

Camels, wise men, a star, Harod!

Admiring baby Jesus!

(or saying "Cheese" as the cameras where going!)

Fun evening for our budding actor!  He is hoping for more shows soon.

Happy December

Today has been a busy day around our house. Lots of kid chauffeuring, thanks Kevin, chores, and some fun.  Today, I got a few last decorations out.  One of the more "important" things is this:

 Won't play a rousing game of "Guess what this is!"
Think most know it is the Willow Tree Nativity Mary & Jesus.

Here's a larger picture of the set.  Didn't want to push

them all together to get them into one photo.

Other things that were put out:  a Santa flag, a nativity flag, grape vine wreath snowman, another santa, and our Advent Wreath.

Hope you enjoy these days leading up to Christmas!  Also, what have you done today, to be reminded of Christmas and "the reason for the season"?  Want to share?  Post a link to your blog in the comment section?  Would love to read about your holiday too!

 

Multiple things!

Didn't realize it had been almost two weeks since I blogged. As you can tell, I am not a "professional" blogger, my posts are all over the map, I don't hold "give away's", and I don't do link ups. Surprised I have nine listed followers; eight if you exclude my husband. That's okay as I am not a homeschooling, review various curriculum, blog about awesome field trips for every aspect of school, type person. I do love to hang out with my family and friends; we do enjoy going and doing fun things (related to school or not); mostly, we keep to ourselves.

Anyway, in the last two weeks, here's a run down of life:

• Thanksgiving came and went, nice a quiet like.  Our family of four didn't travel, except to the grocery store all to often.  Have not fully master the art of making a grocery list.
• The house has morphed into a Christmas state!  Meaning that he living room is a bit more cozy as the dog bed got moved for the Christmas tree.  A certain Charlotte was not to happy with the new location, so for a time, it sits in the middle of the floor.
• Just today, I created a travel "Battleship" board for Thing Two.  Quite simple, but efficient and made him quite happy.

 Now it is time to change the background of the blog to more seasonally appropriate design!
 

Beginning to look a lot like . . . .

Christmas!  The tree and a few other odds and ends have been put out.  Not as much this year, but still important things.

A certain someone, no longer needs a step ladder to get the star up!  When the heck did he get tall?  How do I stop him from growing?  He's enjoying that fact that he WILL be taller than me.

Merry Christmas Everyone!
 

~ 25 days of Christmas ~

Advent: n ~ A coming; appropriately the coming of our Savior, and in the calendar, it includes four sabbaths before Christmas, beginning of St. Andrew's Day, or on the sabbath next before or after it. It is intended as a season of devotion, with reference to the coming of Christ in the flesh, and his second coming to judge the world. {Webster's 1828 Dictionary}

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What traditions do you have for Christmas?  What about for Advent?  Are there traditions just for the month of December?

As of right now, I do not have a formal plan of activities, movies, books, laid out for each day in December, but here are some things we've done in the past, movies we've watched and books we've read.  I also hope to add a few new things in as well.

Movies:  Most of these movies are ones for the kids.  For some reason, I love to watch "While You Were Sleeping" during the holidays, probably because it begins around Christmas.

• The Nativity Story (2006)
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
• Polar Express (2004)
• The Christmas Miracle of Jonathon Toomey (2007)
• The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe (2005)
• Elf (2003)
• Little Women (1994)
• While you Were Sleeping (1995)
• Miracle on 34th Street (1947 version)
• Santa Clause (1994) and subsequent movies
• White Christmas (1954) 
• A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
• Check out this link to ABC's Family 25 Days of Christmas ~ lots of movies to watch, some of what I have already listed.  Check it out down and set up the DVR!

Books:  For these books, I have listed the original author.  For "A Christmas Carol" we may end up reading an adaption of one, which might be a different author.

• Gospel of Luke - the birth of Christ
• Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
• One Winter's Night by John Herman
• The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
• Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck (plan to preview this one, haven't read it but looks good)
• Who is Coming to Our House? by Joseph Slate
• One Wintry Night by Ruth Graham Bell
• Stopping By The Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Activities:

• Christmas Mad Libs
• Attend Children's Christmas Show at Burke Community Church
• Attend Adults Christmas Choir at Burke Community Church
• Drive around and look at Christmas lights
• Go to National Mall and see the decorated trees
• Christmas Party through our Co-op
• Polar Express Evening:  tickets, hot chocolate/mug gift early, new pj's early
• Advent Scripture chain
• Christmas Camp-Out ~ once tree is up, sleeping around it for the first night

Baking:

• Oreo Truffles
• Christmas Pretzels
• Mint Brownies
• Hot Chocolate (not really baking, but totally home made)
• Cookies
• Coffee Cake Christmas morning or Monkey Bread in a bunt pan for a birthday cake for Jesus

Homework pre-Thanksgiving:

• figure out 25 scriptures related to Christ's birth (have seen a few links to some on Pinterest, but would like to get them from particular versions of a Bible)
• make letter mugs
• decide if traditional Christmas Eve PJ's will be given early
• map out some of the more difficult things to do ~ like going into Washington D.C. or Christmas shows that have specific dates

 

It was Christmas Craft time this past Friday - Gingerbread houses to be exact!  Bought a couple Wilton's kits a week or two ago and thought it would be loads of fun for the boys to do.

Mid decorating, once the houses were put together.

Youngest adding decorating candy to "their" house!

(yes, decorating candy - tastes bad but looks pretty on this sort of thing)

More additions to the house!

First house put together!  Looks pretty bad from the

other sides as it was hard to find the right consistency

of frosting to hold the ginger bread together.

Boys finished project!  Looks a lot better than the other one!

Lessons Learned:

• don't plan to eat these and use super glue to hold house together
• probably does pay to trim the house part to a bit more square ~ I'd thought I could easily figure out the right consistency of frosting and use enough to keep it up (WRONG)
• have ginger bread cookies available to eat while working on houses as the house smells good enough to eat
• have a few bowls worth of different consistency of frosting; it will be helpful!

 

Christmas Count Down

While scrolling through Pinterest the last few weeks, I saw a Christmas Count Down board that was so simple ~ a clip board jazzed up for the season with "Days till Christmas" at the bottom.  You'd then clip on the days till Christmas number like a regular sheet of paper cut down some.  Very clever idea, worthy of recreating.  I thought it might be nice to add an activity to the back side of the number, so there would be something to do each day.  Not sure what all would go on this list, but here are some ideas:

1. daily Advent activities
2. make hot chocolate with candy cane stir stick (dip the non-hook end in melted chocolate or something fun like that)
3. make Christmas Cards
4. drive around neighborhood to look at lights
5. watch a Christmas themed movie (repeat as often as necessary to get to 25)
6. go into D.C. to look at National Tree and State Trees
7. bake cookies
8. make Christmas candy
9. read some Christmas books cuddled under blanket
10. invite friends over for Christmas sing along
11. deliver treats to neighbors
12. make wrapping paper
13. look up/research favorite Christmas songs or activities
14. see a live Nativity in your area (if available)
15. take some corny family Christmas photos
16. see how many things you can be thankful for from the past year
17. Christmas Party!

This may be a good enough start to a list!  Don't want to overwhelm ourselves during this holiday.  Now to keep my eye out for good bargain on clipboard andChristmas Paper.

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?

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.

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!

In less than 5 months . . .

. . . the Christmas rush will be over for the year! Does that make you feel any better?

I'm actually planning way ahead this year and thankful I'm doing so. School for December has been purchased. We're branching out from our Five in a Row studies and adding in some Amanda Bennett's Unit Studies. I am really looking forward to her Christmas Unit Study this year. I'd tried last year, to create my own, and it just didn't work as well as I would have liked.

What would Christmas planning be without a bit of sly planning on the parent part as well. Last night, during dinner, I began saying what I thought the boys would get in their stockings. The boys where kind if impressed that I "knew" what would be in them. They even started sharing what they thought would be in them. Here's the run down:

Thing One: little lego kit, chocolate, new water color set, other art supplies, possibly a small box of his favorite cereal

Thing Two: gum, bakugan, pokemon, small box of cereal, silly bands, trek deck bike, small jar of creamy peanut butter

The beauty of this conversation is that I'm able to understand what they'd like for Christmas and begin price shopping now (figure out regular price so if I see a sale price I can go ahead and buy it). Both were also gracious enough to suggest a big item as well. Fortunately, they didn't suggest a whole lot and we might be able to buy all they suggested. The last couple years I've been tye dying something as well. Will have to consider what to do this year. Also on the list, as we do every year, new pajamas to be given on Christmas Eve.

Do you read through any sort of Advent devotional? It's been on my heart to do some sort of devotional the last few years and am actively looking for one to do as a family. Last year we bought an Advent Wreath and plan buy the white candle for the center this year.

In blog reading/surfing the net the other day, I came across these cute holders for small packets of tissues. Basically, you cut a piece of felt that will wrap around the tissue,with the edges meeting. It should be long enough to sew a seam down each end. Then, with pinking shears or other cute scissors, trim the edge of the felt. Neat, simple, cheap, and quick! I could make a few of these in a short time.

There are many other crafts swirling through my head! Looking forward to carving out time to decorate my house with stuff I've made!

Next Craft Project

This morning, I was taking a look at "Home Made Simple" and came across this gift wrap storage center. I'm totally excited as this is something I can recreate at home.

When Kevin and I were first married, we bought a wicker clothes hamper; ours is circular though. I've got so much spare fabric that I can make a liner for it. We also have a few hangers hanging around (pun intended). Not sure when I'll get started on this, but it will make Christmas wrapping look a lot better this coming winter.

I'm looking forward to a craft project that most of the items are already in the house!!