I'm in the game 100%

And I'm lovin' it!! Just like three of my daughters enjoying their game together, I too am enjoying my favorite game, the one I call 'motherhood' and 'wife hood'! I know you all know how to play and I hope you, too, are enjoying playing as much as I am! My eyes are taking in each moment and storing them up in my heart! I'm afraid my camera hasn't been in much use lately so I'm really counting on the memory space in my mind to do the work!! (I'm not so sure that's such a good idea but I'm enjoying holding onto little ones over holding my camera!)

I hope you all are having an amazing Christmas holiday and that you too are feeling the love that comes through our faith in Jesus Christ, our families, and our friends:) See you all in 2012

Christmas Traditions

I have a feeling that Christmas is the favourite holiday for most of us! I know in this house it definitely is ours. Here are a few of our most popular activities we try to pull of each year. I would love to hear how you all celebrate this time of year if you care to share!! I pray you all will have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

• Baking goodies to deliver to friends and family~we manage to munch much alone the way
• Watching It's a Wonderful Life-haven't missed it yet
• Play Christmas music throughout the house
• Reading a Christmas story each night in December before Christmas. Right now we are reading THIS
• Have the children get up in homemade costumes to act out the story in Luke
• Dressing up the 5 youngest girls in matching dresses and spend a fun day in town shopping & eating
• I always have a pile of Christmas coloring pages for everyone and then we hang them around the house
• Making gingerbread houses using 1/2 pint size empty milk cartoons, graham crackers, icing, and lots of goodies
• Try making a few crafts-I say TRY because my creativity is as dry as the Sahara!
• Attend our church's annual Christmas get together
• Enjoy Christmas songs being played by the children on the piano
• Our favorite of all is reading the story in Luke while we sip on hot cocoa and stay warm by the fire
• But I think just being with family, reminiscing, playing games, just simply enjoying one another's company is my favourite of all time. Winter, and especially Christmas is just a time to slow down and just; be!

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

In my life this week....Enjoying family life and taking a slow pace as the Christmas holidays approach. Having fun with my kids baking and doing seasonal handicrafts. Cleaning up and organizing the home in expectation of a full house over the holidays. Some projects include replacing our tub surround, painting the kitchen, cleaning out freezers and cupboards and just some odd repairs to most of the house.

In our homeschool this week....Continuing with our reading of The Chronicles of Narnia and using the Veritas Press study guide that goes with it. Adding in a few extra 'craft' days to make holiday decorations and enjoying every moment with my little kindergartner as she begins to pick up the reading process!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share....Try to add in at least one day a week for handicrafts. This is my weakness but I am doing better and brings a nice change to our everyday lives.

I am inspired by....My daughter Juli and how she is so crafty, creative, and able to bring such beauty to her own home. In this, she did not get from me!

Places we are going and people we are seeing....We will be popping into our country neighbors to wish a very Merry Christmas and leave a plate of goodies.

My favorite thing this week was....My boys insisted I go into town and do some shopping and that they would happily tend to the girls. (I wonder if they were inspired by Christmas!!!!)

What's working/not working for us....My new schedule is working for us and so glad I finally decided to put it down on paper. I will share in the near future.

Questions/thoughts I have....Why are most things in life so overrated? (Sorry, not opening this can of worms. Just saying)

Things I'm working on.....STILL-that last nasty 10 lbs that just won't leave my body no matter what I do. (It's only been about a year now, what's up with that?)

I'm reading, again....The Latin Centered Curriculum. Wonderful book by the way. If you get a chance to read it I recommend you do.

I'm cooking....Cupcakes. Lots of them. I found this fun cookbook at the library called Two Bite Cupcakes. Whew, it's to die for. HMM, no wonder I can't lose the last 10.

I'm grateful for....The quiet house right now and the warm glow of our woodstove. I know it's lame and there are many things more important to be thankful for but at this moment, in the here and now, it's the beauty and heat I'm being blessed with.

I'm praying for....My children as I always do but throwing in some extra prayers for a few of my children and for their particular needs at this time.

Favorite photos to share....Where do the days go!

Left alone in the kitchen!

It was one of those days when morning came way to quickly! Lessons were taught, lunch was made and the sofa was screaming my name! I not only gave in to the sofa but I also gave in to two little girls who were anxious to get started on the cookies I promised they could make. In my tired desperation I decided that they could go ahead without me and I'd be in shortly. Well, they managed alright as the photos show. (I did get a bit of a shock though when I walked in a bit later to see the, well, you know, the results of all their effort all over the kitchen. Including the floor!) But they managed well and the cookies were delicious and best of all I had 2 happy little girls to eat some cookies with!