Outside my window... it is sunny and warmer today. Going to be in the mid-50's.
I am thinking... about how I hope we have snow for Christmas! There is a 60% chance for Christmas Day and the day after. Please, please, please! I heard Eli in his bedroom the other day saying, "Please, God, let it snow on Christmas." My kids would be THRILLED! (And so would their mama.)
I am thankful ... for the right and privilege to homeschool my children, to protect them personally every day, all day, to know them inside and out, and to get to celebrate them and who they are every minute.
I am wearing... a black Old Navy hoodie over my "Keep Calm and Homeschool On" t-shirt, and gray yoga pants.
I am planning... my Christmas break grocery list.
I am creating... Christmas gifts. Halfway done.
I am going... to get this house cleaned from top to bottom today.
I am reading... Cage of Stars by Jacquelyn Mitchard, The Beautiful Christmas Tree by Charlotte Zolotow (Eli and Brynne's read-a-loud).
I am praying... for the families of the Newtown victims, and for April and Drew who lost their father this week after losing their mother just a year ago.
From the learning rooms... We are concentrating on reading and Advent activities this week. Cozy days.
Noticing that ... Dawson seems to have had enough after all these years.
From the kitchen... lots of homemade snacks being made, and easy meals this week. Trying to use what we have so I just made a small trip to our local grocery store to supplement. Only spent $40 for the week. Pretty good! (Although I do need to go back today and get a couple of extra things.)
Around the house... it's sleepy quiet still. The three little dogs are sleeping on my bed where I am sitting, Crusoe is asleep on the couch, and the two little ones are still asleep. We'll get up and get moving in a bit, but I am sure enjoying the peace and quiet! (And as I typed this Brynne got up and the dogs all jumped down to greet her. Quiet time over!)
One of my favorite things... is the adult-ish relationships I have with Kyndal and Dawson right now. It's a neat dynamic and I am enjoying it.
A few plans for the rest of the week... We are just prepping for Christmas. I have an extra bell choir practice tonight, and regular practice on Wednesday night. Thursday I am taking the kids "to town" so they can do their shopping for each other. Rick is coming on Friday FOR 10 DAYS! We are looking so forward to an extended time with him! Eli's birthday is Saturday and we have plans to take the kids to Kansas City to Crown Center and go to Lego Land. On Sunday we are going to eat lunch with my paternal grandmother and that side of the family. Then Christmas Eve we will have dinner at my parents' and go to church service. Rick and I will spend several hours after the kids go to bed wrapping gifts. It's our tradition.
I am praying... for the families of the Newtown victims, and for April and Drew who lost their father this week after losing their mother just a year ago.
From the learning rooms... We are concentrating on reading and Advent activities this week. Cozy days.
Noticing that ... Dawson seems to have had enough after all these years.
From the kitchen... lots of homemade snacks being made, and easy meals this week. Trying to use what we have so I just made a small trip to our local grocery store to supplement. Only spent $40 for the week. Pretty good! (Although I do need to go back today and get a couple of extra things.)
Around the house... it's sleepy quiet still. The three little dogs are sleeping on my bed where I am sitting, Crusoe is asleep on the couch, and the two little ones are still asleep. We'll get up and get moving in a bit, but I am sure enjoying the peace and quiet! (And as I typed this Brynne got up and the dogs all jumped down to greet her. Quiet time over!)
One of my favorite things... is the adult-ish relationships I have with Kyndal and Dawson right now. It's a neat dynamic and I am enjoying it.
A few plans for the rest of the week... We are just prepping for Christmas. I have an extra bell choir practice tonight, and regular practice on Wednesday night. Thursday I am taking the kids "to town" so they can do their shopping for each other. Rick is coming on Friday FOR 10 DAYS! We are looking so forward to an extended time with him! Eli's birthday is Saturday and we have plans to take the kids to Kansas City to Crown Center and go to Lego Land. On Sunday we are going to eat lunch with my paternal grandmother and that side of the family. Then Christmas Eve we will have dinner at my parents' and go to church service. Rick and I will spend several hours after the kids go to bed wrapping gifts. It's our tradition.
From my picture journal.
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| The entrance to Christmas in the Park in our town. Christmas lights and displays cover both sides of the park. It's so pretty and we have driven through it several times. We are talking about putting up a family display next year. |
Lots of women Daybook. See what they have to say at The Simple Woman's Daybook.
I'm with Eli....please God.....let it snow for Christmas.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm with you....please God....be with all the families who are suffering from the horrible Connecticutt tragedy. Gut wrenching.
I think you hit on something that most people don't think about when it comes to home schooling. Everyone asks "what about the social aspect?", but what I hear them saying now when they ask this is "do I really want to be around my kids that much?" I'm glad you get to spend all that precious time with them and see them grow and develop and be able to share with them every moment that comes up. I know I don't get that chance but at least you do. I would say most parents don't get the chance to truly know their kids because they don't get to spend anytime with them. What they see and know of their kids is the influence that are in their lives, good or bad. I think of dads around me who talk about their kids but don't really know them because of the very short amount of time they spend with them. How do you really understand someone only seeing them 30 minutes a day and that time being spent driving them to every possible activity under the sun and then checking Facebook the whole time while you are "supporting" your child? Yes, a little bit of a rant and I don't expect you to post this......it just crossed my mind that Eli and Brynne and probably Dawson are more true to who they really are because of the time spent with them by you and me without the influence of 100's of other noise makers. BTW, Bartlesville school system shut down today for a credible threat to the high school, they shut all the schools down in the town.....
ReplyDeleteI did post it, because I think it's important for others to see how we feel about our relationships with our kids, but you and me. Even though this is my blog and I'm the author, you are an important part of the decisions we make and I value your opinion and your support. I love you and CAN'T WAIT to see you in two days!!
DeleteMy friend Sarah posted about this topic today. I thought you might enjoy it. It mimics my sentiments exactly.
Deletehttp://simplehomeschool.net/enjoying-them/#more-21645