Yes, Auntie Cheryl, I'm still alive!

I hope your Christmas has been merry and bright!

I am so grateful for the full 12 days in which to celebrate and rest (and catch up on a little blogging!) As odd as it was for our local schools to be in session all the way up to Christmas Eve, it sure is nice that Scott doesn't have to go back to work until after Epiphany. I've been pretty sick this month, but expecting to be back to health by the New Year!

Joyfully anticipating Christ's arrival...

This was my kitchen the week before Christmas. Oven and sink installation are on hold due to a back-ordered part -- but we're making progress, folks!

Not much baking this month, but we did make "Rice Christmas Trees" with M&M "ornaments," and shared with our neighbors!

And then Mema arrived! This was the first Christmas in three years that Scott's mom was able to fly out from South Dakota to be with us. We took her to our favorite local burger and ice cream place, and then to see the Christmas lights at our local zoo.

 

It was so fun to watch Littlest that night. We didn't go last year, and he barely remembered it from the year before, so everything was new and exciting. We had to ride the carousel twice, of course.

That's all for tonight. I'll save Christmas weekend for another post. This Mama needs some rest.


I hope you're also finding time to rest in Christ after the busy-ness of Christmas preparations and celebrations!

Transitions... Back to Homeschool

It's been more than a week since the last major progress on the remodel.

Scott finished the floors, installed most of the quarter-round molding, and I repainted the baseboards. The electrician installed the new kitchen fixtures. Our friend Brad and his kiddos came over and helped Scott move the furniture back into the house. I still haven't unpacked all the boxes.

Last week I was busy with homeschool planning and prep -- rushing to get ready before spending a lovely, long weekend away at the coast with my mom and sisters for my mom's birthday.

(Bet you can't even tell who turned 60! More weekend pics to come...)

We had a gorgeous weekend at the beach, and I only broke out my planner once. *wink*

My goal before we left was to be able to eat breakfast at home again, so we could jump into our new books in the morning with no distractions.

We'd managed to avoid disposables and the microwave (mostly) this summer by eating at my parents' house, but I finally gave in for the sake of my sanity during this transition.

On Monday, our local public schools welcomed kids back to classrooms, while we spent the morning at a favorite park catching frogs in the man-made creek with some homeschooling friends to celebrate not going back to school. We saved that for Tuesday.

 

(Not my kiddo, but he sure was excited about the frogs!)

On Tuesday, we broke out the binders, the fingerpaint, and the new books...



Imagine my joy when I heard at the end of the day... "I can't wait to do homeschool again tomorrow, Mom!"

Phew.

Have you started your new schoolyear yet? How's it going?

The right to play with fire...

...is a cherished American freedom. I think it's that bit about pursuing happiness...

Merry Christmas (and Happy New Year)!

I know a lot of people have already ripped down their decorations, but technically it's only the seventh day of Christmas, with five more to go... so I'm not actually late in wishing you a merry one! ;)

We've been cozying up at home all week, enjoying new toys and games and books and each other, after a lovely Christmas Eve and Day...

I caught the boys' cough and sniffles the day after Christmas, so I've done a lot of lounging, dreaming about renovating our kitchen this summer, making kindergarten plans for Littlest, and catching up with old friends on Facebook.

I think I was feeling a little manic (in my own lazy way) after the Christmas goodies I ate, and now I want to spend New Year's weekend just knitting and reading... and maybe a little reflecting on 2010. (Scott wants me to give up baking for Advent next year, but I swear we didn't eat that much sugar! And aren't these gingerbread reindeer the cutest?)


But tomorrow's a new month and a new year, so this cold needs to go out with the old!!

We'll get no help from the weather -- we woke up to frost this morning, the coldest morning of the season so far. We already traded in Christmas cookies for frozen fruit smoothies, but now it's time for hot cider and chicken noodle soup!

How are you spending the last day of the year?

Thankfulness

This Thanksgiving, I was thankful... that I was the only one who was sick (and that it's not any worse than a cold).

 

...for all the help my hubby and boys gave with the food prep -- peeling apples, snapping green beans, baking cornbread for the stuffing, peeling potatoes.



...that my mother always sets such a beautiful table (and I didn't have to clean my house).

...that my recipe for herbed-butter turkey worked out deliciously.

...that my dad's always willing to do the carving.

...that my sister Lindsay surprised us by showing up Thanksgiving morning -- again!

...that no one minded when I completely forgot about the cranberry sauce.

 ...that we could have a sense of humor about Littlest begging for apple pie all afternoon, and then walking away from it after two bites. ;)

...that it's not just about the food, but the blessing of sharing it with each other...