Time with the Little Ones

I had some time with just the girls and the baby this morning while the older boys were out sightseeing with dad and some friends that are visiting. The girls were excited to be at home with just mom. I asked them what they wanted to do. They said, "Play Doh." One actually said, "the colored play doh." I made some gingerbread play doh right before Christmas and they have been playing with that. I have to admit I like the gingerbread one much better. It is cleaner and it smells so good. Anyways, we got out the colored play doh and they played for at least an hour and a half. The baby even joined in by sitting on my lap and playing with it. He tried to eat it a couple of times, but I told him no and he stopped putting it to his mouth and he just played with it. It was a really fun time with just the little ones. It is rare that I have time to sit down with just them. I must make more of an effort to do it more often.

To Do List

***Today is Monday, Jan. 5 and I am happy to say that we were able to get done everything on our list last week. It feels so good to start a new year and begin school again with some chores accomplished.

This week is a bit out of the ordinary since my husband is off for the week. We were planning on taking the train to York for a day, but a little stomach bug has been making it through the family. As of today, only three of us including me have not had it in one way or another. Thankfully, it comes and then goes quickly. I'm still praying I don't get it. Because of the bug, I think we will be sticking closer to home for the break. We might just go for a walk at a park or something. I would also like to get out shopping.

Knowing we would be home and I would have hubby's extra hands during the break, I started a to do list of projects I want/needed done. It seems my days are so full there are things that slip through the cracks. Today we have been working hard and getting a few tasks accomplished. Once again it feels good to get things in order.

Here is my list: (I am sure we probably won't get it all done, but if we do that would be great too.)

*Clean out the garage
*Clean and organize the attic
*Hang a few pictures
*Put girls summer clothes back in bins up in the attic
*Box up old clothes to take to the Care Zone (a ministry of our church that takes people's things and gives them to people in need)
*Plan a New Year's party
*Clean out the cupboard under our stairs
*Mop the kitchen
*Wash sheets on Friday as we have friends coming on Saturday
*Sit down with hubby and go through goals and such for the new year

That is all I can think of right now. It feels good to just get it down on paper.

Thanksgiving Lapbook

I know it is almost Christmas, but I wanted to get this posted before I forget. For two weeks in November we worked on our second lapbook. This one was on Thanksgiving. Once again the kids had a blast making it. Some of the mini books they made were: comparing and contrasting our thanksgiving dinner with the one the Pilgrims and Indian's shared, definition of separatists, spelling words all relating to the first Thanksgiving, a map of the Pilgrim's journey, a picture of the Mayflower, who, what, when, where and why, and verses on being thankful. The kids were very proud of their hard work and loved showing it off.


They also enjoyed a party the day after Thanksgiving with some English friends. They shared their lapbook, read a story about Thanksgiving, made pilgrim and Indian hats, played a game and ate pumpkin cookies. All the kids had a great time. It was fun to share some of our culture and traditions.

Christmas Devotions

A couple years back the pastor at our previous church shared a Christmas tradition they did with their boys every year. It is a simple family devotion that starts on December 1 and goes up until Christmas. We tried it that first year and our kids loved it. It has become a tradition we all look forward to. I thought I would share it, because it is simple and we all love it so much.

The first thing we do is gather everyone together in our living room. We turn out all the lights, except the Christmas tree, and light a pillar candle. We put the candle on our ottoman. Next we sing a couple of Christmas carols with the kids. It usually ends up being one kid one, one traditional carol and more often than not, Jingle Bells. I think that is the kids favorite. Next we read a couple verses from the Christmas story found in different parts of the Bible (I'll post the list at the bottom). Then someone closes us in prayer. We take turns so everyone gets a turn. Everyone then gathers around the candle and holds hands. We count one-two-three and the kids all blow the candle out together. Finally, the kids run to their stockings to find their candy, which mom or dad has sneaked in earlier. It is usually just one little piece like a Hershey kiss, mint, or even an M&M. Of course, we don't want them all hopped up on sugar right before bed. This is a part of celebrating Christmas we all look forward to each year.

Here is the Scripture list.
Dec. 1 - Isaiah 7:14
Dec.2 - Isaiah 9:6-7
Dec.3 - Micah 5:2
Dec.4 - Luke 1:26-28
Dec.5 - Luke 1:29-30
Dec.6 - Luke 1: 31-33
Dec.7 - Luke 1:34-35, 37
Dec.8 - Luke 1:38
Dec.9 - Matthew 1:18-21
Dec.10 - Matthew 1:22-23
Dec.11 - Matthew 1:24-25
Dec.12 - Luke 2:1-5
Dec.13 - Luke 2:6-7
Dec.14 - Luke 2:8-9
Dec.15 - Luke 2:10-12
Dec.16 - Luke 2:13-15
Dec.17 - Luke 2:16-18
Dec.18 - Luke 2:19-20
Dec.19 - Matthew 2:1-2
Dec.20 - Matthew 2:3-6
Dec.21 - Matthew 2:7-9
Dec.22 - Matthew 2:10-12
Dec.23 - Luke 19:10
Dec.24 - John 10:10
Dec.25 - John 3:16

Plans for the Week

I really need to come up with a meal plan for this week as I need to head to the store this afternoon. I figured since I needed to do it, it would be fun to share it.

Monday - Turkey Poppy seed casserole (with leftover Thanksgiving turkey), corn, salad and bread
Tuesday - Chicken Enchiladas in the crockpot
Wednesday - Pork Chop with rice
Thursday - Belgium Waffles and scrambled eggs
Friday - Homemade Pesto Pizza
Saturday - "Date Night" for mom and dad (it's been four months, so we are looking forward to it) The kids will have chicken nuggets or mac-n-cheese


Boy, I feel so good once I get it all written down.

Other plans I have for the week include wrapping Christmas gifts with hubby tonight to get them in the mail for America by the end of the week, ordering a few gifts online, finding a picture for our Christmas cards, start getting Christmas decorations out, find all our Christmas books and watch a friends little boy on Thursday. I am such a list person. I love to write it all down and I especially love to cross it off.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY...

Outside my window... I see and hear house Sparrows as they roost in the hedge outside my living room window.

I am thinking... about what I can do with my kids this afternoon to keep them busy and out of trouble.

I am thankful for... the safe delivery of a healthy baby boy our close friends had yesterday.

From the learning rooms... beginning a Thanksgiving unit study and working on a Thanksgiving lapbook.

From the kitchen... spaghetti casserole (for the friends who just had the baby) and tacos for us.

I am wearing... comfy jeans, white long sleeve T with gray T over, and bare feet.

I am creating... a Christmas calendar for gifts for the grandparents.

I am going... out tomorrow night for a girls night out at a pub that does stone baked pizzas.

I am reading... Making Life Work by Bill Hybels and Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver

I am hoping... to get to bed earlier tonight.

I am hearing... my boys giggle as they wrestle in the family room.

Around the house... some cleaning needs to get done after a busy weekend.

One of my favorite things... chocolate in the afternoon when all my kids are either resting or sleeping.

A few plans for the rest of the week: planning a Thanksgiving party for the day after Thanksgiving. The kids will invite some of their English friends, show them their lapbook and tell them about Thanksgiving and how we celebrate it. Working on the Christmas calendar. To plan a time to get a photo for Christmas cards.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

(my youngest and the joy he is to our family)

Visit Peggy's and see more Simple Woman's Daybooks.

Thankful Tree

Since November is here, we wanted to focus once again on being thankful. Last year, we made a thankful turkey. Each evening, as a family, we would all go around and share something we were thankful for. We would then write them on feathers, we made from construction paper and tape them on to our turkey. We all really enjoyed this time as a family. It gave us a good reason to think back over our day and remember something to be thankful for.

We decided to do it again this year, only we aren't doing a turkey. This year, after reading other blogs, we decided to do a "Thankful Tree." The verse we are using from Colossians 2:6-7 says, "continue to live in Christ, rooted and built up in him..., and overflowing with thankfulness." We chose this verse because like a tree has roots that drive deep for nourishment, so we need to press on with Christ and have our roots deep into him to live the life He wants us to live. We also need to remember to overflow with thankfulness. After all, we truly have much to be thankful for.

Can you imagine how full of leaves our tree will be by the time Thanksgiving arrives?


Here is a picture of the kids with last years "Thankful Turkey."