Saturday, December 19, 2009

Good News/Bad News

Bad news: No Christmas tree today, as we are snowed in our home.

Good news: We are snowed in our home!

I have four delighted children out romping in the snow. Eating snow, snowballs, sledding.

Even better news: We can sled in our own front yard.

Best news: I went to the grocery store yesterday so we can bake and feast later today.

This is the first snow in my home since I left home in Cleveland all those long years ago. This is my childrens' first snow at their home. I cannot begin to describe the beauty of it. There is a winter wonderland outside. And warm, cuddly, snuggly feelings inside.

More "bestest" news: It will be melted and gone by tomorrow, I believe!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

The card I meant to send


I find this particular week of advent difficult. We have been doing so much to prepare ourselves for the coming of our Savior for three whole weeks now. I must admit monotony is starting to set in. The advent candles don't always get lit at dinner, and by now, some little boys enjoy blowing them out as soon as they are lit. My morning prayer, that started off so well three weeks ago, was done at 10:30pm last night. Most of our advent books have been read multiple times. And all those narrations, summaries, and pictures that were supposed to follow those book reading moments, and then be integrated into our advent lap books. Most of those didn't happen, and the free sheets of papers that did get written are floating around my kitchen. But this blog is not one to describe our advent and our last few weeks of school (or not-school) depending on how you look at it. I hope to blog that tomorrow. This blog post is to let you know I'm trying to make advent holy. And I still have all the presents to wrap. And the dog really needs a bath, and a brush, and frankly a pair of scissors to cut out the tangles. And we need a Christmas tree this weekend. And I still need to write the Christmas cards. And now the problem. I took the picture. It was "good enough" for four kids and a battery-low light on the camera. I came home and ordered it via an online print shop. I chose some custom cropping option. BAD MOVE! The picture is the wrong way. Sarah is almost cut out of the picture. So is the right side of Luke's head. It is really, really bad. I have 70 copies. I don't have time or patience for retakes. It will be sent out. Wait until you see it. It is that bad. But next week will be a special, holy week in this house. I will try to get back on track with prayer and advent. The third week of advent is Gaudete week. The week of rejoicing for the Savior is coming. I am going to try to recapture that starting tomorrow. Next week will be snuggling, more baking, and more reading. Although I am dying to get back to science, and history, and geography. It will wait. All so my children will remember these times of joyful anticipation, even though the stress may be settling in for mom. And in years to come this picture will be my reminder of and advent spent trying to be holy. But this is the picture I meant to send out!

Monday, December 14, 2009

Success

This post is for my dear friend Mindy. Mindy, I haven't scrapbooked in a year. Yes, I know....it is horrible. But tonight my husband downloaded all the pictures from our laptop onto our new computer. I filed them on files. I downloaded them onto a gallery site. I ordered 160 pictures to be delivered to my home in 3-5 business days. After such date, I will hold all the pictures I need and an empty scrapbook. I may then actually document the last year of our life in pictures. Any guess on how long that will take? Another year????

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Thanksgiving
















It's almost Christmas, but here are our Thanksgiving pictures. We saw snow, and it lasted for less than a day. That is perfect in my book. We visited with family, went tobogganing, watched football and made pierogies! The kids did well in the car for the most part. Max has some residual angst when we currently put him in the car. I believe he fears another 10 hour road trip. Anyhow, we are now awaiting snow here in NC. We'll head up to the mountains to chop down a Christmas tree next week. We'll pack all our winter clothes and a few sleds and hope for snow up there.

I firmly resolve....
















To try and blog more frequently in this coming year...including pictures of the kids. Scrapbooking is a whole other matter. Here are some pictures of our fall.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

I am grateful for....

Big brothers. I am especially thankful for a big brother who is pleased to eat his dinner scooted as forward as possible in his chair so that his baby brother can stand on the chair behind him. And climb on the big brother's back. And tap the big brother on the head. And cover the big brother's eyes. All while the big brother eats his dinner and laughs at his baby brother. Yes, this would have never happened when Big Brother was small. He would have sat in his high chair calmly and eaten as well. But then again, he would have had a nap in the afternoon instead of following older siblings to all the afternoon events and errands. This is life in a family composed of many ages. And I am grateful for that as well!