Christmas

The Sunday before Christmas we had the sisters exchange the gifts they had bought for each other. They had a good time picking out what to get for their sisters and wrapping the gifts up. We did this so that they would remember it is more fun to give than receive and I wanted them to realize that these presents were from each other and not get mixed up in with everything else.


Then Momma put a call in to the big guy and Santa came a few days early. We do not want to have to travel with all the gifts from us and my mom.


They were so happy to get their American Girl Dolls from my mom





So now we know what they want for their Birthdays, more American Girl Doll Stuff!!!!

Daybook

Outside my window:
Clear and cold.

I am listening to:
The sound of my girls playing, the washer humming and the dishwasher swishing.

I am wearing:
Capri yoga pants and John's T-shirt, (hot, isn't it)

I am thankful for
We are all healthy today

I am pondering:
How to get Lillian caught up with schooling...We struggled so much at the beginning of the year and now it is like a switch went on and she "gets it". But we are not as far a long as my "well laid plans" would have us, but she just couldn't go any faster earlier this year.

In the Kitchen:
Needing to add more fresh fruits and veggies back into our diet. Baking Banana Bread today.

I am thinking:
I really need to get up with a lot of things, cleaning, blogging, scrapbooking, organizing, etc, etc.

I am Creating:
Clean areas in my house

On my Ipod:
Toby Mac

Towards a Real Education
Getting back to it after a long Christmas Break. Starting Bella down the Alphabet path and "Rowing" which ever book I get from the library first.

Toward Rhythm and Beauty:
Reinstating nap time for the U-5's in the house, Lilli and I need the quite to get some math and reading done.

I am Hoping and Praying:
For grace and patience for me and for my girls to find the love of the Lord and show love to one another. There has been a lot of time indoors and it is starting to show, can't wait for warmer weather.

In the Garden:
The backyard was flooded last month and it is still icky out there. Thinking of relocating the garden for this spring to get more sun.

Around the House
Decluttering 2010 has begun!

On Keeping Home:
The downstairs is once again livable and it is onward and upward! Time to get the bedrooms in order.

One of My Favorite Thing:
My hubby completely spoiled me this Christmas :)

A Few Plans For the Rest of the Week:
No Music Makers this week. Friends house on Tuesday. Bowling Thursday with our homeschool group. Lillian has a sleep study Thursday night, keep her and John in your prayers while there that she will be able to sleep and that there will be no significant findings.

Funny things over heard at our house

Bella: "Why didn't you name me Pretty Sparkles?"

Ellie: "Mill(milk) - hoppy in dere" (think of the Nesquik mascot)

Lilli: "I think I've had enough of those lettuce balls!"

Where did November go?

I have no idea where the whole month of November went. We had a fun Thanksgiving at our friends house and then a second one on Friday (If you don't cook it, you don't get the leftovers!)

We had company for a long weekend too, it was fun to show Ruthie and Shane all around Duke's campus.

The girls have been keeping me very busy.

Lillian was getting behind on her math and we have tried to buckle down and get it done, but she just doesn't like it. But she is progressing well with her reading and science. She has also been enjoying her Girl Scout meetings and playing with the neighbor girl.




Bella had her first violin recital, it was so cute! Bella showed off her terrific violin posture and then her teacher played "All Around the Mulberry Bush" and Bella would pluck the E string for the "POP". Very cute. I finally gave Bella her first hair cut, it isn't very even but she only allowed me one snip, you would have thought I was hurting her, I think she has a lot of self-identity in her hair and doesn't want short hair. I took the back and twisted it then one snip and we were done, she cried for about 30minutes after. It looks a lot better and is still hits her mid-waist.





Elliana is adding to her vocabulary and cuteness everyday. We have tried a new sleep training technique that seemed to be working, until she got sick again, she was up twice last night.


There were also 2 field trips, one to Agapé Center for Environmental Education

and to Falls Lake. We also had our homeschool groups family event. It was a fun time outside with lots of food and games. The theme was based on the book The Gullywasher. So we took a Mexican theme with it. I made the girls skirts so that they could look like the American Girl Doll Josefina. But then it was cold that morning so I also cut some fleece ponchos for them. We also took Carnitas with cheese and tortillas and a bean and corn salad that I want to make again. I was also in charge of the sound discovery/make your own instrument table. Thankfully one of the other mothers made everything and I just had to "man" the table. My camera died half way through the day so not many pictures...






I guess that is November in a nutshell.
We are having a good start to the Advent Season, the girls are relearning the Christmas carols, the tree is up, most of the shopping is done and hopefully I won't get as far behind this month.

Jasmine

Picture thoughts from today

My Bella...

For some reason the girls have been talking death, so I have had many questions to answer. I am doing my best to tell the truth without telling too much if you know what I mean. Well, Bella has decided that when she goes to be with God she is going to be a butterfly, not just dress up as butterfly, but be a real butterfly and then she will come back to our house and live in my flower garden. I don't even know what to say, but she is so sweet.

Oh kids

Lillian is sick so she was watching a movie in my room while I was downstairs with the other girls, I am hoping that no one else gets sick. Anyway, I hear the phone ring one time and then nothing, I didn't think much of it because that happens from time to time. But...then Lillian came downstairs and said "Mom, I called 911, I was watching the movie and got scared"
Me: "you what!?!?" "for real?"
In the meantime I am looking through the phone book for the police phone number. The phone rings again and I can't find the cordless (John had left it upstairs) I run upstairs to find it and decided to dial *69(we are so 1990 and don't have caller ID) and the man that answers says: "This is the relay operator, your call is being recorded".

Me: "um this is the last number that called me, do you know why?"

"I was calling about a 911 call"

"That was my 6 year old we are all fine, I am so sorry"

Oh boy, we've already had the fire department out for a false alarm, but that can be blamed on my cooking :)

"Well, I got the 911 call and no one talked and then I called back and heard someone breathing and then hang up after a minute or two and then called and got your voicemail"


"I couldn't find the phone, but we are ok"

"I will tell them but they may still come out to check, at least you know she knows how to call 911"

"um yeah, I guess"

Then I see the message from the relay operator.

I start speed cleaning the downstairs, nothing like knowing the fuzz is on the way to get you off your duff and cleaning. Lillian is hiding in the bathroom.

The officer shows up, I apologize, and tell him Lillian wants to say sorry and how we talked about how it's only for emergencies. She didn't, she hid behind the door. Then he gave Lillian a police badge sticker! Way to reinforce calling 911.

A fabulous trip...

I love, love, love the beach. John, not so much, but being the fabulous husband he is, he took us all to the beach. Granted he was in a conference the whole time, but he did arrange for us to stay in a beach front hotel. It was such a nice break; warm sun, soft sand, crashing waves, water that was nice and warm. The girls and I would get up, take daddy to work and then hit the beach till they were worn out hungry. Then it was back to our tiny hotel room for a picnic lunch and naps. After naps we picked up daddy and then dinner out and some time in the pool. On the beach we found a huge crab, saw dolphins, and played in the sand (and we didn't even have sand toys!) We were very sad to leave. Here are some pictures from our adventures.






I love this man, thank you honey.