I don't think we've ever had a Christmas Season so filled with activities and excitement as this one. I'm so curious to know what they remember, enjoyed most and want to do again next year.
We made and delivered some scrumptious peppermint meltaway cookies. They took turns crushing the candy canes for the topping.
The girlies just loved being little elves and running up to our friends' doors to deliver the boxes. We want to do this again next year but just plan it out a little better. We realized later that there were many more families we would have liked to gift but we just ran out of time and cookies. It was also really, really chilly and we didn't bring coats! What was I thinking?
We made some handprint ornaments. I had each of the girls write their names and the year on the back and we added a big red bow. They were way too cute and special to give away as I had originally planned. We'll have to make extras next year.
We made some cute little snowmen. This was an easy and fun craft I got from
Erica. Thanks :) We did so many crafts that the girls just started asking me each morning about that day's crafts. I also noticed them doing so many more on their own which was exciting to see.
The older girls made some pretty tea towels as gifts for their grandparents. I was impressed with their patience and determination to complete these projects. Our friend Anne brought them the supplies and showed them how to do this.
It was fun to hang Christmas cards on the wall each day and see the pictures of friends and relatives. It would actually be nice to keep these (or other photos) up year round so the girls would remember these special people. I really need a photo wall!
The gingerbread cookies may have been my favorite recipe. Those were hard to resist and they were so sweetly decorated.
It's no easy task taking a Christmas photo with everyone looking and smiling. We didn't send out Christmas cards this year and that was a little sad. Hopefully next year!
We went to the Christmas Service at church for the first time this year. It was beautiful and I'm so happy that we are finally able to do this together. Last year at this time we didn't really have a church. This year we are very aware of how the Lord has blessed us with our church family and we are so grateful.
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6 comments:
LOVE all the pictures and projects. I just might have to reference back next year ;)
The handprint ornaments are adorable!! I'll have to remember that idea :-)
WOW! I'm not sure what more to say. You must be amazingly patient to do all that with four girls! I'm not sure which project is my favorite! I love the handprint ornaments, the peppermint cookie gifts delivered by your little elves, the nativity scene...wow!
One thing you could do with your Christmas photos (from greeting cards) is to get a photo or scrapbook album to put them in each year. Either way, you could have the girls help you arrange them and write names & dates by the pictures, embellish the album, if you so desire, and they'll have something they can look in any time!
The Artist Woman has amazing ideas. That's the first time I've ever seen her blog and I immediately became a fan of it!
Thanks for sharing all your fabulous ideas & adventures!
Isabel,
You asked me about Right Start math. At this time, I use it with one child (Level C). I often wish I had started my Kindergartener on it from the beginning and I'm debating about whether or not to start her on it when she starts 1st grade or 2nd grade. My oldest started using it in 2nd grade, which was our first year home schooling. We love it. It is different than the way I was taught, but she and I both get it. We started with transition lessons, which seemed like we took a step back but they were essential and really helped with lessons later on. Let me know if you would like to know more and I'll try to help!
I have got to catch up on reading your blog, but for now I have to take care of these kiddos and teach them something... so, I am scanning it and will come back later today to check it out. You look like you have been busy. I dropped in because I saw your post on the MFW group. I just want to say you are doing so fabulous. Oh if you could only see how bad I am doing at my house with it all! LOL! I can see your kids are loving it and learning... mine are not as much, but we are working on the issues. I think the "gaps" you are worried about will "close" as the children get further into MFW. I hear that it starts gentle, but gets more intense. I have a friend that is doing the highschool and she says there is 4 or 5 hours a day of just reading and that it is very demanding of their time... but that they are loving it. I think the early years we have to just let them learn to to LOVE LEARNING. .... AND WE HAVE TO SUPPORT OUR FELLOW HOMESCHOOLERS. ...and don't be afraid to share the amazing fun you all are having with the homeschoolers that are cramming their kids full of "boxed knowledge".... knowledge is not true wisdom anyway! I taught my daughter cursive handwriting in a week and her ABeka text we have here would have her doing it all year!!!! Why do that to a child?!! ...I remember that kind of misery in school.... don't be afraid to choose a better way, if it is working for YOU. I was using ABeka until I found MFW (and I stilll use what I want of it since I have it here), but it is made for classroom educating. It can be used for homeschool, but it is all geared toward private schools... we don't have to do it that way or feel the pressure to do it that way. You are doing a fabulous job!!
Looks like you had a WONDERFUL Christmas with your girls, I am so impressed with all the fun things you have done. Wow!
Glad it was great!
Angela
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