Being home meant back to school and work and special celebrations. We got the Christmas decorations up, unpacked (in that order), loved this advent candle we were given by the H. family, attended K's 4th grade choir concert with a Western theme -- so fun!
My dad came to help our Girl Scouts earn their Home Scientist badge and the favorite activity was definitely making raisins dance in soda.
K has her Miranda Sings impersonation down pat!
And the sunrises have been beautiful!
I went straight from that to N's preschool celebration, which was much more lively. N has been asking to start going to M's school but I registered for half day kindergarten at the public school anyway. That is where all her friends are and it's tuition free! Plus, I like the idea of being around my youngest child in the afternoons. Look at what a great helper she is!
K and D and great last days before break, each getting to wear PJs and watch movies. Their last day was an entire week before M's last day, when she had a field trip I got to help drive students to while my dad babysat before M's early dismissal. Much of the first week home, K & D's #1 priority was to play with friends, which they were able to do lots of. D also read the first Harry Potter book so he and I got to watch the movie together while Hubby put the girls in bed. I was so happy it loved it -- I have dreams of returning to Universal Studios Orlando when he is finished reading them years from now... and I just love the fact that he is loving picking up a book. Right now he is also reading the Captain Underpants & Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and has Wonder on his list after seeing how much K liked reading it in class this fall.
K and D also had a blast at Get Air with their best friends while M was in school but even being there for 2 whole hours and N refused to ever participate.
M was super pleased to have her entire family plus Grandma and Grandpa (who were the only ones on time) attend her dance recital. She was very happy to play the part of Mary during the Nativity part.
We found an excellent GF/DF sugar cookie recipe that cut out so well! We liked them so much we made them twice. (I could say the same thing for the GF peanut butter blossoms.)
green frosting tongue from cookies after watching Darrell perform in his church's Christmas Cantata
Slime made at Emma's house
Merry Christmas, ya filthy animal!
One day even I got to play Santa's helper when Katie had K over helping with the one-year-olds at her house while N played with her best friend, D was skiing with Hubby & M was at school. I was so grateful! And later she organized for Kat to watch her first ever Star Wars movie with just the 3 of us at my house: Rogue One. I have noticed a lot of people running around stressed and I'm so glad I'm not one of them! My big present for the children was already given by going on the cruise so I only had to worry about stocking stuffers. It was grand. And every year I say I'm not going to send out Christmas cards, but I end up doing so, this time certainly because we weren't traveling to visit Hubby's family.
Below you'll find the Christmas letter I sent out with some of our Christmas cards:
My dad came to help our Girl Scouts earn their Home Scientist badge and the favorite activity was definitely making raisins dance in soda.
K has her Miranda Sings impersonation down pat!
And the sunrises have been beautiful!
M's class got to participate in St. Lucia day on December 13th. It was such a lovely thing to witness. I am grateful to all the moms who put such care into the preparations while I was literally out of the country.
I went straight from that to N's preschool celebration, which was much more lively. N has been asking to start going to M's school but I registered for half day kindergarten at the public school anyway. That is where all her friends are and it's tuition free! Plus, I like the idea of being around my youngest child in the afternoons. Look at what a great helper she is!
K and D and great last days before break, each getting to wear PJs and watch movies. Their last day was an entire week before M's last day, when she had a field trip I got to help drive students to while my dad babysat before M's early dismissal. Much of the first week home, K & D's #1 priority was to play with friends, which they were able to do lots of. D also read the first Harry Potter book so he and I got to watch the movie together while Hubby put the girls in bed. I was so happy it loved it -- I have dreams of returning to Universal Studios Orlando when he is finished reading them years from now... and I just love the fact that he is loving picking up a book. Right now he is also reading the Captain Underpants & Diary of a Wimpy Kid series and has Wonder on his list after seeing how much K liked reading it in class this fall.
K and D also had a blast at Get Air with their best friends while M was in school but even being there for 2 whole hours and N refused to ever participate.
M was super pleased to have her entire family plus Grandma and Grandpa (who were the only ones on time) attend her dance recital. She was very happy to play the part of Mary during the Nativity part.
We found an excellent GF/DF sugar cookie recipe that cut out so well! We liked them so much we made them twice. (I could say the same thing for the GF peanut butter blossoms.)
green frosting tongue from cookies after watching Darrell perform in his church's Christmas Cantata
Slime made at Emma's house
One day even I got to play Santa's helper when Katie had K over helping with the one-year-olds at her house while N played with her best friend, D was skiing with Hubby & M was at school. I was so grateful! And later she organized for Kat to watch her first ever Star Wars movie with just the 3 of us at my house: Rogue One. I have noticed a lot of people running around stressed and I'm so glad I'm not one of them! My big present for the children was already given by going on the cruise so I only had to worry about stocking stuffers. It was grand. And every year I say I'm not going to send out Christmas cards, but I end up doing so, this time certainly because we weren't traveling to visit Hubby's family.
Below you'll find the Christmas letter I sent out with some of our Christmas cards:
Our Top 10 of 2017
1. January brought D & M’s 1st pinewood derbies. They love all things scouting & really liked attending Cub Scout Camp together in July.
2. k fell in love with volleyball after watching her cousin in denver and played volleyball both spring and fall seasons. It was such a joy to watch her!
3. we spent part of spring break in colorado springs at the great wolf lodge, swimming while it was snowing outside. A couple months later we were back to camp and for D & M to complete in the Fort Carson Spartan Race.
4. D chose to be baptized a member of the church of jesus christ of Latter-Day Saints shortly after his 8th birthday. Hubby and I gave the two talks and his my dad performed the ordinance.
5. we flew to boston to visit wonderful friends who had moved away to Massachusetts. We loved staying in the North end and exploring the sights for a few days and then being spoiled at the S. family’s house.
6. K began 4th grade, D began 3rd Grade, M began 2nd grade at the Waldorf school near our home, and N began attending preschool 3 mornings a week. They all love their schools, teachers, and friends in their classes.
7. Hubby has settled into his new role at work after graduating with his master’s degree last december. we are so proud of his hard work and all he has been able to do and do well.
8. I pretty much went crazy keeping track of all My volunteer work along with activities for 4 children but liked being in their classrooms and feeling like I was contributing to the community around me. I am grateful for all the people who do so much to make this world a better place!
9. our animals are all still alive! Meigo is now 13 years old and the vet put her on estrogen that is helping her nicely. the rabbit hasn’t been eaten by the neighbor’s dog and the guinea pigs still haven’t been given away. A big thank you to my parents who always watch the animals and our house while we are out of town or out of time.
10. The week after Thanksgiving we spent a magical week aboard the disney fantasy visiting Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica and the Bahamas. Hiking the Dunn’s River Falls and snorkeling and relaxing at castaway key were our favorite activities!
With love & best wishes for 2018,
Hubby, me, K, D, M and N
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