Christmas Carols

The visit with senior shut ins was one of the best experiences by far this season. The girls sang their hearts out and then served them punch and treats. They sat with them and chatted them up a bit. I am not sure who received the most joy...the seniors or the moms watching their girls interact with these women and men.

Joy to the World

The little flowers girl club is studying the virtue of joy and mirthfulness this month. The medal activity is one that brings tears to my eyes. They are going to visit Millside Manor in town. It is an assisted living senior center. They are all going to bring a plate of cookies and some joyful carols will be sung! My boys will be bringing flowers to present to the lovely seniors! It makes me miss my grandmother a lot though! She is far away now and it seems like the visits are not as often as when she lived closer. My girls love old people and they will surely adopt one today and bring some joy to their life!

Holiday Party

Kit, Jess, and Jenny promptly arrived at the party to visions of lavish food, games, and a snowman craft. All the dolls had a lovely time and I think the girls did too!

Doll Party

Julia and Emerson have been invited to an American girl doll party! They have made some outfits for their dolls and are really excited to have some fun and do some crafts. This is second year for the annual doll party and you can feel the excitement in the air. We decided the dolls needed an escort so Blaise was happy to dress up his favorite tiger Ben as a chaperone.

Keep the C in Christmas

On Sunday we had family movie night! It was julia's turn to pick a flick and she chose "Keep the C in Christmas" it was centered in a small town in Alaska and the town was battling one man to put up a nativity set on public property. Throughout this movie they kept saying keep the Christ in Christmas. I didn't know then what impact the movie would make on Emerson until yesterday. All day I found her telling people Merry Christmas. At walmart getting detergent, at library getting books she wrote a note to the librarian, and she even made a card for an unbelieving relative that she wishes me to mail. I don't ever push, force or nag the kids to do certain things so when they do it sometimes takes me by surprise! I asked her last night why she kept doing this and she said maybe if enough people believed they would spread the word to those in Alaska that don't believe! Lol! Her innocent concern does make me think though!
Merry Christmas!

Santa shuffle

Oh it was so funny to see the look on the kids faces when Santa showed up to ballet! They were practicing their positions when he came in. He danced with Emerson and she got to sit with him! What I find so funny is she has "visited" with four separate santas so far and each time she asks for the same thing...a dog!

Monday funday?

I was supposed to go for an annual exam today but my dad wasn't feeling well and I didn't want to expose kiddies to the germs so we cancelled appt. And I thought we would have a catch up day! Turns out my gram went in to hospital last night over leg injury. You never know what life brings. We are surprisingly way ahead in school so we took a break. The girls wanted to spend some time at library and they have costumes to work on for an upcoming doll party hosted by one of julia's friends. The big event is coming tonight. Santa is coming to Emerson's ballet class. I have been told he has stinky feet so he is leaving his boots on! Everyone is giggling all day about this and Blaise is thrilled to see another man dance!

Foot fetish

My guy has found his feet tonight! He was sitting on my lap facing me barefoot! He looked down and noticed his wiggly toes and before you knew it he was on a mission. It was truly open mouth insert foot kind of mission. Whenever any of the babies have discovered their feet I start to do some fun tactile things with them! Cooked cold spaghetti noodles under the bouncer and mashing up jello in the toes or soft feathers and scratchy paper are all fun things we stick under the little bare feet during play time! I am going to have to keep an eye in this one because twice today he assumed the crawling position and lunged forward! Yes for those of you that notice the laundry is still a work in progress and we have put on the spider man tee now!

Superhero

After a rough night I decided to keep it light today. Due to a pending doctor appointment tomorrow I am having the kiddies do the main curriculum today. This is beauty of homeschooling you can plan it around your family schedule. What I failed to remember is I had another pile of laundry waiting. In an effort to be mindful of wants and needs I have minimally been purchasing Benedict's clothes! Well big boy did a number on me and we are out of long sleeve onesies! Oh no! Thankfully I had been given some super cool t shirts for future use! He had his choice this morning batman, spider man or Thomas the train! You can see what he chose now he just needs his Robin and I need to go shopping! (that sounds more fun than laundry anyways). Oh and in case you wondered the legos are still in my closet and will remain there for a bit! I will keep you posted on that one!

Tough love

People always tell me parenting is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Normally I smile and think how much I really enjoy my kids and being with them 24/7 doesn't bother me too much. When it comes to discipline though that is a whole other story. That must be the hard part of parenting that people talk about. Tony is the softie the "good cop" and I am the gee I hate to say it "bad cop". I suppose since I am home all day setting, enforcing and following thru on the rules I get to be the "bad cop" but sparing the rod does spoil the child and I don't want that! Although Tony and I don't believe in corporal punishment we do believe in consequences for bad choices. Blaise has reached an age of reasoning where he truly understands most right and wrong choices and he certainly knows how to behave in most situations. From birth he has rarely missed a day of mass so by now he should know the drill. This leads me to the tough love part of tonight. We opted to go to Saturday mass in evening (mistake #1) and we opted to let Blaise bring in a notepad and pen to church (mistake #2) and we chose to sit in the front row (mistake #3) so picture this: 3 yr old clicking pen entire time of homily then talking just above a whisper about daddy squeezing him too hard to keep quiet which leads to an outburst of I need a drink of water NOW mommy and oh by the way look at me climbing on the kneeler and attempting to clobber my sister in the head while she prays! Ok that was part of it I am too mortified to discuss any more details except that the straw on poor camel's back is broken and Lego man is without his legos for a few days until he learns appropriate behavior in church! As I questioned taking blaise's picture for the blog I realized somehow someday I am saving it for him so when he grows up and has a son just like him he can laugh about it! I wish one of tony's sisters had taken a picture of him riding his hot wheels around in circles like crazy! It would have put this all in perspective for Tony I am sure!

Save the princess

The castle was filled with magic and fun. My two princesses decided they want to live in a castle just like Canterbury. Blaise was on the look out for dragons and Benedict smiled at the villagers.

Canterbury Castle

Our whole family is in a buzz today as daddy is home! No work today which is a total unexpected surprise! We are going to the castle! Almost 15 years ago I married my knight in shining armor and our reception was at Canterbury castle. I truly felt like a princess with my knight that day! Every year we go there to reminisce about that day we got married. The kids are excited to ride the carousel and get a candy cane but I am looking forward to just being together all of us. Oh sure we are a group to be reckoned with. Someone is always fussing or tired or complaining, isn't that the case with a large family?!? But we manage to have fun and laugh. Tony and I conquer and divide the troops up and we always manage to come home with everyone. So as soon as they finish their green and red m&m pancakes we are out the door "to the castle!" they shout!

Polar bears

Blaise wanted me to post this picture as it was his most favorite thing he saw today and he said it was the best day ever!

Holiday happenings

We made it to Bronners and managed to get some shopping done and a little visit with St. Nick!

Bronners or bust

This morning my mom and I are taking the kids to Bronners. When Tony and I first moved out to area we realized how close we were to one of the largest Christmas stores around. I had never been to Bronners so Tony took me and it became an annual trek! We have always gone around the same time and sometimes my folks come too or just my mom and the kids or once I just took the kids by myself. We usually get there early enough to shop before we get too hungry and then we rest in the little cafe area and regroup. The kids all like to buy at least one ornament for a friend or relative and we never get bored of the same theme based trees....julia's thing is owls this year so I imagine she will be looking for those, Emerson is all about ballet and Blaise is hoping to see Lego ornaments. We love looking at the villages and of course we will snap a few shots of the jolly old fat man! I can honestly say snow, rain or sleet it has always been Bronners or bust!

Holy Day

Today is a holy day of obligation for our faith and so that means a break from studies as we head to mass this morning. Tony went last night by himself and father wondered where we were? It is nice to know he missed us. I prefer going in morning even if it means I am flying solo with the four kids. Getting everyone ready and out the door by 7:45 is no small feat but as Julia reminds me it is a small sacrifice to make in the grand scheme of life. After Mass a breakfast is provided for us early birds and then the kids and I are going to the library and then little flower meeting. No there won't be much studying today but what we will learn is far greater and more important than an old textbook can provide.

Bunnies galore

Julia had a bunny play date so to speak with another homeschooler today. They are in 4h together and plan on showing bunnies! It was a nice break after mayhem of the day to go and sit and chit chat with the mom while all kids ran and played! This is a new budding friendship for Julia and she is so excited to make a new friend. By time we came home we had to make Daisy's carrot cake and sing to her. I wonder what a rabbit wishes for when they blow out candles?