Happy Mother’s Day to the mother, step mothers, grandma’s god-mommies, great grandmas…. to all the women who are instrumental teachers in our children’s lives. I don’t think I can ever truly show the appreciation I have for ALL the people who are significant in our lives here and abroad. I could not ask for a better network for loving, true and vital women to show my sons and daughters the possibilities there are in life, the potential for love and the joy that can be felt in relationship with women (and men) of all walks of life. But I am going to try… 

We had a wedding the day before so Ken’s planning time was cut down to little or no (he does like to do his Saturday before prep for Mother’s Day) but between him and the kids they managed a terrific day. We started off at church where the kids sang in the choir and I was given a flower. Then over to Caribou for a fancy coffee for mom…

Zander and Ken made me lunch – a Kale salad kit I picked up at Sam’s club… yum! And then came the centerpiece of the day… KEN took them to the park and I got a NAP! An uninterrupted, silent house nap! BLISS

Our evening was spent at the YMCA where I wore my swim cap and enjoyed some quality time with Echo and her friend from down the road Sophie. After swimming I had a wonderful chat with her parents. 

With photos and quiet time, just me and my personal crochet project and another flower gifted from the YMCA I had a day to remember.

My family means the world to me, I have been privileged to have found a man who truly understands me, children who love so honestly… I may not be where I expected to be but I am definitely where I NEED to be. I wish the same joy to you… that we can all be surrounded by love and affection, truth and acceptance… Happy Mother’s Day everyone!

Gavin

Zander

Even with illness off and on all month December was good to us. We had family and friends to enjoy, good food and amazing gifts. I cannot thank everyone enough for being a part of our world, of our story and of our future.

December has always been an important month for us. It is a chance for us to share our thanks to all of you with gifts and letters, phone calls and visits. These fingers worked over time and in all honesty are still working on a few belated gifts. I plan to share pictures of most of the items I have made this season in a later entry.

A sneak peek… some of my starched snowflakes

Of course we did a full Christmas unit only slightly hampered by illness this year. With our usual laundry list of education and entertaining books and links. A couple lapbooks to enter into our binder this year as more notebooking pages than anything and lots and lots of pictures. Most importantly, after not having an Activity Village Advent calendar last year we had one this year! A whole series of train cars! Even Echo had her set done…  larger sized and then hole punched and put into a duotang instead of cut out.

I am so proud of how the kids are managing to work on a balance of working independently and in small groups. We are still finding our stride with noise and close quarters, but I think that will be a continuing battle for as long as we homeschool. Sometimes personalities just clash! Or sing really loudly in the middle of class.

We had TWO concerts in December – our Christmas pageant AND the daycare one for Evan. Evan’s was all songs and very cute.

The choir director even threw a mini party on their last Wednesday practice before Christmas. Trinity was sick so the boys brought her back her very own treat from the party!

We spent a lot of our December with family story time. Emanuel and Trinity worked together to do an illustrated page for each and every story and we all enjoyed revisiting some old favourites and a couple new ones! Gammie sent us a new story that she recorded herself reading – this time Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Echo especially spent TONS of time sitting there listening to the story over and over again.

Don’t forget themed worksheets and stories about the season!

Of course we had Christmas with the Schwartz family and after Christmas Renee even took the twins out sledding. They had a blast with Nathan and Evan on the hill while Ken and I took the others to the dollar store.

We finished off our first set of swimming lessons with all 5 having them. No movement up to the next level for anyone but all 5 have learned new skills and enjoyed it enough to want to be registered in the new sessions that start up again in January. Thank you so much Nana and Baba for being the ones to instigate and continue these. One of the best gifts ever!

Christmas itself was a quieter occasion with the cousins in Florida but I think the kids had a blast and all their wishes seemed to be answered. You can see our Christmas Day HERE.

Christmas Eve Dinner

We even had snow! No where near as much as last year but with that minor disappointment for the kids was paired a lovely lacking of those lengthy freezing cold days we experienced the previous winter as well!

I always enjoy the creativity that comes immediately after Christmas with new presents and new eyes for the old ones.

I have to say now that December feels a distant memory. I am sure that if I HAD been on the ball this entry would go on and on but I have to admit, checking back months later.. thinking about events and people and checking through the pictures has given me a chance to relive a rather amazing month. I think 2015 is going to be a year of counting blessings as I reflect back on each month to share our experiences and joy with the world around us!

 PHOTO OVERFLOW…. HERE.

This is our second year at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. The kids are loving Sunday School and choir. This year our choir director planned out a rather fun and musical 30 min program called ONCE UPON A STARRY NIGHT. This is the first year all 5 of our kids are involved in a program. We had 3 stars, a shepherd and a wise man with a solo. In fact, all but Echo had speaking parts as well! So much of our December and a bit of November was spent with lots of practicing. 

The girls both wore their special Christmas dresses. This is the second time wearing these as we dressed up in our best for Santa earlier in the month (that picture to follow as well). Miss Echo was especially proud of her blue dress and star! 

I was very proud of Trinity. She used learning her lines as a way to improve her writing and for the first time ever was willing to stand at the front of the church AND say something into a microphone! 

Emanuel was a wonderful shepherd though his headgear did not make it down the aisle for the procession in. 

Gavin was a wonderful star and helped Trinity along with her lines.

Zander was loud and clear and sang beautifully! 

We even had guests come! Not only Nana and Baba but Renee, Nathan and Evan! Talk about exciting. Being able to share our pageant with friends was great fun. We go to Evan’s musical night on Tuesday which just happens to be at the huge Catholic church literally down the street a bit from here! 

All in all an adorable concert with the kids so proud of themselves. We ended it with bags of goodies… all sorts of traditional Christmas treats!

Quite the wonderful morning! A much loved Advent tradition.

Waiting and stitching before service. We had to come there by 9:30 for the 10:45 service as usual so they could do a run through.

Ken even SHAVED for the event (the day before but still… not bad!).

Trinity with a couple friends.

Ready for the procession in.

The babies are so adorable!

3 Wise Men… Persons… Wise Persons.

Singing

There was an adorable lost sheep solo too… Baa-bara had a song to sing.

Singing around Baby Jesus.

Our littlest star… she even sang some of the words!!!

And again…

It was a joy to be able to wear again the June wedding guest dress this time with the red crinoline underneath!