Tag Archive | New Years

December… Yup, Still Behind…

Well Well Well… December… Christmas, New Years, hilariously enough writing this at the end of Karyn’s visit when she ALSO visited here in December last year. TIMELY…. And then I got even further behind when summer kicked my bum… so NOW I will get December up and hang my head in shame.IMG_20151231_233322_01

Of course there are the basic first to think of memories… Christmas, including Christmas pageant at the church…DSCN1357[1]

Trinity as Mary

Trinity as Mary

Gavin the shepherd

Gavin the shepherd

Echo the sheep

Echo the sheep

My 2 Kings

My 2 Kings

New Years (at home and quiet with Karyn)… Visiting Santa… fun in the snow… homeschooling, of course… but beyond that I really did have to go to the images. Funny how some months you are like YAH I remember that, and others I really do need visual cues to trigger memories.

At Santa

At Santa

Skype calls with family…DSCN1389[1]

We did not have nearly as much snow as the year previous to the kids’ great disgust. But every time there was any sort of snowfall they were out there mucking around in it. Thank goodness Echo is finally able to maneuver ALONE and UNASSISTED out there.IMAG1942DSCN1396[1]

DSCN1408[1]DSCN1312[1]Now let’s see… we had a SECOND Santa visit at our local YMCA. We love it there (even more so after this summer where we basically spent most of our weekday mornings there). It was great fun to take a pictures as a family this time.IMAG1605_BURST001

We also went with the Schwartz family down the road to a neigbourhood that enters (and it seems WINS) the Christmas decoration competition every year. This year there was one house where you could walk around back in the their yard and get close up to the display you could only see from the road otherwise. IMAG1856

We had Christmas with the Schwartz family of course (yearly tradition!).

Not the best picture but it was great fun.

Not the best picture but it was great fun.

Trinity and I made a Trinity doll for Aunty Karyn to take home, she matched from the top of her head to the tip of her shoes. Not bad? My pattern was an amalgamation of Princess patterns by Kristen’s Kords.IMAG1883

We made pirogi with Nana and Baba. IMAG1952

Went out for Indian food while Karyn was here.IMAG2077

IMAG2076IMAG2075Shopped at Mall of America (because we girls are gluttons for punishment).IMAG2067

Open presents…IMAG2012

IMAG1993Ate giant Reese peanut butter cups.IMAG2040

We snuck in some learning too… a few workbook completions and reading and the larger unit I linked to the resources for above.DSCN1340[1]

DSCN1341[1]DSCN1383[1]And of course take a surplus of pictures! Enjoy my flash WAAAAAYY back!IMG_20151210_201426

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January, a Month on Reflection

Well I have to say it didn’t take reflection to realize that THIS January was a much easier month for the adults and disappointing for the kids. Of course, I am talking about the weather, no Arctic chill, but also not much in the way of truly useful (for play) substantial snow! At least getting to “Jesus School” on Sundays was much easier on the family. Frigid rides in the van in the early morning is never a blast.IMAG1127

But I get ahead of myself – We ran in the new year (well partied until the evening) with Renee’s family and friends at her folks’ hobby farm. There was kids to play with, amazing snacks to munch on and entertaining adult company. Absolutely no complaints here! Though we did not make midnight. It may be another year or two before Miss Echo can handle being out and about and HAPPY at midnight.IMAG0999

Jeffrey!

Jeffrey!

IMAG0994Our first weekend AFTER New Years was of course Home Depot… Echo starts up after August if you believe it! If you have NOT checked into this free activity (on both sides of the border no less) please do! Ages for this one are suggested 5-12. Such cute little sleds!

Sleds!

Sleds!

We had visitors in our new year… notably Cousin Robbie who is always willing for a quick game with the kids before settling down to playing adults only.102_0235

Enjoyed our gingerbread houses as decoration well past season…102_0236

Crafted and drew for fun and all…102_0238

102_0251And found the time to learn something about the world through Little Passports!

SPAIN

SPAIN

And a Wild Kratts!

Under the Frozen Pond!

Under the Frozen Pond!

I think 2015 was well begun with creativity on all sides!

by Emanuel

by Emanuel

Cross stitch by Gavin for his God Mommy back home!

Cross stitch by Gavin for his God Mommy back home!

With January also came our revisit of all things China and Chinese New Year. You can see our China resource page for this year’s studies HERE. I am going to have to think this through to really find a way to make a whole new unit for next year!!!102_0258

We had origami…102_0264

And costume time…102_0266

And a book completion for our littlest learner!102_0271And FIVE perfect sets of teeth!IMAG1194

IMAG1079Swimming continues to entertain all!IMAG1139

IMAG1246Definitely a different winter from last year when we had mountains of snow followed by biting cold!!IMAG1182

Yup fast forward through January… onto February… but first… check out the picture over flow HERE for this month with more silly goodness.IMAG0988

Welcome to 2014

December 31- January 5

How to end a rather interesting and unusual year… (but since when has the Reinsch-Johnson family experienced a USUAL year???) Well we enjoyed some print outs from Activity Village for the 2014 New Year. I love their pages… they have number searches, colouring pages… it is just the place to go for our print out needs lately. 101_5796

Education.com (link on right) has also been helpful, though without paying I am now limited to 10 pages per month.

Education.com (link on right) has also been helpful, though without paying I am now limited to 10 pages per month.

We did up our last Wild Kratts page of the year too. Who can resist Seahorses?? Seriously cool little fish that have an amazing resemblance to horses. We may just have to do a whole on lapbook on them one of these days! 101_5798

Both of our girls had their hair in plaits. 101_5801

Our last meal of the year? White Castle! Definitely not something we would have in Alberta. I do love their chicken rings. Not so much their sliders.101_5799

The kids did not stay up until midnight but we adults did. It was calm and alcohol free for yours truly. Maybe next year we will attempt company? But really, being with Ken is all I need. 

Miss Echo figured that a new year meant a pretty dress. I have to agree… she does do fancy on a regular day with flair. 101_5802

That evening we had Chinese from the family’s favourite place The Rose Garden. Fortunes on the first day of 2014!101_5805

I was further convinced to extend our vacation from schooling. BUT the boys did do some fancy math and reading while playing Sorry. Which really meant they were only mildly sorry as they trounced each other royally. No fist fights yet!101_5806

Miss Trinity actually WANTED to do schoolwork on the second day of the year. Dot-to-Dots are a great way to practice our counting and this book she got last year from friends here in Minnesota has ones up to 50! 101_5808

On the third day of 2014 Miss Echo modeled a Christmas outfit as she showed her dollies her cooking skills. 101_5810

And with that we wrapped up our week and moved into the weekend… the first of the year. Which is ALSO the first of the month… so.. HOME DEPOT. This time to make a calendar. We are seriously in love with this free program. Apparently it is also running in Canada! 101_5812

We rounded off the weekend with a look at our microscope. A bit of science to end our holiday… and ease into schooling once again! I don’t know about the kids, but I am ready! I love the organization. 101_5813

So our year has started well. I have not come up with any resolutions BUT I have decided to continue with my happy thoughts jar. I have a little pile of happiness already but no jar to put them in yet. photo (82)

This entry was posted on 22/01/2014, in Uncategorized. 2 Comments