Mondays always seem to be a bit of a struggle. I think we need to walk away from having weekends so obviously different  from our weekdays. We have had to face printing practice for Zander today. It was one of the things the facilitator noted… a backslide in the legibility. He is resistant (of course) but we are making progress. I limited our workbook time to a page of math and a page of either printing practice or sight book work. Amazing how even that little bit was a bit of a struggle. HOWEVER we did make it a little more fun with CHRISTMAS stickers from the Dollarama to mark completed pages in the math books. 

Sight word book work

We finished our Day 4craft today – toilet roll Christmas candles! Super simple and lots of fun, though we did have some paint drips and some stickers that did NOT like the paint surface. Gavin put some of our glitter stuff in his paint to give it a shiny look and they all were happy with the end result. I am so glad I picked up some shiny Christmas pipecleaners with Kristen. They just look so nice! Up on the mantel they go! 

Our completed candles

Today’s theme was the Christmas robin… we did the colour by numbers, the connect the dashes… but we decided not to make ourselves some robins out of paperplates. Instead we read some fun stories about sleds and Christmas. Did you know that Fancy Nancy is full of interesting Christmas knowledge? 

Fancy Nancy

Sledding

Storytime for Petite Sheepette

I wanted to remind everyone that we have moved… and our mail is NOT being forwarded… I cannot remember who usually sends out cards but if you contact me I can get you our new address!! Please do NOT send mail to the old address! 

One of today’s videos is a step by step walk through on how to draw a Christmas robin. Gavin took inspiration from the process (pencil first, then pen over lines, erase and we added colour) to make his own picture. Christmas themed of course! 

Gavin's completed drawing

Zander is becoming quite the checkers player. We had a game this afternoon and ended on a draw (we each had one king left). I only had to remind him once or twice that it is a VERY boring game if you just keep moving back and forth to avoid doing anything. I need to find someone who is good at chess to teach him chess next I think… who knows, this could be his “thing”!!

Checkers

So the kids were supposed to go sledding with Ken today and work interfered. With good reason, he stuck close to home to answer the phone and work out the details of a possible contract… but that means tomorrow is THE day – sledding after lunch! I think I am almost looking forward to it more than they are! 

The laminator and my cluttered table had a run in, luckily no jam but a slightly bent puzzle piece and house… thankfully owner of said house was fine with it and I think the puzzle will still work… but I need to have words with that machine. It is NOT playing nice! 

We have a busy day tomorrow with the proposed sledding, Trinity and Emanuel’s library adventure solo with Karyn and Ken, Echo and myself meeting up with Kristen and Fydo. Thankfully He Chris will be here to help with the other two. Our villages are growing, as is the boys’ Polar Express lapbooks. I still have the rest of the week to complete my goals and I plan on taking advantage of ALL of my spare time! And some of my not so spare as well! 

Her top says Silent Night... I don't think so!

My kiddos

The world outside just feels quieter with a good thick blanket of snow over it. Something like 10 cm was projected for tonight! The kids are in heaven! 

More snow

Trinity didn’t go sledding with the boys and Ken so she got to choose a special thing… addict that she is (like her mother) she chose a slurpee. So we had to kit up in our gear and tromp through the falling snow to get one for each of us! 

You can just see the baby sneaking on for the kill... she ALMOST got to the slurpees before Ken grabbed her. She HATES Pepsi so far but will keep trying to steal sips thinking that THAT TIME she will like it!

We also did today’s Advent craft together. We made Holly Brooches. Seriously go to Activity Village and check each day out! I woke up this morning to their houses already coloured! Of course Trinity came up with an AMAZING plan – we are making OUR brooches into HAIR CLIPS! So that decides my hair thing for Christmas. Now all I need is a pretty new shirt and I am set. 

Holly ready for clips

There is also a video I wanted to share with everyone! This is a 16 yr old boy from Winnipeg and his rendition of the Little Drummer Boy song! Absolutely AMAZING! 

Now back to our day – Ken decided to not take the boys to the museum and art gallery for the drop in, instead letting them play games in the basement and then go sledding! Talk about excitement. They went to the hill near our church which was a bit small but plans have been made to go to a BIGGER hill tomorrow.

sledding

Sean has come for the weekend so we have added company… and then there is tomorrow’s Sunday School pageant practice to deal with. Ken would rather take the 4 involved and leave Echo here so that makes it a little easier on me. Though I still have a mountain to face on the kitchen table… Things ARE getting done and that is what matters. 

Pensive popcorn baby

I just realized that I had not linked the instructions for making the Lucky Stars, just pictures and the finished stars. So HERE are the instructions I use.

Today is a civic holiday here in Alberta – Family Day. Since we have had such a busy week and weekend and the weather is still so chilly I decided to keep the girls here at home and send the boys out. Trinity definitely needed her daily nap and Echo has rather poor circulation in her feet like Ken does.

Ken ran into the library to get the “Welcome Baby” package for Echo – it comes with her very own library card. There is lists of suggested books for her and of course a brand new board book!

Welcome Baby Booty

After running into the library they went to the grocery store for the beginning of our meal plan – quiche and Caesar salad.

Noms

And then FINALLY they made it over to the local hill for some sledding (after all it was ONLY -11 Celsius!). Even Ted got on the sled.

Ted on a sled (Zander standing)

But my favourite is a video of all 4 of my boys on one little sled going down the hill!

I am working on some intense backstitching on my long time unfinished Teresa Wentzler… I can show a detail picture but I want to save sharing a picture of the entire piece until it is finished!

So much stitching

After everyone was back home and Trinity up from her nap I settled the kids down to do a craft. A friend who was downsizing last year sent us some craft kits and books. The glue was no longer usable but the instructions and other bits were perfect. Hand art!

Crafting away (Gavin right)

Gavin's Octopus

We officially completed our Frog Lapbook today, putting in the last part – each of the boys’ hand printed sentence on something new that they learned about frogs. They are very proud of the lapbook, the bulk of which was found at this site. We have not got a new focus set up for tomorrow so it is looking like workbooks and talking about what to do next. Though I am REALLY leaning towards going back to our dinosaurs and starting up the lapbook. I have most of the bits printed out for that, though I have to reprint a few things once we have colour toner again (soon soon, just getting the store to talk to our board for a payment order).

Zander and Gavin and a large portion of the lapbook

Trinity asked for new barrettes so last night I made her up a set in bright green ribbon. They turned out very bright and pretty. I have a few ideas for Echo but have to pick up some Velcro.

Very green!

With Ted and Sean over for the day (and last night) it has been a wonderful long weekend, and one of our last with this ease of visiting with the guys. It is going to be hard for us to be over an hour away… especially with Sean’s car broken down and Ted without a car himself. I am sure we will manage but it will be a MAJOR change. (of course in return we will be closer to more of MY friends and family, so definitely a trade off)

So with Emanuel’s bed (formerly the twins’ bed) assembled in his room – to be rearranged tomorrow, and the kids a little over done from sledding I am ready for a quiet evening. Hopefully!

Trinity, Baby and the new clips