Getting Ready for Christmas

December is such a wonderful month. It's so hard to pick which activities to do leading up to Christmas but here are a few of the things we did this year.

  

We took at trip to Mt. Rainier to play in the snow and take family pictures

the girls and I went to see Pacific Ballroom Dance perform.  

Girls night Ballroom dance style.

We went to the Tacoma Festival of Nativities and attempted to go to a live nativity in Gig Harbor but it was packed so we drove home with Grace crying and will try to go next year.   

Festival of Nativities 2016

we went tree hunting 

and decorated the Christmas Tree

Everett got to put the star on the tree this year

Gwenevere's first ornament on the tree 

Grace's first ornament on the tree

Everett and I made Christmas cookies for the family

We lit candles and listened to Christmas music

we participated in the #LIGHTtheWORLD LDS serve challenge

the girls went caroling to a Nursing home 

James made Grace a leather purse

Gwenevere made Papa a blanket.   It took a few days and there where a few tears in the process but she did a great job.  

Gwenevere picked the tiles she wanted

Her favorite part was ironing.  

She had the idea to add the heart.  I love the smile of accomplishment in her eyes

We made Santa art

Went Christmas Shopping with the money they earned in Oct and November.  

I put up our Christmas Lights  

Made a Christmas card wreath 

James made a wallet for Grandpa Rob

Participated in the Wilcox progressive dinner day

played the bells

Went sledding

Hit a pinata

enjoyed hanging out with friends decorating cookies and playing PIE in the face

Enjoyed FHE at the Mespiles home.  Cnady bar game and snowball fight

Made cookies with Grandma

Went Christmas Caroling and read Christmas stories.  

Merry Christmas everyone

my glorious plan

Last week was stressful.  All my doubts and insecurities came rushing through me like a steam engine with no brakes.  I pushed through an emotional week with the help of supportive friends, and James' constant encouragement.  

During the roller coaster of anxiety I told myself that once I made it through this week I'd have a relaxing week before Christmas to really focus on the important things.

Of course Monday rolled around and I woke up with a massive headache and sore throat.  The house a mess and a list of errands to run.  I told myself to just push through the day and I could rest the rest of the week.  We made progress but it was slow and my "to do" list was only half finished as I went to bed that night.

Today I woke up even sicker,  knowing I do best when I rest, I told myself,  I can rest after taking Gwenevere to Gymnastics.  We raced out the door tripping on toys and piles of clothes.

When we returned from Gymnastics my visiting teachers were waiting for me.  Oh how did I forget.  We texted, and planned and replanned so that they could come visit.   Now I was walking into my beyond messy house leading the way for my visiting teachers,  clearing a path to the coach and then clearing off the couch for them to sit.  It wasn't my finest hour.  I was still in my PJs and my kids went into the kitchen searching for food to eat.

We visited for a bit and then they gave me a lesson on "living in the manner of happiness",  Which totally didn't make me feel good.  Then they gave me a plate of cookies and off they went.

I was so angry.  Why, oh why.  This was not the plan.  The plan to was to have everything put together by monday so the house would be pretty when they came and I'd be pretty when they came and all would be well.  I know I should have a testimony of Visiting Teaching,  that somehow it makes us better.  But it sucks.  It makes me feel frustrated and worthless.  I  never feel like the  lesson is for me.  I feel like they are doing their duty and checking off the box.  I hate it.

that being said.  Once they left.  I took my anger and turned it into motivation.  I fed my kids lunch and then helped them clean up the upstairs.  I then let them have quite time while I cleaned the kitchen.

As I was walking downstairs to switch a load of laundry I saw this....

and it hit my like a brick.  I got what I wanted.

I wanted to be present.  to slow down and enjoy the christmas season.  I was getting it all.

Despite my visiting teachers, despite my cold.  despite my messy house and all my imperfections.  My Savior loves me.  He loves me so much he sent me this precious moment when everything was perfect.  And I felt loved.

I just wanted to make sure I remembered this moment.

Art by Grace

"I tried making Saturn without the rings but it just looks like the sun.  Did you know Saturn looks like the sun without its rings.  It's just not as bright."  Grace age 5.  Field trips to the Pierce College Planetarium is paying off.  They love learning about our solar system.

questions

Today while driving in the car Grace asked  "When you are angry is it your body or another person making you angry?"

I know that might seem like a strange question but knew exactly what she was asking.

I first asked a question just to clarify what she was asking

"Are you wondering if it's your body that makes you angry or if it's satan?"

With excitement Grace replied, "yeah"

"That is a great questions Grace,  our bodies use anger to respond to a threat or something we don't like.  So it's our bodies that make us feel anger.  Satan can't have any power over us.  When we feel angry we might feel tempted to do something bad but we still have a choice to how we will respond to our anger."

Not sure if I should go on a pause for a moment.

Grace thinks for a moment longer and then says.  

"Okay.  Thanks Mom"

I'm not sure what made her think of this question but I'm glad she is in a curious stage and I can answer some of her questions.  at least for now.  

Pondering Grace, Homeschooling and Gratitude

last week we visited the 320th Federal Way library. I seriously love the layout of that library. It's so soothing. 


While Grace and I where wandering the aisles of books, Grace in her pondering voice said, "I wonder how Libraries get so many books?"  
 I got so excited and with a big smile on my face I said,  "well Grace,  everybody that has a job pays taxes.  Papa also pays taxes.  We give money to the government through taxes, and they use that money to build libraries and roads and schools and so much more.  Isn't that cool?"  
I love that she thought of that question.  I love that I got to answer her question.  And I love that we live in a country that believes building libraries, schools and roads is important.    I love homeschooling.  

Since I'm already blogging about homeschool I might as well continue.

Check out our school room

Everett actually gets the concept of Bingo now.  He used to think it was like I spy and he'd mark every picture saying I found....

F is for family and friends

since halloween Everett has decided he is a Dragon for school.  He only wears his dragon costume for preschool.  

Boy school minus one.  walking around the neighborhood checking out decorations.  

after boy school we met up with the Day family to map out the galaxy (at least the distance between the planets in our galaxy).  PS The Universe is BIG.  If you haven't ever done this before go get a 100 ft measuring tape and go to the biggest park you can find.  you are going to be amazed.  I'll try and get the link from Sarah of what we did but here is another great link that is a bit simpler.

The basketball is the sun and Benjamin is where Mercury is located about 36 million miles away from the sun.

this it the size of the Earth compared to the Sun (basketball) and the grain of salt is the moon about 238,900 miles or 3 inches in our diagram of our galaxy

Everett running back and forth while Gwenevere and Benjamin map out more planents

we used cinnamon to display the asteroid belt.  (see that tiny building in the background that is where the sun is)  and that was relatively close compared to the rest of the planets.  

I stopped taking pictures at this point because the distance was too great.  But the kids had a blast.  It's been so fun to learn about our solar system.  Sarah is an amazing teacher.  

On thursday we went to the Pierce College Planetarium to learn about the many many moons in our solar system.  Did you know  Jupiter's 4th largest moon,Europa is covered by frozen water?Underneath the frozen crust is liquid water and salt making Europa a top contender for habitation.   That is just one of the many fun facts we learned during our visit.  I must say Planetariums are AMAZING!

Today for boy school we talked about the letter G and played the Gifting Giving Game.  

Grace was so excited to give gifts she just had to share a few of her own.  She gave me a necklace she made me a few weeks ago and Gwenevere her christmas present.  

Everett with Papa's Smile

One of our many nativities adorned with Grace's animals

Our beloved new toy Snowball

snack time and story time

 And then this happened.  Yay.  Gwenevere took a break from  piano and I haven't pushed her to play for quite some time.  But today she pulled out her books and started practicing again.  I really hope she continues to try.

Then later today.  Benjamin came over to do school with Gwenevere.  We played Rummikub (which stretched their mathematical minds just a bit so we quite early to relieve frustrations but we'll play again soon.) and then we carved soap and watched a short video about Donatello's sculptures.  After attempting to carve soap I have a renewed appreciation for the great men from the renaissance era.  that was fun lesson.    



I sit in awe trying to find a way to express my gratitude for everything.  It's too much to be expressed by words alone.  but with the limited words i'll express that which I am able.  


I am thankful for the calm in my life.  I love how I don't feel overwhelmed.  even when it's overwhelming. 
I am thankful for the progress we've made on our home.  
I am grateful for the opportunity to be a mom, a teacher and a learner
I am grateful for resources are friends and experiences
I am grateful we can live AND learn together as a family
I am thankful for the stages and ages of my children at this very moment.  
I am thankful for the choice to live simple.  
I am thankful for adventures we take and the time we spend together as a family
I am thankful to have my kids and home with me.  They will grow up fast and soon leave our home to find their own.  I am excited for their independence and to see the path they will lead but I am eternally grateful I have chosen to keep them home with me a little longer.  They are growing up in a peaceful and safe environment where they are learning of their individual worth and God's personal plan for them.  I am so grateful I can give that to them.  and these blessing come from all the hard work James does for our family. 

Life is good.  Until next time.....