Letting Go of the Chaff

M and I went to church together on Christmas Eve.  It was late afternoon, not long before dinner, and we’d gotten a later-than-I’d-intended start from home.  When we got there, the church was packed.  I managed to find us a seat since M could sit in my lap.  There was a very antsy toddler in [...]

Read Full Post »

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone.  May you rejoice today with family and friends.
M is sleeping uncharacteristically late, especially for Christmas morning.  I’m making coffee and enjoying the last stillness the house will see for many hours.  I have pancake batter ready to go and the presents lie in wait.  I’m anticpating a morning filled with squeals of [...]

Read Full Post »

A Morning Inside

We woke up to record cold temps this morning.  When I got out of bed, the thermostat told me it was 9 outside.  The morning of walking around downtown getting cocoa and doing a bit of last minute shopping vanished from my mind.  I decided we would stay right here inside with the heat running [...]

Read Full Post »

Vintage Christmas Books

I’m so glad that my parents saved most of my Christmas books. We have several of my books in our holiday book basket, a few of which I’ve already mentioned in our Advent Reading posts. It’s fun to share these memories of my childhood Christmases with my girls. Opening them transports me [...]

Read Full Post »

More Advent Reading and Crafting

Library requests of holiday books keep coming in. Here are some of the ones we’ve enjoyed in recent days:
All for the Newborn Baby by Phyllis Root – beautiful artwork showing all of nature adoring the baby Jesus
The Miracle of St. Nicholas by Gloria Whelan – a beautiful, moving story of the reawakening of a [...]

Read Full Post »

Photo Collage Gifts

We’re making photo collages for several friends and family members.  I wanted a gift that both girls could help with and one that incorporated pictures.  This is the idea I came up with:
Supplies needed: 2 colors of cardstock, makers, pencils, stamps or other items to decorate the frame, and 3 4×6 pictures
Fold cardstock for frame [...]

Read Full Post »

Advent Reading Week 3

This week, our special book is Night Tree by Eve Bunting. Today, based on the suggestion in Christmas Mosaic, we’re going to make a textured night picture using black construction paper as our base, green felt, sequins, beads, yellow foam, etc. Later in the week will make treats for birds.

Last Friday was the [...]

Read Full Post »

Advent Reading Week 2

This week we’re going to read The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski and then, following the suggestion in Christmas Mosaic, the girls will set up their own manger scene. I got this set for them, and we’re looking forward to placing it under our tree. We’ll also make some molasses cookies [...]

Read Full Post »

Remembering Not to Panic

As the holiday frenzy gears up, it is easy to start adding more and more to my to do list, more presents to buy, more crafts to make, more new cookie recipes to try.  I had a conversation with a friend today who said she had to keep saying “the holidays are fun” over and [...]

Read Full Post »

Advent Reading Week 1

I’ve been pouring through Christmas Mosaic by Cay Gibson since I ordered it a few months ago. We’re going to replace our Five In A Row time with books and activities from Christmas Mosaic during Advent and Christmas, and I keep having to restrain myself from thinking we can read through all the copious [...]

Read Full Post »