Advent Daybook

For today...November 30, 2009

Outside My Window...it is a beautiful day, and the windows can be opened again after a few chilly days.


I am Listening to...Christmas music and loving every minute of it!


To Be Fit and Healthy... I am thinking of getting rid of the microwave. At the very least we are attempting to not use it (although we cheated a little with Thanksgiving leftovers). Also I am taking new herbs that are supposed to be just what I need...we'll see.



I am thankful for...Mike who got out of bed at 6:30 yesterday morning and composed our Christmas letter!!


I am pondering this quote...As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy


I am reading...well my plan is... at least one different Christmas book a day with Jake...we'll see how that goes. A lot of reading done around here in the last few days (squeezed in around everything else including Jonathan and I reading until midnight last night)...Catholic bookclub today The Lamb's Supper by Scott Hahn and A Philadlephia Catholic in King James's Court by Marin De Porres Kennedy. Mother-daughter bookclub tomorrow Sounder by William Armstrong.



From the Kitchen...pizza dip and cake to bring to bookclub. Chick fil a for supper because Madi is performing there tonight.


I am thinking...I better get off the computer and get moving!!



From the learning rooms...I feel like it's been so long I've almost forgotten. Lots of Advent/ Christmas stuff for Jake, maybe the Christmas books that I plan to read in place of FIAR. Jake didn't do all of Reading Made Easy like the other two because he'd pretty much already learned to read, but he and I are reading the last few lessons about Gideon getting a new book. After the next few gruelling days between bookclubs and another show week, I'm planning for Jonathan and Madi to keep up with History, Science, and Math throughout December...that hasn't happened much in the past.


I am Praying...for my brother who had a melanoma removed recently.



In the Garden...we've got tons of pumkin plants growing...most of the seeds had already sprouted inside the other pumpkins...we also have 5 more pumpkins to cook and the 40 lb one that is just going right to compost. We've moved our compost bin to our reaised bed garden to get some good nutrients in there for the spring. We like to pretend we know what we're doing, but we really don't. We have tomato and cucumber plants growing by the outside table, but sadly we pay almost no attention to them.

On a similar note...our Christmas tree doesn't seem to be drinking and that is a big concern!



Around the House...we have a lot of decorating to do...when that will happen is anyone's guess. We have some advent candles on the kitchen table and will light them at dinner each night.



A Few Plans for the Rest of the Week...let's just get through one day at a time...bookclubs, babysitting, shows-- oh my! Then the next few weeks will be much calmer!!


I am googling...Santa's adress because Jake wants to send him a letter.

A few pictures I'm Sharing:
my ghost pumpkin...

has become...

This'll get you in the Christmas spirit!!

Catch up pictures and Decorating

The first of our many annual Christmas traditions...



Thanksgiving/Anniversary







Madi's Thanksgiving/Anniversary card to us...so cute!!

Minnie our guinea pig, who doesn't get the recognition she deserves...


Nana and Mr Glen and Charlotte came for a short visit this week. Mr Glen gave Jonathan a guitar lesson. We exchanged Christmas presents and it got us in the spirit!





Last Saturday was the baby shower for the Theatre directors, Joel and Amanda. Here the kids are soiling some baby doll diapers with lemon juice and chocolate syrup for a game for some dads to play. Joel, the dad-to-be, won that game. Madi won the clothespin can't say baby game because she was a relentless (and slightly embarassing) competitor...and some people gave her their pins...I think to get her to be quiet!



Last Friday we went on a mini field trip to a local greenhouse to learn about how running a business like that is more than just knowing how to grow plants. When I was in 7th grade we had something called career education where each friday for about 6 weeks we went on trips to learn about different jobs. Generally speaking I think my kids have a pretty good handle on a lot of jobs, but I'd like to go on more trips like this in the coming months.


I'm trying to decorate my blog for Christmas. It doesn't seem to be working, I can't get rid of the fall decorations. I chose to do this on my blog first because it is easier than doing it in the actual house. The jury is still out on if we are going to get our tree today or not. I'm thinking we are, but I think we're all too lazy to get moving on it...too much turkey yesterday! We've already visted the local Christmas tree forest today, but we tend to buy our tree at a cheaper place. Don't worry though, we did support the little guy by buying some kettle corn and roasting a few hot dogs...the place was packed! We'll be back again, I'm sure.

We've had our Christmas picture cards for a few weeks, but we seem to be stumped on the Christmas letter. We attempted one in the car on the way home from my parents' house today, but didn't get very far. We were having the kids answer different questions like the funniest thing about this year or what they learned, but two of them were generally answering the same thing and the third just answered with things like "how am I DUPPOSED to know?!" (misspelling intentional) Like I've always said I feel like the blog is a daily (or at least weekly) Christmas letter, so I don't want to say the same things. Anyone who really cares about what we are up to can read my blog (and judging by the amount of comments I get...that's not very many people!!)

Mike and I got married 15 years ago yesterday. We watched our wedding video at my parents' house last night. We all danced. It made me think it might be fun to have a mom's night out where we watch some of each other's wedding videos...who's in? On Wednesday at work Mike mentioned to someone that our anniversary was the next day. Her response..."oh you got married on Thanksgiving"...this reminds me of when we lived in Charlotte and used to hear a lot of..."Oh Thanksgiving is on Thursday this year?" Eye yi yi!

Second Honeymoon

Love exciting and new, come aboard, we're expecting you....I sang this song over and over on the first day. All that I'd ever known about cruises I'd learned from watching Love Boat. Let me tell you, it was better than I could've ever imagined!! I was sort of not "into it" going in, so I didn't have the highest of expectations, but it was by far the best trip EVER and words cannot even begin to describe it. Here's just a little glimpse...


Day 1...setting sail...





Day 2...the first full day at sea and formal night...




Day 3 Grand Cayman...you can take the mom away from homeschooling, but you can't take homeschooling out of the mom...the first two places we visted in Grand Cayman were the library and the bank (for Cayman money for the kids)...








Day 4...Cozumel, Mexico...


Yes, we did have massages there!



Day 5, BINGO and our "last supper"...






Sunrise the last morning and docking next to the Oasis, the largest cruiseship in the world.




We are planning to get the kids' passports soon and will be cruising again in the not so distant future!

Take me out to the ball game...

Mike took Jonathan (who managed to stay out of all the pictures and video) and Jake and Joe to a new winter league baseball game last night. The company Mike works for is a sponsor and they have season tickets.

Another week, another daybook...

For today... Tuesday November 10th.

Outside my open window...it is beautiful!

Around the house...my bedroom is covered in our "cruisewear" as Mike and I begin packing for our 15th Anniversary Second Honeymoon.

15 years ago...we'd booked a cruise for our honeymoon, but canceled it and bought a house instead. We went to a Bed and Breakfast in Vermont for our honeymoon...my parents came for part of it (my grandparents went on my parents honeymoon...it is sort of a family tradition...I plan for my kids to continue it) {Mike and I are the only ones going on this trip though}.

On Sunday...I went to an herbal health seminar and had a "compass scan".

Yesterday... I ordered the products that should help me obtain optimum health...plus I ordered two bottles of Silver Shield...as far as I'm concerned that stuff is better than gold!!!

Also yesterday...we made the hour long semiannual treck to the pediatrician for Jonathan and Jake's well check ups. It is a long drive with not the most organized or friendly staff, but so worth it. Our pediatrician is the BEST...I just love that lady! She is an MD and also certified in homeopathy, and is extrememly knowledgeable about all kinds of alternative therapies. She's not afraid to say that she thinks that American Academy of Pediatrics is crazy with the vaccine schedule for infants, yet she knows how important certain vaccines are and is vocal about how many of them save lives. She is equally vocal about how the government doesn't really know what they are talking about with regard to the Swine Flu. She is the best of all worlds!

And since we were near there anyway...after the docotor's visit we went to Disney.

Some Disney highlights from yesterday were... Madi and Jake realized that they could peek through the holes in the seat of the tram and watch they road...when we exited the tram Jake said, THAT WAS AWESOME!!

...we actually got to ride on the brand new TEAL monorail...it is not actually brand new, but made up salvaged parts from the pink and purple monorails that were in the accident this summer...how do I know all this? Jonathan is a "Disney Monorail Buff" and wrote a report on it. (we also drove past (in the car I mean) the round house where the monorails are parked when they aren't in use which was another big thrill!)

...Jake got a certificate for finding all of the hidden Mickeys in Mickey's Star Traders...there are 7...like his age!

Our favorite radio station... is having trouble raising the money that they need for their working budget...we already donated...did you?

While talking about radio stations yesterday... Jonathan mentioned that Radio Disney is an AM station and Madi thought that meant it was only on in the morning!!

Jonathan... got 100% on his Science test yesterday...he took it in the car.

Jake...seems to be having a little bit of a Fall Break from school which is OK since he started school in July!

Madi...is almost done with her Astronomy book and learned about Pluto yesterday...it is an interesting little planet (or not a planet as the case may be). It was discovered in 1930, so now she's going to figure out what came first the planet or Mickey's dog...we'll keep you posted!

We also need to google...how blood pressure cuffs were made before velcro...yesterday, Dr F wasn't sure so she wants Jonathan to find out and email her.

Jake's party!!

We had Jake's birthday party last night...better late than never! It was very similar to Jonathan's party last month except that they ate less and slept more. What a fun bunch of kids!!