So soo much! Not the least of which is Mike and I are going on a CRUISE on Monday morning!! (and for any of you bad guy lurkers, this does not necessarily mean our house will be empty, as the kids will be staying with my parents and part of that time they'll be at our house...and you don't know where we live AND you don't even know our last name so nananananana!!)
Jake and Jonathan are in a main stage adult show at the new theatre. They needed an 8 year old who could sing a little and Jake got the part! Jonathan has a few different parts to play, not the least of which is being there to keep and eye on Jake and call or text me when they need to get picked up. Yes after holding out for what Madi for one considers to be far too long, we've now joined the millenium and have a texting plan. It is very handy. Just today for example Mike and I had a memorial service to go to (more on that later) and Madi was at the conference for middle school girls and Jake and Jonathan had rehersal for the better part of the day. They were going to have a break for a couple hours, but with the timing of the memorial service, they were on their own to hang out around town, possibly at the park or getting pizza until it was time to go back to the theatre. Turns out they ended up getting treated to dinner and chocolate cake by the director of the show. This isn't our regular director either, this is the artistic director of the whole theatre! I'm a little concerned about this whole major production depending on Jake to perform on demand, but mostly I'm really excited for it! (in light of keeping the aformentioned bad guy lurkers in the dark, I'm avoiding saying the name of the show at least until after I get back from the cruise).
A really nice man passed away this week. Actually, I'm sure a lot of really nice men passed away, but only one that we knew. He was a loving husband and father to four kids. The memorial service was packed. The theme of the service was basically that if they only talked about the man, that would only be half of the story, the day was also about celebrating God. The family seems to be holding up pretty well and I know it's their faith that is getting them through this, but to even think about what they are going through makes me ill.
Almost a month later, it seems pretty clear that the most useful Christmas present of the year (aside from the cruise and maybe Jonathan's ipod) is the donut maker Madi got. They are sooo good! If you are local expect to be invited over for a breakfast of donuts in the near future (but not this week, did I mention we are going on a cruise?!). The donuts (made with freshly ground wheat-read healthy-) go really good with coffee from the Keurig coffee maker (another very useful item!).
Madi is cantoring (singing the responsorial psalm) at church tomorrow. This is the second time she's done this.
Jake's now had two basketball games. He's a pretty good ball handler. He was more or less the point guard today, as much as there is a point guard in a game of 2nd and 3rd graders. He's a good passer and had a few good assists.
School is really good this year. Every year until now, we've had many of those typical homeschool days where the mom screams, "go get your shoes, I'm bringing you to school right now!" This hasn't even happened once this year, not even with Jake! I think after all these years we've really found our groove. We hardly even took time off during Christmas, this is in contrast to every other year when we essentially did no "schoolwork" between Thanksgiving (or maybe Veteran's Day) and New Years (or maybe Valentine's Day). Part of the commitment for this year has come from the older two and their virtual school classes. There's something about a teacher that is not mom that brings out a different level of commitment in kids. This is not to say that teachers other than mom are better for kids because I definitely don't think that, I just like what we are doing now. I also like that our laizee faire approach in the early years has really served us well. Everytime I mention to anyone with kids younger than Madi that my kids need to be doing school (as in we need to leave Chick fil a now to get some school done) I'm always quick to point out that they don't need to, not all the time. LIFE is school in the early years! It's also school in the later years, but will all the life experiences my kids had in the early years they are able to now handle their middle school and high school classes really well. They know that these classes (especially high school) are a stepping stone to college and the future not just for what they are learning, though they are learning, but because they are "credits" that they will need for graduation on college. I still think they are learning a lot more in their real life with theatre, church, theme parks, and conversations with people of all ages, but they can play the school game pretty well too.
Tonight Mike and I went to a ministry appreciation dinner at church. This is because I teach fifith grade religious ed. I've been meaning to say here that I got three presents for Christmas from my students and a couple of cards too. I've wanted to point that out because last year I complained that no one in my class gave me a present except for my own daughter. My complaint wasn't in the materialistic I want something sense as much as it was in the all my parenting life, I've always scrambled to give every teacher, coach, director, etc something for Christmas and the end of the year and it was a little disheartening to know other parents didn't feel the same way (especially about volunteer teachers!). So my faith in people was renewed this year! The yummy, free, catered Italian dinner tonight helped too!
Gotta finish packing, I'm not sure if I told you, but we're going on a cruise!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
7 quick takes
1. I can't seem to get myself in gear as far as a creative blog post is concerned, so how about seven quick takes? There, one down!
2. The kids are going to Theatre in a few minutes. Auditions for Beauty and the Beast are next Tuesday. Jake wants to be Chip. Madi wants Belle or Mrs. Potts. I'm not sure what Jonathan wants, I don't think he's sure either.
3. The bad news is the yummy and inexpensive ice cream place that is right next to the "new theatre" just went out of business! The worse news is that we just got a $40 gift certificate from there for Christmas! The better news is, the lady gave me $40 in cash when I went in there to dispute the whole thing.
4. Mike's brother is here for the weekend. After Jake's basketball game tomorrow, we are heading to Universal Studios and Harry Potter World.
5. My word of the year (HOME) seems to be working out pretty well for me so far. We're having a fairly lazy month. Actually we are on our second out of state visitor and the kids are doing well with chores and schoolwork, so compared to a lot of families that may not be considered lazy. We are however sleeping later than normal (or even socially acceptable) a lot of mornings and we are far far more laid back than our "December run around like chickens with our heads cut off selves".
6. Jonathan got his Learner's Permit on Tuesday! I can't believe it either!! I have no idea where the time is going. For some reason his first 15 years have gone by about 10 times faster than my first 15 years did! This is why we are attempting to slow time down by slowing ourselves down.
7. The car just pulled up that will take my three kids to theatre and leave me with a cute baby to play with for a few hours so I better run!
2. The kids are going to Theatre in a few minutes. Auditions for Beauty and the Beast are next Tuesday. Jake wants to be Chip. Madi wants Belle or Mrs. Potts. I'm not sure what Jonathan wants, I don't think he's sure either.
3. The bad news is the yummy and inexpensive ice cream place that is right next to the "new theatre" just went out of business! The worse news is that we just got a $40 gift certificate from there for Christmas! The better news is, the lady gave me $40 in cash when I went in there to dispute the whole thing.
4. Mike's brother is here for the weekend. After Jake's basketball game tomorrow, we are heading to Universal Studios and Harry Potter World.
5. My word of the year (HOME) seems to be working out pretty well for me so far. We're having a fairly lazy month. Actually we are on our second out of state visitor and the kids are doing well with chores and schoolwork, so compared to a lot of families that may not be considered lazy. We are however sleeping later than normal (or even socially acceptable) a lot of mornings and we are far far more laid back than our "December run around like chickens with our heads cut off selves".
6. Jonathan got his Learner's Permit on Tuesday! I can't believe it either!! I have no idea where the time is going. For some reason his first 15 years have gone by about 10 times faster than my first 15 years did! This is why we are attempting to slow time down by slowing ourselves down.
7. The car just pulled up that will take my three kids to theatre and leave me with a cute baby to play with for a few hours so I better run!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Daybook for January 8th (my mother's birthday)
Outside my window~ blue skies and cool temperatures.
I am listening to~ not much and it sounds great!
I am wearing~ white silky jammies, getting ready to put on sweats and go to the gym momentarily.
I am grateful for~ my self proclaimed word of the year HOME!!!
I am pondering~ this thought from Deacon Paul yesterday, "we can't solve the problems of the world, but we can make a dent"
I am reading~ blogs.
I am creating~ helpful kids with our new chore routine.
From the learning room~ I had this realization yesterday, we do school all over the place. The loft is supposed to be the "schoolroom" and it is the computer (ie virtual school) room. But I finally realized how to be sure to include the history that we all do together and that is to do it in the kitchen during breakfast or lunch). Jake likes to pick the place to do his work, sometimes his room, sometimes the family room, often the front room (my new favorite room in the house), sometimes outside, almost never the loft. Madi got her much desired "lap desk" for Christmas and she is a mobile schooling unit as well, often choosing a different couch. I'm still not happy with the look and set up of the loft and I'm enjoying the other, prettier rooms much more.
To live the liturgy~ I'm mourning the end of the Christmas season.
Around the house~ the kids have done great with their chores. We are using a month long "zone plan" this month Jonathan is zone 1- kitchen. Now I'm not only not loading and unloading the dishwasher, I'm also not picking out kids at random to do it. He knows it's his job, I know it's his job, we're all loving it! Jonathan even said even though it's a lot of work, he likes it because he knows what to expect! Madi is zone 2- front room and family room vacuuming, dusting etc, also looking good. Jake is zone 3- feed Mickey, downstairs bathroom, and laundry. He's got Mickey covered just fine, but he's "in training" on the other jobs. On the first day he so helpfully threw down all of the dirty laundry and inadvertantly dumped down the stairs two huge baskets of clean laundry as well. After lots of yelling and tears (from me) and lots and lots of appologizing (also from me), we got it all sorted and worked out. We just got a new washer, so I'm enjoying laundry and not ready for anyone to touch the new machine. By the end of the month, I'll be ready to pass the torch, I think Madi is up next for laundry.
From the kitchen~ in addition to cleaning the kitchen, Jonathan and I are in the planning phase of a 1/2 credit "cooking/ home ec" course for him. The fun thing about homeschooling high school is all the real life learning stuff that homeschoolers do naturally with their kids finally "counts" for something. I've been googling different home ec course descriptions, but basically we really are running a home here, so we don't need to duplicate what they do in school which is TRY to duplicate what people do at home. Anyway, by the spring Jonathan will know how to bake the bread and make tons of meals and baked goods all on his own.
From Netfilx this week~ Nativity Story...very good and It's Complicated...very funny!
On my ipod~ a year later, I am still loving this thing, from all my music on shuffle at the gym (each song is a fun surprise!) to the audio-rosary when I'm driving to quick email checks... this thing is the best!
Theatre~ starts this week. They are doing Beauty and the Beast auditions are the
18th.
One of my favorite things~ homeschooling. This week there were a lot of facebook posts about "yeah, it's back to school for the kids", I'm so glad that's not us!
A few plans~ going to Outback tomorrow night to celebrate my mother's birthday. getting Universal passes next week when Mike's brother comes for a visit. Harry Potter World here we come! Basketball practice started for Jake this week, his first game is next Saturday.
Choosing HOME whenever we can!
I am listening to~ not much and it sounds great!
I am wearing~ white silky jammies, getting ready to put on sweats and go to the gym momentarily.
I am grateful for~ my self proclaimed word of the year HOME!!!
I am pondering~ this thought from Deacon Paul yesterday, "we can't solve the problems of the world, but we can make a dent"
I am reading~ blogs.
I am creating~ helpful kids with our new chore routine.
From the learning room~ I had this realization yesterday, we do school all over the place. The loft is supposed to be the "schoolroom" and it is the computer (ie virtual school) room. But I finally realized how to be sure to include the history that we all do together and that is to do it in the kitchen during breakfast or lunch). Jake likes to pick the place to do his work, sometimes his room, sometimes the family room, often the front room (my new favorite room in the house), sometimes outside, almost never the loft. Madi got her much desired "lap desk" for Christmas and she is a mobile schooling unit as well, often choosing a different couch. I'm still not happy with the look and set up of the loft and I'm enjoying the other, prettier rooms much more.
To live the liturgy~ I'm mourning the end of the Christmas season.
Around the house~ the kids have done great with their chores. We are using a month long "zone plan" this month Jonathan is zone 1- kitchen. Now I'm not only not loading and unloading the dishwasher, I'm also not picking out kids at random to do it. He knows it's his job, I know it's his job, we're all loving it! Jonathan even said even though it's a lot of work, he likes it because he knows what to expect! Madi is zone 2- front room and family room vacuuming, dusting etc, also looking good. Jake is zone 3- feed Mickey, downstairs bathroom, and laundry. He's got Mickey covered just fine, but he's "in training" on the other jobs. On the first day he so helpfully threw down all of the dirty laundry and inadvertantly dumped down the stairs two huge baskets of clean laundry as well. After lots of yelling and tears (from me) and lots and lots of appologizing (also from me), we got it all sorted and worked out. We just got a new washer, so I'm enjoying laundry and not ready for anyone to touch the new machine. By the end of the month, I'll be ready to pass the torch, I think Madi is up next for laundry.
From the kitchen~ in addition to cleaning the kitchen, Jonathan and I are in the planning phase of a 1/2 credit "cooking/ home ec" course for him. The fun thing about homeschooling high school is all the real life learning stuff that homeschoolers do naturally with their kids finally "counts" for something. I've been googling different home ec course descriptions, but basically we really are running a home here, so we don't need to duplicate what they do in school which is TRY to duplicate what people do at home. Anyway, by the spring Jonathan will know how to bake the bread and make tons of meals and baked goods all on his own.
From Netfilx this week~ Nativity Story...very good and It's Complicated...very funny!
On my ipod~ a year later, I am still loving this thing, from all my music on shuffle at the gym (each song is a fun surprise!) to the audio-rosary when I'm driving to quick email checks... this thing is the best!
Theatre~ starts this week. They are doing Beauty and the Beast auditions are the
18th.
One of my favorite things~ homeschooling. This week there were a lot of facebook posts about "yeah, it's back to school for the kids", I'm so glad that's not us!
A few plans~ going to Outback tomorrow night to celebrate my mother's birthday. getting Universal passes next week when Mike's brother comes for a visit. Harry Potter World here we come! Basketball practice started for Jake this week, his first game is next Saturday.
Choosing HOME whenever we can!
Friday, December 31, 2010
New Year's Eve Daybook
Outside my window~ It finally feels like Florida again, I wonder how long this will last. It looks a lot browner than I'd like though (especially in the backyard!)
I am listening to~ Jake hic-upping.
I am wearing~ jeans and a green sweater, no socks or slippers (which have been constantly on my feet for about a month and a half!)
I am grateful for~ Mike who is home today.
I am pondering~ ways to slow down and do less. A lot of people are talking about naming their year and I've seen thoughts on a year of "yes" (as in Mom, will you play with me? yes and Mom, will you read to me? yes) Those are ultimately great ideas, but for myself I need to turn it around and say no to some of the other things that might ask for (or demand) my attention so that I will be able to say yes to the best things. Just because something is free or fun or even educational doesn't mean we have to do it. This is going to be my year of "no"!
I am reading~Lunch Money by Andrew Clements (yes, it's a kid book and I'm reading it all by myself) We love Andrew Clements around here some favorites are School Story, Frindle, Things that Are, Room One, and The Report Card.
I am creating~ A huge laundry pile for the new washer that will be delivered this afternoon. Our old one died earlier in the week.
From the learning room~ We'll be back at it on Monday. My last post was all about this so I'll spare you anymore details. (Although I did want to add, I realized that I might've come across a little braggy about all the kids' A's. Maybe I am a little braggy actually, but the thing is we've never done grades before, they've never even taken "real" classes before so it is just nice to know that our little "homeschooling experiment", delayed academics and all is really turning out just fine).
To live the liturgy~ I got this book and this planner so I'm ready!!
Around the house~ Most of "Christmas" will get packed away on Sunday ;(! We'll try to keep some of it out in our home and in our hearts all year though!
From the kitchen~ might make some more cookies today. We are drinking a lot of coffee over here with this new Keurig! As long as I have flavored creamer (and mostly decaf coffee) I'm loving it! Madi is too!
One of my favorite things~ Christmas!
A few plans~ Trying to keep the slower pace of this past week, when we ease back into reality next week. Jonathan and Jake have well visit Dr appointments on Wed (they were postponed from Nov) and we should find out the results of Madi's latest bloodwork. We've still doing all we can to "treat" her thyroid without medication and would love to see that it is working. Actual Theatre doesn't start until the following week, but there is a "meet and greet" at the new theatre on Tuesday.
Here's a pic of Mickey enjoying his Christmas rawhide bone!
I am listening to~ Jake hic-upping.
I am wearing~ jeans and a green sweater, no socks or slippers (which have been constantly on my feet for about a month and a half!)
I am grateful for~ Mike who is home today.
I am pondering~ ways to slow down and do less. A lot of people are talking about naming their year and I've seen thoughts on a year of "yes" (as in Mom, will you play with me? yes and Mom, will you read to me? yes) Those are ultimately great ideas, but for myself I need to turn it around and say no to some of the other things that might ask for (or demand) my attention so that I will be able to say yes to the best things. Just because something is free or fun or even educational doesn't mean we have to do it. This is going to be my year of "no"!
I am reading~Lunch Money by Andrew Clements (yes, it's a kid book and I'm reading it all by myself) We love Andrew Clements around here some favorites are School Story, Frindle, Things that Are, Room One, and The Report Card.
I am creating~ A huge laundry pile for the new washer that will be delivered this afternoon. Our old one died earlier in the week.
From the learning room~ We'll be back at it on Monday. My last post was all about this so I'll spare you anymore details. (Although I did want to add, I realized that I might've come across a little braggy about all the kids' A's. Maybe I am a little braggy actually, but the thing is we've never done grades before, they've never even taken "real" classes before so it is just nice to know that our little "homeschooling experiment", delayed academics and all is really turning out just fine).
To live the liturgy~ I got this book and this planner so I'm ready!!
Around the house~ Most of "Christmas" will get packed away on Sunday ;(! We'll try to keep some of it out in our home and in our hearts all year though!
From the kitchen~ might make some more cookies today. We are drinking a lot of coffee over here with this new Keurig! As long as I have flavored creamer (and mostly decaf coffee) I'm loving it! Madi is too!
One of my favorite things~ Christmas!
A few plans~ Trying to keep the slower pace of this past week, when we ease back into reality next week. Jonathan and Jake have well visit Dr appointments on Wed (they were postponed from Nov) and we should find out the results of Madi's latest bloodwork. We've still doing all we can to "treat" her thyroid without medication and would love to see that it is working. Actual Theatre doesn't start until the following week, but there is a "meet and greet" at the new theatre on Tuesday.
Here's a pic of Mickey enjoying his Christmas rawhide bone!
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
This is a homeschooling blog afterall...
I think I've posted more today than I have in about 2 months. One reason is because I've spent the better part of the day on the real computer (as opposed to quick checks ipod!) The kids are on here all the time because of their virtual classes, but since this is more or less a week off, I've had some time on here. What am I researching? School! More virtual classes, book lists, and (dare I say) even college admission requirements. So since we are half way through the school year and the computer is in my possession, here's a quick (or maybe not quick, we'll see) review of the year...
Jake is cruising through math like there is no tomorrow. Today we were discussing our soon to be implemented chore plan, and I was saying a part of that will also involve less screen time and consistent silent reading time. His quick reply was, "I read my math!" He is a good reader for a second grader, he just doesn't, at this point, choose silent reading as an activity (it isn't very active afterall). He will be done with his Language Arts Curriculum well before the end of the school year, and may move right into the third grade book before summer.
Jonathan and Madi got all A's on all of their virtual school classes. Madi's Art class is done and she got 100%. She will continue with her science class next week and may pick up another half year virtual class. I'm thinking Career Education. I had Career Education in 7th grade. I remember it well because it involved a lot of field trips. Madi's will be a little different because it will mostly involve sitting at the computer, but since her whole life is field trips, I think it'll be OK. I googled a lot about virtual classes offered by other states and came to the conclusion that our state definitely offers the best and brightest virtual schooling option. My current outline for Jonathan's sophomore year is heavily weighted in the virtual school direction (like to the tune of 5 virtual classes and one computer based math class). I may change my mind on this (and he will have some say too), but these classes just make perfect sense for high school homeschoolers. Jonathan's Spanish teacher was taking a while to post his final grade and come to find out the reason was that he was thisclose to an A, so she had him resubmit a few assignments and there came the A!
Our History is a little lagging this year. For one thing it's Ancients, we're more of an American History family. The other reason is all of us are doing it together and getting me and the three kids all in the same place at the same time is a little challenging. Also, the idea of a "real" teacher on the other side of the computer tends to put more pressure on the kids (and me) to focus more on those subjects. Lastly, for the last 4 or 5 years History has been our main focus, so it's fallen down a peg or two to give us a little more focus on other stuff.
Jonathan is exactly at the half way point in his Physical Science class, and I have to say he and I are both liking it a lot more than the Apologia General Science we did last year. Madi is taking a pretty good virtual general science class this year, so I think she'll go right into Physical next year. Jonathan was cruising like Jake in his math (Geometry) and somewhere around Thanksgiving that seemed to take a backseat. He'll still be done in plenty of time to get a summer break though. And the good news is this is the first year that everything didn't come to a screeching halt at Thanksgiving, so I think we're doing pretty well. His Driver's Ed is done (I think he got 100% in that) and we will be heading to the DMV in the next week or so....aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
Jake is cruising through math like there is no tomorrow. Today we were discussing our soon to be implemented chore plan, and I was saying a part of that will also involve less screen time and consistent silent reading time. His quick reply was, "I read my math!" He is a good reader for a second grader, he just doesn't, at this point, choose silent reading as an activity (it isn't very active afterall). He will be done with his Language Arts Curriculum well before the end of the school year, and may move right into the third grade book before summer.
Jonathan and Madi got all A's on all of their virtual school classes. Madi's Art class is done and she got 100%. She will continue with her science class next week and may pick up another half year virtual class. I'm thinking Career Education. I had Career Education in 7th grade. I remember it well because it involved a lot of field trips. Madi's will be a little different because it will mostly involve sitting at the computer, but since her whole life is field trips, I think it'll be OK. I googled a lot about virtual classes offered by other states and came to the conclusion that our state definitely offers the best and brightest virtual schooling option. My current outline for Jonathan's sophomore year is heavily weighted in the virtual school direction (like to the tune of 5 virtual classes and one computer based math class). I may change my mind on this (and he will have some say too), but these classes just make perfect sense for high school homeschoolers. Jonathan's Spanish teacher was taking a while to post his final grade and come to find out the reason was that he was thisclose to an A, so she had him resubmit a few assignments and there came the A!
Our History is a little lagging this year. For one thing it's Ancients, we're more of an American History family. The other reason is all of us are doing it together and getting me and the three kids all in the same place at the same time is a little challenging. Also, the idea of a "real" teacher on the other side of the computer tends to put more pressure on the kids (and me) to focus more on those subjects. Lastly, for the last 4 or 5 years History has been our main focus, so it's fallen down a peg or two to give us a little more focus on other stuff.
Jonathan is exactly at the half way point in his Physical Science class, and I have to say he and I are both liking it a lot more than the Apologia General Science we did last year. Madi is taking a pretty good virtual general science class this year, so I think she'll go right into Physical next year. Jonathan was cruising like Jake in his math (Geometry) and somewhere around Thanksgiving that seemed to take a backseat. He'll still be done in plenty of time to get a summer break though. And the good news is this is the first year that everything didn't come to a screeching halt at Thanksgiving, so I think we're doing pretty well. His Driver's Ed is done (I think he got 100% in that) and we will be heading to the DMV in the next week or so....aaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!
So much to say, so little time!
Christmas was (is, actually because it's not over yet... today is just the 4th day of Christmas) fantastic!
Some of the highlights of Christmas Day in no particular order were:
Jake being excited about getting industrial size bottles of ketchup and ranch dressing (his two favorite food groups!)
The knowledge that we didn't have to get in the car the next day for a three week trip to the freezing cold north like we did last year. (Although it is pretty freezing here, I had to scrape my windshield with a credit card this morning)
Our pet this year is a healthy dog as opposed to the dying guinea pig we had last year (RIP Minnie!)
Our traditional low pressure Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my parents.
Madi and the choir singing like angels at the 4:00 Christmas Eve Mass.
Madi and her friend Emma singing like angels with the adult choir at the concert before midnight Mass. (I didn't take pictures or video, but I'm on the lookout for some)
Jonathan got an ipod touch so he won't steal mine anymore.
Madi got the pogo stick she wanted and is taking lessons from Jake. Her record so far is 24, Jake's is 1010.
I got a "cruise" in my stocking, Mike and I set sail on January 24th!
I also got a machine that transfers videos to digital recordings, Jonathan is working out the kinks with it and our wedding video is currently stored on his laptop.
Jake got a director's chair and a "take clap board". (If you have a Jake age kid, get ready for some "Jake Acts" in the New Year!)
We got no phone calls on Christmas day (we made some!), but we did get three Christmas texts, we will be forced onto the texting bandwagon in the New Year (much to my daughter's delight!)
We (mostly Madi) got a lot of fun games and have been playing (and sometimes yelling) up a storm.
The Keurig coffee maker that we got from my parents.
Good health.
As excited as the kids were to open the many gifts they received this year, they are still even more excited for the rest of us to open the gifts they've gotten for us!
Some of the highlights of Christmas Day in no particular order were:
Jake being excited about getting industrial size bottles of ketchup and ranch dressing (his two favorite food groups!)
The knowledge that we didn't have to get in the car the next day for a three week trip to the freezing cold north like we did last year. (Although it is pretty freezing here, I had to scrape my windshield with a credit card this morning)
Our pet this year is a healthy dog as opposed to the dying guinea pig we had last year (RIP Minnie!)
Our traditional low pressure Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my parents.
Madi and the choir singing like angels at the 4:00 Christmas Eve Mass.
Madi and her friend Emma singing like angels with the adult choir at the concert before midnight Mass. (I didn't take pictures or video, but I'm on the lookout for some)
Jonathan got an ipod touch so he won't steal mine anymore.
Madi got the pogo stick she wanted and is taking lessons from Jake. Her record so far is 24, Jake's is 1010.
I got a "cruise" in my stocking, Mike and I set sail on January 24th!
I also got a machine that transfers videos to digital recordings, Jonathan is working out the kinks with it and our wedding video is currently stored on his laptop.
Jake got a director's chair and a "take clap board". (If you have a Jake age kid, get ready for some "Jake Acts" in the New Year!)
We got no phone calls on Christmas day (we made some!), but we did get three Christmas texts, we will be forced onto the texting bandwagon in the New Year (much to my daughter's delight!)
We (mostly Madi) got a lot of fun games and have been playing (and sometimes yelling) up a storm.
The Keurig coffee maker that we got from my parents.
Good health.
As excited as the kids were to open the many gifts they received this year, they are still even more excited for the rest of us to open the gifts they've gotten for us!
Christmas Morn video
I just realized that after the initial coming down the stairs video, I never got anything else, but here's a little peek at our early still dark Christmas morning.
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