Small Successes

Sherry, at Chocolate for Your Brain, hosts Small Successes each Thursday. Check it out to see others' successes & share your own. Recognizing the small things we accomplish each week helps us realize that even when it doesn't seem like it, we are getting things done!

1) Cleaned out the fridge to make room for the cookie doughs I made up

2) I've baked (w/ the munchkins' help) four types of cookies so far. More will be made today, including my grandmother's Easy Fudge recipe...YUM!

3) I have everyone's Christmas outfits planned & ready for Mass on Sat. evening.

Last Week's Goal...Start getting our cookie doughs made up & wrapping some presents so that we're not stuck at the last minute (most doughs are made & already baked; I've wrapped about 3/4 of our presents)

This Week's Goal...Enjoy Mass & family gatherings for Christmas!

I wish you all many
Christmas Blessings!

"Tuesday's Ten" (on Wednesday) - Ten Favorite Christmas Movies

Yes, I know it's Wednesday...Better late than never!

Taking a cue from Kristen at St. Monica's Bridge, I'm listing my favorite Christmas movies.

1) A Christmas Story

2) The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

3) The Nativity Story

4) It's a Wonderful Life

5) Miracle on 34th Street (the original)

6) A Christmas Carol (w/ Alastair Sim)

7) The Bishop's Wife (w/ Cary Grant)

8) White Christmas

9) Elf

10) The Shop Around the Corner (w/ Jimmy Stewart - Did you know that You've Got Mail was a remake of this movie?)

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

My dear blogging friend, Judy, over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.

1) I'm thankful to have all of our Christmas shopping done (except for a couple items not needed until after Christmas).

2) Along that line, I'm thankful that over half of those gifts are already wrapped!

3) I'm thankful for the opportunity to bake w/ the munchkins. A couple of years ago I started a new tradition...each child chooses a type of cookie to bake & just the two of us make that kind. It gives me some fun one-on-one time w/ each child in the kitchen (& gives us at least four different kinds of cookies!)

4) I'm thankful the Christmas season actually goes to Epiphany on Jan. 6. While I am ahead on some things this year, I haven't gotten to my cards yet. I'm not fretting over getting them out before Christmas Day.

5) I'm thankful that Mary said, "Yes!" to our Lord. I saw a bumper sticker the other day that read, "If Mary had been Pro-Choice, then there would be no reason to celebrate Christmas!" What a powerful statement! She had so much against her...a pregnant teen, unwed, facing ridicule & possible death...but, because she trusted God, she said, "Yes" & brought salvation to all of us. Thank you, Mary, for your strong example of faith & trust in God!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Peggy hosts this meme each week. Read other Daybooks HERE.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...kind of gloomy & chilly today

I am thinking...of past Christmas memories & wondering if I'll be able to get a blog post up this week to share some of them

I am thankful...that almost all of our Christmas shopping is done. Those things not bought yet are for celebrations we won't have until after Christmas.

From the learning rooms...we're on break other than some Christmas baking!

From the kitchen...leftovers for lunch & probably just sandwiches for dinner this evening. We'll be going out for pizza after our family trip downtown tonight.

I am wearing...my "new-to-me" pair of jeans that I found at Goodwill last week, a two-toned blue knit top, socks & sneakers

I am creating...(trying) a peaceful Christmas home

I am going...to do some baking w/ the munchkins this week

I am reading...Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis (read aloud for the munchkins & one of my favorites from the series) & I Surrender by my dear friend Judy Dudich.

I am hoping...it won't rain tonight for our trip downtown

I am hearing...The Prophet playing a Batman Wii game while The Archangel gives his own commentary on the game; The Princess & The Saint are playing somewhat quietly in his toy corner of the living room

Around the house...all the decorations I'm putting out this year are up, but there is a bit of clutter & dirty dishes that need to be taken care of shortly

One of my favorite things...successful trips to Goodwill - last week I spent $39 & came home w/ three bags full (3 items for Casinodad, 4 items for me, & about 12 items for the munchkins)

A few plans for the rest of the week...hopefully a "Mom Therapy" session, family Christmas choir practice, a trip downtown to see the Christmas decorations (including the dressed up windows of the old Lazarus building), possibly a trip to COSI

A picture I'm sharing...This was The Saint back in January when he needed stitches after a soda bottle broke & left a deep gash in his chin. Why am I posting this now, you ask? In the mail the other day, we got a notice from our insurance company needing more information to see if the injury was something that could qualify for worker's compensation. Ummmm! Yeah! He was 2 1/2 years old!

Small Successes

Sherry, at Chocolate for Your Brain, hosts Small Successes each Thursday. Check it out to see others' successes & share your own. Recognizing the small things we accomplish each week helps us realize that even when it doesn't seem like it, we are getting things done!

1) I saved money & bought wiper blades for Casinodad's car at Walmart...1/2 of what the local auto parts store was going to charge. Plus, I helped him put them on his car the other night.

2) I finally scrubbed the toothpaste splashes on the back of our bathroom door & cabinets. I've been looking at the spots for a while, but as soon as I walk out the door, I forget about it. (I saw an online article recently about a study on forgetfulness when changing from one room to another. Yep, that's me alright!)

3) All of our Christmas shopping for the munchkins is done thanks to Kroger & Target! Now a few more gifts to purchase & we'll be all done!

Last Week's Goal...Start getting our cookie doughs made up & start wrapping some presents so that we're not stuck at the last minute (I wrapped one gift...does that count? LOL! I guess I'll be repeating this goal for another week!)

This Week's Goal...Start getting our cookie doughs made up & wrapping some presents so that we're not stuck at the last minute

A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings

My dear blogging friend, Judy, over at A Thankful Woman's Book of Blessings, hosts this meme every Wednesday. Simply list five things (or a prayer or any thoughts) for which you are truly thankful this week. Voicing my thanks helps put my life in perspective & realize that, no matter how bad things might be, there is still MUCH good surrounding me.

1) I am thankful we are able to buy gifts for our children for Christmas.

I pray for those who struggle just to provide basic necessities for their children, yet alone gifts.

2) I am thankful for the house we live in.

I pray for those who are homeless or in danger of losing their homes.

3) I am thankful for the food we eat.

I pray for those who are unable to provide food for their families.

4) I am thankful for the warmth of our home during these cold days & nights.

I pray for those who are freezing & unable to find warmth.

5) I am thankful for my family & friends.

I pray for those who are alone or who have lost loved ones.

"Tuesday's Ten" - Ten Reasons We Homeschool

Inspired by my sister's Tuesday's Ten from last week, I decided to list some of the reasons we have chosen to homeschool. This list is in no way exclusive...there are MANY reasons to homeschool, different for all families & situations.

1) Not only is God allowed in our school, He is the superintendent.

2) Flexible scheduling - time for appointments, interest in topics can be further explored, illnesses, breaks when needed or wanted, opportunities to take advantage of nice days out, work during the day or night, etc.

3) We can use the whole house for studying - kitchen table, beds, couch, floor, outside

4) We can teach to the child's level, not the average of the class - if something doesn't work, we can change material or way it's taught & we don't have to wait for the rest of the class to catch up

5) If something is grasped w/in the first several problems, we can skip the rest & move on to the next lesson

6) No homework in the evening (although sometimes the munchkins like to get a head start on the next day & do some of their work in the evenings)

7) We CAN sing Christmas & religious songs, talk about God, pray, celebrate feast days & holy days

8) No bullying, unless you count sibling rivalry at times!

9) Learning takes place throughout the day - making meals/baking = science, math, health; grocery shopping = economics, math, health; park visits = health/PE, nature study, science; library trips = all subjects depending on what books you pick

10) Errands can be run when places are less crowded - library, shopping, etc.

The Simple Woman's Daybook

Peggy hosts this meme each week. Read other Daybooks HERE.

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...dawn is breaking on this nice crisp morning

I am thinking...of how nice it will be to get back onto our regular school schedule today; it's been pretty disjointed since Thanksgiving week

I am thankful...for lunch w/ my BFF yesterday. It's been a LONG time since just the two of us have been able to go out together. We laughed, cried, & had a wonderful time together.

From the learning rooms...lessons plans are ready for the next two weeks & we're digging back in today.

From the kitchen...tacos & tamales to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I am wearing...fleece PJs - black top; green, purple, & black striped banks

I am creating...I'm back to making my daily to-do lists - it really helps keep me focused throughout the day

I am going...to start making cookie doughs w/ the munchkins this week. For the past couple of years, each child has chosen a Christmas cookie to make w/ me & just the two of us do that type.

I am reading...Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis (read aloud for the munchkins & one of my favorites from the series), A Delaney Christmas Carol (a collaboration of three Christmas stories, each written by a different author, but revolves around the same family), & I Surrender by my dear friend Judy Dudich.

I am hoping...to get some of our Christmas gifts wrapped this week so that I'm not busily wrapping at the last minute (OK...didn't do this last week, so I'm hoping I'll be able to do it this time around!)

I am hearing...the two older boys sitting at the kitchen table looking at the newspaper ads from yesterday & having a deep discussion about Lego Bionicles

Around the house...a little cluttered, but not out of control

One of my favorite things...shopping for others & finding just the right gift

A few plans for the rest of the week...school, hopefully a "Mom Therapy" session, family Christmas choir practice, Advent Penance service

Here is a quote I am sharing...

"One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly." ~Andy Rooney