Happiness is... {living nativity scene models}

Linking up at the Happiness Is... Blog hop at Rub Some Dirt on It today!

 

Happiness is the laughter that comes from the memories of Christmas' past...

home made Santa Bobbers

 

Christmas gift

Amazing, Awesome and Cosmo

Christmas 2010

 And the joy that comes from new memories in the making.

Cosmo and Amazing (and Hannah) modeling for a nativity scene
November 25

November 28

Happiness is anticipating a Blessed Christmas Season!

Christmas Ornaments past (crafting)

Linking up at Living LIfe Intentionally Today!


http://livinglifeintentionally.blogspot.com/search/label/Linkey%20Parties


The first Christmas Daddy Y and I spent alone together was 14 months after we were married.  We had decided to move far from home to where we knew no one and didn't have jobs.  It was exciting and terrifying all at once.  For our first Christmas, we didn't have a lot of money, but we went to a tree farm and selected a modest tree to bring home.  Because this was also our first Christmas tree (we'd hadn't had one our first Christmas together), we really didn't have a lot in the way of ornaments.  I owned a collection of Berta Hummel ornaments that my Grandmother had given me, but they left the tree pretty sparse.  We decided that to supplement we would make ornaments and so we went and bought a package of clothes pins.  Daddy Y already had a box of assorted model paints and we decided those would work just fine.  What a fun day that was.

Since that time, we have accumulated quite a lot of other ornaments, but these little soldiers and their wives along with their chipped paint come out every year as a reminder of our humble beginnings.

We both love to create things.  Many Christmas' since we have made ornaments with the kids.  Often times they have been prefabricated ornaments picked up at places like Hobby Lobby and Micheal's that the kids personalized with their own paint.  Sometimes though, we've felt a little craftier and come up with other options.  Here are some that we really enjoyed making:

"Sugar Cookie" ornaments

These were discs of recycled cardboard.  I traced peanut butter and jelly lids on the cardboard to make different sized circles to cut out.  Then I painted them gold on the front and back with acrylic paint.  After that I cut slits in the side at about 1/2" intervals all the way around the circles.  I gave the discs along with strips of Christmas colored yarn to the kids (including a 5 and 2 year old) and demonstrated for them how to slide the yarn into the slit and wrap it around to another slit.  When they came to the end of each string, I tied a knot at the end of the yarn and called them done.  I was surprised at how cute these cheap little ornaments turned out.

"Santa Bobbers"

These were Daddy Y's idea.  We bought bobbers, cotton balls, googly eyes, sequins and white pompoms.  Awesome, Cosmo and Amazing were cracking up putting these guys together.  They couldn't have been simpler and each one had it's own personality.  They have definitely stored this Christmas memory in their brains forever.

"Painted Glass Ornaments"

These were very interesting to make.  We simply purchased plain glass ornaments and acrylic paints (well, let's be honest here... I probably already had the acrylic paints because I love acrylic paint).  They took the end cap off of the ornament and poured in colors of their choosing, one or multiple, and rolled the balls around carefully (VERY FRAGILE!) until the paint was dispersed over the entire inside of the ball.  After this we placed the balls upside down into egg cartons for the excess paint to drip out and the remaining paint to dry.  These turned out really beautifully!

So gorgeous!

Considering the quantity of ornaments we have right now, I don't think we'll be making so many ornaments this year, but we just can't resist making some.  I'm betting that my Cosmo, Amazing and Awesome are going to want to make some of the snowman hand print ornaments I'll be making with the daycare soon.  We're definitely going to have to have a bigger tree next year.

A Nativity and a tree

http://littledaisymay.blogspot.com/2011/11/what-im-loving-wednesday_30.html


What's not to love this week? 

I can't get enough of this nativity scene my sweet Daddy Y made,

with the help of my little Cosmo and Amazing.

and our cute (very tired, slightly shedding) little 10 year old Christmas tree is up!

With 19 years of Christmas ornaments piled on, courtesy of Awesome, Cosmo and Amazing.

It looked a little like a Charlie Brown Christmas Tree until they fixed it up.

And for the first time in years, tons of  December work has been rolling in for Daddy Y, making me wonder if the tide is finally turning.


There is so very much that I'm loving on this Wednesday!

What we're doing this week

Linking up at the Hip Homeschool Hop today!
http://www.hiphomeschoolmoms.com/2011/11/hip-homeschool-hop-112911/

Wow, it's hard to believe it's Tuesday already!  This week is off and running in a wonderful way.  The five day break was just what my kids needed to reset and get back to focus.

This week my Amazing is reviewing for assessments.  If we're lucky, we'll finish reviewing and be able to get our testing over with before the week ends.   She hates testing, but she's on such a great roll I think it really shouldn't be a problem.  She is definitely ready to move forward in her school work... enough review already! 

Amazing also had a piano lesson today. She is preparing for her December recital. I think we are both just about sick to death of Tarantella. She has her recital dress though, so she's excited about that and "don't forget we need to get shoes this weekend Mom". I can hardly wait... lol


Cosmo finished his testing before the break and so he's off and running with new things this week.  Today he started the chicken bone in vinegar experiment.  Isn't vinegar an amazing thing?  I think we could just soak things in vinegar all the time around here just to see what happens.

He is also working on writing a new article on a current event.  He has to interview someone who know something first hand about an event going on.  He's not looking forward to that, but I don't know why.  I guess it just feels like a chore to him.

Awesome begins her official off season training for track at school this week.  She is talking, dreaming, breathing track right now.  She is constantly reliving races, discussing her mistakes, anticipating stiff competition and mentally planning for how to face new challenges.  Sometimes I worry about her obsession a little bit.  If she wasn't so well rounded otherwise, I think I'd take her to see a specialist.

I've started planning crafts for the daycare kiddo's for the month of December.  I'm going to start with nativity scene project from Catholic Icing with the 3 year old.  I'm also planning on making hand/footprint reindeer (foot print head, hand print antlers, thumbprint nose) with all 3 of them.  They are always curious about painting their hands and feet.  I also like to do a craft as a Christmas gift for the parents in the month of  December and have 2 projects we'll be doing for this gift.  For the first one, we will be making stationary from the 1,2 and 3 year olds.  This is such a cute project.   I will document and post it soon (probably next Tuesday).  For the second gift project, we will be making snowman hand print ornaments like the ones featured over at Living Life Intentionally.

We've got the Christmas tree up with lights and it's partially decorated. The kids are planning on finishing the decorating tonight and can't wait. I'm excited to put all the boxes away! I've had enough of the attic mess in the living room. Amazing is so thrilled to have everything out. She literally glows just talking about it.


Daddy Y and I are going to have a "planning meeting" this week for Christmas.  It'll have to be Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday though, so since it's Tuesday I guess we better figure out when.  Personally, I vote Tuesday.  I guess we better see how the tree decorating goes first though.  So many things keep coming up and the planning keeps getting pushed back.  I think I may have to call an emergency meeting to get it done, plus I could just really use a night out!  Yes... this would be good I think... Tuesday it is!

Oh, and by the way, I learned a new trick today called "linking to my own posts"! Silly, I know, but being technically challenged this was a big deal for me, so for practice, (and for fun!) if you would like you can go here to see Daddy Y's homemade nativity!  Yea!

Homeschooling and pie making

Linking up at Rub Some Dirt on It today!

I'm so excited because today we have no daycare and Awesome, Amazing and Cosmo will be making the Thanksgiving pies for tomorrow.  I love that they are so interested in all things food lately.  They want to try new recipes and they desperately want to be in charge of the choices and the cooking.    Saying that they are eager really doesn't even begin to describe the excitement they are feeling.

So this morning I got into the pantry and started pulling out the ingredients we need for our assortment of pies. I got out canned pumpkin, evaporated milk, flour, crisco, apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, unsweetened chocolate, whipping cream, cherries, cornstarch... Wait a minute... cornstarch... where's the cornstarch??? I had a huge box of cornstarch in here!

Riiiiiiiight.   I remember what happened to the cornstarch now.  THAT was fun.  Oobleck.  Cosmo's hands were blue for 2 days and he used up all the cornstarch and likely all the blue food coloring.  That's 6th grade homemade science for you.

It was a lot of fun though.  I do remember there being an awful lot of laughter that afternoon.  It was definately worth it.  Besides, I only use the cornstarch when I make pie, or occasionally for chinese food.

After that he used up my flour on paper mache making a Spartan helmet.  It was the same week.  That was really interesting to watch, because that was what I did.  I watched.  He researched Spartan helmets and happened upon a paper mache creation.  He asked permission, then got out everything he would need and went to town.

That was fun.  Cosmo is so creative.  I love how his mind works.

So now, here I am, out of cornstarch.  I had replenished the flour.  I always buy flour when I see it on sale.  However, I will be going to the grocery store to purchase cornstarch on the day before Thanksgiving.   Maybe I'll go ahead and buy food coloring too, because I'm sure I'll forget about that one when I get out my ingredients for sugar cookies next month.

Explosion of happiness

 Linking up for another miscellany Monday this week! http://www.carissagraham.com/search/label/miscellany%20monday

1. When you have a leaf, it is very exciting, especially when you are one year old.  Good heavens what a lot of excitement going on about the leaf in the house this morning.
2. Cosmo and Amazing refilled the bird feeder for the second time in 10 days.  We need to buy more birdseed soon.  Those kiddo's love watching the birds just outside in the living room window.  I can't get over how many different kinds of birds we've seen already.
3. "That little girl's hair is an explosion of happiness!" ~ my favorite quote by my favorite Awesome.  She was speaking of a daycare child, but the ironic thing is that Awesome's hair is "an explosion of happiness".  Smiling, smiling, smiling.
4. I think I'll try to make clam chowder for dinner tonight.  I know you were wondering.
5. I'm getting my advent items out of the attic this week.  We'll be getting out the Jesse Tree my son made last year and the advent wreath and candles.  I love that part of the holiday season!
6. Ladle, ladle, ladle.  This is another thing that Awesome loves to say, frequently.  It does sound funny, don't you think?  Ladle, ladle, ladle.
7. Wow, I was thinking this was 7 quick takes for a minute, and I thought I was about finished.  Now I need to think of 3 more things for Miscellany Monday.  Alrighty then.
8. There are four children, clucking and flapping their chicken wings, stomping out the dining room, living room, kitchen loop in my house right this very minute.  I bet you wish you were here for it. 
9. "Mom, you should get up and do the dancing chicken with us." ~ Amazing.
10. Guess it's time to go do the chicken.  Have a great week!

Naptime Giggles

I'm so excited because today I'm being featured at A Mother Seeking today!  Yea, my first feature!  Hop on over and check it out



http://www.amotherseeking.com/2011/11/giving-gratitude-the-link-party-on-a-mother-seeking.html

I am thankful for children... mine and those on loan to me each day.  I am thankful for lego's stacked to the ceiling and train tracks clogging the floor.  I am thankful for B-I-N-G-O and even more thankful for Tom Petty.  I am thankful for a Cosmo helping his younger sister Amazing with science and children who think math is too easy.  I am thankful for kids who love to create,  washable tempera paints and tiny washable hands.  I am thankful for stories and imagination and for beautiful naptime giggles.  I am thankful for sleeping children and the escape to my Diet Coke.  I am thankful for the afternoon sunshine streaming in my windows.  I am thankful for one on one time with my children and endings to work days.

Scene from a memoir I haven't written yet {My first, last, only detention ever}

http://www.tootimidandsqueamish.com/2011/11/my-first-and-second-confession/

Linking up with (Don't Be) Too Timid and Squeamish today with a religious memory from my upbringing.

I'm in the 7th grade at a K-8 Catholic grade school. I'm quiet, well behaved, and soft spoken. I always do my homework and study for tests. I arrive on time, I listen, and I answer questions. I am not popular and I am not a trouble maker. I am pleasant to have in class. I am not an A student, but I rarely get below a B. I am one of those students that make a teachers job just a little easier.

Sister M has been teaching for a very long time. She is strict, but friendly. She really wants her students to succeed, but she has a temper. Some of the kids make her mad, just because they can. They think her response is funny. I am bothered when Sister M is upset. Some days she just seems agitated all day.

On this day Sister M was agitated. We had come to her room from our homeroom and she asked us to take out our assignments. I had done my assignment, but my folder was in the other room. I approached Sister M and asked to retrieve the folder. She immediately responded by saying, "No. No homework. Detention."

I had never been in trouble in school before. I had done the work, and it was in the building, I just didn't have it in my hand at that moment and for this offense I was going to have to serve a detention and have a mark on my record. I was crushed.  I didn't cry, although inside I was crying hard and yelling about how unfair it was. I did the work! It was in the building! This isn't fair!!!

At this school, detention was served after lunch, during recess. I went to lunch and ate quietly, expecting to suffer the humiliation of detention. There were boys that had detention that I felt very uncomfortable around. I was shy and careful about my social interaction. I was so upset. This was possibly the worst day ever.

Lunch was over and everyone was instructed to throw away their lunch trash and quiet down for dismissal to recess. I watched my friend’s line up and walk down the hall to freedom. I sat at the table, waiting. There were a handful of us left. Sitting quietly, but separately. The principal appeared at the front of the room to tell us what our detention duties would be. He looked right at me and angled his head in a look of curiosity and amusement. He instructed people to wipe down tables and arrange chairs, but told me to hold on because he wanted to talk to me.

Ugh... I just wanted to crawl under a rock. "Why, exactly are you here Miss B (my maiden name)?" I smiled nervously at him and said, "Sister M got mad at me for leaving my homework in the other room and gave me a detention" I said, hoping he would realize the injustice I was feeling. "I think you can go on outside for recess now" he said, smiling at me. Then he turned around to direct the rest of detention.

I walked quietly down the hall to go outside, feeling forgiven for my discrepancy and like I had somehow "dodged a bullet". I hoped Sister M wouldn't find out about this. I didn't want to make her upset ever again.

Happiness is... {backyard campfires in the cold}

Linking up at Rub Some Dirt On It blog hop today!

The temperatures are starting to drop and we're fighting it with everything we've got.  We've closed the storm windows, pulled out the flannel sheets and even had the furnace running a bit.   The frost on the windshield this morning was like the welcoming kiss from winter.  It was a warning to settle in and prepare for the bitter cold to come.  Well, we may be preparing, but we're not ready to settle in just yet.

This is the time for backyard campfires and warm hot chocolate.

It's the time for scary campfire stories and flaming marshmallows

It's time for laughing until late in the night.

It's time for fuzzy warm coats and a toasty glow from the fire.

With no mosquito's or June bugs to spoil the fun!

Thanksgiving painted handprint turkey project

We made our painted handprint turkey's today.  The 3 year old was very patient, the 2 year old looked like she was nauseated by the whole ordeal and the 1 year old thought it was icky, but liked the way the paint felt on her hand.  My 12 and 9 year old had a blast helping me with painting little fingers for the handprint stamping, and then enjoyed making their own silly turkey's.

Overall, it was a pretty quick and easy project, when done one child at a time.  Here are pictures of the process while working on it with the one year old:

And here is the one year old's completed turkey:

And here are all 5 completed turkey's.  The 3 year old can't remember that they're turkey's though.  He keeps telling me how excited he is to take home his chicken.  What?  I'm so conufsed.



We'll try our feather turkey project next week.  Can't wait for that one!