BABY [11 pts]

I've decided that life happens in a million everyday moments. Often they go by so quickly and innocuously that you don't even realize that this indeed, is the stuff that life is made of.

Working on the ipad (on the stairs)

Baby toes!

Being a robot.

I don't know why today this beautiful dance of dishes, babies and schooling seems to stand out so poignantly, but I'm grateful for it. Here's to all the little moments!

SLED [5 pts]

This year, Liam and Hannah received two new sleds as early Christmas presents. There was to be a cub family sledding activity and we were woefully unequipped. So, as dutiful parents we trekked down to Canadian Tire to pick out appropriate sled. There were several different models in varying price, construction, durability, ease of use and more- choosing one was somewhat more difficult than I originally hoped. (Pick up sled and pay.) Clark eyed the classic GT snow racer model, complete with steering, brakes and a handy tow rope. I preferred a newer innovation- the Zipfy mini luge. Guaranteed to send you hurtling down the slope at break-neck speeds, it was a sure bet for any races. (This wasn't for me of course, I could watch safely from the sidelines. Hannah would do the hurtling) Since we needed two sleds, we each took our choices home and wrapped them up.

Saturday morning, Liam and Hannah excitedly unwrapped their presents and set to work. Both were excited. Hannah initially was a little leery because hers was smaller and not quite as cool, but I knew the real test would come. I watched smugly as Clark and Liam set to assembling the GT- Hannah's was in one piece with no assembly required, so we were free to just hang out and watch. Once everything was finally assembled, (including losing and finding the missing lock nut) I waved happily to everyone as they tromped out the door to enjoy the sledding. I had Christmas wrapping to do.

Around lunch time, my red-nosed, happy family came back through the door. Hannah had won hands down. Liam's sled definitely was a good performer, but for sheer speed- the Zipfy was a winner. (Little victory dance for the girls!)

Now, I took the kids out again yesterday to the same hill to do some more sledding. Lest I sound a little too self-congratulatory, the Zipfy was a little tough to control on the packed terrain, and quite honestly, there was no way I was sitting on it. I took a couple of runs down on the GT, thankful for breaks and a modicum of maneuverability. Everyone had fun!

Snowy mama!

Beamin' Liam!

Happy after a good run.

TRIM [6 pts]

It's time to trim the tree!
Step one: Purchase one artificial conifer separated into individual branches and trunk.
Step two: Grumble at your unbelievable misfortune. Who knew a tree could have so many parts?
Step three: Step back and let your children assemble it for you.
Step four: Crawl under the stairs to find the most inaccessible, dusty corner surrounded boxes. Dig out Christmas ornaments.
Step five: Go back to the same disorganized corner for the lights.
Step six: Pretend the previous five steps were nothing (laugh modestly any time someone brings it up) and have a great time trimming the tree!!

Yea, the lights!

Did I forget step six? Wear a stocking on your head.

My expert tree assembler. 

Assembling ornaments is HILARIOUS!! (Or at least trying to avoid Mom's camera is

)

Star on top!

My proud helpers.

Our happy tree.

We had a fun morning setting up and decorating the tree, as well as setting up our nativities. I think that the ornaments we made last week turned out really nicely too! The best surprise was having Daddy stop in for lunch just as we finished up. Merry Christmas!!

CINNAMON [12 pts]

Ahhh, cinnamon wafting through the house. What could possibly be so delicious?? Couldn't we just try a tiny taste? Um...bad idea. We are baking ornaments.

I got the basic recipe from a couple different online sites, basically using cinnamon, applesauce, and the secret ingredient: glue. These are not for eating, folks. Despite their tempting aroma and cookie-shaped likeness, these are strictly ornamental. I had to laugh as one reviewer of the recipe I was using (and let's get this straight: these are clearly labelled as non-edible) complained of a stomach ache from these enticing little beauties. Thankfully, with Hannah's hands covered in the white sticky stuff during the mixing process, she was definitely NOT tempted.

Supplies ready!

Cinnamon, applesauce and GLUE!

Mixa mixa mixa!

Done!

 

 

 All we need now is some ribbon and a TREE!!!

HOME [9 pts]

For all those who have wanted to see: here's our new house!! We are really enjoying our new place here in Fort McMurray. We're in a nice new neighborhood (so new we're not on any maps) and have lots of amenities close by. I like that I've got a grocery store and the banks within a couple minute drive, and there's lots for the kids and I to do outside when the weather is nice.
Even though there's a few things that drive us crazy- doors sticking, troublesome bathrooms and a couple of other minor irritants, we love it here. And of course, because we're together, it home!!

I think there's an elf doing some pre-Christmas surveillance.

And one balloon left from the birthday.

This would be the clean part of the living room.

SNOWMEN [12 pts]

I started out the morning planning on continuing our solar house project for science. Unfortunately, we couldn't locate the magnifying glass needed for the next set of experiments, so I decided to take advantage of a project I had planned, but set aside: the science of snow.

We certainly have enough of it here already. It's actually the pretty, drifting snow you see on commercials that gently blankets the world and makes me glad that I can stay inside.

But back to the science. Today we learned all about the different shapes of snowflakes: hexagonal plates, stellar plates, stellar dendrites (the most common) as well as needles, columns and bullets. We collected, drew and diagrammed; we watched a movie on how snow forms. Let me tell you, I am feeling informed on the topic.

Finally, just for fun, we made robot snowmen. I picked up the idea from the Science Mommy blog, and it turned out very well. Even Liam, who is not an arts and crafts kind of guy, enjoyed making his tyrannical snowman leader with little snowmen underlings. Ahhhh, boys.....

This is one snowman you don't want to mess with.

 

Hannah enjoyed designing her snowmen robots.

I love the marette hat and mitts. Can you tell their dad is an electrician?

BE [4 pts]

I had an epiphany today, of sorts. I guess it was more a reminder of what I'm really trying to do here. It often seems a struggle to teach everything I think my kids should know. They're good readers, but are they good writers? Can they handwrite? Do they understand how the government works? Are they good at mental arithmetic?

Sometimes I think it's my sole responsibility to distil the knowledge of the universe into their sponge-like little heads. What do they need to know to flourish in this world? Then I realized: it's not what I want them to know. It's who I want them to be. If they can BE life-long learners and excited about the world, then they'll search it out. If they will BE courageous, they can stand up for what's right.

I admit, many of these Be's are not mine: they come from President Gordon B. Hinckley, 15th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. And certainly it's not a comprehensive list, but it's a good start.

BE:

KIND

COURAGEOUS

PROBLEM-SOLVERS

POLITE

GRATEFUL

HONEST

CLEAN

TRUE

SMART

HUMBLE

PRAYERFUL

COMPASSIONATE

HARD-WORKING

INVOLVED

LIFE-LONG LEARNERS