Snow Day!!!

All last week, the weather men were predicting snow on Friday. I've learned not to believe them on rain, snow, or shine. But as we went to bed Thursday night it really did seem likely that we were going to see snow the next day! On Friday we bundled up and went to First Friday classes amidst snow flurries :-) It seemed like much of the city was starting to shut down at lunchtime, schools and offices alike. We went to the grocery store, bought a turkey (we'll try to have our own Thanksgiving this week since we didn't have a "real" one in Oklahoma), and drove back home as more-than-flurries were now falling!

Here are the girls arriving home; hard to see much snow though.


We went inside to our cold house (heater was not working until today!!!), and played for a little while before heading to ballet class. Here's the house as we were leaving for ballet!


Friday night was deemed my Great Toy Purge of 2009! Took me 'till 2:00am! See the box in the entryway? It was overflowing with things to give away. And the playroom stayed clean...for about a day...


On Saturday I slept in and then went to Zumba class at the Y again. I went last Monday too, but before that I hadn't worked out in over a month! Hopefully I'll get back in the groove soon. I didn't feel too out of shape, but I am having some knee problems after my big fall during the garage sale prep. Seems to be doing much better though.

My family came over on Saturday afternoon, but this trio was cuddled up fast asleep. Aren't they sweet?

We went to Target and then to Luby's. A fun day!

Then the kids set out all our shoes for St. Nick! Notice the 3 sets of doll shoes lined up too!

He brought chocolate coins, candy canes, ponytail holders, a hot wheel car, and Nutcracker tickets for the girls and I!!!

It was a local dance studio Nutcracker (maybe next year we'll try the real Houston Ballet!) but was a great experience for the girls and I.

They spent the evening dancing around the house, while I cooked up a pasta dish, with that yummy baked broccoli, and some cookie dough which we'll use tomorrow...if I don't eat it all before then!

Have a great week and Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Small Successes

My small successes so far this week...

1. The tree is up! And the garland! Christmas books are out. Now I've got to find the outdoor decorations and figure out some kind of Jesse Tree/Advent Calendar thing to do.


2. Made it in the rain with all 3 kids to our big city-wide lighting celebration. Waited in line with wet feet for nearly an hour to get balloon animals and meet Santa!

Both girls asked for another American Girl doll...yikes!

3. I actually made a real dinner last night. Pioneer Woman's Homemade Chicken Strips with homemade mashed potatoes, corn, and fresh rolls (bought those frozen).

Along the Alphabet Path--Letters H, I, and J

So as you may have noticed, our homeschooling plans have been overshadowed the past month or two by the deaths, funerals, sicknesses, and trips. I'm still trying to get my feet back on the ground, but it's been pretty hard. I hear many moms talk about the homeschooling "blues" coming in February or so. But as Autumn arrives and the fun summer days become a distant memory to me, I feel like crawling back into bed, or vegging at the computer, instead of planning fun and exciting homeschool days with the girls.

So all of us are in need of a pick-me-up, which hopefully the season of Advent will bring! I've got the tree and garland up, and we've gotten out all our Christmas books. I'm coordinating a Christmas Showcase of performances by our homeschool group next week, which I'm really excited about! I'd love to get our Jesse Tree ornaments completed, and do some other fun Advent activities, but I'm going to try to keep it simple and the girls really do want to continue along the Alphabet Path. So we're doing K this week and I hope to make some fun plans for L week next week! Here's a snippet of the past few meager Alphabet Path activities of the past few weeks...

H is for Herb Twopence Fairy and St. Helen




Fun at the kitchen table starting H week...Letter formation



We'd fallen behind on making our Model Magic letters, but got caught up this week.


Honeybees! (we read lots of library books and did a few neat worksheets, but didn't get many photos)


and Halloween fun!


All Hallow's Eve and All Saints' Day!



~~~

I is for the Iris Fairy and St. Ignatius

Filling I's with Ink stamps


Insect activities from the free Insect lap book I downloaded earlier this year


And Laura Ingalls Wilder!

We read all of the My First Little House books pictured, and the girls are listening to Farmer Boy read by Daddy at bedtime.

~~~
J is for St. Joseph and the Jasmine Fairy

We made Jello, and that was about the extent of our letter activities that week. I put some books about Jewels on hold at the library but they didn't arrive in time. You can tell with the coloring the past few weeks, that Mary Clare is losing steam too...hopefully things will improve for both of us in the coming weeks!

Our Trip to Oklahoma

Warning: very heavy picture post! But a great recount of our wonderful Thanksgiving Family Reunion, meeting the family members related to Steven's mom. There were 51 of us there, sharing a fun 4-day weekend at Beavers Bend State Park in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.

The kiddos did well in the car ride overall! We went to Pam's house near Dallas on Wednesday night (baby didn't do so well on that one), and then drove on to Broken Bow on Thursday morning.

Finally, the Red River! Crossing the border...


and soon after, arriving at Beavers Bend State Park!


Our cabin (duplex) and the cabins down the lane


inside


Thanksgiving Dinner at the restaurant


a Great Horned Owl at the Nature Center


Steven goes on a little fishing trial, watching Stu


Hanging out in the cabin


Caleb checking out the doll and dress-up high heels!


And finally out to meet the extended family!

It was COLD that night!


On Friday morning, Steven and Stuart went on a guided fishing trip.




Steven's BIG CATCH!


The Rainbow Trout of a lifetime! Happy Guy!


Now it's time for the family photo fiasco of 2009!
(All the good photos were taken by cousin Angie; can't wait to see them!)

BopBop relaxing with Caleb and MC


Cousins playing while they wait their turn


Take One of Grampatti and BopBop with all their grandkids


Take Two.


Take Three!


Our little family :)


A sweet one of the Stevens.


Throwing rocks, what fun!



Wasn't expecting gorgeous hills like this!


Watching for the release of the dam waters...


The guys couldn't wait any longer and had to go get a closer look, on the pier.


Surfing Jeff!


That evening we hung out at Katie and Lon's cabin and had a campfire outside.

Aunt Katie was the s'more queen!

Enjoying the night around the campfire!


SJ didn't care for the fire much.


The kids played many games of checkers.


Everyone declared Ellie the "smart one" as she fell fast asleep on the couch at about 7:30pm!


Saturday morning, celebrating Sarah's 14th birthday with a horse ride for big cousins and little cousins alike! (Megan, Seth, Sarah, John, Mary Clare, Andrew and Emily)


Ellie checking out the horses


Mary Clare, the brave little girl!

That is, until about 2 minutes after this picture was taken, when she started crying and chickened out. I'm impressed she even got on the huge horse! Maybe next time...thanks anyway, Aunt Katie!

She opted for the train ride with Daddy and siblings instead.


Saturday lunch and sports at the pavilion






And then it was time to sing Happy Birthday to Uncle Don and cousin Sarah!



mmmm, cupcake!


Finally, we end the lunch festivities with a dance lesson by Aunt Sandy, starting with the Merengue!






and ending with Swing!


The cute couple heading up the sound department, Jenny and Tim!


Uncle Lon and cousin Seth keep watch over Steven Joseph, sleeping on the picnic table at the left of them!


Steven and Uncle Thomas take the kids on a nature hike


And then a funny memory of Uncle Thomas trying to negotiate the sharing of an orange soda with his two kids; priceless.


Saturday night we once again hung out at a cabin and had a campfire outside!
The kids were all over the Halloween candy. Whoever brought that...thanks a lot, haha.


Kids playing their own version of "cocktail party"


and the adults saying goodbye


movie-watching on the DVD players was an important aspect of the weekend


Sunday morning came too soon.

Off we go...



Back into the Lone Star State!

To all the B/M family...thanks for a wonderful time! We'll treasure the memories of this family reunion for many years and will be looking forward to the next one! We have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!