Blog Title

I have been racking my non-creative brain for a new blog title. One without our last name in it. When I began this blog, my only intent was to connect with family, close friends, and have a record of our busy days. I didn't know that the title of this blog would appear on my blogger profile or anywhere else. If I had known that, I would have spent a little more time and effort in coming up with something cute or witty.

I have changed the title to Peeking In On Our Family. I am hoping that it will not be the final title of this blog, but I haven't come up with anything better yet. So until I do (all suggestions welcome), please recognize that this is still the same blog. Minus the surname.

Wii Did It!

Aaron did not make the trip to work yesterday, due to winter driving conditions. So we decided to bribe the kids to get their homeschooling done before lunch by offering up a surprise. We bought a Wii for Valentine's Day, but the kids didn't know about it. (Well, technically Ellie knew because she overheard us talking about it. Little turd.)

A snowy Monday turned into a productive school day with plenty of time in the afternoon for playing Wii and playing out in the snow. We capped it off with a pancake/eggs/fried potato supper. It is so fun to be able to change up our day once in a while!

The downside is that everybody is sluggish today because of sore arms and legs from hours of playing. The mean mommy/teacher is still going to make them write and do school. A Wii hangover is not a good excuse!

I Heart Homeschooling (Most of the Time)

Today the wind is howling and the snow is blowing. The kids are all tired from staying up to watch the Vikings lose the opportunity to go to the Super Bowl.

I let them sleep in and declared a pajama day. They were still required to gather laundry, brush teeth, and apply deodorant.

I took extra time to teach Ellie and Maggie how to look up Scripture references in their own Bibles. (They loved it.)

Ellie and Maggie read a chapter of Magic Tree House out loud to me. (They learned about Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius last week and now are wanting to explore further. We have researched on the internet and watched clips of volcanic activity. Caleb suggested a Magic Tree House title about Pompeii.) They then worked on their science journals and took apart the seedlings they were growing to tell me the parts of a plant.

Even with the extras, 85% of our school work was finished before lunch time. Now all we have left to do is make hot cocoa, read books and play games!

I do heart homeschooling. Most of the time.

Maggie, done with school but choosing to read a book over break time. What is she reading?? The Bible storybook we just finished.

Take note of the pajamas with black tights and boots, haha.

Oops. She caught me.

Highlights from Christmas 2009

Christmas came and went so quickly this time around! We always celebrate at Aaron's side on Christmas Eve day, our home on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, and my side on Christmas day in the afternoon.

I didn't take as many pictures this year, but these are a few of the highlights that seemed to show the joy and glee that was felt around our home the entire Christmas break. Aaron stayed home for two weeks and we spent a lot of time just being together as a family. The snow was beautiful, the cooking and baking were great, and we felt God's hand of blessing, protection and provision the entire time!!

Christmas p.j. picture. Don't they all look so big this year??

Ellie was thrilled with each little trinket she received this year.

Micah is fixated on Thomas the train. Above: snuggling on the Thomas pillow.

Below: taking a "nap".

Ellie with cousins Rachel and Kelsey.

I have found that there is never enough time to get to all of the things that I need to do or want to do. That is the way it is and that is the way it will remain for the near (and maybe distant) future. At some point the kids will be grown and I will be able to keep the house clean for more than 5 minutes, read books, watch an entire movie in one shot, go on dates with my husband, and cook gourmet meals. Until then, this is it.

So bear with my irregular blogging! It is the best I can do. And something has to give, right? I am going to try to catch up with some of our 2009 holiday pics and homeschooling fun over the next week. Until then, here are a couple of shots of what has been keeping me away from blogging!

Maggie fell asleep at the kitchen counter after a night of puking.

Glory got caught playing in the bathroom, again! Can you tell she knows she is doing something she shouldn't be? Micah is her new "best friend". He was just along for the ride, but I think he may be learning some new tricks.

Does anybody else have a kid who cannot resist playing in the bathroom?!

Ready, Set, Bake!

I may have gotten a later start than normal this year, but the Christmas baking has begun!! I am trying some different things this year. Partly because I just like baking and cooking new things, and partly because I want to make things that I am able to resist.

So far we have done pecan bars, sugar cookies, molasses cookies, and spritz. I don't intend to be quite as ambitious as I was last year, but you never know. Sometimes baking has a way of taking over my life and spinning out of control!

***

I hope you are all finding some fun things to do to prepare for Christmas. We have also cut back from our regular homeschool schedule, but have chosen a couple of books to continue to use as read-alouds and readers. The younger kids are as excited as ever to skip ahead in Bible and read the Christmas story again. It never gets old or boring and we are all amazed each time we read it that God would send His precious Son the way that He did.