Christmas Memories of 2024

By


We attended a Christmas breakfast at the start of December with a big group of friends, moms and daughters, and our beloved friend/ adopted grandmother, Ms. Beverlie 


We attended A Christmas Carol at The Hartford Stage with homeschool friends mid-December. 


Norah, home from college! We greeted her with embarrassing noise at the airport. 

Norah and Dwayne both work at Preferred, so we all attended the company Christmas party together this year. 


Our family attended Handel's Messiah at our church, and we brought our friend, Ms. Beverlie, as our guest.

Adele is painting various winter-themed watercolors in her free time this Christmas break. 

Avril is crocheting various projects including this angel for me. 

We have a strict, rigorous routine during the weeks of homeschool that there are only a few hours in the day or read and create freely. So the girls respond to days and days of vacation with abundant creativity! 


The living room on Christmas Eve 


New pajamas on Christmas Eve after our nightly Advent readings
 

The living room on Christmas morning



Avril made this customized crocheted wood elf for Norah in secret. The unmatching socks are a real personal touch. My kids' socks only match the first time they are worn. After that, my kids just wear two socks, regardless of whether or not they match. 

Final Advent readings before opening gifts Christmas morning



Avril begged for this hideous Ravenclaw plush mellow. I obliged, because it's Christmas. 

Adele got a parlor guitar. Avril (and Adele) got a keyboard to practice on, since they are both helping on the worship bands at church. 


I'm taking Norah to see Hadestown on Broadway later this week. 
I hid the little tickets in a box on the Christmas tree. 


I was gifted Seven Wonders with real metal coins. So fun! 

And another painting on our mantle there, that one painted for us by Ms. Beverlie, who came over for afternoon tea on Christmas Day



All my kids home, reading or crafting in quiet, restful leisure, or playing new board games or eating leftovers


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

By
Image
"...the child should have a set time everyday to read for fun. Begin with half an hour for first graders, and build up to an hour of reading time daily... This is an important part of the child's education: it improves his reading skills, teaches him the habit of sitting still with a book, and reminds him that reading is fun... free reading ought to be spent on literature at or slightly below the child's present reading level so that he can simply enjoy himself. The easier reading will help him increase his speed." The Well Trained Mind: The Guide to Classical Education at Home by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer
Read more

Andrew Peterson's Songs That Celebrate Marriage and Family

By
Recently, I got to go to an Andrew Peterson concert at the Community Coffehouse in Danbury, CT. My dear friend and I didn't realize the show was sold out when we arrived.  But luckily, the lady at the door showed us pity, let us pay for tickets that didn't exist, and go in. We were willing to stand at the back, but we were able to find space on a bench at the back of the hall. I knew a few of the songs he sang that evening, but many of them were new to me because I have a hard time with new music.  I'd rather sing a song I already know by heart a hundred more times than hear a new song through even once. I know it is a problem that I need to work on if for no other reason than for the sake of my poor husband and daughters who have to hear the same albums everyday for a year. No, really. A year. At least. I have been giving myself permission to buy new music for this reason. So I came home that evening or maybe it was the next day and I purchased three of hi
Read more

Astronomer Shoe Boxes for Challenge B

By
Image
  Avril finished her astronomer shoeboxes for Challenge B.   The Challenge B students have all done research and projects on astronomers throughout this first semester.  Now, students choose two (or more) astronomers in secret and provide clues to the astronomers' identities in their shoeboxes.   For instance, if an astronomer made telescopes, sang opera, played piano, discovered binary stars or Uranus, studied eclipses, lived in a simple, log cabin, or made a map of Washington D.C., you might include some of those items to your shoe boxes as hints.  Student bring in their shoeboxes, and classmates get a chance to guess who the astronomers are based on what's inside the boxes.  Can you guess who Avril's astronomers are based on the pictures above?  Hint: Her two boxes actually represent three astronomers total.  
Read more