Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Legoland


Silly me, thinking Legoland wouldn't be too busy the day after Christmas.... haha.

I spent the day telling the kids, we'll come back when all the kids are back in school and make a homeschool "field trip" there.
that's us on the Dragon ride, you know when the picture is so I made a silly face.

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Cookie making time


I have sugar cookie dough .... gasp! Mix.... from Costco. So we could make up some cookies for Santa. Ialso got confec. sugar the other day. We also have a "build a gingerbread house" from Costco to do.

Kate's friend H was sleeping over so they were busy. Derek fell asleep on the way home with Geoff and woke up enough to come in a fall back asleep on the sofa.
Geoff took him upstairs. I stayed up watching TV and he came tip-toeing down after 11 p.m.
He was wide awake.
I was totally into the movie 50 First dates. So we watched it .............until 12:35!!
Then I took him to bed with me and it seemed another hour before we fell asleep, he kept tossing & turning.
So I know he's going to crash soon tonight. He's been going all day and riding his bike
he's tired and cranky already.

Aren't we all.

Friday, December 15, 2006

homeschool night before Christmas

Twas the Night Before Christmas Homeschool Style
(Author Unknown)
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the home,Children were still studying for their test on Rome.
Mom was planning, she had just an hour,To teach 'one more lesson' before their night shower.
A whole week of vacation, the children were thrilled,But Mom saw the lesson plans, and the blocks were still filled.
"Can I stop for a day, much less a whole week?"Just the thought of time off made me shudder and shriek!
Would they remember anything, would they fall behind?"
Lord, I need your help, just give me a sign!!!"
Then out on the sidewalk, I saw my four boys,And I heard them say, "it's not about toys."
To the neighborhood kids, they explained Jesus' birth,And how through Jesus, not toys, we gain our worth.
At that point, math and spelling and learning to write,Meant little to me as I had lost the sight Of what teaching at home was truly about.
Then I sat at my desk and began to pout.The pouts turned to sobs, "Lord what have I done?
It's not about grades, but to follow your Son!""Please guide me and show me my job is to teach,and turn them to you, and of Jesus I'll preach.
"Now we'll put away books and not open them 'til later,We'll focus on Jesus, our Lord and Creator.It's His day and so we will all celebrate,
I'll never mention the words "behind" or "we're late".
So, Thank You, Lord, for blessing me,With such a great husband and family.
Now homeschooling moms, TURN OUT THE SCHOOL LIGHT!
And, "Happy Christmas To All And To All A Good Night!"

Jesus instead of Santa?

What if Jesus came instead of Santa?The Night Before Jesus CameT'was the night before Jesus and all through the house,Not a creature was praying, not one in the house.Their Bibles were lain on the shelf without care,In hopes that Jesus would not stop by there.The children were dressing to crawl into bed,Not one ever kneeling, or bowing a head.And Mom in her rocker with a babe on her lap,Was watching the Late Show while I took a nap.When out of the East there arose such a clatter,I sprang to my feet to see what was the matter.Away to the window I flew like a flash,Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash!When what to my wondering eyes should appear,But angels proclaiming that Jesus was here.With a light like the sun sending forth a bright ray,I knew in a moment this must be THE DAY!The light of His face made me cover my head.It was Jesus! Returning just like He said.And though I possessed worldly wisdom and wealth,I cried when I saw Him in spite of myself.In the Book of Life which He held in His hand,Was written the name of every saved man.He spoke not a word as He searched for my name;When He said, "It's not here" . . my head hung in shame.The people whose names had been written with love,He gathered to take to His Father above.With those who were ready, He rose without sound,While all the rest were left standing around.I fell to my knees, but it was too late;I had waited too long and thus sealed my fate.I stood and I cried as they rose out of sight;Oh, if only we had been prepared for this night.In the words of this poem the meaning is clear;The time for His coming is drawing near.There's only one life and when comes the last call.We'll find what He told us was true after all.

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

and where did I hide the gifts?

We don't have visitors but with 2 kids birthdays and the holidays from Oct to Dec
we are very busy around here - - especially with a vacation thrown in the middle! :)
Last night I told Geoff I don't remember the gifts I've already bought and worst of all where I have hidden them around the house!
It will be interesting trying to find them all.

Our trip to Hawaii was wonderful as always. It was a lot cooler and more windy than we have experienced. On Oahu we stayed near Koko Crater which is on the southeast side of the island and the weather is quite different there than the southwest side of the island we have visited more often.
We stayed on Maui for 5 days and that was a lot of fun. The Marriott has a big water park for the kids and water slides. We had a very fun snorkeling/boat trip to the coast and saw many fish and beautiful corals.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Katie's 7th Birthday Hawaii

Happy 7th Birthday Katherine!

Dinner Party #1 the night before in Maui.

The dessert she chose was s'mores
over our own little fire.
Derek fell asleep (as usual at dinner)


Dinner Party #2 the band in the restaurant is playing the song
for everyone to sing to you- -
and we are on Oahu today!

You loved being on 2 Hawaiian islands on your birthday.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Friday, December 01, 2006

Vacation to Maui & Oahu


We're off on vacation to Maui - Marriott and on Ohau at a friend's house out by Koko Head Crater.

On Maui we took a snorkelling trip on a boat with a window for the kids to see the fish. The kids tried snorkelling, Kate hated it; Derek endured it; James finally fell in love with it and went quite far with me.

On the way to Koko Head we passed by Blow Hole everyday and it was quite active since there was a storm and heavy tradewinds blowing everyday we were there. It was a "cool" trip, not as much sun as we like. This is the first trip we have come home without tans. Oh well, better for the skin anyway.