Kid's Book Club

Last Wednesday was Kid's book club at our house. That's Kathy leading the boys group in the top photo, and Dawn taking care of the little girls below. The young ladies were sequestered in Sarah's room and did NOT allow photos to be taken.

The boys all read A Grain of Rice, a story about an intrepid Chinese boy who charms the Emperor and wins his daughter's hand. But we got One Grain of Rice, a story set in India about a young girl who asks the local pasha for one grain of rice during a famine, and then twice as much the next day for 30 days. John liked the story a lot because it was about numbers. Kathy was great because she lead the discussion for both books.

Dawn did a nice job of reading several books to the little girls who later retired to Janine's room for dress-up. I volunteered to help out and found myself playing trains with the little guy in the green shirt in the top photo. Yes I'm 50 and I love Brio train sets.

The best part was that all of the kids got along so well and really looked out for one another, for which we are all thankful.

Self Portrait

Here is another self portrait of the Small Blond Woman. She drew it herself this morning while she was waiting for her reading lesson.

As you can see, her older sister helped when she braided and put barettes in Janine's hair.

Not a bad likeness, don't you think?

Shakespeare Festival

This past Monday Sarah and John participated in the youth Shakespeare recitation festival along with several other groups of kids from a nearby homeschool study center. Almost all of the performances were from A Midsummer Night's Dream, so John got to play his favorite character, Robin Goodfellow, aka Puck. Sarah played a fairy who encounters Puck in the first scene of the second act.

They were among the very youngest kids participating in the festival which is open for grades 4 to 12.They knew their lines cold thanks to Mommie's insistence on daily practice. In fact all of the study center kids did very well. They knew their lines, they faced the audience and several could even fill the theatre with their voices.

Sarah and several of her friends take ballet and carried themselves onstage very nicely. Impressed, the theatre director complemented the entire study center group.

Click here for a rehearsal video.

What's more, one of the scenes has advanced to the finals tomorrow night. Mommie will be taking Sarah and John downtown to cheer them on.

...and yes, that's Sarah giving the Bard a pair of bunny ears.

More from the Skating Party

Here's some more photos from the homeschooling skating party.

There's Nathan on top showing that nuclear physicists also know how to skate. He told me that the cap was really warm as well as being fun to wear. Note the bin next to him. It's empty now, but it carrys the skates for all five of their kids. Well not quite five yet. The youngest is just two.

John is modeling his matching black and gold helmet and gloves in the lower photo. He has done a great job to stick with skating. He is far from the fastest one on the ice, but he sure is the steadiest. He took a few laps around the rink, then came inside for hot cocoa and snacks.

Me? I just had the hot cocoa and the snacks.

Finally Snow

Now that we finally have snow we also have to shovel it. Janine is a big help in this area. She takes care of the level part next to the garage, while I do the hill. Of course after shoveling she likes to ride her sled down the hill. But the best part is the hot cocoa when she comes inside.

Just before I took this photo, Janine asked if she could shovel other peoples' driveways. I told her yes, but just as long as she finished ours first.

Why do I feel like Tom Sawyer with my own daughter?

Hmm, I have to start working on Sarah and John as well!

Skating Party

Our local home school network had a pizza party at the local skating rink yesterday. There were almost 80 people at the event. Most of them skated, except me. That's a skill I have yet to master.

Sarah has been doing well with skating lessons this winter. She is almost ready to move to the next level but needs to work on her crossovers. Here she is in the middle of the pack. Of all three kids, Sarah is always the first on the ice and the last off of it.

This was a hard photo to get because she was at the very center of the rink and people kept skating in front of me. But at least it's finally cold enough to skate outdoors.

Fun at the Museum

Here's what the three of them were doing while Nana sat patiently.

They were overcome by a display snake.

John got into the aquarium.

No wonder they were so tired that evening.

Nana Came Along Too

Nana came along when everyone went to the museum two weeks ago. Here she is waiting patiently while everyone else played with the hands-on exhibits. I think the museum management was very wise to not only design an interactive section for the kids, but also to add a couch for the parents and grandparents.

Portrait of a Lady

Here is a great portrait of my wife by a budding young artist who is not one of her children.

This past fall Bobbie taught two ballet classes for little girls aged four to six. One of her students was a very enthusiatic little girl who wanted to give Bobbie a gift at the end of the fall session.

You see the result here, Bobbie with her hair in a bun wearing a pink leotard. Now if she only had a pink leotard, the picture would be complete. Nonetheless I think this little girl has painted a fine impressionistic portrait, flower and all.

I have asked Bobbie to thank her if the same girl is in any of her future classes. In the meantime I might just pay a visit to the frame shop...

Beautiful Repast

Last night we had the Ballet Ladies over to eat hors d'ouvres and quaff wine. This is the before photo taken about 15 minutes before the first guests arrived. Bobbie made all of our favorites from homemade hummus and pita bread on the lower left to blanched vegtables in the center and four varieties of cheeses on the upper right.

Everyone else also brought an hors d'ouvre and a bottle of wine. The food varied from Indian samosas, to lemon and apple tarts. Of course we couldn't finish it all, but heaven knows, we did try.

The wine selection was quite nice as well. Most folks had Chardonnay, but Linda and Rich brought a Zinfandel that the rest of us loved.

This was the second party for us in three days. On Thursday we had our neighbors in the cul de sac over for snacks and drinks too. Bobbie figured that since the house was already clean and reasonably picked up, why not try Saturday too? As the social columns in small town newspapers say, "A good time was had by all."

Botanical Gardens

Just as our membership is about to expire, Bobbie and this kids visited the Botanical Gardens this week. As usual, they had a great time. There were several hands-on exhibits that they all enjoyed.

After the gardens, everyone was hungry for pastrami, so they all had lunch at their favorite deli nearby. They all arrived home late in the afternoon inspired by the gardens, and warmed by Matzo Ball Soup.

Play Day

The day after Christmas is play day here at the Little House. Despite the threat of rain and colder weather, John and I got out his new Air Hogs Rocket. We had a great time (click here for video) until technical difficulties got in the way. Our neighbor jokingly warned us about the prevailing winds, but we didn't listen. Thankfully Sarah helped out by getting the rocket down from the porch roof.

In the meantime, John launched the second rocket which landed on the high part of the roof. I guess we will ask our friends that recently installed our new roof to come by to recover the rocket and clean the gutters while they are up there.

The incessant soundtrack for the past 36 hours has been none other than Disney Channel star, Hannah Montana. Janine asked for the CD for Christmas. Next year all CD gifts will also include headphones because adults do not tolerate repetition as well as children. However I can now watch the TV show with new insight.

The Stockings were hung...

When you have kids in the house Christmas can be a lot of fun. The Little House is no exception. Nana stayed with us for Christmas and Janine woke her up at 5:30 Christmas morning. Nana claims she was up anyway. Janine was very good to stay in her room and not wake up her brother until 6:30. Then the two of them snuck downstairs to peek at the gifts under the tree.

Finally, everyone went downstairs at about 7:00. By 7:30 we had two large trash bags of wrapping paper. I took this photo a few minutes later when it was stocking time. Everyone got the usual stocking items: batteries, Chap-Stick, new slippers, earings for the girls and socks for the guys.

Later in the day we went to an open house. The traditional feast of roast beast ended the day. Happy and thankful...maybe next year John will wear a shirt.

Our Christmas Tree

This year we got a live Christmas tree instead of using our small artificial one. It was worth it just for the wonderful smell. Moreover we are able to use nearly all of our ornaments which made everyone happy.

Click here to see John singing the 12 Days of Christmas. (Don't worry, it's just the final countdown, not the endless procession.)

Tonight after the kids go to bed, we will put all of the gifts under the tree. Tomorrow morning we will get up early, go downstairs and unwrap our gifts, thankful for our family and thankful to the Lord for our forgiveness.

Christmas Eve Meditation

The message of Good News...

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:9-14)

...Later

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:45-49)

The purpose of Christmas doesn't end the next day. You can only understand Christmas in the context of Easter. Jesus' death for our sins and his resurrection on the third day is victory over sin and death. When we accept Him we share in that victory.