The Last Day of "School" for 2011

I'm a little late on this post. Our last day was actually Friday. We woke up to a phenomenal sunrise coming up over the trees. The view from my bedroom window was spectacular! It made me want to throw clothes on and run out to take pictures by the lake, but alas I was too cold and didn't want to scare the neighbors if seen. So I simply opened my window and started shooting. Here was the view from my window:

It would have been much more magnanimous beyond the trees by the lake, but the view was still uplifting none the less.

The kiddos were pretty excited about the prospect of Christmas break (especially the part about the boys coming home from college later that day) so in true form they dressed for the occasion. 

The girl chose the princess/fairy look

The boy chose the pajama look.

So after a bit of history (Story of the World Vol. 2) which included some map work, color pages, and history trivia regarding the adventures of Marco Polo, we did some math, The boy finished one of his American Chillers books, the princess read about Kit Kittredge and her newspaper reporting. After that, we cut out gingerbread men, stockings, and snowmen. By that time we needed to move on to CHRISTMAS BREAK!

All is right with the world!

~

Linked up at

WW-Leaving Milk Unattended at Casa Chaos...

Milk should never be left unattended at Casa Chaos...Unless you want to share...

Not even bothered by the camera, she finishes up her treat.

Happy WW!

Linked up at:

Keeping things in perspective....

            I have been neglecting my blog lately, not with out good reason though. This time of year brings with it faithfulness, family, good cheer, reflection, colder weather, and a lot of hustle and bustle.

            This passed weekend for example, was spent celebrating my grand baby's first birthday.

I put together a video memorializing her first year and couldn't stop crying while I did it. Time just flies so quickly. It seems like just yesterday I was celebrating her mother's first birthday! 

So while preparing for my grand baby's birthday, as well as the holiday season, the wee one's and I are still trying to get through some school prior to taking some time off for our Christmas break.

As well as trying to get in some out door time too!

This season can get hectic and we are all susceptible to losing track of the most important things; The reason for the season and our families, so I try to remind myself at those hectic busy moments and take time to reflect  to keep things in perspective. 

~Rik 

WW-The First Real Snow of the Season

Happy Wordless Wednesday!

Linked up at

By Word of Mouth Musings

Our Full House

Create With Joy

I was awarded the Versatile Blogger Award!!

Thank you so much to Breena at Life As This Mommy Knows It! I am so honored!

The Versatile blogger award goes to blogs that are newly discovered and offer some fun or inspiring ideas.

The Rules

* Thank the person that nominated you with a link back to them.

* Tell everyone seven things about yourself.

* Pass this award on to 15 newly discovered blogs and let them know that they've received an award!

So here are seven things about me:

1. I married my best friend. I spent some time at the beginning of our relationship trying to push him away, but lucky for me he didn't take the hint ;)

2. I have 6 spectacular kids that make me cherish life, have confidence in my decisions while at the same time question some, want to be a better person, and never think I know everything so therefore be open minded to new information and adventures. 

5. I love new adventures, especially if I can share it with my family.

4. I live in and love the Midwest but think I will always be a California girl at heart!

5. I love taking pictures and carry my camera with me pretty much everywhere I go.

6. I have started writing many books and have yet to finish one.

7. I love my granddaughter, and love being a grandma, but just don't feel old enough to hold that title.

 

Here are my fifteen newly discovered (to me) blogs;

1. Angie's Place

2. Enchanted Homeschooling Mom

3. Here in the Lovely Woods

4. Homeschool Hijinks

5. Our Homeschool Adventure

6. Pixie Dusted Homeschool

7. Pyjama School

8. Multicultural Kiddos

9. Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational

10. Sparkly things and Fairy Wings

11. Growing up Homeschooled

12. Whit's World

13. World for Learning

14. Suburban Schoolhouse

15. Story Book Science

Choosing only 15 blogs that are inspiring or informational that I plan to revisit in a world of so many great blogs was very difficult! Please check out the blogs that I've listed, they stood out to me, hopefully you will find them valuable too :)

Reflecting on Thanksgiving....

With Thanksgiving now behind us, I feel the need to reflect. Thanksgiving weekend is always such a busy time for us, with family and normally multiple feasts. It is such a wonderful time of year. No gift exchanges, just an amazing opportunity to spend time with what for me is the most important thing in the world, family! My family is what I feel most blessed for, my family is what I'm most thankful for, my family is what I hold most precious in my life! I wish my mom, as well as my sister and her family could have been here also, they live in a different state so weren't able to celebrate with us here in the Midwest. So here's a glimpse at our Thanksgiving;

I am thankful everyday for my family!

I hope everyone's thanksgiving was as wonderful and full of family love as ours was!!

WW-Science and Nature Center

Happy Wordless Wednesday and may everyone have a very Thankful Thanksgiving :)

Linked up at:

Tina's Pic Story

By Word of Mouth Musings

"/>