New Year...

New Years Eve...we said goodbye to the Man in our lives..... The Encourager, The joker, the best pancake maker, the best sledding buddy, the trash taker-outer, the protector, the best friend, the most fun movie buddy....and in our opinion; the most devoted family guy you will ever meet..... for one year. (insert crying here)

Here are some pictures of our last night together!

For fun, I took a picture of the German grocery store flyer of the adds they have for fireworks! =) We always got a kick that you can buy these MEGA fire works right in your local food store! =) and Cheap!

First, a night on the town... Dinner at Macaroni Grill... Yum!

Then Fireworks, and sparklers!

You wouldn't believe how the entire German sky lights up with fireworks at midnight...and it goes on for a good 15-20 min straight on our street, almost every single house is doing mega fireworks... if you can imagine... ... it's an amazing sight!!!

Then, Super Yummy treat..... and a Family Movie!  =) 

This is KT's very FIRST time EVER writing anything on her own free will.. well writing anything at all, she has her school book ( HWOT- ) but nothing informal that she just picks up and writes.... She made this for Daddy to our amazement for him to take with him... and it was so cute!!! Now that I know she is ready to write......=) Just kidding.... I will still let her be a preschooler! =)

This week we started school....... *sigh* But it's good to try to start our routine again.....


We are doing our Five in a Row Study.....  Very Last First Time, By Jan Andrews...

Have a wonderful week!

 

Mama's Winter Reading List

Here are my reading books for January!

Mama's Christmas presents = lots of great books!

I Love this book.. I just finished it today.. I have her other books on my wish list! she also has a blog Soulemama

Description *When you learn to awaken your family’s creativity, wonderful things will happen: you’ll make meaningful connections with your children in large and small ways; your children will more often engage in their own creative discoveries; and your family will embrace new ways to relax, play, and grow together. With just the simple tools around you—your imagination, basic art supplies, household objects, and natural materials—you can transform your family life, and have so much more fun!

Funny, I got 2 of these for Christmas! =)

Description * Moms get so busy with the doing and the giving for their families that they never seem to have enough time to rest and receive. So many moms have bought into the world-view that they can have it all and then believe the self-talk that if I don't do it, it won't get done! Isn't it ironic that so many mothers are running on empty? Lisa Whelchel delivers a book full of practical tips and advice for mothers on how to find lost time in their day to nourish body, soul, and spirit.

Friendship for Grown-Ups
Description *details her experiences of learning to come out of her shell, to trust, risk, and become vulnerable by God's grace and find meaningful friendships. Readers encounter her captivating story and refreshing perspective on life's most precious gift--and they find practical tips for their own friendships along the way.


Lisa Whelchel also has the BEST parenting book - Creative Corrections- if you don't own it, you should!

                              

Description
*focuses on mechanisms of traditional education that cripple imagination, discourage critical thinking, and create a false view of learning as a byproduct of rote-memorization drills. Gatto’s earlier book, Dumbing Us Down, introduced the now-famous expression of the title into the common vernacular. Weapons of Mass Instruction adds another chilling metaphor to the brief against conventional schooling


What's on your reading list?

Home Made Christmas.....2010

Christmas crafts....WOW.... There are so many amazing ideas out there, and I wish we could do them all! We did get to do plenty this year...and here are some of the favorites.... (most are mommy's )

Pomanders....totally fun! I even did this with my preschool Co-op class....

This year, in an effort to cut down on the midnight\ wrapping daddy and I do every year, I made these awesome fabric bags! I made them in all sizes, in lots of differant christmas fabric... I think they turned out so cute! While the price upfront was a bit more than a  years worth of wrapping paper, It will pay off in the future...=)

with a little ribbon, any shape gift, fit perfect under out tree!

They worked out GREAT! At first the kids were not happy about it, but by the end of christmas everyone loved them... even daddy!

Here is my very first quilt ( and possibly the LAST) I made for the Dadster for his new "home" for the next year...... and what better quilt for the Disney lover? =)

Here are some pillows I made with some Dish towels from Tk Maxx, aren't they cute? $4!!

                           

Here are some gifts I made for friends kids... little sweet shoppe fabric candies..... these were my favorite..

Crayon rolls... for some of the kids friends....

KT made these crafts for the women in our family... this is a great and EASY project for anyone!

JT making up some yummy popcorn balls...

More sweets to give away!

They handed these out to our neighbors and friends at church...

We also made hand warmers (that you microwave) and some other cute little hand made things, i never got to take a picture of... But these were some great fun Kid-doable gifts this year!

And below a FEW photos of our family Christmas......

Goodbye 2010~

Christmas Book List

Hello again! ( I know, so soon right?) I had my other blog already done, I just forgot to finish posting it, so I am really not working to hard on Christmas weekend... =) But I did want to share some of the kids' favorite stories this season, and some crafts/gifts we made over the last week! We have become a family that loves to make things...anything! I hope we keep it up through the winter.....

First some christmas books we love!

I enjoyed the bible verses under each page.... it's a cute story! and I made those little trees! my first 3-D sewing project! =)

who doesn't love Harold?

My Daughter loooves this book.... I am not tired of reading it. =)

Froggy books--always a classic!

My Son Loves this story! he cracks up every time... Olive... so cute!

A staple in our library... Berenstain bears...

                      This is one of the kids most favorite books! It all started about 2 years ago.....

Here this past week they were building their snowmen, soooo excited to see what was going to happen the next morning......why?

Well it all started 2 years ago, when daddy and the kids made this adorable snowman in the front yard.....and the next day we went into town, only to return to the snowman had moved to teh front door! AND brought a friend!!! Not only, were they hilarious, but one had a sandwhich and coffee sitting out!

The whole family just about died laughing in the car... and how did this even happen???? Well... you never know what snowmen might do ...... ( thanks papa and gramma for a memory they will never forget!).. to this day BOTH my kids still talk about it, and now I think we have made a new tradtion, becuase I found myself hurrying outside early in the morning the other day, to add a sled to thier snowman, throw his hat a bit far, and change a few things ...so that their memories can live on...=)

a Very nice story, and the original story of the candy cane is in the back of the book!

What are your familie's Favorite Christmas books? I hope to add many more for next season!

Crafts..... next!