Last Friday (before the concert) we had our homeschool co-op's little Advent/Christmas party with readings, singings, and a potluck lunch. This year my children were in the Three Kings part and Julia was the narrator.
Marc had his concert rehearsal at two so we just went to the science center right next door to the concert hall. Everyone had a wonderful time. They had all the winter wonderland activities up and running.
All four loved the zipline!
Julia played her piano recital piece-
Marc had his first basketball game of the season on Saturday. It's a new team because they are playing 7th and 8th graders together. They are getting comfortable with each other and they won!
Daddy had two great helpers with the leaf raking on Saturday.
Julia was the only one dressed in time to get a quick Sunday picture before church. :)
After a three month drought we had a solid week of rain!!!!! Thank you, Lord!
Does this make anyone else giggle?
I mean, the last verse does say-
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel
Moving on. :) We have a little candy dish with Hershey kisses in it on the table in the foyer during the holidays.
I saw this paper beside it- maybe Tucker thinks we are going to raffle off something to the best guesser? :)
My favorite thing about this time of year is all of our Christmas books!!!! We read them all day every day. When you store them away- it's a special treat to see them again. I caught Sissy reading to Charliebear.
Today we had the most wonderful field trip! We went to Tannehill State park and experienced their Christmas program, which explained life in the early 1800s. We started with a actress doing a wonderful monologue on her life as a slave.
Then our one-room school house teacher taught us all about how they learned in the past. I've heard the one-room schoolhouse thing on so many field trips and yet every time I hear something I've never heard before.
She explained how children were punished by shaming them with signs. :)
A civil war expert gave us the details of life as a soldier and also made me want to read more about Reconstruction.
Then we went to a cottage and heard some old blue grass music and the stories behind the songs and dances.
We had a picnic lunch and sang Happy Birthday to one of Julia's friends.
Then we sat by a roaring fire and had this delightful gentlemen read us "Twas the Night Before Christmas," and he explained all the meaning behind it and the evolution of "Santa".
Our last visit was with a very interesting lady who taught us all about a Victorian Christmas. We learned about how to "make do" with what you have.
Days like this make me long for a simpler time. I love hearing about the joy that was had over just a paper chain, a corn husk doll and peace and quiet.
