A BIG Thank You

to all those who gave me money for Christmas enabling me to buy this:

I'm still drooling over it! :)

Rocket Boys

...and girl. Alex and Nathan have really been obsessed with rockets lately, asking their daddy quite often to play the launch scene from Apollo 13. They each received some little space sets including the Saturn V rocket, space shuttle, and various other space-related items. Amy even got an astronaut barbie-type doll. But Bill also surprised his boys with a special gift: a set of two model rockets. They put them together on Wednesday and then on Thursday, after a brief viewing of the rocket launch at the end of October Sky, we all took them to a nearby park and launched them. The kids were so excited! Of course, our first rocket got stuck in a tree, though was still retrievable. The other one went off into the woods and even after hours of searching for it, we never found it. Thankfully, we had just had rain so it wasn't a fire hazard... though it wasn't much fun trekking through the mud to look for it! We'll definitely have to try shooting off another rocket someday - maybe somewhere a little more open and not so many trees!

Three cold kids, anxiously awaiting the launch.

Rocket #1, the smaller of the two.

Nathan, ready to launch the first rocket.

Rocket #2, the largest, soon to be lost rocket (could we have asked for a prettier day?)

Alex, ready to launch the second rocket.

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2007 has come and gone. I find with each year, the period before Christmas that was once long, exciting, and full of anticipation, passes more and more quickly, and in a much more stressful, chaotic way. I'm not saying I don't enjoy the Christmas season. The magic is still there and of course, I still wait anxiously for the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior. But I'm just so busy the entire time, frantically trying to cross tasks off my to-do list. The next thing I know, it's Christmas Eve and with Santa's help, we are finalizing our Christmas preparations and then boom - it's Christmas day. I guess that's what happens when you "grow up". Thank God for our precious little children who keep us grounded and still allow us to fully experience the joy of Christmas. The moment they come down the stairs on Christmas morning, all wide-eyed and bouncing with excitement, is the moment I enjoy most of all.

Despite the craziness this year, we did have a wonderful Christmas. We had our annual Christmas get-together with our very good friends from down the street. There was food and drink and presents - but most of all there were friends spending quality time together and making Christmas memories. It was the perfect evening!

Before opening gifts (look how excited Andrew looks!)

After opening gifts - what a mess! :)

We made lots and lots of cookies! The most enjoyable ones to make, of course, were the ones the kids and I made together - the special iced sugar cookies we always leave out for Santa. Alex and Nathan had so much fun decorating the cookies... Alex especially enjoyed smearing lots and lots of icing and adding handfulls of sprinkles and mini-chocolate chips. His were some delicious, sure-to-change-your-figure, cookies! Amy only helped decorate one cookie, which she quickly ate.

It's a messy job, but someone's gotta do it!

We spent Christmas Eve at my parents house celebrating with my family. It was a day spent eating and hanging out together. One of my favorite things about Christmas each year is this day with my family. I so enjoy just being with each other. My family puts out luminarias each year as part of their neighborhoods' tradition. The kids were a big help this year, setting the sand-filled bags out and carefully placing a candle in each one. They were so excited when the time came to finally light the candles! In years past, we have always piled into the back of my dad's truck and driven around the neighborhood to look at the lights and all of the lit up luminarias. But this year we were all too worn out. Time got away from us and it was late by the time we'd reached a point where we could go light-looking. We went ahead and left for home instead, but still took the time to drive around just for a little while - long enough for a couple of our younger family members to fall asleep. And of course, the rest of the night was quite busy!

Gift-opening on Christmas Eve - just a tad disorganized

All the little cousins

Reading The Night Before Christmas, once all was peaceful again

Chistmas morning was magnificent as always. My parents came over early before the kids were up. I think Alex brightened their morning when he came down and happily greeted them before even noting what Santa had brought him. Of course, it didn't take long before he did notice! I just love to watch the kids go through their stockings and open up all of their of goodies. We had a hard time getting Amy to open up anything besides pieces of candy, though! She so enjoyed her chocolate! When everything had been opened, breakfast consumed and the last Advent candle lit, we dressed and headed over to my sister's house for Christmas lunch. We had a wonderful time there. I have to say though... There is such a think as over-eating, especially when it comes to cookies and various sweets. I think I know what one of my New Year's Resolutions needs to be! And I may need to slow those kiddos down a tad, too!

Christmas morning

It amazes me how quickly it all goes, but Christmas is still such an amazing time. And why shouldn't it be? I am so very blessed, but I know that no matter how many presents we receive or are able to give, no matter whether we have lots to eat or nothing to eat at all, whether we spend it with family and friends or all alone.... it's still Christmas, the day our beloved Jesus Christ was born to save us all. I think no matter what circumstances you find yourself in or how busy and hectic your schedule is from one year to the next, it is still a time to be joyful and glad and celebrate in all you do. I'm going to try my best to remember that next year when I find myself caught up, once again, in my long to-do list.

Merry Christmas!

Not Only Christmas Day

Lord, this is my prayer
Not only on Christmas Day
But until I see You face to face
May I live my life this way:

Just like the baby Jesus
I ever hope to be,
Resting in Your loving arms
Trusting in Your sovereignty.

And like the growing Christ child
In wisdom daily learning,
May I ever seek to know You
With my mind and spirit yearning.

Like the Son so faithful
Let me follow in Your light,
Meek and bold, humble and strong
Not afraid to face the night.

Nor cowardly to suffer
And stand for truth alone,
Knowing that Your kingdom
Awaits my going home.

Not afraid to sacrifice
Though great may be the cost,
Mindful how You rescued me
From broken-hearted loss.

Like my risen Savior
The babe, the child, the Son,
May my life forever speak
Of who You are and all You've done.

So while this world rejoices
And celebrates Your birth,
I treasure You, the greatest gift
Unequaled in Your worth.

I long to hear the same words
That welcomed home Your Son,
"Come, good and faithful servant,"
Your Master says, "Well done."

And may heaven welcome others
Who will join with me in praise
Because I lived for Jesus Christ
Not only Christmas Day

-- Mary Fairchild

Wishing your family a blessed Christmas day!

God is Good

Every once in awhile, we lose a material object and even though it seems like such a terribly selfish thing to pray for, we feel the need to ask God to help us find it.

On Monday, I lost my college ring. I have been so depressed since losing it. I couldn't imagine where it had gone. I was almost positive I'd put it on that morning, but had no idea at what point I had lost it. I didn't notice it missing until I' d gone to remove my rings that afternoon. I frantically searched the house for the remainder of the afternoon and even called the grocery store and Alex's school where we'd been earlier that day. When Bill called on his way home from work, I'd been crying and he could tell something was wrong. So after I told him about not being able to find my ring, he offered to go by the grocery store and look for it. And though it was getting dark by that point, he lovingly searched the store parking lot in addition to the store itself. But no luck.

Tuesday I did more searching of the house and racking my brain to try and remember when and where it could have been lost. I started wondering if I'd even put it on Monday. Maybe it'd been missing longer and I'd just never noticed it. I called the church to see if I'd lost it there on Sunday; I emailed my sister-in-law who lives across town because we'd been to their house on Saturday. Again, no luck.

Wednesday, the kids and I went out and retraced our steps from Monday. We went to the school where Alex has speech and searched the parking lot, the school and asked again at the front desk. Nothing. We went to the store where we searched the parking lot, the aisles, some of the shelves where I remember rummaging through food items, and finally asked again at the customer service desk. Nothing. I went home feeling empty and without hope of ever finding it again.

I talked with my mom today and she reminded me that at least it is replaceable. It wouldn't be cheap and of course, it wouldn't be quite the same, but I could have another one made. I felt better after our conversation, though I still couldn't help feeling that nagging desire to know what happened to my ring. I've had a relatively normal afternoon, still doing the occasional checking for my ring when a possible location would come to mind. But all in all, I've tried not to think on it too much. And then....

A little while ago, I realized Amy was in need of a diaper change. So, I went and got her a diaper and the wipes and popped open the wipes container to change her. When I pulled out a couple of wipes in preparation, there it was. I know on Monday I had put a new package of wipes in the container, and interestingly enough, I had thought of checking there and in the bag the new wipes had come out of, but did not see it when doing my check. And I've even been using this container of wipes all this time!!! I guess somehow it had gotten caught up in the wipes and I just never could see it or feel it until today at this particular daiper changing.

So as selfish and trivial as my prayer may have been, God mercifully let me find this simple material object that means so much to me. God is good!

Rudolph

Alex has really enjoyed watching Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer this year. Actually, he's not big on the original show because he says the abominable snow monster is too scary. But he likes the later made computerized Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys, and just recently watched Rudolph's Shiny New Year and likes it, too. This recent interest also has him drawing and cutting out Rudolph on a regular basis. Today's large 3-dimensional Rudolph is my favorite so far...

Long Time No Blog

It's been quite awhile since I blogged. I can't believe I haven't posted anything since Nathan's birthday! I had at least planned to post about our wonderful Thanksgiving, but I guess we just got a little too busy around here.

I also had all four of my wisdom teeth pulled the first week in December and that has put me out of commission for the last week and a half. I've made a vow that as soon as my children's wisdom teeth begin to make their appearance, I will be asking their dentist if it's time to have them pulled! Never, never wait until in your 30's to have them out!!!

But I am doing better now and attempting to get us back on some kind of normal routine again, especially with homeschooling. I have managed to get through Alex's workbook activities each day, but we haven't had any of the other enrichment lessons to go along with it. I haven't even been able to read to them! And I was so looking forward to doing lots of Christmas activities together, the Jesse Tree in particular. I had it all planned out, even the small tree we would use to hang our daily ornaments on. But it never happened.

So now we will just salvage what we can of this holiday season. Today after we do our lessons we will do a couple of Christmas crafts and then bake cookies. And I hope to resume our Tea Time again today, which will yield the perfect opportunity to read one of the many Christmas books I've been wanting to read to the kids.

I promise I will try and post more now that things are returning to normal... Maybe not daily, but hopefully every other day or so. Hopefully.... :)

I'm "Por" Today

That's what my little Nathan has been happily reciting all day, because today, he turned four years old. I am still somewhat in disbelief that another year has passed since he turned three. He still seems like my little three year old. Sure, he's doing much more now - writing letters, drawing people with actual features as opposed to just circles, and actually cutting along the lines with his scissors. But still, he can't really be four today, can he? When I hear him talk, he still pronounces things, such as "por", in a way that makes him seem younger than he is. And there is still a hint of that baby face I remember so well.

But the truth is, today my littlest boy turned four. And his daddy and I are so very proud of him. He is exactly like Bill, from his love of coins and rocks, to his daredevil antics. He wants to do everything he sees his daddy do. And even though I may find it hard to believe he is already four, he is constantly trying to be a grown up. He's asked Santa Clause for a real lawnmower... I think he may have to wait awhile on that one. :) Of course, no matter how old he gets, he'll still be my baby boy.

Nathan Wayne O'Hara, approx. 8 months old

Happy Birthday, Nathan!!!

Nathan and Alex with their cousin, Caden, at Nathan's party on Saturday.

Nathan with his Superman birthday cake at his party.

Nathan and Bill at the park today.

Alex and Amy chasing ducks at the park today.

Posing with Coach Cameron at karate today

The birthday boy, "throwing" Coach Cameron at karate today.

Our little 4 year old, on his way to his birthday dinner after a very full day

Another Curriculum Change

Today I put in an order for Math-U-See. I have struggled with this decision for awhile now. I purchased the Horizons Kindergarten math workbooks at the homeschool conference in early summer, but questioned then if Math-U-See would be better. Then at another conference late summer I questioned again whether I should instead use Math-U-See, and once again I chose to stick with Horizons. And up until recently, I was loving Horizons. It really is a great program, but it's also a fast-paced more advanced math curriculum. Alex did really well at the beginning, but over time I have found him struggling with more and more of the material, and yet as we move along they continue to build on what the child is supposedly learning. And no matter how many ways I try to explain some of the more difficult concepts to him, he just doesn't get it. So hopefully, Math-U-See, with it's hands-on approach, will clear things up for him. I can't wait until it arrives and we can get started!

Improvising

Amy took notice of my earrings today. Then I later found her like this (it was the best picture I could get). She says they are earrings. Sure. Why not?

Halloween Recap

I can't believe it's been over a week since Halloween and I never got around to finishing my post I'd started. So, finally, here are the pictures...

Alex playing a game at the church fall festival

Nathan playing a game at the church fall festival

Alex and Amy playing in the bubbles at the church fall festival

Nathan, Alex and Amy, posing (Amy wouldn't give up her sucker for the picture)

All three out trick-or-treating

Wow - look at all that candy!!!

Changing Things Up a Bit

I have really enjoyed the Five in a Row program we've been using; it's got so many wonderful ideas and the books are fantastic. However, after veering off course a bit the last two weeks by doing a separate unit study on the Renaissance period and then one on apples, I think I found that I prefer doing this learning approach even better. Five in a Row is similar, but it has you read the same book each day and then use certain aspects of the story to introduce lessons in art, math, science and language. But what I did with those other two studies and what I would like to continue doing is take one particular subject and then read many books and do activities that focus on that one theme. It's a similar, yet different approach. I think the kids had more fun with it, as did I. I'm still planning to use some of the Five in a Row books and ideas they provide, but these will be done in support of our one-themed unit study, which will typically change from week to week (or possibly more than a week, depending on the unit).

We are off to a slow start this week, as we are still a little tired from all the recent events: Halloween, Amy's birthday and celebration and the time change, to name a few. But I believe we will focus on Thanksgiving related themes for the next couple of weeks. There is so much we can talk about. Today during tea time, we started reading ...If YOU SAILED ON The Mayflower in 1620. We read just the first part and will read more over the next several days. I love this line of books because they really take you there and are so informative. I think the kids are enjoying it, though this day in particular they have been a little distracted by the desire to be outside. Imagine that! I still think they soaked up some of the information, and of course we will be reading more books and doing some fun activities that will hopefully help them remember who the pilgrims were and what Thanksgiving is really all about.

This new teaching approach is exciting and I'm looking forward to all the fun things we'll do together in the weeks to come!

A Hi-5 Party

Amy is still quite the Hi-5 fan, so of course what other party theme could we do for her second birthday celebration? Although, it wasn't an easy theme to go with. The only available Hi-5 party supplies have to be ordered from Australia, and I wasn't about to pay shipping from Australia! So we did our own thing. Bright colors of pink, purple, green, yellow and orange were the choice colors for our balloons. I used some sale item plates and napkins from the party store, and even though they didn't contain anything relating to Hi-5, the colors along with the flowers and butterflies really seemed to work well with the theme. We printed off the Hi-5 logo and had color copies made to display througout the house. And for the cake, I just made a giant Hi-5 logo, but instead of writing Hi-5, I put "Happy Birthday, Amy". And of course, we had the latest Hi-5 video playing on the T.V. inside and then Hi-5 music playing out on the back deck throughout the party. I don't know if Amy truly got that we were having a Hi-5 party, but it doesn't matter. She appeared to have a good time and that is all we could hope for!

I especially enjoyed the girliness of it all. I'm so used to the boys' superhero parties with boyish games and action figure type gifts. Not that those aren't fun, too, because they really are. But there is just something about a party with baby dolls, dress up clothes, and fancy tea sets. So, so fun! And Amy loved it, too. She proudly walked around wearing her costume jewelry, dress up shoes and new backpack.

The only disappointing thing that happened was we forgot to put out the gigantic 5 lb. container of potato salad I'd purchased just for the occasion. Thankfully, upon inspection of said potato salad, I discovered a use-by date that will allow me to save it for another birthday party we've got coming up. What a relief... Who can eat that much potato salad?!? But I can proudly state that for what I think is the first time ever, I managed to send home party favors with every child. And after only 2 hours of sleep, I'm amazed I actually remembered!

Here are some fun pictures from Amy's big day:

Happy Birthday, Baby Angel!

How can it be? Is it possible that you turned 2 years old today??? I still remember bringing you home from the hospital, so tiny and totally dependent on me. You were such a beautiful baby and so sweet.

That precious, new, E.T. look...
Oh, how big brother loved holding you!

What a cutie!

Just one year ago...


And now here you are, 2 years later, still beautiful and still so sweet. But you aren't so dependent on me anymore. You're becoming quite the independent little girl, always wanting to do things for yourself. But as tough as you come across, you can be sensitive and ever so cuddly. Your daddy and I discuss quite often how we really should be moving you to your own room in your own big girl bed. And yet... I just can't imagine going to bed each night without you rolling over to wrap your arms around me with a loving hug. You are a true joy, baby girl. A treasured gift from God.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMY!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Ready to open those presents!

A new stroller for her babies...

chocolate chip pancake "cake", mmmm...

Halloween

This year we tried something new for Halloween. We took the kids to the Fall Festival at our church and they had a great time playing games and jumping on a moonwalk. They got quite a bit of candy and found some neat prizes hidden within a whole lot of hay, and they got their faces painted. Then we left there and headed to Granny and Paw-Paw's house for trick-or-treating fun. It was lots of fun, as usual, and now we have more candy than we know what to do with! The only disappointment to our evening was coming home to find that some mean person(s) had smashed the kids' pumpkins. I've had pumpkins taken from my porch and smashed before, but never my children's carved pumpkins. I am thankful the kids were asleep when we came home and have no idea what happened to their prized pumpkins. Bill put the pumpkin remains out for the trash. I'm not sure what we'll tell the boys. We should probably tell them the truth, but it might just be easier to tell them someone took them because they thought they were the cutest pumpkins ever.

I'll post pictures as soon as I can, but tonight, it's late and I have school planning to get to. I hope you all had a happy, happy Halloween!

Scary Monster

Alex just informed me that there is a scary monster outside. It's called a "Meridactyl Monsterous". Must be part dinosaur, part monster.

More Halloween Fun

Last night we carved the pumpkins we had obtained from the pumpkin patch (something I never got around to posting about). The kids had fun drawing faces onto the pumpkins and then helping to clean the pumpkins out. Of course, you may notice a common theme in the pictures below...





Alex was just a tad distracted by this "new" Halloween video we started for them while they carved their pumpkins.

After they finished helping us clean out the pumpkins, Bill and I did the carving while the kids sat in the den to continue watching the video and enjoy a special apple themed treat: cinnamon baked apples. Last year we did the toasted pumpkin seeds, but they weren't much of a hit so we opted not to do it again this year. Surprisingly, Alex did not care for the baked apple, though Nathan and Amy happily ate theirs and later helped eat mine and Bill's.



Here are the final carved products:



Finally, the kids decorated their small pumpkins using the stickers we purchased at the pumpkin patch. They always have fun with that. Alex and Nathan each put a face on both sides of their pumpkins. Alex did this so he could make one mean face and one happy one. Amy chose to give her pumpkin one big jumbled face.





The kids are really looking forward to tomorrow and all the fun activities we have planned. I am, too!