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Look forward to continuing the journey with you!

Happy Birthday sweet boy! I love the young man you are growing into. May God continue to guide us both!

Have you seen those 5-Year Line-A-Day memory books? I love the idea–write a little something each day and then when you cycle back the next year you can reminisce about where you were that time in the past.

In reality, the thought of keeping up a single journal for 5 years is really overwhelming. How about something a little less, um,  ambitious . . .

Free for you–a one year line-a-day journal. The PDF contains a cover page and pages for each day of the month 1-31 with twelve areas on each page for the months.

Enjoy!

Click link below to download:

One Year Line a Day Journal

Posting will be a little light through the end of the year, but I have big plans for after the new year including a NEW ADDRESS! Details to come when I finish cleaning house and putting on a fresh coat of paint  In the meantime, enjoy this–my favorite reminder of the season.

From Keeping Christmas by Henry Van Dyke, a minister from the late 19th century and author of the hymn “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee.”

He who observes the day.
Observes it in honor of the Lord. (Rms 14:6)

It is a good thing to observe Christmas day. The mere marking of times and seasons, when men agree to stop work and make merry together, is a wise and wholesome custom. It helps one to feel the supremacy of the common life over the individual life. It reminds a man to set his own little watch, now and then, by the great clock of humanity which runs on sun time.

But there is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas.

Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world; to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground; to see that your fellow-men are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy; to own that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life; to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness–are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.

Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children; to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old; to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough; to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts; to try to understand what those who live in the same house with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave for your ugly thoughts, and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open–are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.

Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world–stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death–and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas.

And if you keep it for a day, why not always?
But you can never keep it alone.

Special thanks to Carol Anderson and Sheila Carroll for introducing me to Van Dyke.

edited repost

This year we added:

Humphrey’s First Christmas

Christmas at the Barn I found this Barbary Cooney illustrated version at a local library sale. The newer version features pictures by Diane Goode.

Babushka I found this Russian folktale during our Geography Through Folk Tales study.

The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden

Don’t miss our other favorites from year’s past:

How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
>

The Sweet Smell of Christmas by Patricia Scarry–scratch and sniff!

Drummer Boy by Loren Long (same author/illustrator as Toy Boat)

You Are My Miracle by Maryann Cusimano Love and Satomi Ichikawa –very sweet for the youngest ones

The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown

The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston — I love this story. The town of Spruce Pine where the book is set is nearby and has a store devoted to the book featuring work of local artisans.

We Three Kings Gennady Spirin–set to the lyrics of the classic carol, the illustrations are phenomenal.

Wombat Divine by Mem Fox–cute little story about a wombat in Australia who wants to be in the nativity play.

Want more?

Visit The Crafty Crow for her Christmas Book advent ideas with ornaments and crafts

2008

2009

2010

Dewey’s Treehouse and Oopsey Daisy also have book advents going on for more selections.

It’s getting harder to get things done (like updating my blog) around here.  However, I know that lots of moms are probably starting to dip into their “box of rainy day” activities already or will be by next week so I thought I would share a couple more ideas over the next few days before I take a long weekend off.

First up–Gum Drop Trees

We love doing these, and this year both boys got in on the action.

Gather up a bag or two of Spice Drops, a box of toothpicks, and a cone-shaped craft foam mold (is that what they are called?) You can find them at Michaels or the dollar store usually.

I cut all the toothpicks in half for easier placement in the cone.

Let the kids put on the gum drops and then stuff them in the cone.

If you are super-decorative you could do rows of different colors, designs, etc. We just went free-form.

Don’t you think your Christmas village needs a gum drop tree?

Of course, after you fill up the tree you will have to eat some of the leftovers. Yum!

I love this stuff. As we speak I have two containers of it sitting on my dryer. I intend to give some to the neighbors, but I am seriously having doubts that it will last that long.

This is an easy recipe and there are lots of ways for the kiddos to help.  Also since the peppermint is only a “crust” it doesn’t overwhelm the chocolate flavor like a peppermint oil would.

For the fudge I use the recipe on the back of the Jet-Puffed Marshmallow Creme for “Fantasy Fudge,”  but any recipe could be modified to include the candy cane flavor.

Step 1: Place unwrapped candy canes (about 20) in a ziploc  bag. Give to your child with a hammer or mallet and let them crush the candy canes into very small pieces (some dust is ok as it makes a nice “crust” for the fudge”)

Step 2: Line a 9×9 square dish with foil wrap. Place candy cane crumbs in the bottom of the dish covering the bottom.

Step 3: Follow recipe below to make fudge (my kids help cut the butter, unwrap the chocolate, measure the sugar, etc)

Fantasy Fudge 

Enjoy!!

Last year my husband and I gave Naughty and Nice Spicy and Sweet Almonds to our family for Christmas.  Here’s how you can do it too!

Choose nut of your choice. We bought whole almonds from Sam’s Club, which had the best price we found.

I used Ball half-pint jars (I actually scored a case at a yard sale!) and topped them with labels like the ones below. Click here to get your own version.

You could also package in cellophane bags or gift tins.

Nice Sweet Almonds (modified from here)

2 cups whole almonds, skins on

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tbs. honey

2 tbs water

2 tsp oil

Directions:

1. Spread the almonds in a single layer on an ungreased baking pan and place in a cold oven. Bake at 350 degrees, stirring occasionally until tan colored, about 12-15 mins. Set aside.

2. Mix sugar and salt. Set aside.

3. Stir together honey, water and oil in a pan and bring to boil over medium heat. Stir in almonds and cook until all liquid has been absorbed by nuts (about 5 min).

4. Immediately transfer to another bowl and sprinkle sugar mixture over and toss.

5. Spread on wax paper to cool.

Naughty Spiced Nuts

Follow Steps 1 & 2 above

3. Mix 2 T honey, 2 1/2 T water, 2 tsp oil and  1 tsp + a pinch of red pepper flake. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir in almonds and simmer for at least 5 minutes or more to infuse flavor.

Follow Steps 4 & 5

I wanted to share this lovely poem we read this week with our Ambleside Online poetry readings.

A Thanksgiving

by John Kendrick Bangs, 1862-1922

For summer rains, and winter’s sun,
For autumn breezes crisp and sweet;
For labors doing, to be done,
And labors all complete;
For April, May, and lovely June,
For bud, and bird, and berried vine;
For joys of morning, night, and noon,
My thanks, dear Lord, are Thine!

For loving friends on every side;
For children full of joyous glee;
For all the blessed Heavens wide,
And for the sounding sea;
For mountains, valleys, forests deep;
For maple, oak, and lofty pine;
For rivers on their seaward sweep,
My thanks, dear Lord, are Thine!

For light and air, for sun and shade,
For merry laughter and for cheer;
For music and the glad parade
Of blessings through the year;
For all the fruitful earth’s increase,
For home and life, and love divine,
For hope, and faith, and perfect peace,
My thanks, dear Lord, are Thine!

And the book recommendation is actually great for everyone.

Thank You Sarah, The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving tells the inspiring story of Sarah Hale who persisted for 38 years to have Thanksgiving made a national holiday. In addition, she was the first woman magazine editor, the author of “Mary Had a Little Lamb” and mother of 5, among other things.

She was turned down by 4 presidents before Abraham Lincoln heeded the call of her and others to make the holiday official nationwide in 1863 in the midst of the Civil War.

The story is fun and conversational with intriguing pictures with some rather put-out turkeys.  A great alternative to all those pilgrim stories It also has a great lesson about the power of the pen and makes her and her letters seem like the stuff of  a real superhero.

PRESCHOOL  (2-4) |      ELEMENTARY (5-8) |    OLDER ELEMENTARY (9-12)

Welcome to the third day of the 2nd Annual Mobmom Boy-Friendly Gift Guide. These toys and gifts are ones that I either have (***) or would buy for my sons personally. This list does not include the core “boy toys” of cars, trains, action figures and Legos because your house, like mine,  is probably full of those already. It also does not include any video games because we do not own any gaming systems so I don’t have much of an opinion on different ones.

You can read more about my basic toy-buying philosophy here.

Note: The prices are from Amazon unless otherwise noted (as of October 28, 2011). I am an Amazon Affiliate and if you click the picture of the toy to make your purchase, I receive a very small percentage of the sale, which helps fund our homeschool. Just FYI!

Erector Set

$19.38

These have been around for a LONG time, but they really are timeless in their appeal. There are many different sets in many price ranges. This one build 10 different models from the 190 included pieces.

Hypotrochoid Art Set

$10.89

This little spiral art drawing kit is great for your little designer.  Hypotrochoids  (what a fancy word!) are mathematical designs created by a point in a circle rolling around inside of a larger circle. I just call it fun.
Heath Kit Garage Parking Assistant

$129
I had never heard of Heath Kits until I read an article about Steve Jobs where he mentioned how important they were to him as a child. In the past they had many DIY kits to build various electronics. Now they are back with the first one of a new line–a Garage Parking Assistant. You put together the devise from scratch (including soldering, etc). I’m not saying your son is the next Steve Jobs, but you just never know!

Piperoid Robots

$15.95

These paper craft robots were designed in Japan and are very collectible. Each of the ones here were created with just five tubes of paper. Other sets are available. A cooler form of origami if you ask me.  Great for your manga fan.

Architecto

$34.79

Architecto is just one of 4 games in this series of block-building challenges. The others–Equilibrio , Tangramino and Cliko –all use the same set of blocks so you can buy just the challenge books separately once you have a set. There are 6 levels of play in each set so there is lots of room for growth with these games. Great for spatial visualization!

Looking for more ideas for Older Elementary aged kids–check our the 2010 edition.