Sunday, January 22, 2023

Winter 2023



"Always winter and never Christmas." 

That's the current mood in the winter season. I've heard from several just today and Harrison has been bringing it up ~ they are ready for winter to be over. 

It's the cold, wet, snowy-but-not-the-fun-kind, dreary, no-holiday-to-look-forward-to part of the winter season.

I have to say for myself: "I am enjoying it." 

I like to have the excuse (along with everyone else) to stay home and drink hot drinks and read books. The go-go seasons will be here soon enough. 

I say, Stay inside and hibernate and enjoy it!



Just think how much better that sunrise looks in real life. Unbelievable beauty.


Harrison made a snow angel in this quarter inch of snow.


The cats and kittens are all doing well! 
They frisk around with the least bit of sunshine and warmth.


Jonathan and Harrison have a Minecraft world together. Or something like that. Anyway, they've been connecting on Minecraft on two separate computers. Maybe this will continue once Jon heads to college. Harrison is going to miss him.....


I did a workshop at on online Charlotte Mason conference last week. This was a first. I did a talk about reading lessons way back when Delightful Reading came out. This went better than that. (That was in person; this was over Zoom.) 

We had tech issues (internet stopped; phone as a hotspot kept pinging; I finally just entered the meeting on my phone and did it from there). But we got it done! It went okay. I was super nervous and couldn't really concentrate on much else but getting through the presentation. I wish I had answered questions better and also been able to look at people's faces. I also didn't get a look at the number of attendees, but the other workshops had between 30 and 50. It was an experience! I'm grateful that Donna at Mentoring Our Own (picture above) gave me the chance to speak. There was much encouragement and many great ideas throughout the week.


I've been listening to Jessica's (above) podcast and really enjoying it. She also spoke at the conference. One of the cool things about her podcast is that it isn't just for homeschoolers but for families in general and teachers in other schools. She brings in current research along with Charlotte Mason's thoughts. 


Amos and Lanaya Elizabeth came to visit. So glad! 

(Lanaya made the sweater she's wearing ~ amazing.)

The kids all went to Hannibal to hang out on Friday. And we pretty much just talked and hung out while they were here. Oh, we finally signed her car over to her. She paid for her car, but it has been in our name. Hopefully she can get all that "new to a state" stuff done over in Oklahoma. 


We celebrated Phillip's birthday while they were here. 



Playing the game Elizabeth gave the kids for Christmas. 

It's a good way to get to know each other, since this game makes you feel particularly like you don't even know your own kids: Worst-Case Scenario card game. 


Amos and Lanaya are heading back home and stopped to see his brother and family.



Subtle sunset.

Winter is not forever.

 

Thursday, January 5, 2023

Christmas Break

 

We had a wonderful two-week break and are back at school. 

After the Arctic Blast, 30° feels so warm. I'm thankful for the heat we have in our home. I'm glad our cats all survived. And we caught three mice who seemed to seek out our warm house during the coldest weather. One was so cute though. He was a field mouse instead of the regular ugly ones. Phillip actually caught him Tom-and-Jerry style (with peanut butter and a string and a colander pulled down over it and letting it out in the field to give it a fighting chance). 

Look at that beautiful foggy sunrise.

We watched Charlie Brown Christmas and drank hot cocoa and ate toast on this night.



Christmas Eve was opening stocking gifts and gifts from Uncle John and Aunt Kristy. Phoebe has her hair done up in curls for church the next day.



Christmas morning. A little breakfast before church. 

They did a wonderful service on Christmas Day. 
I especially enjoyed Mike reading the Christmas story to the kids. 

Home to get some of the food started while the kids open the rest of the Christmas gifts.



Lanaya Elizabeth knitted me a pair of beautiful socks.



Phillip got me these monogrammed, embroidered corner bookmarks. I love them! They work really well too. 

No pictures of Christmas lunch! Oops. Delicious and stuffed. Then we watched A Christmas Carol.

Monday morning we head over to Mimi and Papa's for a chili lunch. The kids play nerf guns, pool, etc.



Harrison puts together his building kit gifts pretty quickly.

Phoebe has been wanting to go to the St. Louis Art Museum since we saw it during Shakespeare in the Park. We spent 5 hours there last Wednesday. We could have spent longer, but I think we at least covered most of it. Next time we can spend time at the things we particularly enjoyed.

Mother rocking baby. 

Sharing a sandwich and soup for lunch.

The Stone Sea sculpture.

Old furniture. 
We went to several thrift shops nearby and then shared a Pork Bowl with rice noodles. It was a delightful day. 


We've had a puzzle table out. I love it when I catch a kid or a husband sneaking in some pieces.

We got a number of games for Christmas. Jon figures out the rules and teaches us how to play. 

The boys flying their drones.

Jon wanted to play an early morning game of A Little Wordy before he had to go to work. I'm addicted.

On New Year's Eve Jonathan was working, Phoebe went to a party, and the rest of us were home. We drank sparkling grape juice to celebrate Greenland's New Year so that I could get in bed by 10. :-)