First Snow of 2017

We got our first snow of the year last night. Close to five inches. The kids have been in and out all day enjoying it.

Tonight, I could hear them with Brian out sledding next to the house. I heard their screams and laughter at the same time I heard the wind whipping around the house. I think it's about 14 degrees.
Brian told me I really needed to come out so I got bundled up and headed out.

It was pretty dark. The stars were bright. Inhaling that frigid air stung!
Someone had a head lamp on as they zipped down the hill.
They were eager for me to get on a sled so I went down first with Lucy. At the bottom she looked at me with a big smile and asked, "Did you like it, Mommy?"
"Yes!"
I went down again on Sam's sled. Fast!
Jack carried Lucy's sled back up the hill.
It was pretty fun, I have to admit.
As Kayla said, "Cold."
Everyone is inside now with bright red cheeks and frozen gloves.
Totally worth it.

Snowstorm 2016

The excitement has been building in our house for several days.  Is this snow really going to be THAT big?  We stocked up at the grocery store and the library. Two days ago we gathered snow gear so we'd be ready to go.
Well, it's here. The boys slept downstairs and were awake at 5:15 to watch the snow falling. (They went back to sleep10

It was quite a surprise to see our town on the Today Show.

It didn't take long to get about 6 inches with much more on the way.

Lucy and I went for a walk.

Kayla sliding into the snow

 Snowy cuteness!

 Sam dusting off the snowboard

 Jack taking a break from shoveling. He's employed in the neighborhood!

Sam trying out snow skis

What's a good snowstorm without snow cream?

He'll take his outside!

Christmas Books 2015

 This year I saw these "book trees" everywhere so we tried one ourselves.  The kids thought it should have been much taller but wow! it takes a lot of books! 

Christmas books are some of my favorite.  Especially books for kids although didn't C.S. Lewis say something to the effect of if it's truly a good children's book, then it's also good for adults?

We have some that we read every year.

This year there are a few new ones.

 **We already returned my one of my favorites- it's called Not Enough Beds.  So cute! If you have ever had a houseful at Christmas, you should read this ABC book.

**Merry Christmas Mr. Mouse by Carolyn Buehner and Mark Buenher  

**The Twelve Days of Christmas in Virginia by Sue Corbett  You get a little history with your Christmas!

**Norman Rockwell's Christmas Book  This is one I'd like to own.  It's full of Rockwell illustrations, poems, songs, short stories, and excerpts, all about Christmas.  

**Coming Through the Blizzard by Eileen Spinelli (Remember her book Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch?)  This one is simple and sweet and made me a little teary at the end.

 

Some "old" favorites:

The Little Fir Tree by Margaret Wise Brown

Merry Christmas Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola

Berenstain Bears' Old Fashioned Christmas by Jan and Mike Berenstain

The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg

Silver Packages by Cynthia Ryland

Christmas in the Country by Cynthia Ryland 

For adults: A Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg 

 

Summer Night

Who doesn't love a warm summer night?  She came out after her bath and was so excited.  "Mom!  The lightening bugs are all coming to get me!"  Happy girl!

Jack's Paper

Jack's Challenge class wrote apologetics papers as an end of the year project.  They spent the year studying and writing persuasive essays.  I also want to keep Jack's paper in a place where I won't lose it!  So here it is:

Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead? If he did not then Christianity is built around false truths and weak ideas.  Three facts support the idea that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead.  Women, whose testimony was not valued in that day, were recorded as the primary witnesses in the resurrection. Second, Roman soldiers guarded the tomb, and these soldiers were renowned for resilience in their duties. Lastly, angels were recorded being on the tomb at the time of the resurrection.

            Women were the first witnesses to say that they had seen Jesus alive.  Today women are taken seriously in their opinions and views. However, in Jesus’ time women were not respected.  Also, they held a very low place in society. Therefore, the disciples would not have written that women were the foremost witnesses to the Resurrection unless it was completely true.    

            Secondly, Roman soldiers, who were guarding the tomb where Jesus was buried, took their jobs very seriously.  If they failed in their duty, they themselves would be killed.  Consequently, the soldiers would most definitely not have left their posts unless they were extremely scared or even killed. Surely, the committed soldiers would not have abandoned their duties unless a truly terrifying incident forced them to leave.

            Finally, the disciples recorded angels on the tomb.  Angels would have seemed very mysterious and dangerous to anyone who heard the story. Even today not much is known about angels and what they are like. If you saw an angel what would you do? People in Jesus’ time would have been scared and shocked to see an angel. Thus, the disciples would have seemed crazy to declare that there were angels at the tomb.

Women were the leading witnesses in the resurrection. In addition, Roman soldiers were very severe about their jobs and would be punished if they failed. In conclusion the disciples recorded angels in their records of the resurrection. Considered very mythical creatures, angels were seen on top of the tomb. If Jesus did not rise from the dead then Christianity is built around falsehoods.

Kayla's Helen Keller Paper

Today was our last day of Classical Conversations for this school year.  Can you hear us doing our happy dance???
Jack and Kayla both presented papers to their classes today.  I want to keep these essays so I'm publishing them here.  Maybe you'll enjoy them, too!

Kayla's Essentials class has spent a great deal of time researching, note taking, and writing essays on famous Americans.  The class is  required to include many elements of style and mark each one in the final draft.  Kayla chose Helen Keller.  Here is her (unmarked) finished product:

Finding Invisible Beauty

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.” Helen Keller, who was born on June 27, 1880, lived in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Several important factors influenced Helen’s life. When she was a baby, Helen suffered a shocking illness.  As a result, Helen became both blind and deaf.  Helen Keller’s world completely changed when she met stunning Anne Sullivan.

                When Helen Keller was only one and a half years old, she became very sick. In Helen’s little body a colossal fever raged. Her parents, who were extremely concerned, thought she would die! Worrying, Helen’s mother would gently place wet towels on Helen’s head because she hoped to cool the fever. She was burning up. The doctor worried that Helen might have scarlet fever! Miraculously, a few days later the fever had disappeared!  But the illness had left a considerable mark on the young child.

                 Since Helen’s illness caused her to become both deaf and blind her behavior in childhood was deeply affected. Helen started as a happy, beautiful baby. At only six months she began to talk! Her learning halted. Helen, who resisted discipline, did what she wished; her distraught parents could not make her behave! Desperately they wanted to help Helen, although they did not know how. Helen was often angry. She kicked and cried. She was mischievous! Daring, she once cut all her friend’s hair off!  Obviously Helen’s illness greatly impacted her childhood.

                On March third, 1887 a teacher named Annie Sullivan moved to Alabama to help Helen Keller learn, because Helen’s parents needed help. At first Helen refused to obey Annie. She continued to be a disobedient student. Annie taught Helen everything. Since Helen often behaved rudely, Annie first taught her proper manners, which would be helpful as Helen grew older. Skilled, Annie taught Helen to read in Braille!  Helen simply adored being able to read! Gradually Helen excelled at the many things Annie taught her. Sadly, Anne Sullivan died on October 20, 1936. Annie moving to Alabama proved to be an excellent idea.

                Helen’s illness was devastating. It affected her childhood greatly. After Helen met her, Annie Sullivan made a gigantic impact on Helen's life.  Most significantly, Helen learned numerous life skills because Annie zealously persevered.  Auspiciously, Helen Keller learned to find beauty in the world even without seeing and hearing.

Girls' Night

The guys have left town with friends for a few days and headed to Brian's dad's cabin in SW Virginia.  It's pouring the rain but I think they will have a great time on this belated birthday trip for Jack.

So tonight it was Cupcake Wars and ice cream for the girls.  

And yes.  Yes I did buy each of us our own pint of Ben and Jerry's.  Not to be eaten all at once but still, what a fun treat!

Tomorrow we work on school in the morning then off to see Cinderella.  I've heard from at least one of you that it will be well worth our time!