Merry Christmas

 Merry Christmas!  I do appreciate the festivals of the year that point us towards particular sections of our Savior's life.  And right now, we celebrate his incarnation as a tiny baby in Bethelehem more than 2000 years ago.  It is truly amazing that Christ was willing to give up all He had in Heaven to come to earth as a helpless child.  It is beyond my understanding, but then many things are.

  We have talked frequently about Jesus' birth in a stable (though almost certainly it wasn't in December, but the spring) but of course the children had a major interest in the presents under the tree.  Today was the big day, the day that seemed to take forever to come. I will say with joy that all the children went to bed at the normal time last night, and none came drifting out of their rooms at midnight to ask if it was time to get up. The rule was that they couldn't come down until 7 a.m. and they didn't, though little feet were heard on the stairs at 7 a.m. and 5 seconds.  They were indeed waiting by the door, staring at the clock.

  Without further ado, a few pictures...

Opening stockings

Waiting (not very patiently) to open presents.

Oooh, remote controlled helicopter!!

Daddy and Sarah.

Post present chaos!

Children in Christmas Finery

  Aren't they charming?

Eggs...

2 weeks went by.  2 long, painful weeks.  With NO eggs.

Then on Tuesday, Naomi came in from feeding the chickens, and she had a smile on her face.

She showed me an egg.  And not just any egg.

A GREEN egg.

Yes, one of our Auracana's laid an egg!

The Auracanas are known more casually as "Easter egg" chickens. They lay eggs with pretty colored shells.

Yesterday, we got a normal brown egg.

Today, we got another green egg.

Aren't they pretty?  (Well, I think so -- Kevin says they are ugly.)

So, we are feeling cautiously optimistic.  We changed their food recently and perhaps they've gotten a renewed lease in their egg laying life.  Of course, one egg a day is pathetic.  But it is better than no eggs.

Naomi's recital

Lydia's recital

Busy Week

We tend to live quiet lives.  I don't have the personality to be dashing around much. Some moms do, and I think that is wonderful.  There are so many opportunities to do exciting things in life.

But as I said, I just can't do it.  Right now I am pregnant and have a baby who needs an afternoon nap.  So we can go somewhere in the morning but I prefer to be home in the afternoon. And if we are gone in the morning, we don't get normal school in.

And in the evening, I'm tired.  And I don't like driving around in the dark.  So I prefer to be home in the evenings.

Ok, this week was a bit crazy.  Our girls started learning how to play the piano earlier this year, and Tuesday was their first recital!  And Monday was the rehearsal. So I drove them half an hour both ways on Monday and Tuesday nights as part of the piano recital.  It was a great success and we thoroughly enjoyed our girls' opportunity to play in front of a crowd, and the opportunity of listening to many other pianists and vocalists.

Kevin had a very important presentation at work today so he had longer days than usual at work and even brought some work home.  Last night, he worked while I ran off to Kroger to get a prescription and buy some groceries, which meant I was out THREE WHOLE EVENINGS this week.

I  know that sounds wimpy to some of you, but to me this is a big deal!

Today I took Isaac and Sarah to the opthalmologist.  The news was good.  Isaac's bad eye is close to 20/40 both near and far WITH his glasses on.  He is going to start patching 6 hours a day instead of 8. That will make it somewhat easier for me to carve out time for some other eye exercises and work.

Sarah is doing well.  She is very farsighted but the glasses are correcting her vision.  She is seeing well and responding well to visual stimuli. We'll need to stay on top of her vision issues but so far, so good.

Yesterday was the last school day of the calendar year.  I am looking forward to a 2 week break from school and the children are as well.  They have made good progress since August 1st. I think I'll continue to do a little phonics work with Joseph, but mostly we'll just enjoy Christmas family time.

Sort of funny, but sort of NOT

Remember a week ago I said the chickens laid 3 eggs?

And I was all excited?

Well, that was IT. We have not gotten one, single solitary egg since then!

What's with that?  We were getting at least 1 a day most days, often 2. Then 3.  Then...

NOTHING!

I'm bewildered.  I'm annoyed.

It's a good thing they are so cute.