Poor Emmy. She will be healed up soon but she had a few rough days of fever and cold symptoms. A quick visit to the doctor today revealed an ear infection so we got some medicine and she is on the mend!  She was so run down she could do little more than lay cuddled up in her blankets, waiting to be carried to her next resting place. 

While we had to spend time doing Doctor duty, the day also included gingerbread painting, baking bread and lots of Christmas tree fractals. Lily watched the tail end of White Christmas for the 3rd time this morning and now wants to check out some more musicals. I’m happy to oblige!  Ollie helped me bake bread tonight for dinner and then hung around. At some point he started following me around, hugging me. And he was particularly loving before bed, snuggling up under my arm while I read. He’s such a cutie. 

That’s all!  Good day and tomorrow will be better!

If it weren’t for a sick baby, you woulda been alright🤕

Yesterday was full of unexpected things like an emergency run to eat breakfast at Bob Evans because there weren’t any eggs (that weren’t hard boiled) to make pancakes.  And also the expected like Ollie going to Jack’s to play and trying to coordinate a nap (that didn’t happen until driving to pick him up) and get groceries (see above).  And it just completely slipped my mind as I tucked into bed to click on over and type something…but now i have.

Often the kids will ask what we are talking about when we use certain expressions. Today we tackled some of the more popular idioms and the kids created pictures of the literal meanings. Try and guess what each might be:

“The world needs all kinds of heroes.”  -Worm in Diary of a Spider

1. Flying (on the trampoline)
2. Speed (on my scooter)
3. Listening in school
4. Good at wrapping presents
5. Fighting bad monsters from outer space
6. Spending time with family and friends
7. Math
8. Dragon fighting
9. Sleeping through the night
10. Read aloud listening

Penatonix  Especially the Christmas tunes

Smoothies:  plain yogurt, pineapple, greens, blueberries, half an apple, ice cubes

Our Christmas reading:  today was The Jolly Postman–Christmas edition

BraveScopes:  Our new homeschool community that is adding a kid component so our kids can connect on Periscope.

It was a good day for ducks, not so much humans who want to be warm and dry.  

Counting down to Christmas with a book a day and crafts. And a little bit of decorating until it is all on jolly display. This was over the weekend:

It has come to an end.  Much too quickly.  As I reflect back on the month, it was this nightly/daily practice that made those days that were TOO much more manageable and gave every other day a positive glow.  Even as I sometimes struggled to breathe through whatever chaos or imagined emergency in the moment, by the time I sat down to write, I could always find something about my day (and usually at least 5) that was unique and special and worth being grateful for.  My month was infinitely improved by looking for the good, the great and the mundane.  

it’ll make ya cry!

True story.  Two out of three kids were sobbing at dinner time because they couldn’t bear the thought of eating broccoli cheese soup.  And Lily gave me a look of compassion and said, “I tried it and I don’t really care for it, but I’ll eat it anyway.”

But at least I laughed about it!  And the other two ate bread and butter and cereal.  

I’m grateful for training the kid(s) to say, I don’t care for it instead of I hate this.  I’m grateful for TJ’s Candy Cane decaf herbal tea!!  I’m grateful for kid-decorated Christmas trees and learning to cede control of how I picture it all and just going with the flow.  I’m grateful for girls dancing in underpants (as asymmetric tops, oh yes).  I’m downright top of the world thankful to watch Emmy get down and move her solid little body.  

Uptown, funk you up.  Uptown funk you up, ya’ll!