My Weekly Notebook: Is it Christmas break yet?

 

Life this week...

Things are definitely winding down for Christmas break. It feels like all at once everything is done for now. No more music lessons for 2 weeks. No group gatherings except for the few Christmas parties left. I am looking forward to the more quiet days that we'll have during the break, but at the same time I look forward to getting back to life after. I miss seeing people and doing all the things sometimes.

Homeschool this week...

I feel like Christmas break already kinda started before it officially started. The 2 weeks before Christmas are hard to focus. So many fun activities that we want to do and things to see. We also had plenty of sickness going around our house this week, so that was part of our early start to break as well.

We did however notice that the potato "pet" that Aric is growing for one of his science projects is actually growing. We've had it sitting inside the house by our back patio window. I wasn't sure if it would grow at all. I wasn't sure if there would be enough light and good growing conditions. Note: we've never grown any potatoes before. This is awesome!

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

We went to see the Nutcracker ballet in Portland. They had a special kids showing that was just Act 1. Good thing because Alex barely made it through that. I made the mistake of not feeding him before it started. He was hungry 15 minutes in.

 

My favorite thing this week was...

Going on a little "date" with Alex to Red Robin and his friend's drum recital. The recital turned out to be pretty awesome. Almost like a concert. It was fun to hear/see all the different songs and instruments that the students played. Alex was stoked that we went to Red Robin. It was delicious. I love seeing my kiddos happy.

 

We even got dessert! A delicious stack of donuts with caramel and hot fudge, yes please!

 

My kids' favorite thing this week was...

I didn't ask him directly, but he was pretty stoked about getting his own mini waffle maker at youth night for the gift exchange. He made waffles the next morning. Loved it!

 

Things I'm working on...

I am always working on something LEGO. I discovered that I still need 2 of the minifigs from this series to have a complete set, then I will finally have a full set worth putting up on the wall. I am working on a frame too.

 

Random things the kids worked on...

Alex made this picture. That definitely counts as art!

 

Something I accomplished...

I got most of the presents that we have right now wrapped. And now I can finally walk by my bed again!

 

What we're reading...

We are reading Christmas Pig, but I'm not sure we're going to make it even halfway before Christmas. We just haven't sat down to read it enough.

Movies/TV we watched... 

Alex and I finished the whole series of The Santa Clauses. That was really fun to watch! I am so glad they kept Tim for Santa. He did a great job.

Outdoor time... 

We did go on our Monday hike this week. Unfortunately that is the only outdoor time we have due to sickness later in the week. It was a nice walk on Mt. Tabor though!

Games we played...

Christmas Yahtzee was found and played. As you can see mom lost.

 

I'm cooking/eating...

I made Zuppa Tuscana (Olive Garden copycat recipe) one night for dinner. It was so tasty! Along with some french (store bought) bread.

 

Something that worked out great or didn't work out for us this week... 

Without planning I managed to match the new winter shower curtain with our gray toilet seat. Nothing else matches in my house, but this made me smile!

Other thoughts from the week...

 The cat makes us laugh. He thinks that if anything is stacked up, it's for him.

 

I'm grateful for...

Getting my puzzle out and starting it over the weekend. It's a pretty snow globe picture.