Christmas break

The kids have been out of school for a week now, with one week left before they go back. We've had our moments, but for the most part things have been tolerable. Here is one of those rare moments when the kids were enjoying each other's company and having fun playing Connect 4. (Unfortunately, it didn't take long before Julian was screaming at Kathryn for doing something wrong, and the game ended). Kathryn loves spending time with her big brother, especially those times when he is nice to her, but I think Julian is ready to get back to his school friends....

Christmas pictures

Some pictures from our travels this week past:


Christmas eve....

Christmas morning at home ...

Christmas dinner at Grandma Knight's house ...

And finally, Christmas with the Finks in Charlotte ....

Making gifts

This year, we made some of the gifts we gave for Christmas. It was pretty messy, which made it that much more fun. Here are a few pictures of the process....

A new day ...

Julian must have had a hard day Wednesday. He does not normally take naps after school, but he must have just been too tired to remind me that he is too old for naps. I wanted to post these pictures yesterday:

but Jason and I came down with a stomach bug Wednesday night, and I just wasn't able to. Jason did not get hit with the stomach bug as hard as I was, but he had a headache, which put him out of commission. We were quite the pair. Jason's mom actually had to come over to bring dinner for the kids because we were not able to get up and prepare a meal. She was SO nice to bring them happy meals and Jason and I some foods for upset stomachs. She is an amazing mom (in-law) and grandma! She even sat with the kids while they ate, which is an exercise in patience with Kathryn.

I can't speak for Jason, but I felt terrible. All is well today, though. Jason was feeling back to normal, and I can get up and move around - I even got the kitchen cleaned up - Julian made their breakfast and part of their lunches yesterday morning. He was so sweet to do it, but I didn't get to clean up after him until this morning. He did a great job taking care of me while I was sick. I'm not 100%, but who cares as long as I can get off the couch!

Julian singing

Julian has been grounded from TV for a while, and the other day Kathryn wanted to watch a movie, so he had to find something else to do. He got his T&T book with song lyrics, our Awana song CD, and he started singing. He had a little bit of a stomach bug over the weekend, hence the couch - he didn't feel good and wanted to lay down in the kitchen while I made dinner. Isn't he cute?

Poor baby Katie

Kathryn started running a fever and was up in the night a couple of times Sunday night with a headache and ear pain. Poor baby. I took her to the doctor yesterday, and she has a really bad ear infection - bad enough that her doctor said "you have to look at this". Her ear is really bothering her - this is the most painful infection I remember her having. So she was out of school yesterday and today. Hopefully she'll be able to go back in time for her class Christmas party Thursday...

(She is watching a Barbie movie that has 3D effects in it)

Princess party

On Saturday, Kathryn got to go to a princess party with Grandma. From what I understand, she got to dress up, put on make up, paint her nails, and have a tea party. She had a lot of fun. You can't see in this picture, but she was very sparkly - eye shadow and blush, sparkly hair and nails. Very cute.

Poor Lucy

I know, it's pitiful, but I couldn't help myself....

Santa

An interesting article I found on Google news today on the evolution of the idea of a Santa

Wood on Words: Ho ho ho! Santa Claus has saintly origins

Trees are beautiful - but not on top of my fence!

As I was braiding Kathryn's hair this morning for school, Jason came in to tell me I might want to call the insurance man today; a tree fell onto our fence in the backyard last night. We have had a lot of rain the last few days, and I guess this pine lost its footing.

This fence is for decoration mostly at this point. We put it up for the kids and to keep Lucy safe outside, but the kids know their boundaries (although choosing to follow them is another matter) and Lucy is too (lazy) content to try to leave, so there is really no rush to fix it, although it is an eyesore.

It made for an interesting morning for the kids, anyway. They were amazed that a tree could do that. We're thankful it fell at that angle, or it may have hit our storage building or possibly the house. All in all, if it had to happen, it happened in a convenient way.

I'm done

Monday was my last day of classes this semester, and on Wednesday, I took my last final. I actually only had 2 finals to take out of my 4 classes. I will know my final grades no later than next Tuesday. I know I did well, but I am not sure if got an A or B in Spanish, so I'll just have to wait to see. I picked up the application for the teaching program I'll be starting in the fall, so I will begin working on that at some point over my Christmas break. I have also registered for the last of my classes at the community college in the Spring. I will have 14 hours again, including an environmental biology class I am really excited about! I will also be taking my first education class, a sociology class and a literature class. As always, I am nervous about the workload, but I will just do my best. I have proven to myself that I can do well if I really put the effort into it and stay focused, so I will just count on God to help me stay that way for one more semester. Once the teaching program starts, I will have only 1 (maybe 2) classes per semester, so I am hopeful it will be less stressful at that time. Maybe I'm naive to think that way, since the 1 or 2 classes I'll be taking will be my "major" classes. They will probably be much more time intensive than the ones I've taken to this point. No use worrying about it now though...

Our family is all feeling better now, too. Jason had a cold Thanksgiving weekend, and the kids were not completely well the week following, and then I got sick the following weekend. We are all well now, though. Thankfully, the cold did not move to my chest, although I did have to use my inhaler more than I'd like. No adverse effects, it seems, so thanks be to God!

Jason's back and neck have been bothering quite a bit lately, but I guess that is just going to be the norm for him now. He never seems to feel really good, but has some better days than others. Please keep him in your prayers. I know he wants to feel good even more than I want him too.

I have gotten a very late start with preparing for Christmas this year. We put our tree up last week, but as far as shopping, until yesterday, I had only gotten one little thing for my baby nephew and niece. I did some online shopping yesterday and got some clothes for the kids. I will have to hurry to get their toys and stocking stuffers done next week since they are out of school after that. Their Christmas break begins the 19th (it is an early release day). I have 2 or 3 more days with a heavy workload at work, and then I will be able to take it easy through the end of the month, which I am super excited about. This is a much needed vacation; I have been running on empty for most of the last month.....

Jason and the kids

This was taken 2 Sundays ago after the kids got up from their nap time. I believe they are singing "Hey there, Delilah" by the Plain White Tees, which we all really like and Jason plays really well. I love to hear the kids singing along with Jason.

Thanksgiving

We had a very good Thanksgiving this year. We visited with Jason's family on Thursday evening. Unfortunately, we forgot our cameras, so no photos of that night. The food was good, and it was good to visit with everyone. We don't do that very often anymore.

On Saturday, we went to Charlotte to visit with my family. I forgot my camera that day as well, but Jason took his, and of course Vivy was the star of our slideshow...

I am so thankful for my families. They bless our lives in so many ways. I am especially thankful that our kids will have the godly influence of grandparents and aunts and uncles. I couldn't have asked for better people to surround ourselves with.

Trimming the tree

We put our tree up yesterday, as is our tradition. Here are some of my favorites from yesterday:

Unfortunately, after getting the tree done, I started feeling pretty yucky. I didn't finish cleaning up from getting everything out to do the tree, and today I don't feel better. It seems I'm coming down with a cold, which is not great timing since I have 2 finals this week. So I decided to take the day off, rest and study. My real plan is to lay on the couch, study and look at our tree :)

I'm hoping this cold doesn't get much worse because I don't seem to be able to get over colds very well lately.....

A glimpse...

I haven't posted anything in a while, so I wanted to give this tidbit to those of you who yearn for Julian and Kathryn pictures - the two of them doing homework together this afternoon. (By the way, this didn't last long - within minutes they were fighting over elbows and touching papers).

Hopefully things will be slowing down in the next couple of weeks - this is my last week of classes, so there is not much school work left to do at this point. I have one regular test and 2 final exams and then - one whole month off!!!!

Beading

Kathryn finally got to use the beading kit she got for her birthday... here she is, hard at work

Do you think?

Do you think Jason could tell the difference in what I put on the grocery list and what Julian put on it?

Lipstick...

"Mommy, why won't you let me keep my lipstick in my room?"

Sunday dress

I thought Kathryn looked especially cute on Sunday:

The circle of life ...

Julian has been learning to play the recorder at school the last several weeks. He has told me how much fun he has had learning to play, but I have not gotten to hear him...until Monday.

Julian has learned one song - "Hot Cross Buns" - B-A-G. His music teacher told him that when he brings it home he should practice for 10 minutes each day, but my over-achiever decided he would play for 30 minutes each day instead (and remember, he has learned just one song so far!).

It's a joy to hear him and to see how much he enjoys it. I remember learning to play recorder and my brief time on flute before starting clarinet. I feel connected to my Dad now and understand what a joy it must have been for him to hear not just me, but my brother on sax for a bit and my sister on piano. All the practicing time must have had him just so full of joy that he couldn't stand himself!

I can't wait for Kathryn to start (she is now asking for a recorder too, since Julian got one).

FINK day, October

In October, my beautiful niece, Vivian, turned 1! It's hard to believe she is a year old already - time really flies....

The Sunday after her birthday, we went to Charlotte for her baptism. Randy and Emily had everyone over to their house after the service for lunch and cake. It was nice to get to spend some time with them and with Vivy, who we normally only get to see for a few minutes before nap time! She was a lot of fun to watch.

I didn't get many pictures - the lighting in the church was too much for me and my amateur camera:) But here are the few I was able to get:

Flu shots and Awana

Julian, Kathryn and I went to get our flu shots yesterday. I scheduled the appointment several weeks ago, so we had some time to get used to the idea of the shots, and I had hoped that would help with minimizing the fits being thrown when the needle came out. When Julian got his Kindergarten shots, it took 4 nurses plus me to hold him down. With Kathryn, she sat, got her shots, frowned, and then life went on - no tears, no screaming. Some time has passed for both kids, so I really didn't know what to expect, but I did ask Jason to come with me - it's a traumatizing event - for all of us!

Well, yesterday, I went first to show them how easy it was (and really, I think it is the least painful shot I can remember getting). Kathryn went next, and a nurse had to help me hold her still to do the shot, all the while she was screaming "I don't want to do it! I don't want to do it!". Then Julian (after seeing Kathryn's fit) got his turn. Jason held him, I helped hold his arms and another nurse helped hold his legs. Julian screamed "Please! No! Don't do it!" Poor babies. So, finally it was done, and both admitted, it really wasn't that bad!!!

To top it off, a little boy from our church was in the waiting room waiting for HIS turn to get his flu shot. We didn't stay to see how he did, but I really hope my kids didn't make it worse for him.

On a positive note, Kathryn earned her wings at Awana last night, and the first jewel to go in them. She had earned her Hang Glider patch a few weeks ago, but I didn't get it on her vest until this week...I'm very happy that the new patches seem to be much easier to iron on than the ones from Cubbies last year - no sewing involved, thank goodness! We are so proud of Kathryn and her sweet spirit and the effort she puts into these verses. She has such an interest in God and pleasing Him.

And Julian did well too. Each week his teacher gives a small reward to the T&Ter that prepares and passes the most sections, and he got it this week. He got his 3rd discovery sticker too.

We are so blessed!

I voted ...

I am glad it's over! Now to sit back and wait to see what happens. I stood there for a few minutes trying to decide whether to write in a name or choose between 2 less than good choices. I wish I felt better about my choice; I think we're in for a mess regardless of which family moves into the white house after this election....

I'm looking forward to tomorrow and no more SPAM calls!

The Mountains

We took a quick trip to the mountains a couple of weeks ago as well, hoping to see the leaves changing. Unfortunately, the news had exaggerated the color change to that point, and the leaves were still mostly green with some beginning signs of color change. It was still beautiful.

And here are some more, if you want to take a look:

Visiting

I have been sick now pretty much since August (although, there was almost a week when I felt pretty good!), so please forgive my lack of posting recently. I finally went to the doctor the beginning of last week, and after yet more antibiotics, I am feeling a bit better. I have hopes that I am beginning to kick this sinus thing that has been plaguing me for way too long, and I actually plan to mow the grass this afternoon after homework time!

A couple of weeks ago, we had Courtney and Billy over for dinner. While it was great to see them, and we enjoyed spending time with them (as we always do!), I'm afraid we were a sad bunch. As I said, I was sick, Courtney and Jackson were sick and Billy was recovering from being sick. I guess my kids were feeling OK, but they had also been sick that week and were not in top form either.

Nevertheless, we had a good time just hanging out, cooing over baby Jackson, eating pizza and chatting. I was able to get a few good pictures, but my mind was not exactly in top form, so I didn't really get in there for the good shots - definitely not like these 2!

And how beautiful is this?

Nothing compares to uncle Billy!

And of course Kathryn had to get her hands on Jackson, I think she has the same baby-craziness that I have. He is almost as big as she is!