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!!!!