Christmas

I hope you all had a blessed Christmas season. We had a wonderful couple weeks off school and work. There was snow for the kids to play in, cookies and candies to indulge in, friends to play with, fires in the fireplace and games with the family, Christmas trees at Meijer Gardens and doughnuts at Krispy Kreme (also dentist appts. and flu shots thrown in). It was wonderful to see our families, with mostly good traveling weather. There were also the annual Christmas services at our church, which we have grown to love: the candlelight choir service, the kids' program, and the living nativity.

Through all this we have been trying to emphasize with our kids the reason that we celebrate Christmas. Although we do give presents and we wait expectantly for Santa to fill stockings, we remember that the birth of our Saviour, our Messiah, our Redeemer, is our true joy of Christmas. Even though "Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas" may be their favorite song this year, it is wonderful to hear John sing "Away in a Manger," have Clara ask if she can be an angel next year for living nativity, and see Ian acting out the birth of Christ with our wooden nativity.

I hope that you are able to experience the joy of Christ's birth throughout this whole new year.

Adventure food

We are a family that loves fresh fruit and vegetables. The kids like to pick out an adventure food when we get groceries or go the the farmer's market. This summer John picked out purple potatoes at the farmer's market. We thought they would be purple skinned and then white or yellow on the inside. Nope, bright purple all the way through. They tasted just like a regular potato, maybe just a bit sweeter. I baked them in the oven with just a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper. I thought they were very good. Everybody tried them, but Ian liked them the best.

Off to School

Clara and Ian have been back to school now for a week. They both love school - they would probably rather be there than at home. They love their school - Millbrook Christian - their teachers and their friends. We are so happy to have a school that allows them to grow academically, socially and spiritually.

Clara is in a 2/3 grade split class, and is pretty sure that second grade is going to be the best grade ever.

Ian is so excited to be able to ride the bus this year. He is always making sure that we are going to be on time to the bus. He would never want to miss it. However, we live just down the street from a middle school that starts at 7:15. The buses drive down our street so he is constantly worried that his bus is going by and he is missing it.

John likes having time with just me, but I think he misses his siblings. On our first day at home with out the older kids, he asked if he could go outside and play fetch with his doggies. Hmmm, we don't have any doggies. He then showed me his stuffed animal doggies. I said sure and then watched from the window. He would throw a ball, then throw the dog to the ball. He would then put the dog on top of the ball like it had caught it. After fetch they played baseball - he would hit the ball to the dogs and they would field it. Very cute, he was having lots of fun, but I think it might be time for a real dog.

Clubhouse

Here are a few pictures of the clubhouse that we have been working on this summer. All that is left to do is put the shingles on. The kids have been enjoying the sandbox and upstairs for a few months. It is 6'x6' - plenty of room for 6-7 kids in the sandbox and room for kids and chairs on the top. Mike designed and built the whole thing. I suggested a balcony on top with a porch type swing hanging below. Obviously, my suggestion didn't make it into the design plan. I did help though - "Corrie, hold that board, pound a nail right there, hold this board, does that look straight?" (I pounded exactly one nail) But the kids love their clubhouse and love showing it to their friends, and I love having a husband who can design and build things. We are very proud of him.

Where have we been?

Good question. Where have we been? Well, with quite a few trips to Mike's parent's cottage, family weddings, vacation in Kentucky, camping, day trips to fun places and so on, we certainly haven't been home much. We have had adventures - hikes and swims, tried new foods, built a clubhouse, read good books, two-wheeler trained and potty trained, planted new flowers and watched old ones grow. And usually all in time to take naps in the afternoon. I am hoping in the next few weeks to post some pictures of our summer. School starts in two weeks and then we will need to settle down a bit. But who knows what new adventures we can fit in before then.

Nap time and songs

For those of you who know me well, you know that nap time is sacred at our house. Every child takes at least an hour rest, Monday - Friday. John still sleeps; Ian and Clara read. Clara can now read "just about anything" and loves to read. Right now she is into American Girl books, Boxcar Children and fairy books. Ian has taught himself to tell time by counting down the minutes until he can get out of bed.
John still likes me to sing him a song before he goes to sleep. He likes the same song for weeks in a row. We just got over "How much is that Doggie in the Window?" and have moved onto a different song. He kept asking for a train song. I tried "I've been Working on the Railroad," but he didn't like it. I then pulled out an oldie but goodie from my childhood - "A Peanut sat on a Railroad Track." He loved it, and it has now been his song of choice for over a week. It always gets a giggle and usually an encore request.

A peanut sat on a railroad track,
His heart was all aflutter.
'Round the bend came number 10,
Toot, toot, peanut butter.
Squish.

Weddings and Lighthouses

This afternoon we went to the wedding of one of my cousins. This is wedding #2 of 3 in three weekends. This wedding was up in Hart. It was a beautiful wedding - beautiful weather, beautiful bride and groom, beautiful ceremony and reception. It was also fun to see all my Riley family again. We don't get together with the big clan very often, but when we do, it is a big dog party.
After the rececption, we decided on a whim to drive out to Silver Lake with the kids. We drove past the big sand dunes around Silver Lake and then drove out to Little Point Sauble lighthouse. This is my favorite lighthouse; I remember going out there as a kid. The kids, especially John, loved it. He is our kid who loves dirt, and was just in awe of all the possibilities with that much sand. We still had our clothes on from the wedding and were barefoot. (Oh, the endless chances for pictures - too bad we left the camera at home.) The kids waded in Lake Michigan and then wanted to climb the dunes. These were pretty small, but just the right size for the kids. They could climb up them and then run down, and climb and run down and climb....Mike and I got in on the running and climbing too. What a great day.

Just a few quotes from the day.

"I love chocolate fountains!" - spoken by Clara as she cleaned off her face, her arms, her dress....
"The lighthouse is as tall as the sun!" exclaimed by Ian as he ran up to the lighthouse.
"This is how you climb a dune, mommy" as John was showing me how to scramble up a dune - on all fours
"I'd like to live on a lake" Mike - no explanation needed :)

Thank you, God, for your creation - both people and nature. It is very good.