Homeschool Woodshop

One of the fun things about homeschooling is that we can do "projects" that are actually useful as well as infomative! So Tom took on a new "role" this week........Shop teacher! (Mr. Meyers would be proud) It was a simple shelving project but the kids had a blast none the less, and I can only hope that their future wives will benefit one day and thank us!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

So here's how we spent new years eve.......

Watching the big ball drop in Times Square.....
Ringing our noise makers and then going to bed! Exciting , I know. Happy New Year to all. May it be your best one yet!

Uncle Len

Uncle Len and Susan came to vist on wednesday. The kids love when he comes. And of course the fact that he brought presents doesn't hurt either!
Susan gave me a great book, it's called "The hair raising joys of raising boys!" It is hilarious. Fun to laugh at all the things that frustrate us so much!

Nunnie's

Christmas Day we went to Nunnie's (Tom's Moms) for dinner. It was good time. She makes the best roast. No one walked away hungry. Then we relaxed and the kids opened presents, watched the "Incredibles", againAnd we ended the night with a nice photo of Grandma and the kids.

christmas

Here's some of the aftermath of Christmas morning.... Snickers got a new "squirrel" (which he promptly chewed the back off of)
Cody got a poster of "Vanessa" (or Gabbie as Tom likes to call her. Gabriella from High School Musical)
And Jordan got a new tennis racket (which he announced was the bomb!)

visit

We had the pleasure of meeting 2 wonderful ladies over Christmas. It was through the presents for patients campaign. We were given their names and then the kids each used their allowance money to get something for one lady and then Tom and I bought something for one. We got to visit them then. It was a very nice afternoon. A good way for the kids to give instead of get.

our christmas tree

So we went and got our christmas tree. We always try to find the tallest tree! Why not right?

First we stopped to eat and the kids goofed off! I bet Jordan is going "Oh, Gabbie!" (He teases Cody about "loving" Gabrielle from High School Musical.

Yep! I think this is the one!And here we have the finished tree. Bring on christmas. MERRY CHRISTMAS, May your NEW YEAR be truly blessed!

sickness

This past week Jordan picked up some kind of virus. He had a fever for 3 days. ICK! Poor thing looked like misery. So here we are trodding off to the doctors office. Here's one of him waiting for "Dr. Green" (we normally have Dr. White) He was really wacky. Tom said we were just changing colors!

And here is one fo Cody trying to cheer him up by playing gameboy with him.

For those wondering, the fever finally broke on saturday and he's feeling much better! I sure didn't want a sick boy for christmas!

Snowflake Art!

Maybe you are tired of seeing the snowflakes fly outside but I found this great site that has 9 different patterns for making paper snowflakes. It is really neat and easy to do. Even the kids can do it.

Check it out here.....

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/dstredulinsky/home.html

birthday boy

Saturday the kids and I went to our nephews first birthday party! Isn't he a cutie? This is John. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures at the party so here is his newest picture. Tom could not attend as the mail must go through...........the old rain, dark of night thing!

surprise

Jordan came running in today to tell me that there was a surprise ready outside for me so I went to the yard only to find them standing like this.....

Okay you ready for the big surprise........... Get ready

It's Mom and Dad as snow people! They used coal for faces. They were so cute!

In Memory

I add this photo today with a heavy heart. Today I attended the funeral of my best friend, Monica Maleski. She was not only my friend but also my therapist, my confidant, and my sister in christ. I could talk to her about anything. She will be missed by so many people. She was only 49 years old, but she loved the Lord, so in a way I am jealous because she isn't just getting her house ready to celebrate christmas but she gets to be with the one that christmas is all about! I will miss you dear friend, so much. I love you. My heart breaks. But I will not say good-bye only ........Until we meet again!

play

My sister in Law, Lisa, and my neice, ALexis, went with us on friday night to see a play put on by a local homeschool group. The play was "The best christmas pagent ever'" It was cute the kids did a great job. I think our kids really enjoyed it. Cody said he liked it better than the book and the movie! We gave them all suckers at the show in a feeble attempt to keep them quiet!
A little christmas cheer we spotted on the walk to the car

Tom's birthday

We celebrated Tom's 41st birthday on wednesday. He and I went out to dinner, Cody went to church, and Uncle Len watched Jordan

Here is one of Tom trying to be a rock star and be 20 again! Okay so he's just banging on the drums!

portrait

Here we are trying to get a picture for the christmas card and Snickers just wasn't having it.....He thought it was time to get petted all over, so there he goes rolling on his back!

Giving Thanks

So much to be thankful for this thanksgiving evening..... 2 healthy children, a wonderful man to share my life with, a warm home, an inspiring church to attend, what more can we ask for?

So here we are at our big "feast"! (ignore the date on the photos)

Started the day watching the Macy's parade, had a nice dinner, some pumpkin pie, and now the kids are watching the Incredibles. Hope your thanksgiving was just as "uneventful" as ours. Take time to thank God for all the blessings in your life! The fact that you take the time to check on us here and read about what we are doing tells us that you are a blessing in our life.

Thanksgiving fun!

NEW TURKEY RECIPEYour dinner will be the talk of the TOWN!!You should try this! Sure to bring smiles from your guests!Here is a new way to prepare your Thanksgiving Turkey.1. Cut out aluminum foil in desired shapes.2. Arrange the turkey in the roasting pan, position the foil carefully. (see attached picture for details)3. Roast according to your own recipe and serve.4. Watch your guests' faces...

Power team

Our church just hosted the "power team" for a weeks long event. These guys can do some cool things (at least the kids think so) Here is one guy breaking 9 blocks of ice with his head! Two guys had a contest to see who could blow up a hot water bottle and have it explode the fastest. You know "cool stuff like that. Here's Cody and his brother Kenny getting ready to enjoy the show.

BIG 13!!!!!!!!!!

Today was Cody's 13th birthday! Yikes now we have a teenager on our hands! Here he is with all his "loot". He wanted the radio control plane, so that's from Mom and Dad. The clothes and CD were from Aunt Martha, and the books and game he bought with money Aunt Ruth, Uncle Tim and family sent.
He could chose from any resturant around to go to and for some reason he picked "exotic" Bob Evans! But the food was good and I didn't have to cook so it was a good night.
Big 13... He 's been a bit uptight this week. He said he's in that inbetween where he doesn't know if he's a kid or if he should be more grown up. It's confusing for all of us. we've never been the parents of teenagers before. Pray for all of us!