Christmas Break for the Homeschooling Mama

'Twas the day after Christmas and all through the abode
Lay gift wrap and boxes -- it was quite a load.
New toys were scattered all over the place,
The children had smiles glued on each face.
Their dreams had come true -- there were Legos galore,
And new toys and games now covered the floor.
But despite all this mess and confusion and clutter,
Mom isn't moaning, not even a mutter.
In fact, she is smiling and singing a song!
Why?  Christmas break lasts another week long!

Christmas is Coming...

Winter is gently spreading its soft white blanket over our town.  The forecast says it will only be a sheet, but I'm hoping for a big, thick, heavy comforter's worth!  Then again, I don't have to drive anywhere in it.

Christmas break is almost here -- five more school days!  I do enjoy teaching my kids -- really, I do! -- but we're all so looking forward to this break.  We'll have completed 19 weeks of school in 20 weeks once break arrives, which explains our eagerness!

But do y'all know what else this means?  It means Grandpa and Grandma haven't been visiting (giving us an excuse to take days off) in far too long.  Tsk, tsk.

It also means we'll only have 16 required weeks of school left in the new year!  Wah-hoo!  

The snow is still dancing merrily down and we're at "sheet" depth... with no sign yet of stopping.  Yea!  It may be a white Christmas yet.

Book Joy

Because I'm stretching two years of history/geography/literature curriculum over three school years, I had the joy of ordering another year's supply of books this week, right in the middle of a school year -- and they arrived today!  Yea!

I feel a little silly expressing how extremely giddy I was opening up the cardboard flaps, inhaling deeply of the newly printed paper smell, caressing the glossy covers and reading the back of almost every one of the 40-plus books.  It was the highlight of my day.

Many of the titles are ones I'll read aloud to the boys, but there are plenty they'll read on their own, and as I perused them, I kept thinking, "I hope this is one I get to read, too!"  Some familiar titles were "Caddie Woodlawn," "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry," "Gone Away Lake," "Old Yeller" and "Freedom Train: Harriet Tubman."

Some of the intriguing titles and covers I'm looking forward to are "The Great Turkey Walk," "Miracles on Maple Hill," "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs," "Thimble Summer" and "Sing Down the Moon."  Don't those sound riveting?

I admit, I am one to get carried away by the title or cover of a book.  I know, never judge a book... but titles are like a glimpse through an old house's blinds -- not enough to show you anything clearly, but plenty to set your imagination roaming.  I remember playing the card game Authors as a kid, and being enchanted by titles like "The House of Seven Gables," "The Song of Hiawatha," "The Last of the Mohicans" and "Kidnapped."  

I got around to reading very few of those classic tales, but thanks to the "mandatory" reading that goes with homeschooling, I'm logging lots of fabulous titles anyway!  And who knows but that some of those other titles might not show up in another fabulous box of books in the future.

Ten Thoughts

It's 10:21 p.m., Wednesday, and I haven't forgotten my goal of writing something on Wednesdays, even if only to get the creative juices flowing for another day.  I must admit, not much is flowing right now, so I'm resorting to a blog technique I've seen others do and that seems to fit my not-much-to-say-on-any-one-thing dilemma.  Top ten thoughts -- go:

1 -- We are having such a great school year.  I'm not trying to brag or gloat, but this has been our best school year thus far.  I attribute part of it to having gotten our science text completed during the summer, thus lightening the load for the rest of the school year a little bit; and part of it to having all my students literate!  Work goes much more quickly when even the youngest can read the directions on his math worksheet without help!

2 -- I met my first nephew last week and he is... I can't even come up with a word delectable enough to describe him.  Precious, beautiful, kissable, sweet, hilarious (love the faces babies make!), and oh-so-sweet smelling.  I wanted to take him home, but alas, he would have missed mommy before we got very far down the road!

3 -- On a related note, we're still eagerly awaiting the chance to hug and kiss and snuggle and love on our first niece, who is halfway across the world and awaiting a visa so she can travel here (and back... I think it's the "and back" part that's actually causing the hang-up).  Hopefully soon!

4 -- Wow, did I really say top ten?  I may have to reduce that number.

5 -- Since I missed writing anything on the day before Thanksgiving, my belated thankful list:  Wade!  He takes such good care of me and our boys.  He's my rock and my pillow and he makes me smile every time I see him.

6 -- Our boys!  They are such a joy.

7 -- Family: immediate, extended, near, far, biological, foster and honorary.  I have been so blessed.

8 -- Our church family at Holland Center who bless us, accept us, put up with us and teach us and for some odd reason really seem to like us.

9 -- Friendships new and old:  the women I didn't know my heart needed until we moved here, and the ones I miss so much now that we aren't in Washington.  

10 -- Ten!  I made it!  Hope it wasn't cheating to go make number 5 spill over into 6, 7, 8 and 9.  

Hope you all have a lovely night and a blessed week.

Not This Time

Quick update here (sorry, I hope to be in bed in ten minutes, so you're all getting gypped if you were counting on a full ten minutes of Wednesday writing): the foster family of the little girl we were being considered for decided to adopt her themselves, so she won't be joining us.  It was a little disappointing to get the news, but now we know that this wasn't God's plan for us or her.  We just wish we did know what his plan is!  Thanks for all your prayers.