Chritmas Party Beauty

Every year we go to Jody's work holiday party. Its at a lovely home in Ithaca and its always loaded with families and food.

Every year I take a picture of all of the kids dressed up for the party. This year however, Elanee at work so we collected her on the way to the party, Vayda got into the van with one shoe on, wet hair and no make up and Ben dressed and bolted out the door. So- the only one I got to force to pose and smile was this one beauty.

Maya looked so pretty in her velvet dress. Couldnt help but remember Elanee AND Vayda looking just as beautiful in this little dress....

Jingle Bells Jingle Bells...la la la la la

December was such a busy month. Instead of focusing our energy on shopping or making gifts we took advantage of all the great free stuff available. We took and taught classes with the Trumansburg home schoolers, enjoyed two Christmas concerts (one was a Jingle Bells/ Santas coming type and the other was all about praise), we toured the Mormon church in MacDougall, we joined a "Jam Session" at the Baha'i Center in Rochester, Elanee tried out for a play, etc etc.

Above- we spent 4 hrs ringing the Salvation Army bell over a couple of sessions. The first time it was FREEZING!!!!! but there was lots of enthusiastic singing in front of Big Lots. The second time was much less enthusiastic but we had a nice time in front of Peebles.

On Christmas day we did breakfast, as is our tradition, opened some presents, drove to Ithaca and helped to serve and clean up at the Salvation Armys soup kitchen. It was high paced and fun. Then we came home to a half turkey in the roaster and chilled with rented movies.

Made for a great day.

Chinese Food Anyone?

Chinese Food Anyone?

Ok- I know- that is naughty talk....

On this day one of the girls opened the fridge to get something and Morris

("Mormy"/ "Mow") just strolled right in. What a dork. Its Dec and freezing in our house

more often than not so I am not real sure what motivated him.

Based on this big smile I have to say he was just foolin with our heads :)

Vayda got a what !?!?!?

On Jodys 50th B-day, Aaron and Shelly came over for dinner. With them came their pet rat. Aaron explained how they like to take him out for a ride now and again. Well- that ened up being a cover for a rotton twisted SCAM I tell ya! Aaron delayed mentioning that if there happened to be some one in the house who happened to want a pet rat then he could happen to stay!

Well- as it was- Vayda had been dyin for a pet rat for about a year. I had a load of very good reasons why she wasnt getting one. Like- cost of cage, dishes, food, the rat itself- and what about our little rat dog- Emma?

With this little test drive, out the window went all of my excuses. Even the dog was civilized (till a few hrs later).

So- long story short- Vayda has a flippin RAT living in her room. She named him Brisby. She likes him alot. I think hes icky. Jody calls him "Freddy the squirell" or even better "The infestation".

Flash Back to Halloween

Halloween time!

Above... Vayda, Ravyn, Saige and Maya Rae.
Then there is Elanee???? Oh man- what a wierd lookin dude she made!

Yikes!

Mom teaches a class

Right after the woven star class a bunch of the kid joined me at a table in the back of the room where I led a holiday card class. It was loud and kind of chaotic but everyone learned how to do basic stamping and had lots of fun showing off their wonderful creations. Elanee had such fun that she came home and made more cards from the left over supplies. :) I have hopes of teachind several other classes in T-burg. Its fun.

Woven Stars

This past Wed afternoon Elanee, Vayda, Maya and I joined a large group of home schooling moms and kids and learned to weave stars from thin strips of ash wood. The teacher was a cool artist/ basket weaver from Ithaca (I think). We found the project complex but the end product rewarding.

Flowers of one Garden

For Baha'i class a few weeks ago I read Maya a story about the Bab. We were in the mood for a crafty project so we came up with this. :) We took a flower pot and filled it with diverse card stock and pipe cleaner flowers with google eyed faces. Along the pot is the quote from Abdul-Baha reading, "Humanity may be likened unto the vari-colored flowers of one garden. There is unity in diversity. Each sets off and enhances the other's beauty."

Like it!

Guess whos home schooled !!!!!!

Ms. Vayda! Thats who!

Wow. Can you believe it???

I am not sure I ever really believed this day would come. To make a long story short. One Sunday eve in late November Vayda came into the family room where I was chillin and said, "Mom, I want to be home schooled". I said, "So- dont get on a bus in the morning." That led to a long conversation on how to exit school gracefully. And- how to avoid some pitfalls we learned with Elanees exit. Well, she did get on the bus in the morning. But, in the afternoon she cleaned out her locker, returned her books and thanked her teachers. She came home and that was that! Wow. Her first assignment was to relax for 14 days! Get a grip. Do some things that make her smile and plan a party! So she did. The party was great with numberous friends. Now- the 14 days are up and the books have all come in the mail. Above she looks oh so miserable but in reality she is eager to dig into her work and is enjoying all of our classes, gatherings and concerts. I think she likes sleeping till 9 the best :) She says shes going back to RCS in the fall. Thats all up to her. For now we'll just see where this adventure takes us.

I cannot believe this life :)

ORGANS

Maya has recently shown an interest in the bodies organs. So- we played a couple rounds of "some body", a board game we got on Ebay. This was a good introduction to the organs, where they go and what they do. Then, I traced Mayas body and drew the organs in. She started to color in her chart. Eventually we will get to labling everything. We are going to hang it up for reference as we are often talking about this organ or that. When Maya went to her most recent check up her doc was very helpful. She explained to Maya all the organs she was feeling and what she was looking for. This really brought her introduction to organs to life.

Happy Mappin!

In November Maya tracked her big brother, Daniel, as he crossed the country. Dan just finished his career in the US Marines Corps. He had been stationed in California and was traveling back to see the ol rents in NY.

So- for school, Maya called Daniel each evening on his cell. She asked which state he was in at that moment. She listed the state name on a chart. Along with that she moved a little paper truck (Dan) across the US map. The truck left a Sharpie line everywhere it went. She used a map puzzle and sticky tack to show all the states he passed through. She learned many state names and locations. This was a great project for her!