A Christmas Daybook

Outside my window-
COLD! with some flurries. I'm seriously regretting not getting some new windows and doors that were suppose to be put in this fall. Walking by them and feeling a cold breeze was a horrible reminder of how priorities out mixed up this fall in what needed to be done around the house.

I'm thankful for-
a wonderful Christmas and time to relax and pondering.

Christmas Prayer Table with Jesse Tree with 12 Days of Christmas Ornaments that I got for Christmas.

From the kitchen-
. . . . . I've been pretty lazy in that department. I even sent Scott to the grocery store with no list and said to just get some stuff. We received a bread machine for Christmas. So maybe I will buy some ingredients and make some bread.

I am reading-
Finishing up the second book in the Anne of Green Gables series. I can't wait to read the next one. I finished Consider This: Charlotte Mason and the Classical Tradition which is one of the best books I've read while trying to educate myself on education. 

I've started Your Questions Answered: Narration from Simply Charlotte Mason, and I'm glad I bought it. There was a series of emails/blog post on this and I got lost in the length of it all. The book is perfect though. Short chapter for quick readings between other things. I'm getting a lot out of it!

I'm hoping to pick up some of the boys school books to read this week. I also made a list for library books but I can't remember what I'm getting to read. ; )

Our Nativity with the new Three Wise Men that my parents gave me for Christmas. We received this set as a wedding gift from my aunts and I don't know why I never got the Wise Men. But, now we have them!

Pondering-
I've been all about homeschool high school the last couple of weeks! My goal was to get a possible 4-year plan on paper and possible course ideas. I've made a little bit of progress.

I got really depressed as I was reading so much about "playing the game". Everything I was reading was all about the goal of getting into a good university with lots of scholarships. Now this is something you want to happen but that it not the goal of high school. I hate that utilitarian view of education! Our goal in high school (in short) is to develop the person. I finally pulled out my Navigating the High School Years DVD from Simply Charlotte Mason and it was just a relief to finally here something inspiring that matched our goals for high school! I am so thankful for my friend, Lynne, who reminded me that we needed to watch it.

While sick (really just fighting a cold that my body said take a hike but the cold just kept trying to invade aka I'm exhausted but not too many cold symptoms) I started planning out books for the next school year (yes! 2015-2016!!). Even though it's too early it was good use of my time because I really had no brain power but I wanted to get something done. I made a good list for Tyler's sixth grade year. Now to just let that sit until late spring.  : )

Clicking around-
In my high school research I relied heavily on the following resources for some encouragement and ideas.
Meredith's Homeschool Highschool (and I'm excited her ebook will be out later this month!)
Jen's Homeschool High School Post (awesome encourgement here!)
Homeschool High School Carnival (all kinds of different ideas here!) 
I know there were more but that is all I can recall at the moment.

The Three Wise Men and their camel take a trip around on our house until the Epiphany. Looks like they made a rest stop. I guess the camel got thirsty.

A few plans-
This is our last week of Christmas break. I'm hoping to work on getting us back on a school schedule by the end of the week. This will make our first week back much easier.

I still have a few projects that I want to complete. We were a little sick last week and didn't get as much done. The woodwork in the kitchen could use a good scrubbing and I have an impossible closet that is giving me a headache.

I have a plan to hit JCP for new towels. Almost all of the towels in our house need replacing so I'm planning on using some Christmas cash for that. The original towels still usable after 15+ years were all from JCP so that is why I decided to shop there. I love Target but their towels just don't last! (Of course I probably bought the cheapest they had.)

Boys playing the Wii on New Year's Eve and one tired puppy. And a look at my leaning Christmas tree. As I say every year, maybe next year we will get a new one next year!