SWEET

Spent some one-on-one time with my SWEET girl.

Baked, decorated and ate some SWEET treats together.

Then, went to see some SWEET works of art. We had a great time just the two of us. Picking out our favorite gingerbread houses. Talking about Christmas...

Laughing. (Nice "dragon face")
SWEET memories!

Christmas Traditions

I just thought I'd share some of our Prevette family traditions. Some began the year Justin and I got married and others we've started somewhere along the past 8 years...

We always put up our nativity after reading the Christmas story. My dad got this one for us our first Christmas as "The Prevette Family". Anagrace and I did it this year along with her schoolwork.

I think that the "Countdown Calendar Tree" is probably Anagrace's favorite decoration. Shortly after she wakes up she has to move the stocking and count down the days left 'til Christmas.And a close second in the running for her favorite Christmas decoration, is the pink tree in Anagrace's room. She has had a small tree in her room since she was born (I'm pretty sure). But this pink one is new this year.

Our newest tradition is making a gingerbread house. This is actually the first year we've attempted it; I thought that it was the first time Anagrace could really "help" and enjoy it. And we did have a great time with it. We took it easy being our first year...we bought the premade house. It was already assembled, with roof and walls attached, all we had to do was mix the icing and decorate. I know that is kind of like cheating, but we'll increase the difficulty as the years go by!

So, those are just a few of our traditions. What traditions do you have? I'm always looking for fun and creative ways to make memories!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot (well, a little) Like Christmas....

I've "decorated" my blog.

And I've decorated my tree.

But that's the extent of my decorating so far. I've still got to put up the nativity scene and decorations on the mantle. We sold our computer armoire, which is where we usually display our Christmas village. So, I'm not sure if we'll have the village out this year. The absence of the computer armoire has also affected our tree. Two years ago we bought an artificial "pencil" tree to save money and floorspace. I love the look of the tree, but without the furniture around it the tree does look pretty skinny.

I thought I'd give a little tour of our tree and some of my favorite ornaments. Most of our ornaments have a story or special meaning attached to them. It's like a really tall and beautiful scrapbook!

Ornaments representing our first Christmas as a married couple(from 2001) :

One of Anagrace's first Christmas ornaments (from 2003), a gift from my grandmother, whom she is named after. It's kind of hard to see,but there is a cherub on it:

A few ornaments from my childhood:

One of the ornaments that my great Granny West made:

Although the orange doesn't "match" my tree, I couldn't leave it off...an ornament from our church commemorating our first year there(2007):An ornament made by one of the special education students in my class from my very first "real"job:So, those are just a few of my favorite ornaments. Here is the tree in its entirety:I can't really do an angel or a star because you can view our tree from 2 angles, from the front door and from the living room. I wouldn't know which way to face the angel or star! So, a bow, berries, flowers and pinecones work nicely around the top of the tree, I think. The tree topper:

I'm hoping to do some more decorating this weekend!

I am Thankful!!

I am thankful for friends and family.

Thanksgiving was spent with some of my family at lunch and with some of Justin's family for dinner.

We spent the day before Thanksgiving with our good friends, the Helms. Here are the little pilgrims and indians just before enjoying their feast. They made their own hats...so cute.
They also made butter (with heavy cream, marbles and mason jars...shake,shake, shake) There's always an opprotunity to learn, which leads me to....

I am thankful to have the opprotunity and priviledge to be at home with my kids and homeschool Anagrace. Truly a blessing!

After the Thanksgiving festivities, my in-laws kept all of the kids to decorate her tree the next morning.

I am so thankful for a restful night's sleep (no Black Friday shopping for me). We didn't get out of the bed until after 10 a.m.! I can't remember the last time that happened!

Then, off for a quick brunch date with my hubby before picking up the kiddos.

I am so thankful for Justin, for the moments we can share just the two of us, for our relationship that continues to deepen and sweeten with time!

Wordless (and Toothless) Wednesday

Cupcakes!!!!

Anagrace and I made some cupcakes a few nights ago. Here is a cute video of all the kids enjoying the yumminess...

Homeschool Journey

It's funny how when mommies start friendships eventually we share our "birth stories" (or at least that's been the case with me). Well I have met a group of some new friends and we not only share the commonality of motherhood, but also the commonality of homeschooling. So, when 3 of us were hanging out a few weeks ago we shared our "homeschool stories" with eachother. I shared our homeschool story here in case you missed it.

So, we're about 3 months into our homeschool journey now. I get the question often "How's homeschooling?". I usually give a pretty short answer, especially if the person asking isn't a homeschooler too. I guess I still fear that I am being judged or possibly that the person asking thinks they are being judged by me. But I know in my heart that we made the best decision for our family, and I know that is all that truly matters. Anagrace is doing great! Most days she really enjoys the schoolwork. Honestly, I think she loves the focused attention on her that schooling requires. After Ashton was born, most of my attention was focused on caring for the 2 boys. I knowingly or unknowingly expected Anagrace, being the oldest, to be as independent as possible. Homeschooling has given me and Anagrace the opportunity to spend some one-on-one time together and it has done wonders for our relationship. I think that is what I am the most excited about with our journey so far.

Overall, homeschooling is going great and I am so grateful for the opportunity. Sometimes I still can't believe that this is the path we've taken. Definitely an unplanned trip. But, usually those are the best ones!

I just had to share this picture...aren't they so cute, so focused doing their "work"?!