Weekly Wrap-Up Homeschool Journal Dec. 10-16

Extracurricular This Week:

Big moment! My 6 year old had his first piano recital!

He's so handsome and charming (and looked so little!), and he played his piece (Jolly Old Saint Nicholas) perfectly. Complete with a bow.


In Our Homeschool This Week:
Homeschooling this week has only consisted of reading time and holiday activities.

I wrote about our Charlie Brown Christmas activity here. It has been one of their favorite holiday activities, so far.

I always kind of wanted The Elf on the Shelf (because everyone makes it look so fun), but I could never bring myself to splurge the $29.99. I found this book at Hastings for $4, and we've been having fun with it, instead.

Every day (for the 12 days leading up to Christmas), I take out a new cardboard elf and hide it (along with the previous elves because one is never enough to find) according to the clue in the book. Then we read the poem clue, and they look for it. I just hide the other elves in random places, and they also take turns hiding them/searching after that. I like that the elves' backs are printed on the other side making them more realistic.

In My Life This Week:

The kids have slept together a few times lately. (Tornado started opening his eyes when I turned on the lights and took the picture.) They all have their own nice, cozy beds, but I guess they prefer being together. It's sweet. Sissy doesn't think it's fair that she's the only one who has to go to sleep in a room by herself, and well...I understand. That makes sense. I get to cuddle with Ryan, and the boys get to whisper to one another until they fall asleep in their bunk beds. Not fair, indeed, Sis.

In My Pregnancy This Week:
I actually tried to call the doctor today because my leg and feet swelling is so over the top. I am a little concerned that one is slightly bigger than the other, which according to the internet could be an issue. The office isn't open on Friday's, though, so I'm trying to decide what to do. Worrying about having a blood clot is not good for my hypochondriatic self. I think I convince myself I'm having trouble breathing when I'm probably just panicking.

I've been feeling FINE up until now. I never had extreme morning sickness. I have never felt particularly tired or achey. My blood pressure is perfect. ETC. The past week or two I have went dramatically downhill. This week I officially hit a weight I've never reached before in my other pregnancies (and I still have a bit to go!). I started crying today because I was worried about my feet after reading things on the computer about it. I was trying to stay off of them, but I have so much to do! So much I want to do! Clean for company this weekend. Wrap presents. Bake desserts for our holiday get-together...my body is failing me when I don't even feel tired, and I think this must be a hint of what it feels like to grow old. I walk up the stairs so slowly, and I'm totally out of breath when I reach the top.

Anyway, today I burst into tears, and Sissy ran downstairs to get her brothers. I could hear her saying, "Come on! Mommy's crying!" I don't like to lose it in front of them, and I tried to explain that I'm fine, I'm just disappointed that I'm not feeling well enough to do what I need and want to do. I think they understand. They gave me a foot and leg massage with lotion as they pretended like they were playing "spa," and I was a customer. Sissy was talking all fancy and prissy as she explained what they were doing and how they were helping me. It was cute. (And felt great!)




A Peek at Sissy in Preschool This Week:

Pajama Day at school this week

She had her Christmas program this week, too. It included sitting on Santa's lap and receiving a newly wrapped book, the kids singing a few songs (which included her wearing a Santa's hat, lots of hand motions, and ringing jingle bells during one song) for everyone in the sanctuary, and a "Happy Birthday, Jesus" party back in the classroom.

What We're Playing This Week:

We were using cotton balls for a snowman craft, and these two decided to have a snowball fight with them. I actually thought it was a really fun idea, and I was just relieved that they were finally throwing something in the house that wouldn't hurt anything. I am, however, still finding cotton balls in random places many days later.

Daddy played Scrabble: Junior Edition with them one night.

What We're Looking Forward To This Week:

The boys were excited when we went to Googie & Papaw's one day and saw all of their Christmas decorations were set out. They love my dad's Snow Village creations, complete with a train. I'm sure this will get a lot of viewing time this weekend as my whole family will be together to celebrate the holiday. We are looking forward to hanging out with everyone.


Quotes to Share:
Sis was helping me clean her room. I asked her to do something apparently while she was still completing another task. She said, "Wait a second. I only have two hands, not three." She said it very serious, which is funny because she apparently she picked up that from me; I am always telling them something like that.

Linkin' Up:

The Homeschool Mother's Journal

Weekly Wrap-Up