catching up

Christmas in a nutshell (until I can get pictures up)
*fevers
*stomach aches
*headaches
*diarrhea (like running out the diaper kind)
*throwing up in the van
*lots of sleeping
*worrying that we'll not get to see family
*two at a time going to family gatherings
(the rest were sick)
*lots of resting
*dancing, laughing, eating, dancing...
*playing with cousins
*driving 4 hours away
*going to the cold land
*now the zoo in 20 degree weather
:)

Send

While watching a movie this Christmas weekend, I saw something I do everyday, and see other people do everyday, but don't pay much attention to it.  The simple act of pushing "send."  

 I thought to myself: wouldn't it be nice if I could send my wishes, my fears, my burdens somewhere?

 Just push a button and "send" them away.

And then I thought:  I do have that "send" button.  There's a place where my wishes, hurts, and burdens go.  I chose to invite The Light into my heart when I was younger.  Christ died for me to save my sins.  He knows my wishes, my hurts, and my burdens, and He wants me to push the send button so he can heal me.  Since he's in my heart, I know I can go to Him.  Jesus IS my send button. 

And to think all of this came from a baby.
"This very day in King David's hometown a Savior was born for you.  He is Christ the Lord.  You will know who he is, because you will find him dressed in baby clothes and lying in a bed of hay."  (Luke 2:11-13)
The Bread of Life slept in a trough.  Funny, huh.

Find the send button in your life.  He's there.  He's waiting for you to put your finger on the button and send a message.  "I want you in my life.  I need you."  It's the greatest thing you'll ever do!

 

reindeer food

On Christmas Eve, we usually put out

food for the reindeer.

We wouldn't want them to fly by our house!

 oatmeal and,

chocolate chips

We normally just sprinkle it on the lawn.

But, this year the girls wanted to put out

separate bowls for each one.

 The reindeer will definitely know this

year where our house is.  

I'm just afraid Santa will be disappointed 

because I'm eating all the treats 

we'd have left for him tonight.

That's what happens when two of your

kids are sick on Christmas Eve, 

and you don't get to go to the 

family Christmas in Derby.  

Sorry Santa!

See you in a few hours!

Almost Ready...

The Christmas tree is decorated.

The presents are wrapped.

I can't WAIT for four special kids to

open these four cool presents!

We just need to get the 9 bowls full of

reindeer food ready for tomorrow night,

and Santa's plate, and then we'll be ready! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

snow from MN

A package arrived from the north today.

A note was written on the outside:

"We wanted to share some of our 

Minnesota snow with you all... enjoy!  

Merry Christmas

love from, 

the Hillis'

SNOW!

Are you kidding me?

We've been waiting for this stuff

for months!

 Not only was there snow-

there were bowls for the kids to

scoop up the snow and 

THROW it into the air!

Jess, this picture is for you.

They STUCK to Gracie's bare

feet.  I just couldn't get a clear picture

because I was laughing at how

you would LOVE this!  :)

 Thank you Hillis' for the snow!

... and the bowls!

... and the yummy treats!

You DO know what we like love! 

Cyr Christmas

Our first Christmas of 2010 was today.

 Mom's side of the family- extended family.

The Cyr's.

This family Christmas is the

most predictable one.

We take a bazzilion pictures of

each family...

This isn't every family, but it's what I got.

Then, we eat.

The Big Guy in the red suit comes.

 Needless to say, Trey Hawk didn't

want to be sitting there.

He rubbed his eye the whole time- 

like, "You don't see me here.

Just please give me this gift

you're trying to hand me."

So, then we do the gift exchange,

and then we sing Christmas carols.

I love how this family has the never-

changing routine in our Christmas schedule.

But, what I love most of all 

 is the laughter.  This family knows

how to laugh, and we do a lot of it

while we're together!

Christmas #1 of 8... check.

 

"Bat...Bat!"

5 Things You Should Know About Me

#5: I have learned the word, "MINE!"

And I use this word often.

 #4: I love to play ANY sport,

AND I can make any grunts that goes

with that sport!

#3: I try to help Mommy and Daddy

when I can.  Like tonight, I got out

the tub of butter when she was

trying to get the milk.

#2: Trucks, trains, cars, and tractors.

You have them, I'll find them.

#1:  I l.o.v.e bathtime.

"Bat...Bat!!" is what I say as 

I RUN for the bathroom when Mommy

says it's time to take a bath.  I would climb

right in there with all my clothes on if 

Mommy wasn't so fast!  

pfeffernucce

Mom texted yesterday and asked if the girls and I would like to come to her house today and make peppernuts.  

Peppernuts.
Hadn't made those since my childhood years at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church. I remember sitting on a stool at a table in the basement, and rolling out the dough.  Rolling loooong snakes.  And then the women would take those snakes and cut them into bite sized pieces, and put them into the oven.  Yum!

So, we went to Nana's house today.  
First, we mixed the ingredients from this Swiss cookbook.

Then, we took our spots at the table.  
And, rolled our dough into looong snakes!
Nana let us all cut our own snakes into bite
sized pieces.  

Look at all of our cute aprons!

Finally, we put them in the oven and the delicious smell of Pfeffernucce filled the house!

Of course, while the peppernuts were baking in the oven, there were other things going on like:

sword fighting

coloring

 peek-a-boo

 Cuddle time with Papa

 Thank you, Nana, for starting a Christmas tradition at your house!  Now, we have a yummy snack at our's!

a hammer???

This job seriously cracks me up sometimes.  I was listening to a boy read today while I wrote down notes as he read.  The book was called, The Night Owl, and gave lots of facts about owls. 

He was SUPPOSED to read these words:
"Because they eat pests,
owls are very helpful to humans."

But, he instead read it this way:
"Because they eat pets,
owls are very helpful hammers."

Didn't go back to correct it.
Just smiled at me.
"Am I done?"

Seriously? 
A hammer?
That eats pets?
HA HA HA HA!!
Oh my gosh, I love these kids!

Who are you?

This fun little surprise was taped

on my front door today.  

Thank you Santa's Elf!

spaghetti

The supper that cures all hurty feelings, rude behaviors 

toward your sister, and crying fits because you 

can't seem to be nice to your siblings.  

Spaghetti.

Slurpy, messy, saucy, spaghetti.

And black olives puppets. 

And what would a supper at the Childs' house

be without someone needing a bandaid.

Yes, Jada wanted a bandaid for her

chapped lips.

And then she decided later on that her

FAVORITE meal was worth the

stinging pain on her lower lip.

Thank you to whomever invented this

delicious dish.  We are grateful for

the peace it provides since it's so

hilarious to eat! 

tears

Tears, tears, and more tears.
Fighting.
Yelling.
Deep breathing.

Throwing toys.
Hurty feelings.
Crying.
Deep breathing.

Apologizing.
Time-out.
Apologizing again.

All before 5:00 p.m.
Blah.

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

There are signs of Christmas all 

around my classroom!

 Jess and Beki had this cute idea

for an advent calendar.

I got the socks at Dollar Tree.

I love new socks.

I typed out something 

for each sock.

A joke.

A Christmas song to sing.

A Christmas book to read.

A Christmas challenge.

  Today's challenge was to get into a circle

and play telephone.  I had a secret

message (Jingle Bells, Batman Smells), 

that went around the circle, and ended

up being "I love Christmas!"

 We're hoping these tired reindeer get

up enough energy for the big night 

in 23 days!  They are exhausted

from practicing landing on

roofs, and flying over trees.

Wake up, reindeer!