We have been having such a quiet and lovely time off from our school lessons. We have been eagerly awaiting Christmas with lots of sweet story books and family time together, which is new for us now that Kevin is on a more "normal" schedule. It's snowy and wintry outside and cozy inside. The tree is bright and the kids are wondering at the gifts underneath (Jack calls them "prizes", lol). We've been cooking, baking, sewing, shoveling snow, reading, snowman building, watching winter birds, sledding, playing late night board games, helping neighbors move all that snow, a cold snowy drive-thru nativity ... all good soul stuff as we prepare for a new year. We have about two more weeks of bliss, ie., no school. :) We have some changes on the horizon for Jan-Jul. We will start back the first week of January and have lessons six weeks on, one week off, with a week for Easter. We will finish up the third week of May, and take off the last week of May through the first week of July for a glorious summer break. In February we will be moving to Connecticut so that has factored into how our new year will come together as well.
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Instead of a basket of Christmas books this year, I've decided to be more intentional with how we spend our time these weeks of Advent. I've chosen one book per day to read from the 1st of December to the Epiphany on January 6th. We will celebrate the Feast of St Nicholas on the eve of December 6, as well as Saint Lucy on December 13. We will also read a smattering of stories of Christmas from around the world. I envision us reading these books first thing in the morning, on the couch cuddled up, with carols playing in the background ... time to read slowly and to form relationships with these childhood stories rather than reading them en masse from a basket all month. I hope these stories and the Christmas music will set a cheerful and anticipatory tone for the day as we embark on our daily Advent devotions, Scripture, crafts, and service.
{Each day of Advent and Christmas Day.} The Jesse Tree by McCaughrean Lucy's Christmas by Hall The Donkey's Dream by Berger Mr Willowby's Christmas Tree by Barry The Last Straw by Thury The Story of Holly and Ivy by Godden Room for a Little One by Waddell & Cockcroft The Little Drummer Boy by Keats The Message of the Birds by Westerlund Gifts of the Heart by Polacco Cranberry Christmas by Devlin A Dozen Silk Diapers by Kajpust The Carpenter's Gift: A Christmas Tale about the Rockefeller Center Tree by Rubel Dream Snow by Carle The Nutcracker by Hoffman Song of the Stars by Lloyd-Jones The Crippled Lamb by Lucado Humphrey's First Christmas by Heyer The Little Fir Tree by Wise Brown An Orange for Frankie by Polacco Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Alko The Night Tree by Bunting The Legend of the Candy Cane by Walburg {and DVD} The Friendly Beasts by dePaola Christmas Day in the Morning by Buck {Christmas Around the World ... with our Good Morning Girls Kids Study} Christmas Wombat by French (Australia) The Twelve Days of Christmas illustrated by Isadora (Africa) The Night Before Christmas illustrated by Isadora (Africa) What's Cooking, Jamela? by Daly (Africa) The Wee Christmas Cabin by Hodges (Ireland) The Christmas Wish by Evert (Norway) Christmas from Heaven: The True Story of the Berlin Candy Bomber by Brokaw (Germany) The Story of the Snow Children by Von Olfers (Germany) The Legend of Old Belfana by dePaola (Italy) Christmas in Noisy Village by Lindgren (Sweden) Carl the Christmas Carp by Krykorka (Austria) Nine Days to Christmas: A Story of Mexico by Ets & Labastida (Mexico) Too Many Tamales by Soto (Mexico) The Legend of the Poinsettia by dePaola (Mexico) The Miracle of the First Poinsettia: A Mexican Christmas Story by Oppenheim (Mexico) Babushka by Horn (Russia) Yoon and the Christmas Mitten by Recorvits (China) Tree of Cranes by Say (Japan) To honor St Nicholas ... A Baker's Dozen: A St Nicholas Tale by Shepard 'Twas the Night Before Christmas: Or Account of a Visit from St Nicholas by Moore To honor St Lucy ... Lucia, Saint of Light by Hyde Lucia Morning in Sweden by Rydåker To honor the Epiphany ... The Story of the Three Wise Kings by dePaola The Twelve Days of Christmas by Brett The Fourth Wise Man by Summers {I'm partial to dePaola ... these are heirloom books that we read and reread every year.} Joy to the World Strega Nona's Gift Jingle the Christmas Clown Country Angel Christmas The First Christmas The Birds of Bethlehem Today marks the start of Advent ... the joyful anticipation of the birth of Jesus. I love this time of the year. I love the coziness that comes from a wintry month of preparations for our King in our homes and our hearts. I love sharing this time with my children and growing with my husband and reflecting on my God. On the heels of the gratitude of Thanksgiving, here are a few ways we will be slowing down and finding stillness this season.
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erin.kate
Adorer of my Jesus. Home school mama to four ... three home grown and one from the far reaches of Africa. Ridiculously blessed wife of a man who loves with a servant's heart. Devotee of Charlotte Mason and clean, humble living. Archives
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