The new year is almost here! I'm looking forward to getting everything put away and my house back in order. I'm ready to get back into our routine. But first I need to say farewell to a few of my favorites. These are some of the things I will miss the most over the next 12 months.
*Christmas cards* Seeing all those beautiful faces and reading their stories fills me with joy and hope for the new year.
*Poinsettias* I absolutely LOVE these flowers (although Evan just informed me that it is actually the red LEAVES I like so much. The flower is just the little yellow center.)
*Christmas Photos* This is my all-time, absolute favorite decoration. I have framed pictures of my kids from every year since 1990. I love getting these out every year.
*Memories* My favorite decorations are ones that bring back memories. Most of the ornaments on our tree were gifts from friends or purchased to help us remember a special event or trip. I made this nativity stocking when I was about 12. I actually made stockings for my whole family, but I got a little worn out and I think my Mom ended up doing most of the work!
*Colorful, delicious food*
My sister-in-law Denise makes this fabulous (and very time-intensive!) jello every year. The Christmas tree salad was something new for Christmas eve.
*Sugar Cookies* It just wouldn't be Christmas without them.
and last but not least . . . *Christmas pajamas* My kids get these every year on Christmas eve. I am grateful to my non-pajama-wearing big boys who humored me by wearing them for a photo and even put them back on for Christmas morning! Marianne's are satiny with clouds all over. You can't see Evan's "Frosty" pajama pants, but they're super cozy.
Hope all your Christmas favorites are carefully tucked away until next year!
There's a special feeling I get at Christmas time. It's a certain joy, excitement and anticipation that I don't feel at any other time of the year. Here are a few of my favorite ways to get that "Christmas Feeling"
Listening to Chrismas music like this (click to listen, the foreign subtitles are a bonus!)
Making gifts for my family
Giving gifts anonymously
Sitting by the light of my Christmas tree
Reading Christmas stories
Here are a few stories from my childhood that never fail to get me in the mood for Christmas.
As a child I never thought there was anything strange about this story of the moles who want a telescope from the Fat Man in the Red Suit and risk death to wait for him. Maybe I related to their glasses, having worn them since I was 3 years old. The illustrations are so cute that you'll find yourself saying, "Hey, even moles deserve a Christmas present!"
This is another one that makes me feel nostalgic.
Santa Mouse was published the year I was born. My copy was torn and missing the cover, but I got a shiny new copy this year. The endpapers aren't as pretty, but the illustrations and rhymes are as sweet as ever.
Okay, this one isn't really from my childhood, but it could have been.
First published in 1958, this is a children's classic. My kids want me to read it every year. Who wouldn't love a book written in first person by Petey the puppy?
I hope you've got that Christmas feeling, whatever it takes!
I love the traditional carols, the fun jazzy tunes, the hymns that praise the Savior.
Tonight my whole family went to Symphony Hall for the Holiday Pops concert. Copley Hall is a beautiful historic theater and it was so much fun to be there with everyone! Thanks to my sweet husband for planning ahead and getting us tickets several months ago.
I loved the selections from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker. Jingle Bell Rock took me back to 6th grade when our drill team performed. The Hallelujah chorus from Handel's Messiah brought tears to my eyes. My Mom especially loved the sing-a-long at the end. She felt very blessed to sing praises to our Savior in a public setting! My Grandma loved hearing the orchestra play the Christmas polka.
Jenny, Grandma, Mom & Me
Grandma and Evan were definitely the best dressed for Christmas. Grandma wore a very cute necklace with little light up Christmas bulbs. Evan made his own lighted Santa hat. It looks rather Harry Potterish in this picture, but that's what you get with a cell phone camera. His hat was very festive and he received many compliments.
Here's hoping your Christmas is filled with wonderful music! What are your favorites? I'd love to hear any recommendations.
A couple of days ago I got a very unique and wonderful gift: A chocolate advent calendar!
I thought I had seen a chocolate advent calendar. In fact I usually buy them for my kids at Trader Joes. You know what they look like, they're made of cardboard and each day you open a little window and get a little piece of chocolate. But these are nothing compared to what I have now. Now I have the REAL thing!
One of my students brought me this:
The picture really doesn't do it justice. The colors are so pretty and sparkly and best of all, completely delicious.
Ahh. . . the best traditions seem to involve chocolate.
The Nutcracker ballet is a Christmas tradition. This year my sister Jenny organized a field trip with some homeschool friends and my Mom and Grandma came along too! It was especially fun because we knew some of the dancers. We went out for lunch afterwards and made a day of it.
I have several picture book versions of The Nutcracker, but my favorite is illustrated by Renee Graef. Her warm and wonderful illustrations are the perfect complement to Hoffman's classic story. This is the version to buy because it also includes a CD with the story and Tchaikovsky's music.
Another classic illustrated by Graef is Santa Comes to Little House. This story always humbles us when we read about the joy and gratitude the girls feel when they receive their simple gifts. This is the perfect soothing story to read after a busy day of Christmas shopping or baking.
Both of these books will put you in the mood for an old-fashioned Christmas!
A few days ago, I sent out my Christmas cards. I love writing our annual family newsletter and sending it off to friends and relatives who live out of town. Today I received this in the mail.
You'll notice that the lovely plastic envelope says in large letters: WE CARE
Somehow, I wonder if they really do. If they really cared, wouldn't they have pulled the other half of the envelope out of the machine, so that I could figure out who the card was supposed to be delivered to? The return address doesn't really help me. Oh well!
Two great picture books were published in 2007. They both tell the stories of little girls who are brave enough to make a difference in the world. If you missed these books last year, be sure to check them out this Christmas!
Angela and the Baby Jesus by Frank McCourt is great fun to read aloud, especially if you can pull off an Irish accent! Who can resist the story of little Angela who steals the baby Jesus from the nativity display in St. Joseph's church? She only wants to warm him up, and if he'll cooperate she'll let him rest in her bed. This book is the perfect balance of sweet and funny. Your teenagers and maybe even your husband will listen!
It feels like Christmas the moment you pick up Kate DiCamillo's Great Joy . The metallic gold endpapers let you know this book is something special. This is the story of Frances who really understands the meaning of Christmas. The lovely illustrations take you right into 1940s. As you see the world through Frances' eyes, you'll want to decide what you can do to bring "great joy" to others at Christmas time. This story will remind you of the power of one
Marianne has her own room, although it really isn't the first time. She doesn't remember it, but for the first 18 months of her life she had her bedroom all to herself. Perhaps she doesn't remember it because she spent so little time there! That child did not like to sleep. Actually, she slept beautifully as long as she was in my arms or sometimes in the carseat or baby swing (thank heavens for that swing!!)
During my pregnancy with Evan I was really worried about what I would do with two babies who were up all night long. The night I came home from the hospital, I sat rocking Marianne and Evan. I felt completely overwhelmed and started to offer a silent prayer for help. Just then Marianne started to sing a song that went something like "I love my little baby."
Immediately, I knew that everything would be alright. And it was. From that night on, Marianne slept through the night. It was a miracle and I knew it!
My two babies became great roommates. I knew that someday my little girl would not want to share a room with her brother, but I figured that by the time she was 12, Ryan would be 18 and off to college. Thankfully things worked out just as planned! Here is her "new" room with a desk that has room for all her card-making supplies.
Tonight I was in a really grouchy mood, so it is good thing I picked up This Is the Star by Joyce Dunbar! It is a simple story written in the style of "This is the house that Jack built". The sweet rhymes kept me focused on the real meaning of Christmas and I was captivated by the illustration of the wise men from the point of view of the Christ child.
My own children were relieved at my change in attitude by the time we finished the book! Even though it was after 10 PM, they convinced me to read one more story: Arthur's Christmas by Marc Brown. This is another of my kids' favorites that we've had for years. It is an "old school" Arthur book that pre-dates the tv show. We all laugh at DW's mile-long Christmas list written in red pencil and Arthur's attempts to find the perfect gift for Santa. Arthur finally settles on a home cooked meal for Santa. Unfortunately Arthur's creative recipes are pretty disgusting. DW saves Christmas with the help of their dog "Killer" (more tamely named Pal on TV!) and her red pencil.
This afternoon I picked up Madeline's Christmas and Madeline in America, by Ludwig Bemelmans. As you might expect, both stories begin: "In and old house in Paris That was covered with vines Lived twelve little girls In two straight lines"
Madeline's Christmas continues fairly predictably with Madeline taking charge when everyone gets sick. The book takes a weird turn when a merchant/magician shows up and send everyone off on a holiday jaunt on flying carpets. It's cute, but I definitely prefer Madeline in America which has the girls taking a more exciting holiday trip to a Texas cattle ranch that Madeline has inherited. It has some very funny rhymes such as:
"Merry Christmas and howdy, ma'am The name is Crockett, but call me Sam."
The girls have a great adventure until the wealth and power go to Madeline's head and she declares: "And there'll be no more school, that is the best part For who is rich is already smart."
Fortunately Miss Clavel comes to the rescue and the girls all head back to Paris where: "In two straight lines they broke their bread And brushed their teeth and went to bed."
Evan, Marianne & I all have something in common--we can roll our tongues!
Sadly, John, Ryan & Aaron don't share our special talent. It never seemed to be a problem until a few days ago. I overheard Marianne talking to some of her cousins who can't roll their tongues. She explained, "Some people are just born with that type of disability."
I have two containers of Christmas books, but I usually just get out a few of our favorites.This year I’d like to read all of our Christmas picture books and get rid of any we deem unworthy!The plan is to read at least one book as a family every evening till Christmas.I have more than 25 picture books, so I will read the others by myself or with whomever is interested, most likely Marianne and Evan.I hope that you will be inspired to buy a new Christmas book, pull out some old favorites, or see what treasures you can find at the library!
November 30th
Tonight Evan and I explored our pop-up books.I am pretty protective of my pop-ups and only let little ones look at them while sitting on my lap.I have ordered a couple of new pop-up books, so I’ll review those later in the month.
Cookie Count by Robert Sabuda
This is one of my favorites.How can you go wrong with the combination of cookies and a pop-up?As a bonus, this doubles as a counting book.You’ll love the little mice who sample the cookies and likely be inspired to get out your favorite cookie recipes!
Winter’s Tale by Robert Sabuda
With the same title as one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, I loved this book before I ever opened it.This pop-ups in this nature themed book are all in white.The story ends with a musical display.It is a beautiful book that reminds me of Susan Jeffers’ Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening and makes me yearn for a stroll through the forest on a winter’s day.
The Night Before Christmas by Robert Sabuda
Clement Moore’s classic poem is illustrated by two pop-ups on each page.The large pop-up is the central focus and hidden underneath a flap is a smaller, but very detailed pop-up.The images of Santa are delightful and the village scene on the final page even has a wheel for you to turn.Read Jan Brett’s Night Before Christmas for a very different interpretation of the same poem.Her detailed illustrations are wonderful!You’ll want to spend some time exploring the borders of each page.
The Christmas Alphabet by Robert Sabuda
A simple format with one pop-up for each letter hidden behind a flap.The white cutouts contrast beautifully with the colored backgrounds.Our family likes to cover the word and guess what the pop-up image represents.I love that Sabuda has included some religious images to remind us of the nativity.
December 1, 2008
We started our “book a night” with Allen Say’s Tree of Cranes.Say is my favorite author/illustrator for all things Japanese.John served a mission in Japan, so he always enjoys this type of story.The little boy disobeys his mother and end up catching a cold.When he gets home he is sent straight to bed, but is mother is preoccupied and he can’t understand her strange behavior.Finally she gathers origami cranes, candles and a little tree and tells him a story he will never forget.
We couldn’t stop with just one book, so we also read The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Hunt.This folktale is the story of three trees with big dreams that fulfill the measure of their creation by eventually becoming part of Jesus’ life as the manger, the ship and the cross.
Marianne and Evan were supposed to be in bed, but they saw me reading Shoemaker Martin by Bernadette Watts and begged for one more story.Strictly speaking, this isn’t a Christmas story, but this tale of a man seeking Christ captures the spirit of the season.This book is based on a short story by Leo Tolstoy called “Where Love is, God is”.Martin the cobbler reads the Bible each night and wonders how he would receive a visit from Jesus.He is woken from his sleep that night by a voice saying, “Martin, be sure you watch the street tomorrow, for I shall come.”The next day Martin is ready.He receives many visitors and is filled with joy!
December 2, 2008
Tonight we read The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado.This is the sweet story of the lamb who was in the stable the night Jesus was born.It reminds us that our weaknesses often provide marvelous opportunities and that God has a special place for each of us.
The second book we read is one we got years ago when the kids were little.This silly story never fails to start everyone laughing and quoting their favorite lines.Morris’s Disappearing Bag by Rosemary Wells is the story of what happens after all the presents are opened.The three older siblings all take turns playing with each other’s gifts, but no one wants to play with little Morris’s bear and they certainly don’t want him touching their toys.Then Morris notices a present that was overlooked.What he finds inside changes everything!
Earlier this afternoon I read the kids Merry Christmas, Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola.dePaola is a prolific author and I love his cute, folksy illustrations.I’ll have to admit that I’ve never been a fan of his Strega Nona/Big Anthony series.Although like most moms, I have a child or two that reminds me of Anthony who complains and “forgets” to do his chores.Usually magic comes to the rescue, but in this story Strega Nona refuses to use magic saying, “Christmas has a magic of its own.”
Another Christmas book by dePaola is Jingle the Christmas Clown.It is filled with drawings of adorable baby animals that any little girl will love.Jingle takes care of the baby animals and the poor, old villagers and you’ll learn some Italian words as well.The story ends with an angel pouring golden stars down upon the living Christmas tree in the village square.You can make your own golden stars with the cookie recipe for “Stelline d’Oro” included in the book.
*Memories*
and last but not least . . .
