Changing Moment

I love looking at the difference between these two images. It is fun to see how things can change in just a moment.

Ol Lang Syne

 Each of the children have a little treasure box that they keep precious or memorable things in. Margaret loves hers so very much and asks for me to get it down often.

Italy Landscapes

I just wanted to revisit my two favorite landscapes from this trip to Italy. I hope you understand.

Duet Again



It is fun to hear little Eliza at the piano. She likes to reach and press keys all over the key board. I am surprised with how little pounding happens. It seems to me she is enjoying the sound. She has a good example of a big brother. Here is the first photo.

Poetry Night

We prepared by making treats and rolling some beeswax candles. Later we piled the poetry books, popped popcorn, and lit the candles. John read the Jabberwocky, Clara did a little Roald Dahl. Kelly did Casey at the Bat. Even Margaret recited Picnic. I revisited Yeats and Burns. Good times! Come next time! You are all invited.

Bump, Bump, Bump, I'm a Camel with a Hump!

 Margaret is so fun to be around! We read a book about pretending called "I Can Fly" and she took this scene from it. In the next she is rolling a ball back and forth with Eliza. Clara is assisting. She has also been playing teacher and here she is using her pointer and teaching me about trucks.

A Cradle Song

The angels are stooping
Above your bed;
They weary of trooping
With the whimpering dead.
God's laughing in Heaven
To see you so good;
The Sailing Seven
Are gay with His mood.
I sigh that kiss you,
For I must own
That I shall miss you
When you have grown.

William Butler Yeats

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.

Robert Frost

Magic Mountain Sledding

 We were so glad that Carissa shared this great place to sled with us. It was just the right sort of ride and climb so you could have a lot of trips with no risks of getting hit by another sledder! Thanks so much.

New Years Eve Yule Log

Our yule log this year is covered in slivered almonds. It took a while but it didn't matter with Clara's company. We thought it turned out rather well. It is fun to see that I have been getting better at this little tradition. Here are the previous four years. 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012. We shared this with the Andersons.

Christmas Day and Stink Bug #4

She has been doing this on occasion but I never so that I could get a photograph. Then it happened! Christmas Day the stars a-line. This is a link to Margaret's, John's, and Clara's!

Kelly and Clara sang in the Christmas program. Kelly had the solo for "O Holy Night." He rocked it. Clara looked like she enjoyed it and sang her best as well!

Christmas Eve

We prepared for the Sabbath cleaning and laying out church cloths. We had a nice meal of clam chowder. After, we read the nativity using the little figures you see with Eliza. Clara played "What Child is This" for us. The Buckley's gave us a jar to put milk in to give to Santa and our next door neighbors gave us these unbelievable cookies.

Winter

Gram Cracker Gingerbread Houses

Christmas Preperations

Tons of beautiful snow, books, a tall skinny tree, meringues, new winter cloths and lots of narcissi.