"Insta"-replay #62, Christmas Joy

Christmas came and went so quickly this year!  It was hard to squeeze in all the fun, but we managed somehow!

Girls had fun baking cupcakes at Grandma Kelly's.

Then they had an repeat performance of their piano recital.

Christmas Eve ended with the traditional pajama presents.

The second half of the week was spent with my inlaws.  Highlights include seeing my fabulas sister-in-law, and childhood friend, Melissa.

Discovering a new craftier side of Aunt Abbie.  Her gifts this year were amazing!

And playing games like battleship, which I hadn't played in years.

It was a good week of fun and family!

"Insta"-replay #61, Christmas is coming!!!

This week we have been getting into the Christmas spirit. Festivities have been happening all around.

Jon and I went to an ugly sweater party (a first for me.)

The girls had their first piano recital.

It was at my mom's, so a smallish gathering full of family.

We finally made it out to hear Grandpa Bill sing with the old fastion carolers.

 And our week finished with a trip to see Santa on the polar express (thank you Aunt Katie.) It was our first time on a train so I was super excited!

Merry Christmas to all! Hoping this week is full of fun holiday memory making!

Being "that" mom

Last year Christmas time was all about making memories.  I saw all the cute "Elf on a Shelf" pintrest ideas and thought, "I can do better than that!"  And I think I did, at least as far as my kids were concerned.

"Christmas Barbie" helped us start our holiday season.

She came up with crafts through out the season.

Gave me a reason to bring out art supplies that normally stayed put away.

She inspired learning during our school break.

I even used her to gt the kids cleaning before we set up decorations.

So this year, where is Christmas Barbie?

She is still in her box.  Because as much fun as she was last year, that wasn't the reason I used her.

I wasn't trying to make a new family tradition, I was simply trying to get through another year.  So I became "that mom."  The one coming up with crazy fun stuff that makes other moms groan.  Thinking of ways for my kids to have fun that other kids wish they could do too.

I don't want to be "that mom." I want to be a normal, average, sometimes fun, sometimes boring mom.  I don't want to depend on a gimmick to get through the holiday season, I want to be actually happy.

This year our holiday  has been quieter, less activities, more just just hanging out.  I think the girls miss Barbie, and the excitement she brought. 

I hope next year Christmas Barbie will be back, not in an over the top way, with a few simple Christmas fun activities.  And I hope I would do those simple Christmas fun activities even without her.

"Insta"-replay #60, a dark and story night

Last week was rather boring except for one day.

It started out all fun and games, decorating trees with do-it-yourself kits.  Then the power went out.

So after the boys were picked up we left the dark house and headed to the mall for dinner.

The most likely cause of the power outage was a huge branch that feel in front of our driveway.  So I helped hold a flash light while my husband used his tractor to pull it out of the way.  I think he was secretly a little excited to have another reason to get his tractor out.

It was an unexpected break from the routine.

"Insta"-replay #59, wait when did it become December?

Happy Holidays!  No, I'm not avoiding saying "Christmas", there are just so many other mini celebrations that I am very happy for as well!

We started the month finding "joy" at the mall.  I realize it's a gimmick but appreciate the reminder to smile at this busy shopping season!

 

My kids are finding joy reading Christmas books.  Every year we box them up after epiphany so they haven't seen them for awhile.

It was recital time last weekend! Watching my little dancers prepare makes the mom in me very proud!

Another proud mom moment was my older daughter going to the studio for special makeup! It's a sign she's growing up.

Jon makes an effort to enjoy seeing his daughters preform, I know he'd rather play video games (or go to the dentist.)

Merry was cute, she's been working very hard so she had her dances down!

Charry was busy with three very different dances!

Now I feel like the holidays can start! I for one am looking forward to a busy month of fun!

Coin Jar Physics, Laws of Motion with pennies

Newtons three laws of motion are (paraphrased):

1. An object at rest will stay at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion unless a force is exerted apon it.

2. Force= mass x acceleration or the larger an object the more force you need to move it.

3. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.

So how can you easily demonstrate these three laws using pocket change?

For law number one start with a stack of pennies (4-5 work best) slide a separate penny at the base of your stack.  The bottom penny should slide out from under the pile while the rest stay in their stack.

For law number two start with different sized coins, penny and nickel work well. One at a time set them next to a ruler then slide a third coin into them.  

Measure how far the coins travel.  The smaller coin should travel farther because it requires less force to move.

Finally law number three.  Place three pennies side by side in a line.

  Hold down lightly on two of the coins.  Slide a forth coin into the line so that it hits the side you are holding.  The loose penny on the other side of the line should be bumped away.

Simple science lesson that cost pennies (and you can reuse those pennies later if you need.)

"Insta"-replay #58, November wrap up

November always ends with Thanksgiving and I for one am thankful November has ended!  The month has been a fun but busy one!

We've had fun at co-op.  My favorite partis still cousin time!

Merry got to spend an afternoon going to a play with dad.

We have all enjoyed Starbucks holiday drinks, even Jon who is against coffee in principle.

 We had a delightful time with all the Ward cousins.  It's great to see how well they get along.

I got to have a girls night out with my Sister-in-law Katie ( she really is the best.) 

Thanksgiving was at my mom's and Bill's.  They are amazing hosts and I'm always surprised how many people can fit around a dinner table!

And what Thanksgiving would be complete without a little Indian! And Great Grandma Elaine shared with kids how we had an Indian relative at the first Thanksgiving.

On to December, cold weather, and a break from school!

"Insta"-replay, November is zooming by!

I can't believe how quickly the month has been flying by! Or how I forgot to do my weekly wrap up, oops.

We have been enjoying autumn, spending time playing with cousins.

Charry has had fun playing with her sister's hair.

I had a fabulas birthday and received an awesome Japanese candy kit.  I'm excited to try it but still nervous since the directions are not in English.

This month I've seen more of my sisters. They both also celebrated birthdays.

Jon managed to get the tractor running and the field mostly mowed before the cold weather came around.

Once the temperature dropped we spent more time in the girls room during the day (easier to heat.) Merry got to play with her "Goldie Blox" engineering for girls set.  We had been saving it since school started.

The girls have been good about bundling up and working on school.

We're hoping for some warmer weather to head our way before winter comes for real.  Next week "Christmas Barbie" will be making her first appearance as we get ready for the holiday seasons.

"Insta"-replay #56, Halloween; comicon for normal people?

Last week we had a blast dressing up for dance class, AWANA, dinner, and any other excuse!

Merry was thrilled to finally have a Hufflepuff outfit.  She had been wanting one since we finished reading the first Potter book back in September.

She had been a bit upset about having to dress like a "princess" for AWANA, until she realized England is full of royalty so surely at least one of them could have ended up at Hogwarts.

 Charry also had a British themed look, the tardis from Doctor Who.

Aunt Katie had fun dressing up for dinner, an annual tradition of going out to eat instead of handing out candy.

 Even I had fun dressing up.  My costume was for a mystery murder dinner. It was so much fun getting into character and figuring out the clues!

As magical as our costumes were, my nephews magic moving finger trick was the highlight of my week! And I take full credit for teaching it to him!

October is finish, on to November (birthday month).