ADVENTures in Christmas

I can hardly believe Christmas is already over.  It is my favorite time of year.  I love the colors, sounds and wonder of it all.  Since it always goes by so fast, this year I had a plan.  I sat down and planned some sort of activity for every day in December.  Did we do every activity I planned? No, but we did most and if I hadn’t planned them ahead of time I know I wouldn’t have done half of what we did.  I printed them out and put them in the stockings for the kids to find. For some reason Ben called them his “jobs”.  He’d ask, “What is my job for today"?”. 

Some of our jobs activities included

• decorating cutout cookies
• caroling to our neighbors and giving them goodies we baked
• decorating and eating sugar cone Christmas trees
• Taking a drive to look at Christmas lights. Ben and Jacob finally enjoyed it this year!
• making Christmas cards
• reading Christmas books in front of the fire
• Put together a gingerbread house
• Made ornaments
• Christmas movies with popcorn
• Picked out animals to purchase from World Vision (details to follow)
• Dad reading A Certain Small Shepherd
• Christmas tree and candy cane pizzas

I had found an easy ornament craft to do with Ben and Jacob so we sat down one night to make them.  They were supposed to be Christmas trees. Jacob hurried through his and couldn’t wait to put it on the tree.  Ben however had no interest in making a Christmas tree.  Nope. He wanted to make Wyoming.  Yes, the state of Wyoming.  So I did what any mom of an autistic child has learned to do…let it go.  So he made Wyoming.  When it came time to take down the Christmas tree I was so thankful that I fought the Martha in me that wanted the ornament to be the perfect Christmas tree and instead let my little boy be who he is and make “Wyoming”. 

The iPod game that he plays has faces on all the states so he had to put a smiley face on it.  I love it. 

 

 

This year we wanted to include the kids in giving to others less fortunate than them.  Of course there are so many great organizations to be able to do this but we chose World Vision.  World Vision has a program where you can purchase farm animals to be given to a family or families in poverty stricken countries. Since the kids love animals and have enjoyed grandma and grandpa’s farm animals so much we thought they would love to go online and choose the animals.  They have some great videos explaining the program and it helped the kids see how their giving can help a family in need.  I think it was better for them to be able to see where their gift was going than just sending money not knowing exactly what it is being used for.  So we gathered around the computer with the intent of picking out some animals.  After much uh, discussion, we decided on a group of 13 small farm animals which included a goat, chickens, ducks and rabbits.  This was a perfect compromise because of course the three kids couldn’t agree on one animal.  Ah, the spirit of giving.  In the end the kids were very excited about their gift and Matt and I were very touched at how generous the kids were with their money.  I think this will be a new Christmas tradition at our house.

The boys did the gingerbread house with mom.  I think they ate just as much candy as the put on the house. 

Grandma was a huge help when it came time to decorating the cookies.  Jacob’s ended up more sprinkles than cookie.  Ben loved his world T-shirt he got from grandma.

We had a wonderful Christmas.  December was full of activity but we spent lots of time together as a family.  We are so blessed and grateful for our family and friends.

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.”

Back to School 2011

It  has already been 2 weeks since the first day of school.   It took me a week to get Ben’s picture, I finally remembered to take my camera to school and the battery was dead, ugh.  So a few weeks late here are the official pics.

Ben was determined to make his pirate face for his picture.  The strip on his desk is his beloved schedule or “list”.  His favorite part of school is Art, Music, and the stations in his classroom.  He loves the sensory station.  I absolutely love his teacher! 

Ben was not cooperating and had no interest in getting his picture taken.  I love Jacob’s face.  He really wasn’t as sad as he looks.

• Hannah – 7th grade.  She was so nervous!  She started changing classes every hour but quickly got the hang of it.  She started an Art class at Southwest Michigan Artist Association and “loves, loves, loves” it! She is still playing flute in the band. (with some um, encouragement from mom)
• Rachel – 6th grade  Rachel is playing volleyball and continues to play the clarinet in the band. 
• Joe 4th grade – He is very excited to be in the big building with the girls.  Taking a little longer for him to accept that summer is over. 
• Jacob – Kindergarten  He is excited to be in a new school but really would rather hang out at home in his Mario costume.

This year has been a big adjustment for me.  I currently have 4 houses (adding 1 more in October) that I’m cleaning and I started all 4 the first week of school.  We went from our nice relaxing summer break to school, carpool lines, volleyball practice, football practice, youth group, 4H and me working. The first week I just wanted to hop in my bed and pull the covers over my head!  I am so thankful for the cleaning jobs that I have so that I can be part time.  I can’t imagine keeping up with everything and working full time.  I’ve had to be a lot more purposeful with meal planning, shopping trips and I’m currently looking for a personal assistant to help me keep everyone’s schedules straight. Ha!  Actually I started putting everyone’s activities in my ipod and setting an alarm to remind me of them.  That’s about as close as I’m going to get to a P.A..   

On the days I don’t clean it has been nice to have a few hours to get something done, uninterrupted.  As nice as it is though, I miss my kids and I’m sad that the years are going by so fast. 

Our new additions!

We have two new additions to our family.  Oreo and Butterfinger!  Rachel and Joe recently adopted bunnies.  They both have been begging for a pet and bunnies seemed to be something we could handle.  They are also going to join 4-H so that they learn more about taking care of animals and show them at the Kalamazoo County Fair. 

Rachel got a Holland Lop and Joe bought a Polish.  They are both so excited and have been taking such good care of them.  Although they are as cute as can be they will be living in the garage.

Family Camp 2011

This year we decided to do something different for our family vacation and go to Life Action Camp for Family Camp.  A friend insisted we try it and I’m so glad she talked us into it.  The week started out pretty rough.  Ben had a really hard time adjusting to a new place with new rules.  He wanted to be everywhere he wasn’t supposed to be and nowhere he was allowed to.  It was SO hot and we didn’t have air in our borrowed pop-up camper. The boys didn’t want to go their groups so Matt and I could sit in ours.  By Tuesday I was ready to pack up and go home.  Then Tuesday night the worship leader, Jimmy, sat down next to me after dinner.  I really did NOT want to talk to him, I could barely force myself to smile.  He asked how we were doing, he knew our story and begged me to let the staff help us, encourage us and pray for us.  I went to bed that night begging God to change my attitude and to let us enjoy our time at camp. By Wednesday evening we had finally found our groove, and I my new attitude.  We were all having fun, it was still work for Matt and I, but is it ever really a vacation with five children? By Thursday I could smile at others without it being forced.  By Friday I was sad that we only had one more day. I’m so thankful that God used Jimmy to grab a hold of my heart and change it so I didn’t miss out on what he had for planned for me this week.  Here are the highlights from our week,

• I didn’t have to cook one meal or wash one dish for 5 whole days!
• Our family helper, Andrew, was amazing with the kids.  He was patient, reminded them to obey and had such a servant’s heart for our family. “Just tell me what to do” over and over again.
• Carpetball!
• The Blob! See photo below.  This was wonderful practice for Ben to wait his turn and work on patience. Andrew worked and worked with him.
• Date night for Matt and I.  Dinner and then a canoe ride around the lake, talking with NO interruptions. Priceless!
• Rachel memorized 8 verses to help her team earn more points.
• Hannah met some wonderful friends and loved her Ignite group.
• Joe and Rachel’s theme at Base Camp: Obedience is doing what I’m told, when I’m told to with the right heart attitude.  (worth every penny right there!)
• Matt attended the Men’s prayer breakfast
• Feeling God working in our marriage and family
• When we asked the kids if they felt like God had spoken to them during the week Rachel said “Yes! He said we’re supposed to come back next year!”
• They are all wanting, begging, PLEADING to go back! 

Carpetball was a big hit for all the kids.  Jacob loved it!  One night they held a tournament.  Rachel was the last girl to get beat and lost with only 4 boys ahead of her. 

 

We all had fun on the Blob.  By the end of the week Joe had figured out how big the person behind him had to be for him to get the maximum about of height.  He was awesome.  Ben loved it but preferred to slide off independently.  Yes, even Jacob jumped off the platform onto the blob.  He got so mad once when he accidently slid off and couldn’t get “blobbed” by Joe. 

 

The kids fell in love with Andrew.  All of the staff at Life Action are there voluntarily.  They do not get paid.  They are each individual missionaries who raise their own support to serve God by serving families.  It is such an amazing ministry.  God was glorified in every part of the camp from the kitchen staff, family helpers and worship team.  We were just in awe that these people would give up so much to serve others.

This is just a small glimpse into our week at Family Camp.  There were many memories made but most importantly we came home feeling refreshed and strengthened as a family.  Our hearts refocused back on the One whom we live for. 

Awesome Man

Over the last few months Joe has been obsessed with Calvin and Hobbes.  He now has seven books, six he bought with his own money.  I love to sit outside his room when he’s reading them because he giggles and giggles as he reads them.  One day he came into the kitchen looking like this…

  He calls himself Awesome Man.  In the comic strip Calvin calls himself Stupendous Man.  He took a batman cape that we had and cut the ears off and then came up with an outfit that matches Calvin’s.     I think he is definitely  AWESOME. :-)

Long Time No Post :(

So I had to go to my blog to see how long it’s actually been since I posted something. March.  Really? Could 2.5 months really go by that fast?  Obviously, YES!  So here is a very quick recap.

MARCH

• Girls Basketball Ends. Two weeks later Soccer starts.
• Rachel falls on the playground and gets a concussion.Her soccer season was over before it started. 
• Matt and I went to Detroit for a Redwings Game and overnight without kids! 

APRIL

• Spring Break!  Trip to Tennessee to visit Julie and girls.  Went to Nashville Zoo and enjoyed 80 degree weather in April!
• Boys spent 3 days with Grandma and Grandpa Nicola.  Swam in Papa’s “pool” (hot tub) and went on many nature walks.
• Easter

MAY

• Hannah took the YMCA babysitter course so she is officially ready to start babysitting!
• Band concert, Solo and Ensemble and Music Concert for school.  Rachel performed a solo and did a great job, Hannah was in an ensemble.  They both received 1’s for their performances.
• Matt’s brother, Francis, got married.  Matt was a groomsman.  It was a wonderful weekend with lots of playtime with cousins and of course a TON of food.

The biggest change in May was that Ben went back to school.  We had been  trying to make a decision about what to do for school this fall.  While homeschooling had many advantages there were some areas where we were both struggling.  We decided to enroll him this spring so that he would have placement for the fall.  He is going 1/2 days (reduced schedule) and is doing really well.  He has some stubborn difficult moments but they are able to get him back on task.  The best part is watching him interact with the kids on the playground.  The girls adore him, and follow him everywhere.  Can’t really blame them. For a few minutes out there on the playground he looks like a typical kid playing with everyone else. *sniff sniff* What’s great about this age is that the kids won’t leave him alone.  Especially the girls.  So it forces him out of his own world and into the “real” world. 

So that in a nutshell catches me up to June.  The kids are in their last week of school, the pool is up and I’m busy trying to get things planned for summer. I’m hoping to be a little more consistent with my blog posts over the summer. 

Randomness

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The last month has been pretty blah as far as school goes.  Ben has been very uncooperative and I have honestly been very unmotivated.  We did things but it really was the bare minimum.  So, for the next few weeks we’re working on ocean life.  This is something that interests Ben and I have some pretty cool projects planned.  I’m hoping this pushes us past our funk and we can finish the school year enjoying ourselves.