Christmas 2010

What can I say about Christmas break this year? Spent too much, ate too much, lounged too much, didn't clean too much. Sound familiar? The kids resume school on Tuesday and I am hoping that list will reverse itself quickly.

In an attempt to make things easier on everyone, I gave the kids each a piece of paper with the headings, "Something I want", Something I need", Something to wear", and "Something to read", which acted as their Christmas list. Each heading was fulfilled and all were pleased.

However, I hope the true meaning of Christmas was instilled in their hearts. I explained to them over and over the meanings of the season and hope they listened. They must feel and know it themselves. I hope they did!

Dylan in Kindergarten?

"Whose child is this?" I asked one day
Seeing a little one out at play
"Mine", said the parent with a tender smile
"Mine to keep a little while
To bathe his hands and comb his hair
To tell him what he is to wear
To prepare him that he may always be good
And each day do the things he should"

"Whose child is this?" I asked again
As the door opened and someone came in
"Mine", said the teacher with the same tender smile
"Mine, to keep just for a little while
To teach him how to be gentle and kind
To train and direct his dear little mind
To help him live by every rule
And get the best he can from school"

"Whose child is this?" I ask once more
Just as the little one entered the door
"Ours" said the parent and the teacher as they smiled
And each took the hand of the little child
"Ours to love and train together
Ours this blessed task forever."

First Day of School

We have moved on from our inactive status and are now back in the blogging world. No sense in trying to play catch up at this point (maybe later), so we'll just start from the most current event.

Jonathan and Emily began school today! Jonathan is now in middle school and Emily is in 4th grade. Dylan will begin kindergarten towards the end of the month (stay tuned). I can already feel a sense of relief knowing that they are in a good learning environment, making new friends, and not complaining of boredom as they did most of the summer. Here are a few pics from this morning.