And to finish out the year:
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| EBC decorations were subdued this year |
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| We finally learned how to transfer words to any surface! Lots of scratching with a pencil but the results were worth it |
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| Composing during quiet time |
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| Henrietta's class getting ready for their Christmas show. Henri ended up with a solo section for one of the songs and despite a nasty cold did a fantastic job. |
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| The kids decorated our tree this year. And undecorated it. And then redecorated it....I've discovered the secret to a stress-free holiday is to not care and just let it all go. It made for a very relaxed and unproductive month. |
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| Decorating bags for his friends gifts. I've had the glitter glue for as long as we've been married and it still works great. |
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| Hud's friends came over to make pizza and decorate cookies. I love these boys, and they get along so well |
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| Ornaments that Hen and I sewed as gifts for her classmates |
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| Cookie table prior to allllll the cookies showing up for our song service. Again, had a "don't care" attitude, and again, easiest and best event we've had so far. |
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| Woohoo! Not only does Steve normally do the evening dishes, now the kids are joining in so I have a solid 30 minutes of peace. It's great. |
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| Started out Solstice at Habitat for a walk and then special snack in one of the classrooms. One of the workers was in the barn so we got to spend some quality time with the goats too. |
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| Burning our intentions with friends. Also attempted to burn a sage smudge BUT a squirrel ate it and left just the string and a few stems. I'd spent 3 hours drying them in the oven that morning and was quite put out. |
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| Had a more formal dinner with some friends, followed by a lantern walk in the woods and then a fire. Came inside for hot grog (cider) and gingerbread. It was a wonderful way to welcome back the light. |
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| Not quite a raging bonfire, but not too shabby for a quiet suburb. |
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| We dined by candlelight. It was a hit (none of those invited had celebrated solstice before) and all requested a repeat next year so I'd say it was a success. |
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| We all spent a day dipping candles. And learned that if we lived in pioneer days we would be without light (adding to my list of starving, being without shelter, and not being clothed...). So. Much. Work. For very pitiful results (this is one of the best and it's only 2" tall). |
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| Christmas morning! I was up at 4:30 but we made it until 6:30 to open stockings. David came over and we had a relaxed and food-filled day with SNOW!!! First white Christmas in a long time. |
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| Then home to VT for my birthday. The big 35. Officially middle aged. Oy. |
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| Steve decorated, Meg and Nate came too, we went on a date to Bobcat and it lived up to the hype, I treated myself to a shopping trip at Yarn and Yoga, it was lovely. |
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| New hat from Great Gram. She has the best taste |
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| The bonfire went off this year! Still burning the next morning when we got up so it was a good one. Neighbors to the south had one as well plus fireworks, I saw a shooting star, there were no serious injuries. |
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| We made it till midnight as well |
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| Discussing fire strategy |
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| Headed home the passes were ice covered and gorgeous |
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| Went to see Clemson take on BC. Had the place pretty much to ourselves since the college was still on vacation |
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| Our blizzard closed school for Thur and Fri and the kids have been loving the snow. Unfortunately the temps mean they can only be out for a short time, and even with that Hudson got frostnip on his cheeks. |
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| This is a knight, the strip on top is supposed to be the horsehair plume on his helmet |
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| A horse for the knight |
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A shameless "my kids are so cultured" humble brag, but seriously this has become a favorite of both kids. I don't know why. Maybe the rhyming? Maybe because anything by Tolkien is destined to be loved? Whatever, I'd recommend it. Short 30 minute poem with all kinds of lessons to discuss (vocabulary not the least). We've checked it out twice now and renewed the allotted 3x, so that means we'll be buying it for the home library.
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And that was 2017. Nothing huge looming, that we're aware of, for 2018 but we pray for a peaceful and productive year. Thanks for following us and let me know what you and your families have been up to!
