A Different Approach

Next week our life will be getting a little bit busier as we start up with our homeschooling co-op again.  It will be a big change for me as I'm going to be teaching a dance class for the co-op.  The girls are all between the ages of 7 and 11.   I am super excited. 

This is going to be a unique class.  The director of the co-op gave me an update to the class list last week, and there are two sisters who have no arms.  Yes, that's right.  In my wildest dreams, I wouldn't have imagined this.  I think it will be a good challenge for me, to be more creative with the choreography.  And I think it will be good for the other girls in the class.  Prayers for our group are appreciated!

Decorating with Christmas Gifts

Thought I'd share a picture of a quilt that was given to us this Christmas.  At first I really wasn't sure about it, but I think when it's filled with pictures it will be fun.  Finally . . . our walls are getting covered!  ;)

Does It Come with a Yarmulke?

My parents went out this week and bought themselves a Jewish refrigerator.

It all started on Christmas day. 

We have an absurd and frightening tradition of burning the sweet potatoes for major holidays.  Not every year, no.  That would be too predictable.  Yet on a fairly regular basis, the potatoes come out blazing.

This Christmas was like every other.  The kids were happily curled up with a movie while final dinner preparations were being made.  Some of us were visiting in the living room, when suddenly the loudest noise I've ever heard came out of my mom's kitchen. 

I'll be honest.  It scared the crap out of me.

We raced out there to find my dad staring at the oven with an incredulous look on his face. 

"What happened?!" we asked.

"An electric current just shot out of the oven," my brother answered, as he casually sat at the counter.

And it had.  Electricity had shot out, hit the door of the oven, and returned to it's fiery lair. 

My dad still hadn't spoken.  I examined his face carefully.  He appeared to still have both eyebrows and all of the remaining hair.  My heart slowed.

Apparently the oven had shorted while it was doing what, you may ask?  Broiling the topping on the SWEET POTATOES.  Of course.

After the circuit was shut down, someone reached in and gingerly removed the pan.  The marshmallow-y topping quivered, unscorched.

It was a Christmas miracle.

The rest of the day was fairly non-explosive, which was good.  Fast-forward to Wednesday, when my popped by while she was in town.

"Did I tell you Dad and I found a new oven?"

"Mmm, that's nice."

"And while we were there we decided to buy a new fridge too."

"Hmm."

"It's all stainless steel, and we're thinking it's not going to match the microwave so we may have to replace that."

"Right.  Makes sense."

"Did I mention that my fridge is Jewish?"

"Your WHAT is WHAT?"

Now she had my attention.  My mom can be goofy, but she had hit a new height of bizarreness.

"My refrigerator is Jewish.  It has settings for the Sabbath."

And she wasn't kidding.  It turns out that they can flip a "Sabbath" switch anytime they decide to.  It will turn off certain parts of the fridge in observance of Jewish law.  I mulled this over for a minute, before speaking.

"I'm guessing it's not circumcised?"

"KIMBERLY!"

"Sorry, I couldn't resist."

Indoor Date Night

My parents gave Ethan this Ogosport game for Christmas.  At first I wondered if we'd play it, but then we picked it up and started playing the night of Christmas.  It was SO MUCH fun!  Granted, we were tripping all over toys and the puppy was chasing the ball when it dropped, but it was great. 

Fast-forward to tonight.  We arranged earlier today for a friend to come over for a little bit tonight so we could go run an errand and have a mini-date.  She ended up not being able to come out, so we set the kids up with a movie and started playing again.  (This time with a clear floor!)  I haven't laughed so hard in a while.  I can't say that either of us is particularly skilled with this game, but it didn't matter. 

Hope you feel inspired to try something new for your next date night!

My Smile of the Day

We made rice crispy treats last week.  These two goofies got it in their heads that the only suitable place to eat the snacks was inside the dog's kennel.  Not sure why, but they had a blast doing it! 

Christmas Gifts!

In the above pictures I am modeling this season's garage wear, a 15-year-old ski coat my hubby so graciously let me borrow to stay warm while making Christmas presents.

We basically gave the same gift to everyone in our family this year.  Ethan and I made these adorable welcome signs to put in front of the house.  And because we're brilliant, we started making them one week before Christmas.  Yep, that's right.  I learned to use a power sander and sanded at least 50 pieces of wood.  I also used a radial arm saw . . . whoo-hoo!  But I only used it once (under careful supervision), because as a person who has flooded the bathroom by leaving water running (twice), I can be a little distracted.  Power tools and distracted girls do not a happy pair make. 

What's the verdict? 

The 12 Days of Christmas

Our family just took up a new tradition that is absolutely fantastic.  We are doing the 12 Days of  Christmas with two other families.  How does it work?  Well, we chose a family to bless that has been through a really tough time the past several months.   Every evening this family gets a surprise gift.  The first day they got 1 tin of caramel popcorn, the second day they got 2 bottles of cidar, the third day (today) they got 3 Christmas ornaments.  It's so much fun.  Our kids love the sneakiness of it all; creeping up to the door, knocking on it, and dashing away.  They may end up catching one of us before this is over, but it's still a blast.  Gotta love new traditions!