The Season Begins....

Well, the children loved An Old-Fashioned Christmas by Louisa May Alcott. The movie didn't make it in time for the weekend holiday so maybe they will be able to watch it next weekend.

Tonight we started One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham. We read this story two years ago and they loved it. We will read it slow - just one chapter a night - and linger over it through December. Tonight we started by reading Luke 2 - the intro of the book. If you haven't read this story to your children - it is a beautiful read. It briefly tells the history of the Bible and shows our need for a Savior and God's gift of Jesus. The pictures are fabulous, especially the angel at the gate of Eden and the lion. I'm hoping Bobbie will draw the lion when we get to it. I'll try and post it if he does.

I have begun reading a new book called Frugal Luxuries. It has me thinking all about gardening right here at the end of November!!! The book flap says it's a combination of Simple Abundance and The Tightwad Gazette. Sounds good....




I am also trying to finish up The Missing by Beverly Lewis from the new series - Seasons of Grace. Last Christmas I got a couple of Grace Livingston Hill Christmas books and only had time to read one of them. I saved them and packed them away in my Christmas boxes, so I have a new GLH Christmas book sitting in there just waiting for me.... I SO LOVE BOOKS!!!!! :-)





Yeah!!! All the Christmas decorations came in this weekend after a long night of Black Friday shopping!! Hopefully tomorrow we can get started!!! I love Christmas!!!!

Thanksgiving Week at the Quinn Home

It's always a fun time here when the holidays role around. I am working on taking it slowly this year and doing what we can do (while not stressing over the rest).


The children only have 2 days of school and Artie has 3 days of work. It's always better when everyone is here. I am not that mama who hates to see her kids on school holidays. I miss them when they are not here!!!


We will be celebrating Thanksgiving twice this year as usual - once with the Clary family and then again with the Quinn family. I'm still working on my menus to bring and share...



During Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas and Easter are the times I miss homeschooling the most. I am trying to figure out the best way to keep teaching the children even thought they are in school a lot of the time. We had such a fun Advent study two years ago when the girls were homeschooled. I am hoping to add in what we can this year. We will be reading an Advent book the children got at church last Sunday. BTW, I love our church. After having a couple years without a church, I sure am thankful. Ours is a giving church, always into something. Last week we participated in the Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes. This weeks begins the first week in Advent. The churches I grew up in didn't study or prepare the way through Advent, it is something I learned about over the Internet. I am glad my church teaches these teaching preparing the way. I can't wait to get to church Sunday and sing of His coming!!!


We are currently reading An Old Fashion Thanksgiving by Louisa May Alcott. I'm hoping the movie will get shipped by Blockbuster in time to watch Wednesday or Thursday night. I have never seen this movie, but hope it will be good. They are enjoying the book so far.



I'm also trying to get ready for Black Friday!!! :-) This has got to rank up there as one of my favorite days of the year!!! My mama would have loved this day too!!!! I am trying to get all the sale papers so I can make my plan. I know they are all listed online, but I am a touchy feely ad shopper. I have to hold them in my hand and circle things I like and then work from there. Always part of our Thanksgiving day ritual is to find a gas station open who still has a newspapers so I can get all the ads!!! I wish there was a week between Thanksgiving and Black Friday (and a paycheck!!).

Yeah!! Daria's here!!! Here are some pictures from Daria's visit a couple of months ago. (I'm still so slow on blogging!!!)

Daria, Chad and the children all came for a day visit while they were in the states. When they were here we didn't know yet that they were going to be able to stay in SC for a year!!! BTW chickie, I'm ready to play again soon!!



















Mrs. Photogenic!!!

Daria became my best friend when we were in college. Even though I was totally scared of her when I first met her - she has been nothing but a blessing in my life. Daria's one of those people who always thinks the best about you and loves with her whole heart.



















Here are Daria and Chad's children. This is Daniel. We share a birthday. All the children would amaze you with their language abilities - all speaking 3 different languages before they came home to the states!!!



















This is David. He's such a sweetie!!












Watch out world!! This one is just like her mama!! Hopie is a doll. Her and Terry are only a couple of days apart in age. Terry's very first trip was to see Hopie in the hospital when she was born.



















Here's Chad. Stephen loved playing cards with him and Artie. Chad taught them a new card game with hats???



















For lunch we fixed a big salad and some watermelon.



















The kids had fun playing in the water and we took a walk around the neighborhood.






















For dinner, we grilled some pork chops and also had some pasta salad, corn on the cob, tomatoes, peach cobbler and chocolate cake.



















Daria showing the right way to have your picture taken while you're trying to eat!!



















I was so glad that Brian and Lauren were able to come for Daria's visit. They came early and spent all day. I think we wore Lauren out!! We're a lot to handle for the whole day. I told her she needed a code word to tell Brian - "get me outta here" - but she was a trooper and stuck it out for the whole day. (Lauren - you need to give me your e-mail address. I wanted to write you back last time you commented.)

It was a beautiful day full of laughter and love.