Week 15, plus 2 weeks of vacation!

 DS5's remote control Christmas present dinosaur eating a chibi bunny!

Week 15: finished what we were going to finish schoolwise, celebrated DD13 becoming DD14, shopped for last minute necessities for girls' trip to Europe, experience our first snow in 10 years (2"), had a little family Christmas on Friday evening, enjoyed the company of my parents for a few hours on Saturday before they took off with DD16 & DD14 for two weeks in Switzerland, Germany and Italy!

My boys gingerbread houses -- long since dismantled and eaten!

Week 16 & 17: Vacation!  Had two families over to make gingerbread houses (SUGERFEST!), wrapped and packed Christmas presents, drove to NJ (listened to The Great Brain), celebrated a delightful Christmas with dh's side of the family, drove home Christmas night to avoid snowstorm (16"), relaxed, played lots of Munchkin, cleaned, got out the knitting needles and started on a dishrag, Skyped with the European vacationers, ate Chinese take out, bought a coat stand, played baseball, avoided all school-related things I should have done...

Thus ends 2010.  It was a good year.  A very good year.  At the beginning of the year we lived in Arizona and had a brand new baby.  Now we live in Virginia and have six wonderful, wonderful children...and a whole new year to look forward to enjoying together!

Week 14

Starting to wrap things up for the season!  Normally we're further along in the year...but since we didn't start until September, we're right on track.

DD16 & DD13 painted these amazing goblets at a local pottery place.  This was an early birthday present for DD13, who is almost DD14.  Both of them are working on Mini Unit Study 5 in LLfLotR -- the Epic. Excellent background info for when we study the Ancients next year!

We hosted DS10's D&D group here on Monday -- good fun!  I enjoy "having company" while my darling husband does not.  Since he was out of town on Monday, it was win-win!

DS8 & DS5 both got "I was fearless at the dentist's office" certificates this week.  Since we moved, this is a new dentist, not a pediatric dentist, and I'm just never sure how they're going to do...  But they did great!  I bought a Water Pik (primarily for DD16 in braces) and they've been having fun with that.  The bathroom has been drier though!

DD12mo has discovered books.  She likes to read.  She likes to be read to.  Ah, another milestone.

I received a package from CJ's Sewing Room -- some "butter" that I hope will be the answer to the current eczema and diaper rash problems we've been having!  I read about CJ's here and ordered the same day (very unlike me!).

This coming week I will be trying to get Christmas presents ready.  Trying to get my girls ready for their European vacation with my parents.  Trying to plan for the 2nd half of the school year planned.

Week 13

We have 3 NaNoWriMo winners in the house!  DD16, DD13 & DS10 all finished on 11/29!

DD16 drew DS10's characters for him:

She also drew an amazing number of other races to populate his world.

Here are some quick sketches of 2 of her own characters.

DD11mo became DD12mo!  Her simple "Hobbit" Cake (an idea I got from Slowly -- Slowly Climb Mt Fuji) turned out just right!

DD16 & DD13 are preparing for their upcoming Switzerland-Germany-Italy trip with my parents!

DD16 German Family page

DD13 German Color page

DS10 actually picked up a non-fiction book to read, on his own!  And he came to me, repeatedly, telling me interesting tidbits.  He is an excellent reader (taught himself at the age of 4) but doesn't spend nearly as much time reading as his siblings!  So, hats off to author Steve Sheinkin of Which Way to the Wild West?

DS8 is doing so well with Singapore's Challenging Word Problems 2.  And with Writing with Ease 1.  But I want more for him -- richness, depth, meaning, inspiration.  I'm contemplating changes for January.  Even as I contemplate Christmas presents.  And travel plans.  And dentist visits.  It never ends.

DS5's reading: progress, progress!  We're continuing to move along in OPGTR (ank/ink/onk/unk today). He is making connections and recognizing words and bits of words and other such things that make a mom smile!  I want to add to his school day in January also...

Only 3 weeks until Christmas.  Only 4 weeks until 2010!  I'm not ready.  Are you?