This was the first thing I accomplished this week.

I saw something like it here.  I wish I could say this was an inexpensive project - but it was about $70 not including the cool lobster mat we got when we were out in Maine.  It is made with reclaimed fishing rope used by lobstermen.  Very neat story about that and you can order one here.   We really like it, but it doesn't fit under our door so I was having a hard time finding a place for it.  So glad I finally found one!  Also glad to have a place for all of the paper that comes home from school.  I've never had good luck with refrigerator magnets.  Things always get moved and lost.  Gavin and Gracie put their backpacks on the hooks all week - never had to ask them once.  Now THAT is organization that works.  Let's hope it keeps working.
This same blogger also inspired me to consider packing lunches.  Packing lunch is up there on the top of my 'things I hate to do' list.  I think I would rather do any other household chore.  So now I'm considering it... we'll see.

We got our first real Christmas tree!  Charish and Gavin got the lights on - but that's all so far.

We celebrated Dave's 39th Birthday.

I picked up his gift the day before his birthday.  I didn't want the kids to spill the beans, so I couldn't wrap it while they were still awake, and I didn't want Dave to catch me so I couldn't wrap it after they went to bed.  So I decided to get up early to wrap it.  When I got up at 6am I heard noise upstairs.  Gavin and Eli were already awake!  So they helped me wrap and began to decorate the paper.  I got Charish and Gracie up and they helped too.  What fun they had!

After all of this wrapping and decorating Eli couldn't resist the temptation to tell his dad what was inside the box.  "It's snowshoes."  He said, right before Dave started to rip the paper :)
Absolutely priceless.

Back to school again with Gavin and Gracie this time.  I spent the whole day there going back and forth between their rooms.

 Working out the wiggles after a math lesson was lots of fun!

I ate school lunch today... did I mention that I'm considering packing lunches?  Yeah, I thought so.  These trays are pretty clean - so today's lunch wasn't so bad.

Kindergartners and 1st graders have been working together learning about how Christmas is celebrated around the world.  Today: Germany.

 Preschoolers made 'gingerbread houses'.  Very tasty.

These girls are waiting patiently to go outside for recess.  I just missed a shot of them all holding hands.  They are such a sweet, quiet class!  I can't wait to go back next week!

By the time I made it home I was exhausted.  I was looking forward to this all week.  What a day.
What a week!

Tomorrow is a dentist appointment, followed by a Bible study...  then somehow finish decorating that tree... oh, and bake and decorate two birthday cakes, and prepare for Gavin and Gracie's birthday party on Saturday...

Seems life will never slow down.  I'd better get used to this crazy pace and learn quickly what is important and what is not.    Looking at all of these faces, I'm pretty confident that I got it right this week.
My hope is that I can say that again next week.

There are a lot of choices to make when it comes our childrens' education.  Public school, private school, charter school, home school.  We started in public school with our oldest two, but it didn't work out for us.  I home schooled and tried private schooled after that - didn't fit either.  Then a series of events led us to a different public school in the little town of La Farge.  That is where everything fit for us.  I am thankful that open-enrollment is an option here.  We make the trip in to school each morning, and meet a bus at the edge of the district in the afternoon.  Yeah, it's a hassle - but it is worth it.

Can everyone say they LOVE their kids' school?  I really, really do.

At our small school they call Pre-K through 1st grade "The Promise Center".  They do lots of things together.  Yesterday I got to be Gavin's mom and help make Christmas ornaments for trees in the community.   

This is Gavin's teacher, Ms. G.  I love her!  So do all the kids.  She is amazing.  She has a blog about what happens in her classroom and another one about all of the cool things she does at her homestead.

In her room they made these cute sheep ornaments.

This handsome kindergartner latched onto me right away.  What a sweetie!

Why did I miss the most important 'finished product' shot?!  Lets just say it was a busy room :)

Next we went to the Pre-K room for a snack and some hot chocolate.

This is the other important Promise Center teacher in our lives this year.  She is Gracie's teacher, Ms. Kundert.  We got to know each other this summer while we were running partners.  I'm sorry this isn't a better picture.  So many kids... so much hot chocolate to spill ;)

Then we went to the kindergarten room and made these cute ornaments.  I have no pictures of the fabulous Mrs. Horton.  She had three choices for us - I think Gavin was sold on the glitter element of this one.  Who doesn't love glitter?

Time to clean up!!

This is the first of many days to come of volunteering in the Promise Center.  If you haven't been in your kid's classroom lately, please go soon!  It is so fun to meet all of their classmates, and their teachers will appreciate your help.