Christmas Lapbooks

After shopping today, we worked on lapbooks. Here are some photos.

Anything with scissors will captivate Stacia

Plans for the lapbook the younger two children made can be found here. It was easily done in one sitting. Well.....we HELPED Stacia a lot....and helped Zander with cutting. He'll finish some coloring "later".

Zander's book

Stacia's book - same insides not sure where the photo went. LOL

We began this lapbook 2 years ago....I couldn't figure out the accordian type folder where we were supposed to attach all the mini-books. This year we've seen Lois' kids lapbooks and saw how easy it is to make extensions. Both had little booklets....so we made one lapbook with extensions to showcase their individual work. We were glad to have it done. We decided not to do the other lapbook that I'd printed for them. Putting this together and reviewing the info in the booklets is enough.

Cover

Sides - joint work; middle is Arielle's extension

Top red is Nolan's work, bottom is the back side of Arielle's extension

Back side of Nolan's extension

All opened up

Stacia loved the star punch best - notice the bangs - she cut them again.

It's a good dad who will work a full day, come home with a sore throat, take a son to work, pick up dinner on the way home, and still take time to enjoy a youngster's accomplishments. I love this man.



You can see more of our lapbooks at Our Lapbooks Page.
©2008 D.R.G.

Prayer Update

Bre called. The youth service tonight was cancelled. They are leaving and trying to get as far as Portland, OR tonight. There is lots of snow in Spokane already. They are trying to beat the storm....they'll drive the rest of the way from Portland to Spokane tomorrow.

Keep praying. Thanks.....and then pray Bre and David can get OUT of WA on their flight Friday a.m.

©2008 D.R.G.

Please Pray for BreAnne

BreAnne is in OR with a Master's Commission trip. They have to drive back to WA on Thursday. There have been freak ice/snow storms. Bre is the relief driver. All the students and Bre have flights out Friday morning so they really want to make it back to WA on Thursday. This is reminding me of the Greyhound experience of a couple of Christmas' ago....y'all remember they would NOT have made it on the plane? This year all are flying home.....would you pray for safe travels?

Also - in other news - Bre submitted her application to Eugene Bible College yesterday. She'll be able to enter as a Junior with her credits earned while at Master's Commission.

That's all my news on Bre. Well, Zander told MIKE last night that I was "plain wrong" and that we'll all see when Bre gets here with a man. ::snort::

©2008 D.R.G.

Jared Goes Shopping

Nativity does the Conga line


Today was Jared's day of shopping. One of the things we love about a small town is running into Josiah when we are out and about. ::snort:: I saw him at the end of the aisle and told Jared I felt like I was in one of "those" movie scenes. I threw my arms wide and started towards Josiah. He laughed. JARED then threw his arms wide and actually started RUNNING towards Josiah. Josiah turned down and aisle and Jared followed. This is right after Josiah punched Jared. Guess running beach scenes are NOT cool, Jared. ::snort::


Jared and his gifts

Yes, I did do other things today. I cleaned a closet! Deja told me that the closet could have waited until after Christmas....she doesn't KNOW that I can't relax when the closets are a mess. I don't mind if there is clutter and chaos but the closet needs to be organized. The funny thing is that as soon as I finished, I was fixing lunch for the younger ones and opened the PANTRY DOOR.....Jared put away co-op last night for me...all stacked on the floor in a big tower of boxes. I resisted.

I had a great lunch with Jared. We talked about his goals. He's really interested in politics and would like to make a career in politics. He loves it here and plans to come back some day. We also talked about the upcoming move......but I held myself together admirably (a strategic coughing fit helped). I'm glad that Jared is such good friends with Josiah and Jamin.

I really don't remember what else I did because I went from one thing to the other all day. ::snort:: The second batch of Christmas cards came so I addressed another batch to mail out. LOL

©2008 D.R.G.

Grandma Moments

We believe Stacia has the spiritual gift of encouragement (along with a strong independent streak LOL). Some recently heard comments:

"Dad, I'm so proud of you."

"I'm proud of you, Jared."

"Arielle, you are such a tood (good) girl."

"Mommy, you are a TOOD Mommy."

She also has classified the boys as "big brothers" (Josiah, Jamin & Jared) and "little brothers" (Nolan & Zander). The "little brothers" don't take kindly to this and are trying to explain that they are ALL her big brothers.

Zander is CONVINCED that BreAnne is married. I have told him he's got it wrong. He has told me to wait and see at Christmas - that I'm going to be surprised when there is a man with Bre. ::snort:: I have a few days to continue to explain these things to him.

Zander also informed me this a.m. "Mom, your family is getting smaller! All your kids are leaving you. You'd better get some more, quick."

He's become fixated with Josiah leaving and living in an apartment. Every once in a while he'll say, "I think it's about time for me to get my own apartment."

©2008 D.R.G.

Blogging Monday

Zander is up at the crack of dawn making zoob birds.


De'Etta is up at the crack of dawn baking bread before shopping there is something for lunch.


Arielle made goodies for our staff gift.


Notice the feet....Stacia waited patiently for someone to notice the big gift bag.


Ah - Football Nativity


Staff gifts are ready - Arielle made the chocolate roses and spoons.


United Co-op! God blessed. The truck arrived at 2:15 and folks were able to pick up early. All was done before we went to the party. Here are some of my groceries for the month - more "convenience" than I like - but I plan to have fun with babies at home.


I didn't get any good shots last night - I didn't feel well and was off my mark....but here are two....with Chaplains like these the USAF is in good hands. ::snort::





De'Etta ended the day packaging the loaves of bread that remained.....

©2008 D.R.G.

Shopping on Steroids (Zander's Day Out)

It's been our tradition since a memorable December when a store manager didn't understand 6 kids in a store with presents under their coats....for me to take each child out for a special shopping day. Less traumatic for the store manager, the children and ME. They buy ALL their presents on that day and then pick a spot for lunch. Mike took Nolan out on Saturday. Arielle and I went out Sunday afternoon. I owe her a food treat of her choice sometime, somewhere.

The highlight of Monday was my shopping day with Zander. I didn't think I needed to take him out for much. I'd put his name along with Stacia's on quite a few gifts. I hadn't reckoned with his love language. My bad. Months ago I was concerned that Zander seemed to try to sneak things in stores. One day, in tears, he explained that every time he asked if he could buy Dad or Mom something I said no. Mike and I talked and realized that his love language is giving and that we were not making way for it.....he gives us lots of little things all the time (pictures, Lego masterpieces, old toys) but we've both been sure to stop and buy flowers for Mom when he suggests it and he's quit trying to sneak things from stores. I should have put the two together. OF COURSE he would want to pick out HIS OWN gift for each person.

It was a joy to watch him. He knew EXACTLY what each person needed - from a glittery purse for Stacia to (well now, I can't share because all his other recipients read the blog) - but he picked out some great gifts.

Here's the kicker...we entered Wal-mart at 10:15....we were in the check out line at 10:45. ::snort:: Shopping on Steroids.

There were so many zingers from Zander today but here's my favorite....as he tore around Wal-mart, "Good grief! There are so many toys in this store I can't figure out what I want for Christmas." I assured him not to worry about that - that would be the worry of others.

He picked McDonald's for lunch as we "never" eat there. He's right. I evaluated all the salads around town last year, so I won't do that now. I DID pick up 11 free tickets to a showing of It's a Wonderful Life at the City Auditorium....

Wrapping at home....


I don't know WHY but it took him a good 10 minutes to try to stack these in a way that he could carry them all at once. It had to be "just right" - just one of the things that make Zander - Zander....obsessing over small facts.


Job well done, Son!