February days

This week was a fun week according to these little people.  We had a Valentine's party at our Homeschool Co-operative, homemade pink playdough, tulips from sweet friends and roses from Papa, a fancy lunch together where we practiced our manners and some crafting projects to brighten our rooms.  It seems that February is always a search for color and this week it was pink and red!!  

The winter of being ill

It has been the oddest winter I can remember. We've had freezing temperatures and 1 degree mornings. Today was a balmy 57. We also seem to have been sick from October onwards.  Cabin fever is an understatement and we've taken to bathing suits in the bath and picnics on the floor just so we can stop crawling the walls.  Trips to the local greenhouse help us remember green plants and breathe "fresh" air. Suffice to say, with inside time we've learned a lot. We've learned about deciduous trees, mushroom varieties, planned our Summer 2019 gardens, worked on letters in rice boxes, had a piano recital and continued to grow together in the Lord.  We're also so thankful to share the news that coming July 2019 Baby Dieffenbach is scheduled to arrive.  Thus Mama has also been quite sick. As we enter the month of February we're continuing to take our Elderberry Syrup and sit in pockets of sunshine. Here's hoping for an early spring and fresh air all around! 

Remembering our Ginger Cat: Claude

This last week we had to say goodbye to our beloved Maine Coon cat, Claude- faithful friend for the last eleven years. This little milk nosed kitty was more like a dog than a cat and had lived probably 100 cat lives. We mourn his passing but will always be thankful for his place in our lives- our faithful greeter, gentle friend, and "special" kitty, how we miss you. He was our fox cat, our ginger boy and Claude named after the music theorist Claude Palisca when we were both studying for masters and Phds. We will always love you. 

 As January comes in all of it's dismal greyness we seek color wherever we can find it and in our hibernation plan summer gardens, learn our sums and recite our poems, drink tea and cuddle up.  Since we've been sick since basically October we're learning to be creative in home play, even when climbing up the walls.

 Ballet and Co-op started up again and Papa is building us a new kitchen table- dates to the wood store are very exciting! 

Christmas

Here we are on the tail end of the year, about to have a new chapter and Christmas has come and gone. We were blessed to have lots of guests and time with friends and family. How thankful we are that our Savior came as a wee babe all those many years ago.  Christmas this year was extra special because the girls really are understanding the Nativity story.  They sang in the choir and were part of the church Pageant.