Thank you letters are my kids' least favorite part of birthdays, but they have a good attitude about them this year. Daniel and Anna sat down this evening and wrote quite a few. This is Anna's letter to her grandparents...
Monday, January 31, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Day 30: Tag in the parking lot
Not the greatest place for a game of tag, I know, but the cars were all stationary - our church had its annual meeting today after the service and I was on kid-watching duty. I love watching the kids play together.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Day 29: Sledding party
To celebrate Daniel's birthday, we invited some wonderful friends to join us for a day of sledding on Mount Hood. David and I took hundreds of photos between us but this one captures the seriousness with which (and the speed at which) the birthday boy liked to throw himself down the hill.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Day 28: Happy Birthday Daniel!
Our wonderful second son is nine years old today! He had a great day at school, then we dragged him off to Costco to buy supplies for his birthday party tomorrow and finally took him out to dinner at his favorite restaurant. But his day wasn't truly complete until he got home and was able to build the lego dragon he got for his birthday. Now I'm off to decorate his cake!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Day 26: Making scones
A favorite childhood memory of mine is of my mother whipping up a batch of scones late on a Sunday afternoon for our Sunday tea. The children's school had a multicultural night this evening and families were invited to bring a dish from their culture to share, so Noah and I made scones. Anna's class was asked what languages they spoke at home - Anna's classmates speak Spanish, Vietnamese, Hmong and Russian - and Anna informed the teacher (and insisted it be part of the poster they were making) that she speaks British at home...
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Day 25: Something to make me smile at the end of a long day
Could there be a greater thrill for a teacher than having students who really grasp what you are trying to teach them? And for a literature teacher, what greater reward than having your students LOVE the book they are studying? Of course, it IS one of the best novels ever written (in my humble opinion)...
Monday, January 24, 2011
Day 24: Generous friends
When Anna had her birthday tea party last week, she followed our family birthday party tradition and asked her friends to bring gifts she could donate to a local homeless shelter for families, instead of gifts for her. Usually our kids ask their friends to bring books that they can give to homeless kids; this time Anna asked her friends to bring dolls. As usual, we were overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends - what an amazing collection of dolls! When Anna delivered the dolls to the shelter this afternoon, the lady told her that she was going to make a lot of little girls very happy. "That makes me very happy," Anna said.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Day 23: Ticket to Ride
Playing board games on a Sunday afternoon is a favorite activity in our household. This picture is taken half way through a game between Johnny, Anna and me, which I am delighted (and surprised!) to say that I won. I rarely beat Johnny at any board game, and hardly ever at "Ticket to Ride", so this victory was very sweet.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Day 22: Breakfast with friends
This is my favorite breakfast in the world: avocado benedict and hash browns with peppers and onions. I order it once a month when I meet up with some of my best friends at a local restaurant. Even better than the food is the opportunity to chat with these wonderful ladies and pray together for our children. What a great way to start a Saturday!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Day 21: Ice Cream Sundaes
These two have been friends since birth and one of life's great pleasures is to eavesdrop on their adorable conversations. Anna's birthday dolls' tea party seemed more suited to girls only, so we planned this special treat for the two of them as a late birthday celebration. I took them to Fairleys, a local old-fashioned pharmacy and soda fountain, which is soon to celebrate its centenary and serves wonderful sundaes (as well as all kinds of other treats). They sat on the old swivel stools, ate their ice cream at the worn counter and planned a bike ride along the river for when the rain finally stops.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Day 20: Laundry
I actually love folding laundry. Good thing, because there are six of us, including three boys under eleven, and a lot of laundry is created every week. I really enjoy the excuse to listen to my favorite BBC radio programs online while I fold - iplayer is wonderful and helps me feel connected to the UK.
Day 19: Fire-breathing dragon
Daniel drew this dragon today. Until a short while ago, all he drew were dragons. Now he is branching out with pictures of helicopters and tanks as well. Not only can he draw, but he is patiently teaching Anna to draw dragons too!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Day 18: Water Baby
Noah, like his father, cannot see a body of water without wanting to jump in. His swimming lessons are a highlight of his week.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Day 17: Day at the beach
I had the great privilege of going on a retreat with our church's high school youth group this weekend. I love these kids very much - and I also love the ocean. A wet and windy walk on the beach this morning was invigorating and refreshing.
Day 16: True Story from the Bible
One of my favorite moments on Sunday is when David reads a Bible story to the kids at church.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Day 15: Happy Birthday Anna!
For the first time this year, it was REALLY hard to choose a picture for today. Anna hosted an English afternoon tea for her delightful friends to celebrate her sixth birthday today. I have great pictures of the girls and their dolls all dressed up; I have arty pictures of teapots and yummy pictures of the treats the boys and I prepared. But I love this photo because I love Anna's unrestrained, unaffected enthusiasm for life. She was thrilled with this gift and she showed it. I love this girl.
Day 14: Preparing for a birthday
The big day is tomorrow, but today has been all about getting ready to celebrate Anna's sixth birthday. All the last-minute shopping has been done. As midnight approached, I was still baking in the kitchen and David was wrapping gifts. We are as excited as the birthday girl!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Day 13: Cookie Doodles
Dinner was ready, but there was no response from Daniel and Anna when I called. I went looking for them and found them still in the car, where they had been since we returned home from their swimming lesson, playing Cookie Doodles on my ipod touch.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Day 12: Snow Day!
Because who needs snow, when school closes for ice?
(Except that we love snow - ice is not very much fun...)
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Day 11: Guitar practice
Well, I was hopeful that today would be the day I could take a picture of snow, but it looks as though, once again, the predicted snowstorm has not materialized. Insufficient snow is Portland's only shortcoming in my opinion. Anyway, here is Johnny practicing his guitar. He is learning to play "Let it be" and is doing a wonderful job!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Day 9: Knitting
I love to knit! This is going to be a pirate sweater for Noah. I had planned to have it done for Christmas but it is still a work in progress. Hope it is done before he grows too big for it!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Day 7: Friday night is pizza night!
Homemade pizza is always such a treat - especially when the boys make it!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Day 5: Is that a helicopter in my living room?
I'd be embarrassed to confess how many photos I've taken, trying to get a good picture of Daniel's remote control helicopter. This one will have to do.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Day 4: Starry Night
I love Christmas lights and am always sad when it is time to take them down. That time is coming!
Monday, January 3, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Day 2: Piano Man
No matter what else is going on in our house (and there is usually a lot going on), Daniel is irresistibly drawn to the piano.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Day 1: Here we go...
I thought long and hard about what should be my first picture. It seemed a momentous decision, one that might set the tone for the year. I wanted it to be something important to me - so, of course, I concluded it had to be a picture of my children... but, they all have runny noses and are not looking their best. So here instead is a selection of some of the books I want to read this year, not necessarily in this order. I have just finished "The Lost Hero" by Rick Riordan, I am rereading with delight "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, which I get to teach to eighth graders this month, I am several chapters into "Knowing God" by J. I. Packer and I am using a "Read the Bible In One Year" scheme with my NIV. So many books, so little time...
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