The rest of Christmas was wonderful - kids waking up to open their stockings, opening presents and etc. This was the first Christmas that I had been home since 1999, and I was soaking it up. We did our traditional nativity play on Christmas Eve, and Mandy organized it well so that every kid seemed to have a part. We also sang Christmas carols, and as the kids went to bed, my dad played Christmas carols on his violin in the hallway so our kids could have that great experience of anticipating Christmas morning while drifting off to sleep with the best Christmas music in the background.
Since this was the first Christmas I had at home for a very long time, my mom spoiled me a bit! She gave me a book which I have come to absolutely love - it's called 'How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare'. It goes through how to teach children 25 different passages from Shakespeare, while at the same time giving background on the plays, explaining how Shakespeare is developing his characters in the passages, etc. We have started memorizing the first passage he suggests, from A Midsummer Night's Dream, and the kids love it! We have been trying to memorize a little bit every night, and I am so inspired by the whole project. I love Shakespeare anyway, but this book has given me a reason - and a way - to introduce it to my kids in a really effective way.
My mom also gave me some exercise tops, a gift card to Macy's, and a griddle for our new home! And Tim really surprised me this year - he gave me a new KitchenAid mixer, AND a new baby grand digital piano! I couldn't believe it! I didn't think we had enough money to get a piano, but he managed to move some funds around get the money he needed for this piano. It was by far the best Christmas I have had in years.
It was also great to be with Julienne and Keith, Mandy and Dave, Heather and Matt and Brett and Raini. Bart and Kristi came on the 26th, and it was great to see them as well.
As far as movies ... well, Frozen and The Hobbit Part II were the best things to see this year. The Hobbit far exceeded my expectations. Part I of The Hobbit I thought was a bit slow, but the one this year was excellent.
One by one everyone left, until finally Tim left on New Year's Eve. New Year's Day was kind of fun, in that Matt had given me some goose he had shot, so I was able to use it to make a cassoulet! I used sausage, bacon, onions, beans and goose in the cassoulet, and it was awesome!
The day after New Year's I took the kids up to Sun Valley to go ice-skating. The weather was perfect - sunny, no wind. I had never been ice skating before, and it wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be.
We had the kids sit down and set some New Year's resolutions, but this year is different for us in that it really is a new beginning since we are moving to a new home and a new life this month. In a way it seemed strange to set resolutions, because we don't know very much about what our lives are going to be like in our new home. I think Abigail set a resolution to learn to drive, and I set a resolution to launch and develop my blog. I don't remember much of the other resolutions - as the mom, I think I better look them up so I can remember what people are supposed to be working on!
So, this week we have two birthdays: Samuel and Eleanor. So, that means two parties. Yea. Samuel had his party yesterday. 9 screaming, hyper, loud boys came to our house yesterday. I took them swimming, and then to a pizza place. I survived is all I have to say. Eleanor has her part tomorrow. I think I'm still in denial.about it.
And then, in six days from now, we move to California! I am getting so excited. I can't wait to be living together as a family again!
