Weekly Report

I cannot believe we survived this week! We had 7 kids' parties scheduled this week! We ended up only going to 4. We skipped swimming and the 2 piano parties. I wish we could have attended the piano; they always sing funny versions of Christmas songs. Why does everyone and his brother schedule a "Christmas" party for this week? I started out the week grumbling that all the present-buying, reindeer cookie-making, finding party favors, driving from one sugar rush to the next really has nothing to do with Baby Jesus in the Manger. I eventually adjusted my attitude and decided that MY ATTITUDE about kids' Christmas parties should have more to do with Baby Jesus than the so-called Christmas parties exploding in number around me. Celebrating with friends, singing together and just hugging the other moms and saying "Merry Christmas" (and "this will all be over soon") is part of the Christmas Spirit. Scaling back on the number of commitments helped! My medieval heart longs for the days the whole village celebrated together on Christmas Eve at the parish church. Family, Church Family, Friends- all in the same place at the same time. I guess I have traded that for hand sanitizer and a washing machine! ;)

It is difficult for us to enter into "Christmas" when we are celebrating Advent. When the rest of the world packs away their Christmas decorations, Catholics are just getting theirs out! We celebrate the 12 Days (25 Dec - 5 January) and Epiphany (the Wisemen) on 6 January. We often keep some of the decorations up and celebrate an older period of time until 2 Feb. This gives Christmas 40 days like the first Easter in the Bible and other biblical events. But there are some benefits. We celebrate Christmas without many of the commercial aspects of the holiday. Because the stores are already ushering in St. Pat's Day! ;)

We did school this week. Nutmeg was cooking with oil (as my grandmother would say) in math and grammar. We restarted Latina Christiana 1 - again. We reviewed chapter 7 all week (including chapter 7 of Luderne Latina) and will get back on track next week - oh, wait... Well, we will get back on track...eventually. We are doing the Earth chapter in the Apologia Elementary Astronomy (sans the Young Earth theory), and will be making an edible model of Earth's layers today or tomorrow. Nutmeg is starting to put a little Feeling into her recital of Patrick Henry's most famous speech. This makes me really happy because she was very resistant. Nutmeg did Explode the Code, her geography workbook, piano practice as well as practiced Dona Nobis Pacem to sing with the children on Christmas Eve. Actually, I need to get off the computer and practice that now with Nutmeg and The Chipmunk! Hope you all had good weeks!