Advent Calendar Fairy

We have continued our Advent Calendar Fairy tradition this year.  Each day during December, the kids find a little note from the Fairy telling what fun Christmas thing they will be doing that day.  It can range from decorating the Christmas tree, to going caroling at a grandparents house, to cuddling up with hot chocolate and your family to watch a Christmas movie, to some of these more exciting activities…

CHILL at the Queen Mary (this was all thanks to Grandma, but somehow the Advent Calendar Fairy got credit! -Sorry Mom!)

This exhibit was all carved from ice in a Nutcracker theme.  It was amazing.  There were also slides made of ice we got to go down.  It was 9 degrees in the room, so we only lasted so long.  It was so cold cameras were freezing up, so we opted for only one quick photo!  Made me grateful for my Southern CA home!

 Along with our tickets to the Ice Kingdom at Chill, we got to go indoor ice tubing, which was super fun, and get on the Queen Mary.  The boys loved playing on this 1940s machine gun.  Ladd and Tanner went on a "haunted"tour of the ship, which they both loved, while my mom, and the little ones enjoyed exploring the un-haunted parts of the ship.  It was a wonderful day!

Making Gingerbread Houses with Friends…

And, nothing to do with Advent Calendar Fairy, but here are my sweet little sugar plums all ready for Christmas….

  

Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas!

Christmas in the Colonies

We've been celebrating Christmas like a colonist this year!

We had a Colonial Christmas Party with our school friends...

A very festive spread...

Making orange-clove air fresheners...

Creating dried apple ornaments...

 Cute nativity scene ornaments...

 We even got to visit the tinsmith for more ornaments...

I taught colonial dancing which was so much fun for me!

We had so much fun and now our tree is beautifully decorated!

Later that week, Ladd and I took the boys to Riley's Farms for their "Christmas in the Colonies" dinner.    They do all they can to make it just like you are in a Virginia Tavern in 1773 at Christmastime.  

It is something we've always wanted to try so this was the perfect year for it!  It was about 32 degrees the night we were there so we really enjoyed the yummy hot apple cider and cozy atmosphere of the tavern.  We sang Christmas carols, threw tomahawks (outside while it was hailing!), tried yummy new foods, and listened to the story of the birth of our Savior.  They even started the meal off with a prayer, which was much appreciated!  It was extra fun this night because during the "toasts" a brave young man proposed to his girlfriend in front of everyone, including her family who was there!  We had to leave before all the festivities were over, we missed the dancing:(, but our little patriots were up way past bedtime and one was even starting to fall asleep in his seat!  But, it was a fun evening nonetheless!

Boston Tea Party

Since we couldn't take the kids back to the Boston Harbor in December 1773, we settled for the "B" Family pool in November 2013, a few makeshift rafts, and some salt bags, er, um, tea bags and created our own Boston Tea Party...   

 Here our "tea" bags, luckily it was time for this saltwater pool to get a new batch of salt!

It was fun, freezing, and something the kids will definately remember!   Luckily they got to warm up in a nice hot spa after their tea party!

Family Pictures-Part 2

Oh, Charity is sad this is the last picture!

                                          

More Civil War Fun

The Charter School we belong to did a field trip to Riley's Farms for a Civil War Day.  It was AWESOME!  Probably one of my favorite field trips ever!

We were put into regiments, we were Tennesse 2nd.  Tanner was the flag bearer for our group.

At our first station, we learned to march and fire our "mustick" like a real soldier.  It was fun having my dad with us for the day.

 Then we learned what the "hospitals" were like on the battle field.  Let's just say I am glad I was not a real soldier during this time!

Next, we played baseball with a stick and ragball. Very fun! 

We also learned some of the typical chores the mothers and wives left at home would have done...

A debate was held in Maryland as to whether it should succeed, join the Union, or stay neutral.  Here is Tanner giving a fiery argument about why Maryland should stay neutral.

After our lunch break, where we ate a soldiers ration of hardtack and jerky, we marched off to war.

Is this little one excited about going to war, or happy she finally has enough hair for pigtails (which I am very excited about!)

Lined up, ready for battle...

 Oh no, our regiment has fallen!  I guess we knew that would happen when we were assigned to the South!  For the record, I am glad the South lost, but I guess someone has to be on their side at a reenactment!

As we marched down the hill, after the battle, I had to take this picture.  Another beautiful day in Oak Glen.  The picture DOES NOT do the scenery justice!

At the end, the actors, I mean soldiers, gave a very heartfelt speech about honoring all of our veterans.  It was a great conclusion to a wonderful day!