Homemade Christmas presents

Rose had recently learned to sew a straight stitch and to sew buttons. So to showcase her new skills she made these Christmas trees as gifts. (One to each set of grandparents and one for us.)

She sewed on the buttons on wherever she wanted, then she sewed 2 pieces of felt together. I had to tie the knots for her, but she was able to do the rest! I thought they turned out cute.

Cheerleading Banquet

Rose enjoyed her cheerleading banquet. She had fun putting on her uniform and getting her hair gelled one more time.

At the banquet:
Receiving her award:

Her pictures and trophy at home:Squad photo:
Individual photo:
She was very proud to have her name on the trophy:
All in all it was a good experience and I think she really enjoyed it. I, however, am glad the season is over.....We signed up before we moved. It was crazy driving all the way over to Marietta from our house. This banquet was the LAST drive over there!!! Hallelujah! If she ends up doing cheer again in the fall, there is a church just up the street that offers it.

If you didn't see the post with her cheer video just click here to view it.

Sale Announcement

The follow announcement from HOC (an excellent lapbooking company):

Due to the new CPSIA law In the Hands of a Child, for the time being, is discounting our Kit Pack inventory in order to lessen our possible loss in the event that an exemption is not granted.

While we are still praying for this situation to work out for all small businesses we feel that it is in our best interest to lessen our possible loss. And what better way than to pass the savings on to you, our wonderful customers, who are praying with us through this difficult situation!!

Please help us clear our shelves and enjoy a 35% savings on all Kit Packs!! Savings will be automatic! Spread the word and help us empty the shelves!!

This sale will continue until our Kit Pack inventory has been exhausted, so purchases will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

Once they are gone, they are gone!

In the event the law is modified, In the Hands of a Child reserves the right to bring back Kit Packs in the future at full price without any discount, implied or expressed, during this sale.

Cannot be combined with any other offer, special, discount, coupon or sale.
Super Member discount DOES NOT apply to this sale.
Tax and Shipping not included in calculating discount price.
Not valid toward prior purchases.
No rainchecks.

DO YOU HAVE A BLOG? YOU CAN RECEIVE A FREE KIT PACK!

Help us spread the word by posting the above notice on your blog. Then place an order for at least 1 Kit Pack, email us the link to your blog where the notice is posted along with your order number and your choice of Kit Pack and we’ll add it to your order.

How easy is that?*

*Please note customer is responsible for shipping costs for free Kit Pack, shipping will be combined with original order if email is received same day as order is placed notifying us of blog posting.

Dashing through the snow...

Rose is singing Jingle bells....well, her version of it, anyways. She has always enjoyed this song and started singing it at age 1 1/2. I think that may be why it has the simplified lyrics.
It was too cute not to share:)

Sleep tight

I had to share this pic of Rose asleep in her bed. She wanted to use my eye mask to go to sleep. I didn't really think she would keep it on while she was falling asleep. But she did. She is sound asleep.

Good night sweet and precious girl....sleep tight.

We are Home!

We had a great month away, but it does feel great to be home!
I would like to thank my family and Chads family and the Sunderlin's for so graciously hosting us.
We had a good Christmas holiday season.

Our last night at Gma and Gpa Irvin's LeAnn brought Clara up to spend the night with us. (Clara is the little girl I babysat when we lived in KY and Rose's great friend.) They had so much fun playing together. And then on Sunday we met her family in Lexington for lunch. .......We miss Clara so much. She is the sweetest little girl ever!

Here are some pics from the restaurant.

Correction

For my friend Sara...who lives in ND.
I did say that while in ND I would only have access to high speed internet at the library. But that was not true. We spent a day and half in Fargo with our friends Marti and Sara and their two kids. And they of course do have high speed internet.....and I did use it. And I even have a pic to show. :)

Holidays

Our Holiday vacation started on December 9 and we won't return home until late on January 4th. And when I am away from home I am just not a very good blogger. I neglect my precious blog :( Mostly b/c my schedule is so mixed up but also b/c it seems to be more difficult without my desktop. I know all my buttons and shortcuts on my computer. but when using someone else's desktop or even our laptop it's just not the same. But even a bigger reason would be my lack of access to high speed internet. In KY my parents have satellite internet which is faster than dial up but still not high speed. When we get to ND I would have to go to the library to gain access. You say.....The library, really?? Yes. Really. And yes this is 2008.
My daily life always involves the internet....I don't see how people survive without it. I need directions, want to listen to Christmas music, need to know where the cheapest place to buy X at, research curriculum, stay in touch with friends, find out what time the store closes, what time church service is, buy household goods, read homeschooling articles, sign up for field trips, find bargin deals for area attractions, sell stuff on craig's list and ebay, find lapbook ideas, keep up with the homeschooling support group calendar and co-op classes, and you know I could go on and on and on.
It is a fast and efficient tool that I utilize everyday, several times a day. It helps me manage my home, our school, and my time. And I guess I am just missing it a little. I think of things I need to do or want to know and say well I guess I will have to wait til we get back home to find out. And as we are heading to ND I know I will lose it even more.....b/c if you think I am going to go out in below freezing temps just to get online, your crazy. I will stay in where it is warm and toasty sip some cocoa, listen to Christmas music, eat homemade yummies, and let the the information world go on without me for a while. I will be oblivious to the new book review I was wanting to find out about and about the 85% off sale that is happening at the online store where I wanted to get that science kit for Rose, and that my friend just received some great news, etc, etc ...but I won't know I missing it, right? So for the next bit I am saying farewell to to the information highway and to my nice little blog world. But don't fear....I will return after Christmas with pictures and probably a montage or two for your viewing pleasure.
So until then...let me leave you with this pic of Rose from a couple of days ago.....

Irvin Christmas

Yesterday we had a our Christmas with my family. There is a pic of Gma and Gpa and all the grandkids and one of Rose opening a present. We had a fun day of visiting, exchanging presents, playing games, eating goodies, etc. It was so nice all being together. Each of the nieces nd nephews are so enjoyable to be with. I will most likely do a video montage of this day when I get back to GA. ....for Gma at least.

Travel Delays

Well we get up at 5:15 AM and head to the the Northern Ky airport bright and early (well actually dark and early) and as you know Rose and I are not normally early risers. We get there and the kiosk can't find us in the system, the agents make a couple of mistakes...yadda yadda yadda....by 8:30 we have missed our flight. So we are currently staying in a hotel and waiting for a flight that leaves tomorrow evening. Delta apologized and gave use hotel, food and shuttle vouchers. Chad was kind of bummed b/c that took a day and half away from his visit with his parents. We are relaxing and still enjoying the day here. Grandma Irvin, Tori and Tim came up to the hotel and we spent the afternoon in the indoor pool. So we made some lemonade out of those lemons. Tomorrow one of our legs will be first class so that will be nice too. So tomorrow we will try again.

To kind of switch topics.......I know I haven't blogged about our trip to Paris. I will do pics and such but probably not until we are back home which will be in January. I loved Paris. I thought it was very charming. BUT I missed Rose terribly! I don't want to go on a trip without her again. It was so hard. I don't think it is natural for a mother to be separated from her child. I just don't see how people do that. Chad will probably be going to Bangladesh in 2010 and he said Rose could definitely go with us then. He missed her too. That is if I go.....I had pretty bad jet lag and right now the thought of another trip that like that just isn't as appealing as it was before. Which is kind of weird coming from (me) someone who loves to travel.

FUN Pool pics: