A new term, a hungry hawk, and January thaw

We getting settled back into routine again after our Christmas break. The weather has been wild this week. We've gone from -20s earlier this week to +13 today! The kids are loving this January thaw, but I just wish it would stay cold and snowy.

The kids are making good use of their MEC rain suits anyway! (We use them for 4 seasons here!)

My outdoor life goal for this term is to get the kids outside twice a day, aiming for an hour at least each time. (On the really cold days, I've cut it back to half an hour.) And I am also trying to get out for one of those times with Ivy as well. She wants to be outside with the big kids whenever she can!

We've had quite the week for nature study. This bird of prey made an appearance in our chicken coop! We think it is an immature red-tailed hawk. It must have been hungry, because it chased one of our chickens into the coop and killed it there, where we found them both. While we feel sorry for the chicken, it was fascinating to observe the hawk.

For this term in school, we've started a few new books, which is always exciting, including The Little Duke for Arden (her favourite subject is history), and The House at Pooh Corner for Jack.

In other exciting news, Arden has really picked up with her reading. She read the first two books in the Imagination Station series and has just started The Boxcar Children by herself! She is also participating in the Read-Aloud Revival 31 Day Challenge this month, which is proving to be great motivation.

Happy new year, and here's to more semi-regular blogging! :)

Christmas 2017

I'm a little overdue, but while the atmosphere of Christmas still lingers, I wanted to post some pictures of the family festivities.

Trimming the Tree

Ivy's first year helping with the tree!

Beautiful Arden

Everything is magical when you're 21 months old

Reaching to get the angel on top...

Somehow a pipe seemed a necessary accessory (no tobaaco in it though!!)

Like father, like son!

This was the year of silly pictures. Couldn't get these two to keep a straight face!

Ivy in the glow

The Christmas Tree Sleepover

It's become a tradition in our house for the kids to have a sleepover under the tree one night. Mom gets to read the bedtime stories, and Dad gets to sleep on the couch with them for the night. :) This year we read through Tolkien's Letters From Father Christmas, which was a lot of fun for the kids this year, especially the North Polar Bear's escapades.

 

 

Only pretending to sleep at this point!

Christmas Eve

Traditional tourtiere pie

All the candles at last

At the Christmas Eve Service

This is the "Rhythm Band," made up of the youngest members of the church! This picture makes me laugh!

The whole family (including baby Jesus!)

Just before bedtime

Ready for the morning

It's Practically Here!

This year we had a quiet Christmas to ourselves. Well, perhaps quiet isn't the appropriate word! There was rather a lot of noise, of the merriest kind. Squeals over gifts, Handel's Messiah blasting on the kitchen radio, Super Mario Odyssey in the living room. It was a Gallantish sort of noise. We did get outside for a little while in the afternoon, and all enjoyed a walk into the woods with a light dusting of snow. We capped the day off with a good old gingerbread house smash.

Joy is here!

Catkin!

Sugar and Super Mario

Our very own elf!

Jack's new Perplexus

Morning cuddles

Everyone's excited to start the game!

By the end of the day, it was a white Christmas

~lg