Merry Christmas From the Batchelors

Christmas Countdown

This year we decided to do a Christmas countdown using magnets and a mini muffin pan. (Seriously?! Only eight days until Christmas??!!) Like most of our best craft ideas, this one came from Family Fun magazine. Initially, we thought we'd just use it to get rid of the last of the Halloween candy, but then decided it would be more fun to mix the candy in with other surprises like family activities or prizes. 

Some things went really well like bike rides or the corn starch and water activity. Others were not as successful, such as the park day that has been rained out for three days now or the dollar movie that Jalen decided he was too scared to see before we even got seated.

However, one of the biggest hits so far was today's family dance-a-thon. I tried to take pictures, but they're all too blurry.

I did get a semi-good video though. For some reason, I can't get my videos to play on blogspot, so HERE it is on YouTube.

And as an added bonus, here are my kids singing their version of French, as learned from Madagascar 3. Once again HERE on YouTube. (The real song is called Non, je ne regrette rien. I find my  kids' version much more entertaining.)

Christmas is so much more magical with children.

Reflections, etc.

I still remember the first time I used a computer. I was a senior in high school. Back then we really did use "floppy" disks. We had to insert two disks - one to run the program and the other to store data. Throughout high school and college, I used a  typewriter more than a computer. I think by my senior year in college that had flipped. I share this because it is truly remarkable to me how dependent I have become on the computer. A few weeks ago we lost our internet. Then just as I got internet access back, my computer power cord broke and I had to wait for one to come in the mail. I was without internet access for approximately two weeks and it was awful. I couldn't check bank accounts, pay bills, plan coupon shopping, create Christmas cards, download photos, create our family newsletter, not to mention communicate via this blog or facebook. It was like having a limb amputated. I can't believe I have become so dependent on my laptop and the internet.

So here is my attempt to catch up in a whirlwind. (I had this mostly done last night when the power went out and I lost everything. I think the fates are conspired against me.)

We spent Thanksgiving with my parents in North Carolina. I forget how hard it is for my siblings and their families not to see my parents during their mission because we see them as much as we did when they were in Utah. They are really in a beautiful place now in the Smoky Mountains. We drive through national forests to get to them: Sumter and Chattahoochee.

I have to confess that for purely selfish reasons I love having my parents to ourselves. They are so happy on their mission. They work really hard and have a great influence for good. My mother has a warm and welcoming spirit that attracts people that might otherwise reject the gospel. My dad has a powerful testimony and is a great teacher. Together they are an amazing team.

This interesting pyramid is located just a block from my parents house. It's in a field with a lot of big tree trunks and little hills to roll down.

These pictures will give you an idea of how big the logs were. I wanted the kids to climb inside of them, but they were full of gigantic daddy long legs.

 

 

When you gotta go, you gotta go.

David got a lift from Baylie.

David and Baylie decorated the front porch.

And then Jalen joined them for a swing. This is the swing my mom made my dad pull up from the backyard. They cleaned and painted it and it looks great on the porch.

There are several flea markets in the area, but this is the only one that has a casket available. Fortunately it's "closed."

My mom taught Baylie how to read. Baylie was so excited and caught on pretty quickly. I need to do a better job following up now that we're home.

After the kids were in bed, the adults played chicken foot dominoes. It was a lot of fun and reminded David and I of our Texas days when we used to play more often.

We have an annual tradition to make a gingerbread house. Grammy bought us a gingerbread train to put together. It was eaten before we left.

Granddad taught the kids to play marbles. (Granddad was a marble champion when he was a kid and has the dented in thumbnail to prove it.)

We had a great visit and were sad to come back home. We won't be seeing them over Christmas because my sister and her family are visiting them and want them to themselves. I don't blame them.

Once home, we started making Christmas crafts. Family Fun always has the best examples.

Popsicle stick trees

Salt dough ornaments

We made our annual trek to Lights On at the Zoo and roasted marshmallows. That's always a family favorite. 

Amazingly enough, no one cried about sitting on Santa's lap this year. Jalen wants a choo-choo train. Baylie changes her mind every time she thinks about it. So far she's asked for a Barbie, a Barbie castle, jewelry and  a train.

Baylie and David took their annual date to see the Nutcracker ballet. This year Baylie got to go back stage to meet the dancers and get their autographs. She was in heaven. 

Meanwhile Jalen and I went to Yoghut for a create your own yogurt. He was in heaven too.

We decided to have family pictures taken. There's a red barn nearby that I've had my eye on for awhile. It was a great backdrop. It helps that we have very photographic children.

 

 

 

 

 One of the few photos I actually like of myself. I think David looks like a hottie.

And last, but definitely not least, we got this in the mail yesterday. It is very humbling to be so poor, but it is so rewarding to be blessed by the generosity of others. People are good. Sometimes I forget how good people really are. We have been so blessed by the kindness of others throughout our marriage and particularly here in South Carolina. It reminds me of what Christmas is really about and how good the Lord has been to me and my family.

P.S. Thanks, Morgan, for always nagging me to update the blog.

Happy Thanksgiving!

(Please imagine here a really cool picture of my kids with their grandparents celebrating the holiday since I forgot to take one.)

Gray Hair and Glasses

Not long ago I posted on my facebook page that for the first time ever, I had to move a book away from my face in order to focus. It was quite traumatic for me. I have always had better than 20/20 vision and for most of my life could read the very bottom line on the eye chart. I knew that lately my eyes seemed to have more trouble focusing and I thought it was just because I was tired. When I moved the book back and everything came into focus, I was splashed with an ice cold dose of reality. I really am getting old!

I have also embraced my grayness and no longer color my hair. I have loved the freedom of not having to keep up with my roots and it has been a blessing not to have to pay for the product (even though my sister got it for me for next to nothing.) I have received many compliments on my gray hair (hopefully  not just out of pity). The only downside is being asked if I'm my kids' grandmother and being offered the senior citizen discount at Goodwill - both of which happened even before the gray conversion.

Today I was at the drugstore and decided to try on a pair of reading glasses. I held my shopping list up close to my face - totally blurry - then put on the glasses - completely in focus. I kept doing it over and over as if I expected a different result. Eventually I bought the glasses. I've always wanted to wear glasses, even though I know my eyes are too close together, which is emphasized by glasses. (My dad says that's because I'm a pin head.) So now I can read things up close. My far sightedness is gradually diminishing as well, but I'm not prepared to go see an eye doctor just yet.

It could be worse, I could look like this in my glasses.

I raked in some bargains when Target's Halloween stuff went on sale for 90% off. We had a serious need for some boy dress ups in our house.

I got Batman and Yoda costumes, wigs, gloves, hats, masks and a few other things all for just $11. Pretty cool! I'm new to Target clearance shopping, so it was a big deal for me.

(I'm trying to keep my focus on the things that matter most and over which I have at least a little control.)

The British Are Coming!

Ever since moving to South Carolina, I've wanted to experience a war reenactment. Today we drove about 45 minutes to Camden to see a Revolutionary War one. It was amazing. Between the camps, the battle, the displays, etc., there were about 450 participants in costume. Very cool.

Camden is the fourth oldest cisty in South Carolina. From Wikipedia: May 1780 brought the American Revolution to Charleston, South Carolina, and Charleston fell. Lord Charles Cornwallis and 2,500 of his troops marched to Camden and established there the main British supply post for the Southern campaign. The Battle of Camden, the worst American defeat of the Revolution, was fought on August 16, 1780.

Camden was occupied by the British forces. They have done a good job of preserving their history.

Baylie was fascinated by the cook stoves. We need to camp more. 

Colonist tents.

Tent stake.

In the stocks.

Fish fry.

 British forces.

 Gunfire.

Colonists.

Hessians (Germans) - fighting with the British.

Colonists loyal to the British.

The children were so cute.

Learning up close and personal.

In front of some muskets.

Pilgrim games.

Sword fighting.

Getting enlisted into the King's army.

It was a great day!