Christmas Activities for Moms 2018

Here's a little something for the Moms (and Dads!).

Christmas Coloring Pages


Whimsical Coloring Pages


Inspirational Coloring Pages


Grateful and Blessed and Cup of Tea
by Dawn Nicole


Joy Coloring Page by Thirty Handmade Days


Quick and Easy Christmas Decorating Ideas via Stonegable

Lest we forget, Aunt Leila's wise advice on the true spirit of Advent
and Christmas.


Are you feeling the holiday rush? Taking Time for You by Julie Bogart
has awesome suggestions on loosening up! Yes you can, even if all you
have is 30 seconds, better yet if more. Did I mention that I needed this!!!

Last but not least, this awesome reminder on how to make Advent
and Christmas right.

Christmas Activities for Children 2018

If your kids love I Spy, they'll get a kick out of this Find and
Colour Christmas by Picklebums

There's loads of Christmas Colouring Fun here and here.

Create a Baby Jesus Ornament.

Or maybe DIY a Nativity Set like this or this.

Try out this Wise Men Adventure activity and bid good bye to
that mischievous little elf.

Christmas Plans 2018

I'm really looking forward to Christmas 2018. Christmas 2017 was a season
of transition for the family. We did a big move during the holidays. We also
had a baaaadddddd case of the tummy bug. Things just went by in a blur.
This year, I hope to slow down and enjoy Advent and Christmas Time with
my not-so-littles.

Im hosting a Christmas Read Aloud session or two for our Homeschool Coop. 
Im posting some of my resources here.

A glimpse of Christmas in our home...

TRADITIONS

Sacraments
Mass and Confession

Our Crib and Christmas Tree

Countdown to Christmas
In previous years I borrowed Christmas books from the local library.
It was a great joy for the children and I to spend a few minutes each day
reading new and old Christmas stories. This year, we no longer have access
to that library. Nevertheless, I managed to buy us some Christmas books.
And so, the Christmas Read Aloud Tradition continues...

SCRIPTURE + POETRY

Luke 2:1-14
Each year, we pull out this passage on The Birth of Jesus Christ.
It is the one passage we've consistently read these past few years.
May these words and their essence remain etched in our hearts.

A few other poems worth reading during Advent and Christmas Time:

In the Bleak Midwinter
In the bleak mid-winter...
by Christina Rosetti

A Christmas Carol
The Shepherds had an angel...
by Christina Rosetti

A Christmas Carol
by GK Chesterton

The Animals' Carol
by Charles Causley

A Visit from St. Nicholas (and the poems inspired by it)
by Clement Clarke Moore


BITS AND PIECES

Random thoughts for Moms by the lovely Elizabeth Foss.
A great reminder to have some Margin and Rest for Advent from
Kortney Garrison


RESOURCES

Good books are hard to come by where we're at. These are free
Christmas eBooks available online.

Ambleside Online's Christmas Poems and Stories
The Baldwin Project's Christmas Stories
The Project Gutenberg Christmas Bookshelf

Unit Study: Japan

Im planning to do a Unit Study: Japan. Here are a few things I'd like to cover...
Let's see how things go...

Top of Mind:
I. General facts about Japan:
- flag, continent, capital, population, currency, geography, seasons, clothing, government leader, etc
II. Historical facts
III. Important people, events and places
- Artist: Yayoi Kusama
III. Stories and Folk Tales
IV. Japanese Words and Phrases
V. Create something Japanese
- Sudoku
- Origami
- Color a Kimono
- Sushi Making Day
- Draw Japanese Cartoons (Kodomomuke)
VI. Immersion Trip
- Write about My favourite day, thing, place, memory, _______


Some useful links:

Kids Web Japan
Japan Printables
Geography Study
Smashbooks