Over our Christmas break, we visited a new museum filled with examples of wildlife from all over the world, plus ancient African artifacts. The girls were very impressed, and we brought along Sadie's little charge she was babysitting. He made us laugh, especially as he sang along to the radio in the car. Maggie was getting over a bad case of pink eye, and you can tell in some of the pictures. It's nice to have a new indoor place to spend time and enjoy getting out of the house.
A week before Christmas, we were able to participate in a wonderful ministry hosted by the Ministerial Alliance in our community. We delivered food baskets to two elderly ladies who had requested this be done. It was a good community-service project for all of us, and we received wonderful Christmas joy in being able to give of our time.
As my students brought Christmas gifts to me yesterday, it dawned on me that I had done nothing for Maggie's teacher. Out of panic came inspiration. Once again my sewing machine came to the rescue. Since I had only an hour or so to get anything done, I also used Fusible Fabric Adhesive. Maggie's teacher has a flamingo-themed classroom, and her "imaginary" flamingo, Flo, checks the students' desks for neatness, etc. I came up with a Christmas stocking for Flo to decorate the teacher's classroom at Christmas. Maggie loved it, and was excited about giving it to her teacher. 
Maggie was delighted by the blue popcorn I fixed for her afterschool snack yesterday. Pop Sec.ret has come out with blue popcorn and it was fun to see her surprised face. 
What a wonderful week off we enjoyed for Thanksgiving this year. It was a week of cooking, resting, and a time for Sadie to catch up on her Driver's Ed study. I loved setting the Thanksgiving table with my vintage dishes and tablecloth. I even scored a few great Black Friday deals to top off the week. I want the girls to stay the ages they are now for about 5 more years, but since that can't happen, I am trying to "be in" the moments that we have now. Sadie is cooking supper tonight for all of us. Maggie is growing taller, and I sent her off to school this morning in highwater pants, not realizing how highwater they are now until I watched her walk out to the car for her dad to take her to school. Black pants and yellow socks, with much more of the yellow sock showing than should have. I need to get the sewing machine out this weekend and whip up a few pairs of jeans for her. 
On Saturday, Maggie was riding a bike with training wheels. On Sunday, Maggie was riding without them! Overnight she is growing up. Keith knew she was ready to go without them, and he was right. She took off, and was so proud. Way to go, Maggie!
Sadie and I attended a Pampered Chef demonstration on Saturday. She has taken a real interest in cooking this semester because she is taking a home economics class at school. It has been fun to see her inner domestic goddess reavealed! She has made Breakfast Jacks for us, carmel apples, and treated us to lots of good cut fruit. Keep it up Sadie!
