2010 Reflection

Over the past five years, Seth has encouraged me more than once to plan more activities and educational things to do with the kids.  I always wanted to do it but never started because I was thinking too big...more like when I was teaching and needed lesson plans.  Too overwhelming!  Once I finally figured out it only had to be a little thing each day I felt much better about tackling it and had fun planning it.  I think the kids have really benefited from the structure, the activities, the projects, and the outings.  I'm planning on continuing our flexible schedule into 2011 and hope to keep up this blog so that family and friends can keep up with our family a bit.      

December 30: Snowflakes

Well, we never finished our Christmas activities.  I had them planned, but the boys didn't want to do what I had planned, so we just played,  I did have plans to make and decorate a Christmas/Birthday Cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but our flooring project limited our access to the oven, so we'll have to wait until next year for that one. 

The boys seemed ready for something different to do, I brought out some snowflakes.  I picked these kits up from the after-Christmas clearance bins at Meijer  I had hoped the boys would spend some time on them, but after five minutes Koen and Ty were on to something else.  Koen decided to create his own design and Ty wanted to follow the picture the kit came with, but decided he was finished before actually completing the project.  Maybe after working on these we'll actually get some real snow so the boys can go outside to burn off all this energy.

Tysen's snowflake ~ Koen's snowflake

December 18: Trains, Swimming, and Christmas Party

This Saturday was a BIG day!  Since Grandpa and Grandma Smits were going to Arizona for Christmas, we celebrated Christmas with them this weekend.  But it wasn't just a Christmas party!  Before we went to Grandma and Grandpa's house, we stopped in Zeeland at the library for the annual train show.  This is a spectacular display of trains and our boys LOVE it!  Last year they visited the display twice...once with Grandma and Grandpa and once with us.  We finally made it this year on the last day.  It really is mesmerizing to see the displays and trains! 

After meeting Uncle Steve, Auntie Lori, and Henry at Grandma and Grandpa's house a while later, we all set off for the Holland Aquatic Center.  The whole center, including the Splash Zone, was much busier than when we were there a few months ago.  But the kids still thoroughly enjoyed playing and splashing.  We spent over an hour having fun while splashing around.

And finally, it was time for presents.  It was funny to see each kid's response to all the excitement:  Brielle just observed, Henry was happy after one gift, Ty was excited about everything, and Koen thought it should be his turn to open a gift all the time.   We missed having Uncle Mark, Auntie Jane, Evan, and Annika with us!!!  Every year I'm reminded how blessed our family is...not just with gifts given to us and the gifts we're able to give, but in the time we can spend together as a family and missing those who aren't there. 

December 17: A Christmas Story

"You'll shoot your eye out!"  If you've even seen A Christmas Story, you'll recognize that quote.  It'd probably been two years since I'd seen this movie, but I remembered a number of the humorous scenes that I knew the boys would find funny, so for a special Christmas treat we watched the movie as a family.  I should have previewed it before watching it with the boys as there were a number of things that were not the most appropriate for them, but they went over their heads...thankfully!  While there's no religious connection in the movie, it was wonderful to spend family time during this busy season. 

December 16: Frederik Meijer Gardens






The Canadian Christmas Tree.

Entering the Gardens.



 




Every year the Frederik Meijer Gardens has an amazing display of Christmas trees representing other countries.  If I remember correctly, they add a new one each year and this year there were 41!  Of course, these are simply representative...I heard one woman with a heavy German accent say, "This is not like our tree," as she stood in front of the tree designated for Germany.  I almost told her that the tree represented the United States didn't look like our tree, either, but I thought better of it.  :)  The trees were beautiful and the signs were so helpful explaining traditions native to each country.  The kids agreed to stand in front of the Canadian tree so we could share it with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Jono, and Aunt Elise.   



We talked a bit about how kids in different countries celebrate Christmas.  It's so easy to focus on what's familiar and forget that there are so many other people in so many other parts of the world celebrating the birth of Jesus.  



One of the trains in the Railway Garden.



Of course, Koen and Ty's favorite part of the visit was the Railway Garden.  Trains.  I wish I could have captured their faces as the watched the trains travel around the rooms...pure joy!  We probably spent most of our time in the three rooms that had the train tracks, but everything about the visit was enjoyable!  It's been five years since I'd been to this exhibit, but it won't be that long before we return! 



Grandma Smits joined us for the morning.







 







December 15: Sand Dollar Ornaments



I have my mom to thank for the materials for this project, although ultimately it should be my Uncle Glenn I thank.  He and my aunt have a condo in Florida, and he walks along the beach picking up sand dollars.  He gave a number of them to my mom earlier this year, and she passed them on to me with an idea for a project to do with the kids.  She had a sand dollar ornament on her tree that she had gotten from somewhere, and attached to her ornament was a poem reflecting in how the sand dollar can remind us of the meaning of Christmas. 

There's a pretty little legend

That I would like to tell

Of the birth and death of Jesus

Found in this lowly shell.

If you examine closely,



You'll see that you find here

Four nail holes and a fifth one

Made by a Roman spear.

On one side the Easter lily,

Its center is the star

That appeared unto the shepherds

And led them from afar.

The Christmas poinsettia,

Etched on the other side

Reminds us of His birthday,

Our happy Christmastide.



Now break the center open,

And here you will release

The five white doves awaiting

To spread good will and peace.

This simple little symbol,

Christ left for you and me

To help us spread His Gospel

Through all eternity.



The five white doves.



We had an extra sand dollar so we did break it open and there were five dove-shaped pieces...something I hadn't known before!  The sand dollar is more symbolic than my kids can probably comprehend at this age, but it's a great introduction and a great keepsake for them. 

December 14: Koen's Christmas idea

Last week I had the opportunity to go to Koen's class to help the kids make Christmas cards to distribute to those who live in the neighborhood.  His teacher had three styles and the kids were put in three groups, each group making a different style card.  You needed to know that little bit of information to understand today's Christmas activity.  I had something all set, but Koen said that he had an idea for a Christmas project.  Impressed with his enthusiasm and wanting to encourage his creativity I told him we would do his project instead of mine.  He told me what he needed:  Popsicle sticks, tan paper, brown paper, and blue paper, black paper, scissors, and some glue.  He wouldn't tell me what he wanted to make, but as he began to work I realized he was re-creating the card he had made at school!  After he finished it, he thought it'd be a nice idea to give it to his teacher with his Christmas gift.  Ty, on the other hand, wasn't too excited about making a Christmas card, so he just cut paper. 

Cut, cut, cut!



Baby Jesus!







The finished Christmas card!