Friday, December 16, 2011

Friday Wrap-Up ~ Christmas Is Coming!


This week:
  1. Another 9 weeks are done and the kids got their report cards.  They all improved in one area or another.  I determined their grades by scoring all of their work and also reading my notes over the last 9 weeks in regards to attitude and accomplishments/struggles.
  2. We glittered Christmas cards and wrote a message in each one for the veterans that pass through my husband's station at work.  He works at a VA hospital.
  3. We studied Christmas in England and then had a special dinner with pot roast.  The kids decorated the table with our musical carousel and crackers.  The kids love opening Christmas crackers each Christmas.  It is a tradition brought to our home from my husband's childhood home.
  4. At the mall, we donated food to the Food Tree for needy families.  I let the kids pick the food at the grocery store this year.  I was surprised that Tom Sawyer picked noodles (which he loves and cannot have).
  5. We made gingerbread for some of our neighbors.  I have a few more neighbors for which to bake.
  6. We went on a field trip to see the National Gingerbread Houses on display.
  7. My snowmen figurines are up!  I love them.  They probably will not come down until April.  LOL!
  8. The gingerbread creations at the display were amazing.  We love to go see them each year.
  9. The kids had fun playing in an antique sleigh in the great hall of this hotel.
We really enjoyed the gingerbread houses.  The pictures below are our favorites.

Can you believe that everything is completely edible?

This one was my favorite.  The picture does not do it justice.

We are almost done shopping.  One child has not bought her gifts yet.  We are done with school until the New Year.  There will be some changes.  My oldest will be resuming post school with me.  He will be working on writing essays in preparation for trying some type of college.  We are looking at a developmentally delayed program at our local college.  Not sure that is the answer.  However, I am excited that he wants to improve his writing skills with me next year.

Tom Sawyer is sick with a high fever, and I am having a time keeping his temperature at a safe level.  The latest discovery in the allergy world of corn is that corn is in every fever reducer.  I think the only "mostly safe" medication is Advil Infant.  If anyone knows of good ways to keep a fever under control without traditional meds, please let me know.

Blessings,
Dawn

9 comments:

  1. I am so sorry to hear about your son's fever. I will pray that you will find something that can alleviate his discomfort without further compromising his health!

    The gingerbread "houses" look great! Wow! :-)

    Kudos to you all for remembering the veterans. My husband is in the Army and it does my heart well when I hear that people remember all they do for us and our country. Thank you and God bless!

    And, you are definitely super mom-- you even do report cards? Wow! I'm glad they did well. :-)

    Hope you have a great weekend!
    Many blessings,
    Lisa

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  2. So sorry Tom Sawyer is sick - and hope you find some good alternatives for him!!! You always amaze me with all that you get done!!! I don't know how you fill so much in a day! Great job!

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  3. Oh, no! Poor Tom Sawyer! Is he feeling better? I didn't realize that corn was in medicine too! I watch dyes since my daughter and son seem sensitive to them, but not corn. I hope he's already feeling much better!

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  4. Wonderful list of activities.....that tipi is amazing. Sounds like much fun as always.

    The only thing I can think of to help the fever I am sure you are already doing. When Joe's spikes to 106 (his tends to do that) I stick him in the tub with lukewarm to cool water. He shakes terribly, but it almost always helps bring down the fever.

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  5. Dawn, do you use homeopathy? There are several remedies, including Belladonna, for lowering fevers. If you're interested, shoot me an email and I can look at my book and help you find a remedy that might fit his symptoms.

    You can also make a tea that is said to help lower fevers. To 1 cup hot water, add:

    1" slice of fresh ginger, grated
    1/4 tsp cinnamon
    Juice of 1/4 lemon

    I drink something similar but I add raw honey. I don't think that it would taste very good without it. :)

    Other than the lukewarm baths, I don't know of anything else.

    Sure hope he feels better soon...

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  6. A lovely recap! I'm sorry about the fever. I do not really have anything to suggest other than a lot of lukewarm baths.

    I will be praying, too!

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  7. Busy week!! We love gingerbread house displays!!

    I hope Tom Sawyer is feeling better soon!

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  8. Beautiful!! I miss my Christmas decorations. I collect snowman and nutcrackers. I have about 25 nutcrackers. The kids love taking them out every year.

    Hoping Tom Sawyer feels better soon!! May you have a blessed Christmas season!

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  9. Looks like a great week. Love the gingerbread pictures. I hope Tom Sawyer is feeling better now.

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