Countdown To Christmas!

A Bach Christmas Calendar

Advent Calendar from Smile-A-Day

Boowa and Kwala Advent Calendar

History of Advent Calendars

St. Margaret Mary Advent Calendar

Teaching MOM'S Advent Calendar

Woodlands Junior Advent Calendar

Thankful

We had a great time celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday this weekend with our family! First we took my mom to eat a Thanksgiving dinner at Cracker Barrel. I love to go there this time of year. Of course, I always love to eat their breakfast food for lunch or dinner but I really love to shop in their store for Christmas gifts. They have the best ideas for everyone on your shopping list!

Then on Thanksgiving Day, we went to OKC to celebrate at my sister's house. My dad's family came over and so did my step-mom's dad & uncle. My sister fixed an AwEsOmE meal - complete with turkey, cranberry sauce, green bean casserole, cornbread stuffing  and pumpkin pie (made by my step-mom), mashed potatoes and dinner rolls. Everything was so delicious! I don't know how she does it with 3 little boys - ages 6 and under and a new baby! I think she is Wonder Woman :-)

Here's a few pics from our OKC visit...

Thanksgiving Play - Warren Family Style

Some friends of ours from our Homeschool Co-Op recently had everyone over to their house for a Thanksgiving Celebration. We had a great turnout and everyone brought donations to put a food basket together for a family in need. Yummy foods were served and the kids had a blast playing outside afterwards in the beautiful weather! And the best part was when their family presented a Thanksgiving play - complete with pilgrims, Indians and even the Mayflower - Land Hooooooo!

A special thank you goes out to the Warren family for hosting this fun event!

A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

William Bradford - The First Thanksgiving

Happy Birthday, Lindsey!

We took "M" to Red Robin one night last week to celebrate her birthday. The girlz love to eat there since they get a free ice cream sundae on their birthdays. The servers sang to her and actually called her "Lindsey". Too funny - so now we keep teasing her saying, "Happy Birthday, Lindsey!"

How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Just had to post this video for my 7 year-old daughter who wanted to watch "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" tonight but it's not on T.V until closer to Christmas. YouTube is such a great invention :-)

In 1994, TNT aired this making of the classic cartoon, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". It is hosted by the late Phil Hartman...

I Am Not Forgotten - God Knows My Name!

Our family went with some friends tonight to watch a children's choir from Uganda. The name of their group is Watoto and you can read more about how they got started here. They have an amazing story and many children are being saved and lives are being rebuilt through Watoto Childcare Ministries. We loved hearing their songs and stories of hope and are so thankful for wonderful organizations that help families in need.

Here are more of their videos I found on youtube:

Thanksgiving Links

I just found a posting from Thanksgiving last year. It's a video of the girls talking about what they are thankful for. It's amazing to see how much they've changed in just a year! You can watch it here.

Tis the season to pass along educational Thanksgiving links...

Colonial Kids

Corn Lesson Plans

The First Thanksgiving by Scholastic (this is one of our favorites)

How to Draw a Turkey

How to Draw a Turkey II

Kid's Thanksgiving Crafts

The Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving

Pilgrim/Thanksgiving Unit by Cindy Downes

Printable Mini Thanksgiving Book

Thanksgiving and Pilgrim Links

Thanksgiving at A Kid's Heart

Thanksgiving Bible Lesson Links

Thanksgiving Carschooling Activity Book

Thanksgiving Crafts, Decorations, Worksheets, Activities, and Printouts at Enchanted Learning

Thanksgiving Lapbook Links

Thanksgiving Lessons and Activities Index at EasyFunSchool.com

Thanksgiving Links Listed By Subject

Thanksgiving Theme Learning Ideas and Resources

You Are the Historian - Investigating the First Thanksgiving

Little House on the Prairie Musical

We got to see the Little House on the Prairie Musical last night at the Tulsa PAC! The girls got dressed in their prairie outfits and were ready to go three hours before the show actually started! They were so excited and looked so cute! Of course this was perfect timing for this production to come to Tulsa because our homeschool curriculum this year is Prairie Primer, based on the Little House on the Prairie books!

The show was amazing - the sets, props, singing and dancing was all wonderful! Melissa Gilbert was supposed to play the role of "Ma" but unfortunately she hurt her back a few nights ago and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. Her stand-in did a great job and the show carried on without a hitch. We had such a fun time and I'm so glad the girls got to experience the musical!

Three hours before the show :-)

At the show...

They looked so cute dressed up in their prairie outfits. I wish I could say I made them but unfortunately, I don't sew. I ordered them here. A lady named Deana made them and she has lots of great products for sale - check out her website!

We sat with our friends Kaylie and Jennifer...

Ready for the show to begin...

"M's" friends, Melissa and Emma sat on the row behind us...

This pic was actually "borrowed" from the Little House on the Prairie Musical's website...

Sleepy girl after a fun night at the musical...

The show was amazing and we had such a great time!

Seeing Spots

I just had the pleasure of painting the bedroom & bathroom of a very sweet friend of ours, Miss Emily. Lots and lots of spots!

Pop-up Nativity Set Giveaway!

The Crafty Classroom is giving away two Pop-up Nativity Sets (alongside two talking Jesus toys) that might be useful for your lapbooks! They include press out figures and buildings to make your own Nativity scene, which would make for some colorful and creative lapbooking if you like!

You can enter to win here:

http://thecraftyclassroom.com/blog/2009/11/15/pop-up-nativity-talking-jesus-giveaway/


Two winners will be drawn on Tuesday, November 24th so hurry and enter today - or don't so I have a better chance of winning :-)

Celebrating "M's" 10th B-Day

We had a family birthday party last night celebrating "M's" 10th birthday, my nephew's 8th birthday & my sister-in-laws BIG 40!

"M" received lots of yarn for crocheting. One of her favorite gifts, of course :-)
Me with my niece, Emily :-)



"M" also received a pretty cross necklace from her Aunt Stacy celebrating her baptism last weekend.


Everyone got their own piece of cake with a candle to blow out - preventing the spread of germs! :-) Of course, "A" wanted in on that, too, even though it's not her birthday.
Happy 40th b-day, Aunt Stacy!!! You don't look a day over 29 :-)

"M's" Baptism

Our almost 10 year-old daughter was baptized this morning ;-)

We pray that God will continue to grow her spiritually and use her in big ways!

My Testimony
By "M"

I asked Jesus into my heart when I was five years old and I have been praying and reading my Bible ever since. Lately I have been reading a devotional called "The Case For Christ" and another book called "The Case For Faith". They are both written by Lee Strobel. I like these books because they answer a lot of my questions about God. Now I want to be baptized to show everyone God is the center of my life and my forever friend.

She was introduced on stage along with the other being baptized and those who were joining our church as new members

Mackenzie was baptized along with her friend, Abbey

So sad this pic didn't turn out better!

After her baptism, we had our family over for lunch & Mackenzie was given a few baptism gifts. She received cards from friends and family, a devotional, a Bible and a cross necklace.

Family pic

Cousin Emily

Cousin Emily & Poppy

Mackenzie & Nanny

Cousin Emily & Nanny

Baptism Prayer

© By M.S.Lowndes

You’re taking this step of faith

In obedience to the Lord

To be baptized in His precious name

And heed the Master’s call

To rise up with faith in God

And go where He may lead

To share God’s love to everyone

And touch them in their need

May God pour out His blessings

Upon your life today

So you may walk in His abundance

As you commit to Him your way

Keep on trusting in the Lord

No matter what you face

And keep your eyes on Jesus Christ

And live in His sweet grace.