Fleur de Lis Homeschool Blog: Jan 16, 2020

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Dec. 22-28, 2019 Christmas! Indiana Xmas Party

Dec. 22-28, 2019

Christmas! Indiana Xmas Party

Henry was accepted into the extended family; here cousin Charlotte is snuggling up. She just loved Henry and he just loved her right back!!

Hello Friends!

Dh's Gag Gift for his Dad:

Michigan, especially Flint, Mi., is known for having really hazardous tap water and we joke with our Hoosier family about the water quality here. Dh designed and printed labels and then added some coffee grounds to some water to complete this gift for his dad. Grampy laughed and laughed at the humorous labels!

Merry Christmas, Friends!

We are all trying to finally get in the Christmas spirit and get ready for the big day. Dh is still fighting the flu, so his progress is a bit hindered.

I took pictures while we visited our old home on Dh's family farm. Dh and I walked around visiting our favorite trees and I thought I'd share a few in this post. The farm is in southern Indiana.

G&G's Meat Gift:

Sounds funny, but this is Dh's big Xmas gift for his parents. He bought ribs, pork chops, brisket, hot dogs, and bratwurst then slow cooked them in his smoker. Then he figured out how much they would want for a meal portion and wrapped that up in freezer paper and then in freezer Ziplock bags. They just have to pull out one bag, of their choice meat, and warm it up for their meals. They really appreciate how well he cooks meat and he is happy to make them happy. It took him, on and off, two weeks of cooking and wrapping to get through all the meats.

Aunt April, like most of our family, is a dog lover. Boy, Henry just looks extremely happy to be with her!

Rise of Skywalker Movie:

Last week Dd and Seth saw the latest Star Wars movie the day it opened, but Dh and I waited until Monday this week. We saw it in 3D, but it wasn't really filmed in a 3D way, so it was kind of a waste of money. I liked the movie, but Dh, who has been one of those epic Star Wars fans his whole life was disappointed. The good news is that we both have loved Disney's Mandalorian! That is a fantastic series and we've loved it.

We were hoping for some of the sunshine that southern Indiana is known for, but instead, we thought we were in Grand Rapids still!! The last two visits to Indiana were dreary, so unusual.

Prep & Landing: Disney Xmas Animation

Once again, Prep and Landing (and Naughty vs Nice), got me in the Christmas spirit this week! I have no idea why I like this short little animation, but I do! In case you are corny, like me, feel free to check it out next year and chuckle along with the show. Betty White is Mrs. Claus and has a very funny part in the Specials/Extra section.

Christmas Tree:

I'm not sure which day, but I did get a little Xmas tree up this week. We had bought Dd a small little tree for her bedroom when she was little, and I used that tree this year instead of our big full-sized tree. I used some of my homemade felt birds to decorate the tree. I'm glad I finally got something up. I had asked Dd to do the tree this year, since my hands are healing from the surgeries, but she must not have had time or inclination.

Our Christmas:

This was such a strange Christmas for us! Who knew last year was the last year of having a 'kid' for Christmas? Somehow in the past months, Dd got a job and a boyfriend and has a whole other life beyond us!! Having a job means she can buy herself lots of little gifts that she would only have gotten from me on Christmas, so her anticipation was down drastically regarding what we were going to buy her! So she slept late...for the first time ever! She used to wake us up starting at 3 am!! This year I think she woke up somewhere between 11 and 12 o'clock.

We played games for hours and had such a lovely time.

Presents:

Well, for the first time in 15 years our presents were not thrift store gifts! Although some were present, that wasn't the majority. This year we just had a very small number of thoughtful gifts. I bought Dh two of those 3-button shirts and a very nice dress shirt at JC Penny for work and three fun Star Wars t-shirts. I found a really good history book at a thrift store and his usual supply of M&M's and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. He bought himself a few tools he needed and was kind enough to wrap them up. I know his 'big' gift to himself was a cordless Reciprocating Saw and extra blades. Dd also bought Dh some M&M's, Life Saver's, and Reese's.

His gift for me this year was a cordless drill and a case of various bits to go with it so I can tighten or loosen just about anything. He also bought me another set of screwdrivers to have handy in the house.

Dd bought me: a bag of Epsom's salt--to take a bath in, Burt's Bee's lip balm and a wicked rooster t-shirt!

G&G got me two essential oils, cards, six months of watching Britbox or Acorn TV, and a cut out of sheet metal of a rooster--a small home decoration.

As soon as we brought Dd home from the hospital I started bringing her out here, first in her Baby Bjorn baby carrier, then in a bicycle stroller that maneuvered all the hills perfectly. She spent so much time out here on these trails. Her first night home from the hospital she wouldn't stop crying and crying, so out of desperation I brought her outside and she immediately stopped crying...that worked all the years we lived here.

My mom sent us a gift certificate of $50 to use however I wish--or share with the family.

We opened our presents, which didn't take very long, and Dd had to run off to be apart of her boyfriend's family party which started around 2 pm. It was so weird not having Dd around on Xmas...so weird!!! The changes to our family that has ever been so dynamic are when we first brought her home. We are all trying to wrap our brains around having our 'little' girl get closer and closer to turning 18 years old in just a few months. We have gone into 'warp speed' as she has approached adulthood.

The first picture I've taken of Dd and Seth--they're heading out for a hike in the woods~

Family Xmas in Indiana:

Saturday was Dh's family Xmas party. This year Dd invited her boyfriend, Seth, along. Dd and Seth drove down in his car and Dh and I went together. We played games at the table with family for hours after the presents were opened. It was nice laughing with everyone!