A Tour of Our New House, and Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, dear friends and family!

As you might guess, our big update this year is that we moved back to the area in which I grew up. I would, however, like to give you a personal update about each of us. I’ll go first!

I started writing a lot this year. Much of my inspiration to write came from participating in The Habit, but I also had more time to write once everything went into lockdown mode in March. I’m so thankful for all of you reading and listening to the articles, poems, and music I post! When I started this blog, I hoped to build a small community here on my website. I’m not sure if that’s happened yet or not, but I appreciate those of you who read my posts and comment on a regular basis. It’s such a blessing to hear from you.

We really dived into using the Charlotte Mason method as our primary homeschool style this fall. I learn just as much as Samuel from the recommended living books on Ambleside Online, and I especially enjoy hearing him narrate what we read together. He asks thoughtful questions and pays close attention to any scenes involving swords fights or battles. I’m trying to lose weight–I’m down eight pounds and counting! I can finally play with ease a Bm chord on the ukulele. Our neighbors have six horses, and I like to watch them and talk to them. I’m busy planning how to landscape our yard. I’d like to plant a mix of hydrangeas and ground covers around the house. Can one use ground covers instead of mulch or rocks? I hope so, because I’m going to try it.

Brian is pursuing his dreams of becoming a woodworker. He started setting up a shop in our garage, and will begin his career by building a frame and headboard for our bed, and nightstands. Someday, sooner rather than later, he’d like to work at the nursing home part-time (he’s a nurse) and do woodworking part-time. I love finding his sketches of chairs and tables around the house. He’s busy making our house feel more like our house. I’ve haven’t asked him yet, but I’m guessing he’s also busy planning what to plant in our yard this year and where.

Samuel would spend every day, all day either building Legos or making his sister laugh. He likes his Jurassic World sets or Star Wars sets the best. He builds trucks, airplanes, and ships from his own imagination, and even once built a cement mixer that could actually turn the way a real cement mixer does. He’s amazing! He’d like to play soccer this year, and the town we live in hosts a soccer club for the spring, summer, and fall. Samuel’s favorite school subject is Bible study. His least favorite school subject is copywork. He excels in math even though he doesn’t necessarily like math, and he can read most short and simple words. Hurray for progress in reading. Samuel has a gentle heart and loves to take care of his sister, even though he can sometimes be a little overbearing. He loves to wrestle with Brian and snuggle with me and Ruthie while we watch The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh or Wild Kratts.

Ruthie is full of energy and joy and affection. Her favorite color is pink and she likes to wear her twirly dresses. She thinks her brother is the coolest and imitates many of the things he does (which sometimes ends in her favor, and other times not so much). She “reads” a lot of books, which means she makes up her own stories. She also creates her own songs on the piano. I love to hear her sweet little voice traveling up from the basement. She really is a storyteller, and I hope she continues to use her imagination as she grows up. I can also see her finding a future career in acting or performing. She can make the most facial expressions of any child I know, and she can make them on command. Sometimes we play a game where we sit on the couch and I say, “Ruthie, make a [happy, sad, scared, funny, surprised, etc.] face!” She can make all of them with ease and style.

And now, a tour of our new house! I’m going to start at the top-level of the house with my and Brian’s room.

Thank you for joining me on the tour! And now, Merry Christmas from Yoda and Darth: