PARENTING FREEDOM

attachment parenting, homeschooling, gentle discipline

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    Monday, May 21st, 2012 9:16 pm

    “The secret of happiness is freedom. The secret of freedom is courage.” Thucydides

    “There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.” Epictetus

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  • .: Quotes :.

    “To see what is in front of one’s nose
    requires a constant struggle.”
    George Orwell, 1946

    • Twelve Days of Christmas: Obama Style

    | December 20, 2011

    obama christmas carol.mov

    Hat Tip: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/the-12-days-of-christmas-the-obama-version-other-presidential-christmas-parodies/

    Category: Holidays, Media Bias Exposed, Music, Politics Barack Obama | No Comments »
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    | December 15, 2011

    It’s a good job C1 can keep secrets, because a 15-month-old certainly can’t stand to be on the other side of the door when Mommy is wrapping presents. She liked watching me wrap and oohed and ahhed with her lips pursed, especially over the things that were for her big sister. She and I went ahead and opened the “After Eights” box and certainly enjoyed the minty chocolates in the little packets. She carried some to her buddies. Her warm little hands melted one or two.

    As for the presents… I did exactly what I planned to do which was limit the presents this year. I showed Derek everything for all five children. When we had everything all laid out, he felt the same as I did, and we made the decision to get them just a wee bit more. I wasn’t happy with so few presents, but now I think it is just right. It is still less than previous years, but it will be fun and exciting for all of us.

    Category: Holidays, Journal 2011, Status Updates | No Comments »
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    Friday Night

    | December 2, 2011

    This is in the oven and Grammie S. and Nana are on their way here. Christmas music is playing and lights are on. A new game will be tried called “What’s Yours Like?”… Wishing M&C et al. and R&J were here, too.

    http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/grands-monkey-bread/7a1e41b1-4708-4028-8ce6-fcb5baebbc19/

    Category: Food, Holidays, Homemaking, Journal 2011, Status Updates | No Comments »
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    Christmas Preparations 2011

    | November 30, 2011

    This year, we started decorating for Christmas earlier than ever (not last weekend, but the weekend before). Even though we don’t decorate that much, I knew it would take a while to get it done. I still don’t have the garland on the stair railing. As you can imagine, C1 was pretty excited with all the “new” things all over the living room. Usually we listen to Christmas music or watch a Christmas movie while decorating, but who can miss “Cheaper By the Dozen” when it is on TV?

    C1 concentrating on adding the lights to the ceramic tree

    L7 and C10 setting up the manger

    C1 examining the Baby Jesus

    C1 looking at the Jesse Tree ornaments and Christmas books

    C1 enjoying the Fisher-Price nativity scene

    Baby Jesus

    Here are some old pictures and comments regarding some of our Christmas traditions.
    http://parentingfreedom.com/2008/12/04/christmas-decorating-and-family-christmas-traditions/
    http://parentingfreedom.com/2009/12/28/decorating-for-christmas-2009/

    We are on the third Jesse tree devotion as we started early in hopes that we won’t have to double up or skip as many as usual. I haven’t done it “right” since the first year we tried it, and we even skipped last year completely. So far so good this year.

    Here is our Jesse Tree from 2008:
    http://parentingfreedom.com/2008/12/04/family-christmas-tradition-jesse-tree/

    Here are a couple links to free Jesse Tree Devotions:
    http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/11/free-jesse-tree-advent-devotional-book/
    http://www.scribd.com/doc/73429505/Jesse-Tree-Guide

    Although there is no problem fitting in the treat from the advent calendar house, we started that early, too, just because we were so excited. Beforehand, I had the kids sign a contract – no fighting, no jealousy, no complaining, etc. Greed, selfishness, and lack of appreciation can get out of hand if you aren’t prepared.

    The kids guessed ahead of time that the theme this year was Lego, and although there are two different Lego advent calendars available this year, I decided to buy the Lego figures/items of my choosing. The doors of our advent house are so small that hardly anything fits in, never mind enough things for FOUR children, so I put only C1′s treat behind the door. (I only fill one day at a time for her, because I would never tempt a one-year-old by filling all the little boxes and expecting her to not open them all, especially since I want to keep it at her level.) C1 doesn’t get Lego, but she does get something special behind each door each day. I hide the Lego baggies for the three older kids in three different rooms, so they can hunt like crazy and will only find their own treat. I was very tricky the first day and C10 and B13 had a very hard time finding their Lego. So much so, that I had to play “Hot” or “Cold” with one of them.

    Here is our advent calendar house from last year:
    http://parentingfreedom.com/2010/12/31/christmas-2010-adventures-with-our-first-advent-calendar-house/

    Cara gave me a link to Cinnamon Bear audio stories recorded in 1937! That was when Grampie S. was only six years old! We’ve been listening to the stories during lunch and clean-up and have finished four already. It keeps C10 in the kitchen to clean out the dishwasher, too. She is the biggest fan of audio books although L7 seems to like them, too. C10 thought the children in the stories had whiny voices, but she agreed when I pointed out that the little girl sounded like Shirley Temple.

    Here are the Cinnamon Bear audio stories (24 Counting Down to Christmas):
    http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/11/28/the-cinnamon-bear-an-old-time-radio-christmas-tradition-4/

    I bought the Michael Bublé Christmas album on iTunes, and although it is nice, I realize I much prefer to listen to conservative talk radio.

    I remembered to buy the pre-built gingerbread house this year! Maybe I will buy some more candy decorations at the Bulk Barn if I think of it. The kids could always use more gumballs!

    I added the following new things to our Christmas decorations this year: a new ribbon (although I might be sorry because the sparkles seem to fall off too much) for the tree (which we don’t put up until closer to Christmas since we always get a real one), a pink decoration for C10′s pink tree, some blue trim for L7′s blue tree, and for the five Sundays of Advent, I bought new purple and white candles, a stand and greenery. We used our white candle for our Jack’o'Lantern on Hallowe’en.

    As I mentioned before, I cut down on gifts this year. I did most of our Christmas shopping online and have purchased everything already. As a Canadian, I had my first experience with Black Friday where I got a few great deals at Amazon.ca and .com.

    That’s all folks. Anything else you want to know? Have you come across any nice Christmas ideas that you want to share with me?

    If you rarely or have never commented on my blog, I would love to hear from you. Especially any real life friends who found my website through Facebook. I love to know who reads my posts. Hundreds of people visit my websites every day, but most land here looking for articles on specific subjects. I write personal posts like this for the special people who visit here on purpose, and it’s fun to know who you are! I hope you are enjoying your Christmas preparations, too!

    Edited to add:

    I started our annual reading aloud of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” tonight.

    I am thinking I will get a puzzle with about 1000 pieces for the children to work on during the next few weeks.

    Category: Holidays, Homeschooling Activities, Journal 2011 | 3 Comments »
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    Realistic Grinchy Gifting

    | November 16, 2011

    The children don’t need anything for Christmas – except the tradition and excitement of getting presents. I considered not getting them anything. Then, we would not add to the already full house. Seven people and their stuff take up a lot of space. I considered saving the money for something special or giving it to the needy. The latter is likely what we SHOULD do. But the memories made from the fun and anticipation of giving the children Christmas presents are hard to give up. Derek and I rarely exchange gifts – for any occasion. We talked about what to do this year about Christmas gifts for the children, and we think cutting back is the way to go. One main gift each and whatever I can find (that I know they would love) to stuff in (or next to) their stockings. That is the plan. We decided this on the weekend, and I have already ordered almost everything online.

    Category: Holidays, Journal 2011, Status Updates | No Comments »
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    Nice.

    | November 14, 2011

    John Lewis Christmas Advert 2011

    Category: Books, Movies, Television, Holidays | No Comments »
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    11:11:11 on 11/11/11

    | November 11, 2011

    Holiday on the calendar means school in this house… Do people even know what our war heroes fought against? Do they recognize the things that we used to be against, but now we accept or even embrace?

    Category: Holidays, Homeschooling Controversy, Status Updates | No Comments »
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    A Rose By Any Other Name

    | November 8, 2011

    I love this. Gov. Scott Walker calling it like it is. A Christmas tree. Reminds me of the ridiculous argument that spanking is not the same as beating.

    Atheists Angry After Wis. Gov. Changes ‘Holiday’ Tree Back to ‘Christmas’ Tree
    http://www.theblaze.com/stories/atheists-angry-after-wis-gov-changes-holiday-tree-back-to-christmas-tree/

    “Republican Governor Scott Walker of Wisconsin just ended 25 years of stupidity.”

    Category: Christianity, Holidays, Parenting Discipline, Politics | No Comments »
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    Our Evil Jack-o’-Lantern

    | October 30, 2011

    Category: Holidays, Journal 2011, Pictures | 2 Comments »
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    October Surprise

    | October 26, 2011

    It was fun to surprise my ten-year-old daughter with a delightful afternoon. She and her seven-year-old brother dressed in their Halloween costumes. C10 brought her American Girl doll, Kate. We picked up two of her friends (also dressed up) and their American Girl dolls. We went to Walmart to go Halloween costume shopping – for the dolls!! C10 was thrilled. The girls picked out the doll outfits, and L7 got some Lego for his brother and himself. We stopped at McDonald’s for smoothies and Mcflurries before we headed to the park. The weather was lovely for October, and they played and played!

    Here are the dolls in their fairy princess costumes!

    “Circle of Trust” folks, click here.

    Bonus

    (Log in)

    Category: Holidays, Journal 2011, Pictures | No Comments »
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