12 Days of Christmas....12 Days on Random Act of Kindness.

Last year this time my son was shopping to fill bags in his little campaign of Isaac's Bags of Hope...check out my blog last year for that...super sweet!
This year I decided to do something a bit different which all started with their advent calendar that I made.

Yup a toilet paper roll advent house :)

One night I was trying to figure out what to put in them, what meaningful things we could do together during is already super crazy busy time.  The real reason I chose to make my own every year is a absolutely dislike the chocolate filled ones...nothing about it I like... I don't like giving my children chocolate every day, I don't want them to think of christmas and remember only a cardboard box filled with waxy chocolate to be what leads them up to a very amazing holiday..Jesus our Messiahs birth.

I want it to have meaning, they always look forward to it every morning either it's chocolate or some other surprise. So as I was making my list of things to put in the openings, I found my self quickly trying to find things we could do as a family, times that build memories, things that build character and skills. I found that I want my children to know that giving truly is a blessing and that it is better to give then receive. I want them to know what we have every day is a blessing, that we are not "better" than anyone regardless if we have a home and they do not and that we are to show love to all! So out of that our 12 Days of Random Acts of kindness begins....as we were icing our cupcakes today for us to give out to strangers and teachers and leaders at Awanas...I decided that I, myself wanted to do something every day as well... and little did I know the opportunity that awaited out front of a local dollar store to bless someone and teach my children that we need to be willing to help even if it inconveniences us a little.

Heres our Day 1...
To paint the picture ....I have two very hungry children and heavy car seat and as we were heading up to the front of the dollar store to pick up some last minute things and there is a young woman. I had noticed her when we were trying to cross the street she had a puppy a beautiful pit bull on a leash and was trying to find a spot to tie him so she could go in the store. As I approached I could see that she was trying to get him to stay untied but wouldn't have it and kept following her. We walked up and I am sure she wouldn't even have considered asking us...I have three children, my baby in a car seat, it's cold and she has a pit bull.... I offered...and she obliged.  She couldn't believed that I with my children would consider standing in the cold to watch her dog so she could run in and buy a light bulb... as we stood there we talked about it...why we help, why we can bless people, why it is important to know that we are able even when we are small or feel weak.
The boys understood that we did something nice, that it wasn't a lot just a few minutes of our time but enough to show kindness to have that woman come out thanking us over and over and wishing us a merry christmas.

Stay tuned for Day #2..

Reading...Robots....Rivers...and more.

Here is my montage of pictures and craziness from the last two weeks. Trying to blog while a baby is balancing on your lap trying to grab the computer and eat your shirt at the same time is quiet the feat. I think as long as I can get some photo's uploaded and do a description of each picture I have exceeded my expectations today for blogging....wait must put baby down for nap....Ok..baby down for a nap..now...... wait must check preschoolers attitude ...and get the big boy and the preschooler a snack. I will be back! 

Ok..3:44 and I have ten minutes to write this before I have to get them ready and we have to leave the house.... preschoolers attitude dealt with and snack prepared and baby still sleeping....I think. 

Shaving cream math. 

oh wait...forgot to give drinks...finally dispersed drinks...

"I" & "J" just playing on the outdoor apparatus...

We started doing a bit more on our country and provinces this past week. There is always so many great resources at our local library. We learned about our canadian flag and what the parts mean ( I actually couldn't remember that from school)

"I" worked on copying a map of our country, coloring the provinces, and identifying our capital city and the provincial capital cities. 

Learning about money. 

Ok.... for all of you that Homeschool at your kitchen table is this what yours looks like EVERYDAY??? I can't keep this organized no matter how hard I try. And believe me this IS actually not that bad!! It's worse most days. 

More money recognizing. 

Making snow flakes cause Christmas is actually only 2.5 weeks away....WAIT...WHAT????

"I" is loving Archery with his Dad, he is learning the rules and it's been great for him, he's learning self control and regulation with his special time with his Dad. 

Craft time...from Bible. 2 Fishes and 5 Loaves story. 

More map coloring. 

Advent calendar...making and decorating cupcakes. 

We found out that our Christmas was approx 16 years old.. we measured our tree and counted the rings, also learnt about their root systems. 

Measuring our Giant Goliath and David with various things... pennies, paper clips...

We also did a bit of brain storming about each of us and what our needs are, what we need to be health, and safe and what helps us be strong. We figured out what each of the boys needed even little X as they are all in different stages of their little lives so they need different things. 

I said it would be a crazy mismash post...I knew it would be....I am pressed for time and have very little creativity juices working in my brain as I have three littles running around my feet (well one stuck on my hip along for the ride) 13 hours a day plus the lack of sleep...that's it for a real slice of my life. 

See ya later.