Well, on Monday, we officially start back to homeschooling and life. On the one hand, I’m really ready to get back to our consistent routine again. On the other hand, we had such a calm and peaceful Christmas break that I almost wish it would last forever!
We took the kids to a Frozen on Ice Skating Program and then they got to go ice-skating afterward. Jesse also totally surprised us with a night at the Gaylord Opryland hotel as a Christmas present. I love that man so much! It was beautiful there, we had so much fun, and it was the perfect way to end our week.
Starbucks had Peppermint Mochas on sale for 50% off one day, but I did even better: I made my own sugar-free homemade mocha that was probably 1/5th the calories of Starbucks and really delicious. You can find the recipe here.
There is a first for everything. On the flight back to Kansas, one of our kids ended up getting really sick and had to use one of these on the plane. Gratefully, this child gave us fair warning, had good aim, and didn’t end up actually getting the full-blown flu. I’ve never been so grateful for this little white bag… I can’t imagine the mess and stink there would have been in the plane otherwise.
One of my favorite parts of December: Goal-setting for the new year!! My list-making self just loves, loves, loves it.
I’m so grateful for Grandmas. We hadn’t decorated cookies or made gingerbread houses yet this December and I was feeling like I’d dropped the ball since we usually always do both things.
Never fear, we got to Kansas and one Grandma had planned to decorate gingerbread houses with the kids and the other Grandma planned a cookie decorating party. My kids were so excited about doing both activities — and I was so thankful that not only did it not feel like I’d dropped the ball as much, but also that they got to make these sweet memories with their Grandmas.
We learned a new-to-us game with Jesse’s family called Tenzi. You should have heard the screaming, whooping, and hollering that happened. Such a fun game for a big group and a wide range of ages. Have you played it before?
We closed out our Christmas day celebration by going to a late-night showing of Unbroken.
Wow! I cannot recommend this movie highly enough! One of the best I’ve watched in a long time. It’s intense, but such a powerful, powerful true story of courage and forgiveness. And now I MUST read the book (can you believe I haven’t read it yet??)
We came home from Kansas all really sick with fevers, sore throats, aches, etc. and have spent the rest of our Christmas break recovering from that. Unfortunately, none of us were exempt from getting it and it took each of us around 5-6 days to recover. So that wasn’t too fun. But gratefully, we had a free week and at least one or two of us were well enough at all times to take care of the rest of the family who was down at the time.
So that was our Christmas break in a nutshell. How was YOUR Christmas break?
Jennifer says
I CANNOT believe you haven’t read Unbroken. Do it this month! You won’t regret it.
Crystal Paine says
I know… and even worse, it’s been sitting on my shelf for months. I keep picking it up and it just didn’t look too interesting, despite what everyone said. But now that I’ve seen the movie, I’m highly inspired to read it!
Molly says
sorry to hear that you all got sick. That happened to us a few years ago, but during thanksgiving. My 3 year old at the time caught the flu, the next day my husband had it, then the day after that, I got it! We were all sick except for our 7 year at the time. The 3 year old got better quicker cause she was not allergic to pennicillian like me and my husband, so after she got better, her and her sister literally took care of us parentals! It was very memorable to say the least.
Jamie says
That’s fun! You saw Unbroken at a theater not far from our house 🙂 We hung out with friends & family, played laser tag, camped out under the Christmas tree (but it was a failed experiment!), played board games, had snowball fights, and capped it off last night with a spontaneous trip to Cracker Barrel with one of our sweet neighbor ladies. We had a blast and I like seeing what others did, too. Thanks for sharing!
Sue says
Yes, you must read Unbroken. The best part of the story was left out of the movie. His conversion after he was back from the war.
Sarah says
Oh! I just finished reading Unbroken literally five minutes ago. It almost brought me to tears several times. So powerful and eye-opening.
Rebecca says
I got a job on our Christmas break! I start Wednesday. I am so excited! PTL!
Emilie says
I bought packages of dice at the dollar store and small clear container then printed the directions for tenzi for my son.
Elizabeth Kupper says
Greg Laurie did an interview with Louis Zamperini before he died! It’s so good! There are many parts that you just laugh out loud! 🙂 It’s at Greg Laurie on the radio and it’s called “A Visit with an American Hero”! 🙂
Blessings,
Elizabeth
sue says
I highly recommend reading Unbroken
We went to the movie today after having just finished reading the book.
Jenna says
My mom taught us Tenzi a couple years ago. My toddler loves playing it. We bought my mom a deck of cards for Christmas this year that has a bunch of extra variations on the game. Fun! 🙂
Kristen @ Joyfully Thriving says
My teacher husband was home which made the baby (and his Mommy!) very happy. We enjoyed being together as a family of 3. We spent time with my husband’s family, did some leisurely shopping of the after Christmas sales and went out to eat with gift cards we received from Christmas. All in all, it was lovely. Yours sounds lovely too – minus the sickness!
Jen says
I work in healthcare, so I don’t get any kind of break for the holidays. On the upside, I got overtime, which makes my bank account happy!
debbie says
Same here Jen – 2 days of double time helps the budget!
Jen says
I don’t get paid double time. I got a couple hours of time and a half for going over 40 hours, that’s it.
Ashley@Growing Up Momma says
Goal planning is my favorite part of Christmas break, too! I bought a “Passion Planner” off one of those start-up funding sites and cannot wait to get it- it has goals and sub goals set into your daily routine lists. Definitely looking forward to using it this year 🙂
Mary G. says
Sounds like a wonderful break! I still need to read Unbroken, too. My teenage son is currently reading it. I also recommend Seabiscuit by Hillenbrand. I wouldn’t ordinarily be interested in reading a book about an unconventional racing horse from well in the past, but she’s such a brilliant author with an amazing story of her own as well. Best wishes to your family in the New Year!
Kimberly Trautman says
Our family of 10 loves Tenzi. We bought a set for 6 players. We had to go back and buy a set for 4 just so the whole family can play at one time. With 6 boys and a daddy who can get just as rambunctious, it gets pretty wild. The female contingent which includes our precious 3 year old princess, although a lot calmer, love it just as much. My 15 year olds favorite game is Blink. He plays just to beat me, but hey, I will take all the quality time I can with him. We are taking all these games on our 6 month rv adventure, which starts this week.
Tiffany says
I’m so glad that you enjoyed Unbroken! We went as a family on Christmas Day. I had heard so many people upset that they left out the “redemption/Billy Graham” part from the book, but I thought the movie was so powerful and I felt the Lord’s presence in that theatre. It was beautifully done. Yes…you need to add that book to your 2015 reading list!
Katie Elder says
I got to meet Louis before he died, Crystal he is SO inspiring in his love of the Lord. Youtube search for his interview on 60 minutes, they even interviewed “The Bird”. Way worth your time to watch too! Read the book–I wept 🙂
Melissa S says
I saved your recipe for the hot chocolate. The only change will be the sweetener. We have a puppy. Please, please, please don’t ever use xylitol if you have pets in the house! It is extremely toxic to pets and there are many THM’s that have lost their dogs to accidentally having them eat a food with xylitol in it. It’s heart-rending reading their posts about it. I just can’t take the chance. Most people are not aware of this and I don’t want to see them lose their pets because of being ignorant of the facts:(.
Meryl says
Thank you so much Melissa!!! I did not know this either until yesterday when I was searching for alternative sweeteners. Xylitol is supposedly good for your teeth (yay!) but many people mentioned that it upset their stomach. I think I’ll stick with getting it in my toothpaste and try stevia in the kitchen instead.
Although we never feed our dog sweets I can imagine bigger dogs especially being able to get these off the counter, etc. Thank you again for mentioning this!!
Misty Nicole Overstreet-Roberts (The Lady Prefers To Save) says
Actually because of my PCOS, I researched many sweeteners for my insulin resistance and found that the only marketed sugar alternative that does not have cancer causing agents are Stevia products. I also knew about there issues with dogs, and would like to add that my nutritionist also stated that artificial sweeteners over time can also lead to increased allergies, skin allergies, stomach ulcers, and can contribute to IBS. I personally stick to Stevia!
Jen says
Looks like you had a relaxing and fulfilling Christmas break! We did, too, but it’s always hard to go back to work after having so much time off. (Hubby and I are both teachers.) Today, on our last day of break, I’m trying to reflect on all we have done and the time we’ve enjoyed together over the past few weeks and focus on the positive instead of dreading going back to the normal routine. Enjoy your first week back at homeschooling! 🙂
Kimber @ Let's Do Some Good Today says
I’m loving those beautiful red fingernails!!
Brandi says
I have been wondering what your family does when it comes to Santa. My husband and I just had a baby girl last year and we have almost decided not to have Santa as part of Christmas but are unsure how to leave it out when comes to our daughter later on, since its such a big deal in society. As a Christian we fill like Santa takes too much away from the real reason for the season. Just our opinion… I know everyone has their own.
Linda says
We tell our children that Santa is a fun game that some parents like to play. It’s based off of a man from long ago who loved God and wanted to serve Him by giving gifts to people who didn’t have much, but he did it in secret so that people would thank God instead of him. If our children want to write letters to him, or get pictures done, or leave cookies out, we do it because “it’s a fun game” to them, but they know the real reason we celebrate. It also has helped us to be respectful to families who do pretend Santa’s real. My kids know to go along with the game and my oldest actually has a lot of fun with it (he’s 6).
Ashley@Growing Up Momma says
We don’t do Santa in our home, either, Brandi. It ended up being pretty easy because my daughter just never bought in to it, so there wasn’t much explaining to do. There’s an awesome Veggie Tales movie out there about Saint Nicholas and how the Santa tradition started. I think when my daughter was about two or three she watched it and it helped to facilitate that discussion of Christmas and how there can be a positive spin on Santa Claus, even if it’s not a tradition we choose to take part in 🙂
Kathy says
We do Santa but don’t make that the focus. We are okay with Santa or No Santa, but I caution others that if your kids go to public school ( I am a public school teacher) you need to be very clear with your children how you want them to handle it at school. I have seen some very upset parents when the kid whose family doesn’t do Santa goes to school and makes it a point to tell every kid that Santa is not real and that it is a lie. That doesn’t go over well with parents that have chosen to do the Santa thing. Our kids look at it as a fun make believe thing that they figured out on their own from an early age, but we still have fun with it while still making the focus on God and also make sure they understand not to seek our to “ruin” it for other families.
Jill says
Thank you for mentioning that. Someone in my daughter’s class told everyone at school that there isn’t a Santa Claus. In our house we believe that children are only little a short time, so let them believe in all the magic that goes with it. I know they will hear about the nay-sayers, but it was very disappointing to hear it so early on. Let them be little!
Misty Nicole Overstreet-Roberts (The Lady Prefers To Save) says
I have a different perspective. In my home we celebrated and discussed the actual Saint Nicholas. We did not describe him as just a man, someone from antiquity, but a man who, because of oppressive laws and customs during his time, took the steps to help spreads God’s message, by way of his charitable acts. We also had a fun tradition of learning what people celebrate for the holidays in a different country each year, and I had a small tree that I would adorn with emulated ornaments I would cut out of paper for the tree. I personally enjoy hearing about actual stewardship, actual lives of Saints, and spreading true multiculturalism is the way to go!
Pauline says
Oh my goodness-if you liked Unbroken, you need to read Devil at My Heels. That is Louis Zamperini’s autobiography. It is amazing. Same story-his words.
Crystal Paine says
Oh, thanks so much for recommending that! I didn’t even know he had an autobiography!
Tina@GottaRunNow says
Crystal, sounds like a fun vacation! I hope your return to homeschooling after your break goes smoothly.
Pauline, I just put Devil at My Heels on hold at my library. Thanks for mentioning it!