Making Memories, Not Messes

Yes, that's what I'm reminding myself of. :) 

I've been getting into the Christmas spirit & so have the kids. We have some snow, it's cold & Thanksgiving is done.  I don't usually get into the Christmas spirit until a week or so after Thanksgiving.  The little girls were so excited to do crafts.  We made tinfoil trees.  Cut cardboard into triangles, cover with tinfoil, glue on tissue paper/beads/glitter/sparkly stuff, etc.  I remember making them as a kid.  

But, afterwards, as I wiped up glue & swept up glitter & tissue paper, I thought to myself, "why was I so foolish as to promise the girls we would do a Christmas craft every day until Christmas??"

That's when I reminded myself...we're making memories...yes, memories.  Hopefully happy ones. :)

Other than that, I took Hannah to work, picked her up from work, went to the post office to return a hat to Sheplers & then to JoAnn's for craft materials.  It is so hard to go thru that store & not get a cart full of stuff!!   I do wish we had an A.C. Moore here, though!  I'd like to petition my town & say, no more dollar stores, no more gas stations. We need AC Moore & Target!!  

OK, I'm done.  Took Hannah to Chemistry class in the evening.  Most of Hannah's and Jonah's schooling was independent yesterday.
 We've had a really good couple days of school this week.  This morning I am really excited to do history with the girls.  Yesterday we learned about China & it mentioned silkworms.  Well, of course, we must delve into that more!  Here's a few links that we're going to use today:

 This is a link to a free online book of The Empress & the Silkworm:
 http://www.openisbn.com/preview/0807520098/

Here's a nice free worksheet with map of The Silk Road trade route:
http://www.indiana.edu/~iaunrc/content/silk-road-reading-unit-2nd-3rd-grade

And here's a Virtual Field Trip of the Silk Road:
http://www.powershow.com/view/46e1e-M2U2M/A_VIRTUAL_FIELD_TRIP_OF_THE_SILK_ROAD_powerpoint_ppt_presentation

This next link is about how colonists tried to grow mulberry trees & keep silkworms in Georgia.  It's actually about all kinds of bugs...the silkworm part is about 3/4 of the way down the page.
http://www.history.org/foundation/journal/autumn07/bugs.cfm

Today, Stanley Steamer is coming to clean my couches & carpet.  We've never done this before & I'm really glad to finally be getting it done.  It's amazing (and not in a good way) how 4 kids, a dog & 2 cats can really make a house look lived in.  I'm sure you know what I mean. :)