Gingerbread Decorating Party

What joy to share such special moments with my family and friends. I made my baby girl a cute no sew apron with little gingerbread men all over it. the kids all chipped to set up and clean up. I could never have accomplished this without my kiddos.

We had great weather for our party. It was chilly and breezy. Just the right touch of Florida winter added to the Christmas feel of the party. We had to postpone it for a day due to a cold front that brought with it tons of rain.

It was great fun to plan and host a party with sweet April. We both enjoy doing this kinda stuff and it was a blessing to share in it with other families. The kids and moms all had a blast decorating and I must say the moms got way into it. We ended up blowing the houses up at our friend's the Geer's on Christmas Eve (more on that soon)

Have a Sweet Christmas!

Chocolate fountain fun!

Marshmallow, apples, pound cake, strawberries, pineapplewill never taste the same after being dipped in warm chocolate. I love my family dipped in chocolate too!

GINGERBREAD BUILDING

What an ooey, gooey, sticky, yummy, fun mess!

April and I had a wonderful time planning our gingerbread decorating party. It gave us an opportunity to get together and facilitated a time to for enjoy with our kids and then with our friends to decorate.

After all the boys are long gone my little momma stays working and creating her masterpiece. Granted she was also doing a lot of nibbling too but we had fun finishing off our projects together.

Lexie's Sweet Polar Express

My Holiday Ham!

My Holiday Ham!

Chirstmas, Science, & Work?

What does Christmas, science, & work have in common? This year it was our office decorating theme at America II Electronics.
Every year where I work every department picks a theme and decorates for Christmas. A local children's program comes and enjoys a company sponsored party and we try to make our themes enjoyable for the kids. Our families get to come a couple of days after and enjoy the fruit of our labor also.
It is very competitive, every office tries to out do everyone else and the company awards the top 3 offices. First place get to go have dinner at a restaurant, second & third get lunch brought in for the entire office.
All that said this year I suggested we do a science theme for our office. I got the idea on one of our visits to MOSI. I researched easy experiments we could do with household items and what they teach. Before I tried them at the office I needed to experiment at home and make sure they worked. So my kids got to learn science with dad, not to mention dad learned a thing or two himself. It was great fun and all the kids loved it because I made sure to get plenty of supplies to allow for the kids to do it themselves, at home and at work.
Well, it was a hit, we placed third for the first time. We came in after a theatrical performance of Madagascar saves Christmas (1st), & another office that set up Rock Band on a projection unit with a stage and real band style speakers and equipment (2nd).
We all had a blast, and I know even if we forget how all that stuff works we we always remember having fun making stuff explode and soda cans implode....cool.

Christmas Box- A new family tradition.

We had a tons of fun at the craft stores in early December. Un beknownst to the kids I was shopping for our new family tradition Our Christmas Box. I originally wanted to have a daily activity but it was not practical for the busyness of the season. So we did it a few times through out the month. The idea is to have a beautifully decorated box with a family fun activity in it. See below for what we did. I hope it inspires you.

The kids took turns opening the box. The first family fun activity was a Christmas movie night with popcorn. We watched A Christmas Carol with Patrick Stewart and Deck the Halls (this was horrible, lots of inappropriate stuff for wholesome families).

Now go make memories!

Another Teenager in the House!

My precious Seth turned 13! I can't believe that my cuddle bug is a teenager. I am so blessed to have him call me mom. He's my double kisser. He kisses both my cheeks. He is a great friend and always prays for me. The minute I share about feeling sick or tired or sometimes "sick and tired" he puts his hand on me and prays. What makes him even more special is that he follows up later to check and see if more prayer is needed. He has a temper (I have no idea where he gets it ;), he is strong-willed and this makes him passionate about his family, friends and Jesus. He loves to have fun with friends. Even though he has turned 13 his heart remains innocent to the nasty affairs of growing up in this fallen world. I pray he never becomes desensitized to the needs of others. He is my creative hands-on guy. When something needs to be fixed, nailed, or otherwise found a solution for he's the man! And, did I mention that he is way handsome, freckles and all!

We had a party to honor Seth at a park. The band of merry kids played war games in the woods. The parents had a great time too. The Stillman's provide much entertainment. They make a great stand up team. Dad grilled hot dogs and we had some great cake. I purchased a yellow cake with whipped topping at Publix. Seth love's strawberries but you have to special order that. So I bought a bottle of squeezable Smucker's strawberry jam to spread on top of the servings. It was crazy scrumptious! Just like strawberry shortcake! Try it.

Happy Bithday Sethy! May the Lord bless and keep you, show you favor and always shine His glorious face upon you. I love you! Double smoochies, Mom.

Christmas Cards Galore!

I haven't sent my Christmas cards out yet inspite of participating in two Christmas card parties. For me it's not about the cards, I just love spending time with special people at Christmas time. I might end up sending New Year's cards this year. Korey and Dawn (with my help too) did a fantastic job. this was their first year throwing a party for Christmas. I got to set the table, which is what I love to do. We almost had a Battle of the Betty's over table covers but it all turned out well once they let me do what I wanted ;) The food was amzing; chicken cordon bleu, an incredible salad by Ann and Dawn's mashed potatoes. (not one lump found). My beautiful Brit Caroline brought veggie pizza that was delish, Brenda brought the wine and April bought cheese and crackers. The rest of us brought chocolate!!! Brownies, Eclairs and a Fountain, OH MY!

Amanda is too funny with her "address box". Some people have address books but she has a box full of sticky notes, envelopes, and napkins with people's adress'! I love that! I finally got my chocolate fountain! It was easy to use and amazing to eat. I was giddy or maybe high on chocolate by the end of the evening. The "fireplace" was lovely and the fellowship delightful. Get a bunch of homeschool moms together and loud laughter is always heard. My favorite part of the evening was doing the dishes and listening as we all shared about our kids and our struggles with parenting and homeschooling. The encouragement that was shared ended the night on a peaceful note. I just love Christmas, and my girlfriends too!

What a fun week!

We've had a fun week together. I've had a couple of parties to attend. With all that going on we haven't had time yet to bake together. However I didn't let that stop me. I bought a bundt cake and had the kids decorate with Christmas sprinkles. I'm still in decorating mode and got carried away with our kitten Zelda. Zachary blessed us with reading our Jotham's Journey chapter. What an amazing reader he's becoming. Our big dog Friday is no longer with us. We found the owner and her name is Linda. She's lives about five houses down from us. she's actually escaped twice from her owner to come for a visit. The owner is an older Cuban man. We look forward to getting to know him since Friday, I mean Linda has bought us together. We miss her! Notice how the bottom of our tree has no ornaments on it. Zelda is having a field day with the tree. Looking forward to catching her in the tree for a great picture. Right now my girlfriend, Theresa, is thinking, "You have lost your mind letting the kitten in the tree!!!" But, then she'll remember that my house is loud with kids running through it all the time. She'll shake her head with a sigh and still love me. I love you Tree!
I seem to be coming down with a cold right in time for a cold front. I'm off with the kids to Alf's office family party.
Feliz Navidad!
Monica

Christmas Unit Studies and Family Fun

Dear fellow homeschool moms and friends,

Below find links to Christmas family friendly sites that I have been compiling for a few years. You'll need a cup of coffee or tea if you prefer and plenty of paper for your printer. some I have used and some I haven't but, if you've received recommended sites from me before these fall along the same lines;
F4: Faith, Family, Friends and Fellowship.

I hope you are able to use some of these links to make you holiday season more memorable.

Merry Christmas,
Monica


Stop by the G-Force Academy Christmas Shoppe, where you'll find lots of great resources for your family's holiday traditions. Everything from dvd's, cd's, family read alouds, advent books, and more. Happy Shopping!

ADVENT/CHRISTMAS LINKS:

http://happyhomeschool.familyclassroom.net/Archives/Holidays/JesusName.shtml (names of Jesus unit study)

http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjhol/a/advent125.htm (what is advent and 25 days of family fun countdown)

http://happyhomeschool.familyclassroom.net/Archives/Holidays/ChristianMen.shtml (Christmas songs unit study)

http://happyhomeschool.familyclassroom.net/Archives/Holidays/Christmas.shtml (symbols of Christmas unit study)

http://www.homeschooled-kids.com/advent.html (family advent/Christmas countdowns, daily family reading, activity/recipe)

FREE Countdown to Christmas
Interactive Game – 25 surprises in all!

Build up the excitement of the holiday season with this unique and engaging way to countdown to Christmas Day! Our free holiday gift to you, Countdown to Christmas, is an interactive game packed with 25 merry surprises – one to open each day for 25 days - STARTING ON DECEMBER 1st! Kids of all ages will eagerly anticipate their daily visit to Santa’s Village to see what special fun awaits them. All 25 free games are yours to keep and play over and over again!

Click Here: http://store.kidthing.com/detail/?ID=MTI3Mw%3d%3d&gclid=CP320sTolZcCFQIMswodnRbA-w

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/Twelve_Days_of_Christmas.php (12 days of Christmas Lapbook)

http://www.homeschoolshare.com/christmas.php

http://www.northpole.com/

http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/ChristmasLesson/

http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjhol/a/fundaysdec.htm (Crafts)

http://homeschooling.about.com/cs/unitssubjhol/a/fundaysdec.htm (lots of fun stuff)

http://www.gingerbread-house-heaven.com/index.html Gingerbread Heaven, lots of inspiration and pictures

http://jesse-trees.com/index.html (jesse tree)

http://www.shalfleet.net/advent/makeajessetree.htm jesse tree

http://www.kingofpeace.org/advent/advent.htm all about advent

http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=23 Great site all about the true santa, Saint Nicholas

http://www.eriercd.org/jessetree.htm jesse tree

MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES

Some of the following books and booklets may give you additional ideas for using the Jesse Tree, both in congregational and home worship. Also you'll find in the G-Force Academy Shoppe at http://astore.amazon.com/gforaca-20 lots of CHRISTMAS books, DVD'S, ORNAMENTS, cd's, and craft kits to add to your family's holiday traditions.
Happy Shopping!

The Advent Jesse Tree: Devotions for Children and Adults to Prepare for the Coming of the Christ Child at Christmas. Dean Meador Lambert. Nashville: Abingdon, 1988.

The Bethlehem Tree: A Family Advent Resource Book. Mary Louise Tietjen. New York: Paulist Press, 1976.
A beginner's book of readings, activities, and crafts for young children. The symbols of the Bethlehem tree are taken directly from the Christmas story and are simpler than those of the Jesse Tree.

Jesse Tree Devotions by Marilyn S. Breckenridge. Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1985.
Four weeks of daily family devotions for Advent. Includes a large fold-out Jesse Tree with cutouts for children to hang on the tree.

The Jesse Tree: A Cutout Book. Mar-lene Konrady. Minneapolis: Winston Press, 1981.
Twenty symbols on thick poster paper, ready for coloring and hanging on a Jesse Tree, or to be used as patterns for fabric ornaments. Each symbol is described as it relates to different Scripture references.

The Jesse Tree: Stories and Symbols of Advent Raymond and Georgene Anderson. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1966.
Twenty-nine family devotions for every day from the first Sunday of Advent until Christmas Day The devotions include Scripture readings, a short commentary, and a prayer, and are accompanied by beautiful four-color artwork based on the Scripture readings.

Wait in Joyful Hope: Traditions, Celebrations, and Activities for Advent and Christmas. Mary V Reilly, Margaret K. Wetterer, and Nancy K. Lyons. Wilton, Connecticut: Morehouse-Barlow, 1980.

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_sp?sp=101260


Monica

visit me on the web @ http://gforceacademy.wordpress.com

Christmas Desktop

This is currently my desktop. I love it! It reminds me of our chilly visits last winter to Disney while we had our seasonal passes. Here is the link to this cute freebie from the Shabby Princess http://shabbyprincess.typepad.com/shabby_princess/.

Let the Decorating Begin!

Alexa was finally allowed to go where the big boys go. She was quite proud of herself. She's daddy's little helper. We started decorating yesterday to the sounds of Christmas tunes. It got a little tense at times because mom and dad are on a mission and kids just want to have fun. Since when is this supposed to be fun? Just kidding. We ended up having a great time. But there are still boxes everywhere. Oh bother!

Zachary is bringing down decoration boxes from the loft in the garage and holding on for dear life!

Alexa's first time able to climb high like the big boys. She is such a joyful little helper.

Christmas Cuties

Here go the lights!

The kids took it upon themselves to make each other card, puzzles, games and mazes as stocking stuffers for each other. They really are getting the idea of gifts from the heart and having a Homespun Holiday Season.

NO PEEKING MOM!

Adding the ornaments and setting up the nativity is the highlight for all of us. the kids each have their own orn ament from their first Christmas. Each year they hang theirs as Alf and I hang our first Christmas ornament together too. When we ran out hooks we stopped and ended the evening to our first reading of Jothams Journey. We read it 4 years ago. It is one of our family favorite and forever traditions. What a wonderful way to end the day and weekend. All cuddled up in cozy jammies.

The irresitible temptation of a helpless man trapped under a tree proved to be too much for the kids to resist.

How cute, playing with the manger scene.

Family read aloud time!

Visit The G-Force Academy Shoppe for Jotham's Journey and more great stuff to help you have a Homespun Christmas.

Wii Party

We have two birthdays to celebrate every year the week of Thanksgiving. This was a pivotal year for my two oldest turned 13 and 15. Two teenagers in the house, Yikes! They are great kids. Their grandparents gave them a Wii for their birthday so we hosted a impromptu Wii party. The kids had a great time. they played Wii, ate hot dogs n stuff and even took a Wii break for a game of freeze tag. I love the crazy noise of kids running amuck haveing fun. Tomorrow we kick-off our Christmas decorating,. Woohoo!

Thanksgiving fun

My dear friend and neighbor hosted a Thanksgiving craft party for our kids. They had a great time and we are blessed to have them in our lives. This was the kick-off to our holiday season and it set a great tone for lots of family fun and fellowship with friends. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving holiday.

Mikael turns 15!

PAUSE THE CHRISTMAS MUSIC TO WATCH VIDEO,

THIS IS MIKAEL'S FAVORITE SONG.

What joy to celebrate our oldest son, Mikael's, 15th birthday. We had a sweet family celebration and Abuela came to visit too. We also had a great party that included games, and roasting marshmallows around the fire. Dad had a special verse to share with Mike.
"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me." 1st corintians 13:11

I love being this young man's mom!

Heavenly Father, I praise because you have made me the mother of this precious boy. How numerous the days where I just stare in amazement at how he has grown physically and spiritually. Thank you for his love, loyalty, wisdom, friendship and for his sensitive and discerning heart. May he never depart from your ways where he may can in your light and love. May he live to bring glory to you alone. Bless him LORD in all he does and give him grace to walk with you always.
In Jesus' name, Amen

Holidays off to an early start

The holiday fun began early this year. My dear friend Mary D. hosted her annual Christmas Card Party in her new home. We had a yummy italien dinner followed by scrumptious desserts. The house was a holiday home out of a magazine. Can you believe she actually had all her decoratins down to picture frames up for us on the 21st f November?! We all had a lot of fun workin on our cards and much love and laughter was shared by all. Thanks Mary!

Christmas came early!

Christmas came early this year for the Guerra kids. My loving and dear fiend met me at the hospital when i was in Miami visitng my dad in the hospital. The Lord bought her just in time to catch my tears. It was a bad news moment. And in true Tree (short for Theresa) she came bearing gifts and laughter. She's my yummy, grumpy, funny twin. She bought me clothes for the kids and Beth Moore's book, Get out of that Pit with some magazines. As if that wasn't enough she bpught A.J. a dollhouse her daughter had outgrown with all the furnishings! I love this woman! We went out to lunch and gave me another gift just for me, Goosberry Patch's Christmas all through the House. I LOVE GOOSBERRY PATCH BOOKS! Thanks Tree for making a stressful time into a joyous one. I can't believe we forgot to take pictures together. Here are pictures of the kids playing after I got home.

I also had a blast from the past before I left Miami. I met up with Mari, a friend from highschool. We recently reconnected through facebook. I absolutely love this girl! We haven't seen each other in over15 years. She is such a faithful friend though. We picked up right where we left off. She and Tree encouraged me to come be with my parents for a while. They knew how burdened and torn I was over the decision. It was an awesome visit in spite of the circumstances. I was able to love on my parents. Mari and I been trying to meet up all week and she called me as I sat in my mom's car crying about my dad. My mom and I had stopped to get a few snacks for the road trip home. She sked me where I was and told me not to leave. Within five minutes she pulled into the parking lot with her mom! I couldn't help but cry as we embraced after so much time. We lived through all the teenage drama together. Her mom always encouraged me and prayed for me. When her mom stepped out of the car she was holding a tiny kitten. "Hi, is that for me!" and she said I could have her. "what?!" To make a now long story short, they gave me the kitten and I gave it to my son for his birthday. I hid it in my purse and gave it to him to hold and told him "be careful with what's inside" He took peek, I'm sure expecting to find something made of glass instead he found a living breating stuffed toy. The look on his face was priceless. He took her out and looked at me in disbelief with inquisitive eyes. I simply said "Happy Birthday Seth!" Instantly his big dark eyes welled up in tears and he cried holding the kitten up to his face. "It's the best present ever! Thank you Mari and Eneida! Oh, we did take a picture together and Mari erased it by mistake. I know we will have more opportunities in the future to take pictures together.

Let the Holiday season begin! It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!