This is our timeline–though I did just update it with all the people and events we learned about this summer so the bottom two lines have almost no room on them

And I got this idea at GCM–it’s trifold boards that I made into individual learning centeres. It’s helping the children to focus more and bother each other less. We have a rule that there is no interruption and these are your “rooms”. If you are in your room, just like your bedroom, you have a right to privacy. We’ve gotten so much done using these! And I put their workbook or reading assignments in the pockets and they get to decide in what order to do them. They love that autonomy.

I’m really excited about this holiday season.  I feel like, after 3 years, I am mentally and physically able to embrace and not just endure the holidays.  3 years ago I was hugely pregnant with twins and I do suspect that the walking of holiday shopping and the later hours than I’d gotten used to keeping is part of what had me in actual early labor and not realizing it until my water broke the morning of January 5–two months early.  The first holiday season with having the twins I am so grateful I’d found the Christmas Notebook list because we had a good solid holiday and I was able to question a lot of my expectations and efforts for the day and we were able to have a great holiday even with two very young bubbies.  But Aidan had a ton of anxiety–even didn’t want me looking at lights because the last time we looked at lights I went away for a long time *cry*

Last year was better–it was good.  But I was still so stressed out about it and trying to do everything with two babies who wanted to be in arms at all times really stunk. Not to mention I naievely scheduled our plumbing to be redone through the entire house two weeks before Christmas *what was I thinking???*

This year, we are still working on the house LOL But we have a guest bathroom and all of our kitchen in and functioning   And we have been so very blessed this year in so many ways–not to mention my pay is being corrected just in time for us!

This year the bubbies are ready to get into the mix of the holidays.  They are going to be more aware of the events going on.

This year I’m not dreading all the cooking for Thanksgiving; I’m excited to decorate and not worried about how fast and furiously I can get stuff up before a baby needs me lol

This year I have my brain working and I have ideas!  I have gotten the Shalomtion line started and am working on it–slowly but surely and more lately   DH just took the tile from the 50’s down in our bathroom so that we can get our new walls finished and get the shower tiled and most of the tiles chipped off without damage so I’m thinking all over ideas for them!  I can use the edging to replace lost edging in the kitchen that I found out they don’t make anymore!  So this will save me taking all of it off and using a totally different edging.  I can keep the original tiling but paint it to modernize and update it   And with the full tiles I can use some of them in the kitchen, but I’m thinking that, especially because they are blue, I can paint Hannukah designs on them and give them as Hannukah gifts–make trivets or wall hangings.  I need to find out what paint to use, but I’m excited to use them and give them

I’m also involved in a really cool swap with moms that includes some homemade things that are awesome and some high quality used items that will all make great gifts, and I’m finding sites that have great deals on things including silver jewelry!  I feel like with just a little effort and a little money I can give great gifts to everyone we want to give gifts to!

Next week is Thanksgiving.  I’ve got a couple more ingredients to purchase and I know what they are and will get them by next Sunday.  We have Couple’s Club for our congregation at our home on Saturday night which means we will have our home all clean for that and if we can keep it clean we’ll have it ready for Thanksgiving

[url]http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22556281-661,00.html[/url]  You have to see this to believe it, but the whole time I was watching her spin clockwise I called each child over and was told:

Liam–this way, now that way, this way, now that way

Fiona–this way . . . . no, now that way . . . now this way again

Aidan–that way (counter clockwise the whole time)

Later I had a chance to do it with Dugan and he saw it going both ways too!

I was able to see counter clockwise ONLY after looking at it upside down (while showing dh) which, basically, suggests it was still going clockwise but my brain was backwards LOL  now I can sometimes see it go counter clockwise.

One thing I find very interesting is how solidly I saw it clockwise (I have known I’m right brained!) and how solidly Aidan saw it counter clockwise–indicating he is dominantly left brained.  This so sums up our disconnect and now that I’ve started studying Montessori approaches to things and employing Montessori breaking down of steps for things he is doing so much better!