End of holidays, back to school

 We didn't have much snow at the beginning of January. But we had ice, for some of the time.

 Jennifer borrowed my camera while the rest of us played a rousing game of hockey.

 There was a day after this which was even warmer. While we were playing the ice got softer and softer. Eventually the crack that was in the ice was flexing up and down several inches. Then, at the climax water starting seeping up between it and we all bailed off the ice in a mad rush, dragging the net puck and ourselves off before we were to break through the surface! (no one did) Very exciting moment!

 Using a rope to hang on to, the kids used the rink for sliding too...

 fling the kids on carpets as far as you can go!

 Skating again...nothing like a round of hockey!

 We had a few friends come over and enjoy the ice. Fortunately I could find skates to fit.

 Whoops, gonna fall again! I think they returned to their mother looking bruised!

 Then the holidays ended and we returned back to school routine. Evelyn is slacking off and playing cars. Shouldn't she have more work to do?

 Matthew is reading. This year he has really starting taking a stack of work off to a quiet place and getting through it all efficiently and well. Such a wonderful change! No more peaking and nagging after him to focus, or reminding him that he should finish so that he can play later.

 That way I can use my telling off energy for the younger girls! Jennifer is picking up glue and crayons when she is supposed to be doing some writing. Or math. Do your work first Jennifer!

 Nathan has his desk up in his room, and only comes down when he's about done, or needs help with something. He loves working in his room now that he has the furnace control figured out. Nice and toasty up here!

 Melanie also does her work upstairs, and is pretty good at focusing and working through. When she doesn't feel like working she usually hangs out by me, so at least I can tell that she's not working!

 Daniel is getting through his work more efficiently these days too! Most days he decides to just get things done. He's very happy to be mostly caught up with his math. Just one exercise to do today. Almost done the dreaded math! :)

 So, is the egg saving money to feed ratio cost effective? Well, according to this we are either just barely cutting even or lagging a tiny bit, but that's because our extra eggs are given away. Maybe we should stop being nice and sell them instead. :p

New Years Eve

 Graham Crackers houses got finished at last, they lasted 1 day and then got taken apart or consumption,

 Jennifer and Daniel very nicely played a game of Clue together. It fell apart at the end where there were two missing clues which one accused the other of stealing, but appeared misplaced instead. It was fun while it lasted.

 The older three just sat and read comics.

 Is it the new year yet? At 30 minutes to go Evelyn wanted to hit the sack, but we convinced her to stick it out.

 Almost there...

Happy New (Tired) Year!

Skating!

 Are you sure the ice is thick enough?

 Everybody wants to get in skates for the first time this season!

 You can see what an odd assortment of pieces of wood are used on the deeper sections. At least it's working!!!

  I can watch the kids skate while making dinner...very nice!

Too early for gardening, I decided to try procreate some household plants instead.

 Ivy, African violet, and some other plant that I don't know the name of. They seem to be surviving so far (my houseplant success rate is pretty low!)

 Philip has been working on a shelf for Lego storage. It is supposed to go wall to wall, when all the pieces are done. So far it isn't helping keep the Lego off the floor, but it is usually easier to find pieces, if it is in a "fairly neat" state, like here.

 Jennifer and Evelyn are trying the "new ice". So far this winter we've had ice rain several times, or rain, so I haven't resurfaced the ice at all by hand. :)

 Super smooth! We are so happy we can skate even when our our snow has melted away!

 View from my ensuite.

 Tag is fun too!

 As long as everyone is "fair" and you don't get caught too many times.

Sinterklaas and beginning of holidays

Books were had all around, that's tradition, right? We'd do the chocolate letter too, but the kids aged 3-12 get one at church on Christmas day already. A book too, but that's irrelevant. ;)

 Handmade gifts were also shared. Lots of effort put into this!

 And board games are great, especially to enjoy over a holiday break when there is time!

 Catapult for Matthew! (I didn't approve that one!)

 Trying out the games.

 We came up with a new way to hang up Christmas cards -- since we repainted the walls we removed the screws and other things we'd hung strings on in previous years.

 A walk on the golf course (to work off some holiday food).

 More game playing.

 And book reading!

Living room

We've been here almost 4 years, so it was more than time to tackle window treatments in the living room. I modified curtains for a few other rooms, but these are the first ones where the curtains were made from plain old fabric bought to be made into curtains.

Before curtains: 

 After: