Tuesday night, the boys and I rode on the 4-H float in the Carthage Christmas Parade. It was cold, but a lot of fun.

On Wednesday, it was so rainy and cold that we decided to skip D's basketball practice. He wasn't very happy about it, but I just could not bring myself to go. Instead, we stayed home and watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, listened to a couple episodes of the old Cinnamon Bear radio show, and made a few ornaments out of old Christmas cards. The boys and I decided to decorate our tree in homemade ornaments this year, so we will be working throughout the month making ornaments.

We had a play date at the park with some of our friends from our homeschool group on Thursday. When we got home, we put up the Christmas tree. That night, we listened to more Cinnamon Bear and made ornaments using PerlerBeads.

On Friday, the boys helped Big B put lights on the tree and then made a few more ornaments while listening to more Cinnamon Bear. That night, our 4-H Club was supposed to go caroling with some of the other clubs, but the other clubs didn't show up. Instead, we ate, played games, and built with Lego's. Everyone had a good time, even if things didn't go as planned.

The rest of the weekend was spent shopping, doing Christmas crafts, watching movies, doing chores, and just loafing around the house.

A Fun Weekend

On Friday, I took the boys over to a couple of their homeschool friends' house to play. They had a great time and didn't want to leave. As soon as we got home, they headed for the neighbors' house to play until almost dark. Then we played Simpsons Monopoly for several hours. Afterward, the boys and I watched Stand By Me.

Saturday morning, Big B and I took the boys to Michael's, where the boys decorated metal pencil boxes. Then we ran a few errands. Then the boys and I went to Weymouth Woods for a program on squirrels.

Sunday afternoon, Big B and I took the boys to a friend's birthday party at an ice skating rink. It was their first time on ice skates. B stepped onto the ice and took off without any hesitation. D hung to the wall at first, but once we convinced him to let go, he had no problems. They skated for about two hours and were not ready to leave when it was time for the rink to close. I'm almost certain that we will bo going back soon.

B is finally on the last of the Wiley and Grampa books, while D read the first Stone Rabbit book and started the second. Big B finished The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan and I started A Holiday for Murder by Agatha Christie.