I realize just how "gray" it is here. These pictures were taken around 1:30 PM. Anyway, the snow started yesterday but really hasn't accumulated very much. I honestly cannot figure out the local weather reports, but according to weatherunderground.com we might possibly get eight inches tonight, nine inches tomorrow, five inches tomorrow night, an inch Saturday, two inches Sunday and so on. We will see. It changes frequently.
Today the kids and I went outside to play a little and had some fun. Of course I had to pull them both in the sled, but then they took turns pulling each other. I was quite impressed with Zach pulling Clara!
Several of us got together last August to visit the Viking Village. You might recall the initial post that contained photos from the others. I finally retrieved my pictures and am sharing them.
The kids and I visited Kardriorg Park and Museum Miia-Milla-Manda in July and had a wonderful time. The museum was very affordable and the playground free. The museum was very interactive and.
Shutterfly photo books offer a variety of layouts and cover options to choose from.
These photos are from this past July, but I just now got around to retrieving them off the camera.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
This morning began with me helping set up our booth for Christmas Bazaar organized by the International Women's Club of Tallinn. After looking at all the other booths, I knew for certain I had to bring the kids back. Charlie would have loved it, but he had to go to work. Each embassy set up a booth showcasing crafts, foods, and goods from their country. We were selling American groceries, baked goods, stocking stuffers, freshly popped popcorn and eggnog. Once we made it back, it was so crowded! Zach and Clara were rather uncomfortable and the people quite scrunched together. We took a tour of all the booths, went to the kids room for a few minutes where Santa was but neither of the kids would approach him, and then decided to leave.
We walked to a nearby mall to pick up an adapter for my camera and then decided to check out the Tallinn Christmas Market held in Old Town. It was drizzling and cool, but we still enjoyed it. Although it is open, not everything is complete. We are supposed to get around 4 inches of snow on Wednesday, and I'd love to check it out after a snow so I'm sure we'll make it down there several times this while it is open. Of course I left the camera in the car so didn't get any pictures.
Here are two videos from the past, but there were many more vendors and a stage with live entertainment and all. The first video gives you a pretty good idea of what it is like here in Tallinn. I'll have to get some video the next time we go.
These are the pictures I couldn't find from our first snow last month. They aren't that exciting, but they do contain two of my favorite people. It didn't have the consistency to actually build a snowman but the kids had fun. It stuck around for about a week before it began to melt, and no more snow since. I did see that it could snow a few days later next week. We'll see.
We had a lovely Thanksgiving this year, even though we did miss our family and friends. Our day was blessed with yummy food and great family time with us four. We were able to talk to quite a few family members the day of and before. With so much going on right now, it was just really nice to relax together.
Now that Thanksgiving has passed, I am in the Christmas spirit. My friend that came by yesterday to help with work for the upcoming Christmas bazaar declared I am "one of THOSE people". The tree went up yesterday and the kids enjoyed pulling out some of our decorations. I'll have to say that our tree is well loved but has seen better days. Also, as I pulled out our ornaments, the sentimental ones are now becoming the majority! I had such a lovely time thinking about the meaning attached to each one and am not even concerned our tree isn't very coordinated anymore. I now understand why the parents kept all those horrendous handmade ornaments from us kids.
Since my small tree will not be in my classroom this year, the kids are getting to decorate it today. It is now standing and Clara has made a star for it. Right now the kids are busy making ornaments to hang on it while listening to Christmas tunes. Look at those grins!
We celebrated the 237th birthday of the Marine Corps last Saturday night. It was held at the House of the Blackheads Guild in Old Town and was a perfect venue. Charlie did a fantastic job planning this event and the whole detachment pulled together an unforgettable evening.
He left the house at 6 AM, and I didn't see him again until I arrived for the ball. Several of us ladies got together at an apartment and had a make-up artist and hair stylists come to fix us up while he had refreshments and got ready for the ball. It was a great time and then we taxied over to the venue. I actually danced...a lot and had a fabulous time. I have never stayed for an entire ball before, so that speaks for itself. The venue was great, I enjoyed all the guests, the food, and the dance. Charlie is going to have a hard time topping this for next year, but he is already thinking ahead. There were so many people congratulation him and saying it was by far the best ball ever. I am quite proud of him!
Thank you to all who have served. I am grateful and celebrate your service today. While thankful for them all, I must give a shout out to my favorite veteran, my grandfather. Not only is he my favorite veteran, but the most handsome papaw in the world.
I love homeschooling! Clara and I have developed a routine and are enjoying our experience. It has been really nice to watch her become a stronger student and develop habits that will help her throughout life.
One of the components of the curriculum we use is technology. Clara has a bit of a love/hate relationship with the subject as she loves getting to learn about technology and use it, but isn't overly fond of keyboarding, and the expected practice that comes with it. She has been chomping at the bit to email lately, and yesterday's lesson was on that very topic. I decided to make her an account and give very strict guidelines with supervision, and it has turned out to be a lot of fun for both of us. She and I have exchanged several messages and her notes are really cute. Through email, she coordinated a tea party for us in her bedroom after school. And as a result, she can now make me a cup of tea since our water dispenser has a hot water tap.
Right now she is only allowed to email with Charlie and me, but I hope she continues to enjoy the regular communication with us. Anyway, this is just one more way that homeschooling is enhancing our lives.
