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Favorites

1. For date night last weekend, Scott and I went to see "Thor: The Dark World".  There are no words to describe how incredible it was.  Well, maybe WOW!

2. On Monday, I made up a new "circle" for Kindergarten, similar to the one we did for Michaelmas but all of my own creation.  It was really fun to see how much the kids enjoyed it and to watch them immediately incorporate it into their play.  (It didn't really involve any circular movements or organization so I might call it more of a "pantomime".  It was just a series of songs and rhymes that told a story about St. Nicholas.)

3. I cleaned out my pantry this week.  I have been procrastinating it for a very long time.  We have a problem with our dryer (which is in the pantry) so that area of our house is overly moist.  As a result, all our food cans had rusted and some of our food was at risk for spoiling.  Since we have lots of food storage, this was a very bad thing.  But I have still been putting off taking care of it for a long time.  Finally, this week, I contacted the apartment manager about fixing our dryer vent, replaced all our food cans, and scrubbed the mold off every visible surface.  Going in our pantry now makes me really happy.

4. On Tuesday, my mom came to visit us.  We took the boys to the Children's Museum.  For the first time, Sven seemed really awake to the experience.  He enjoyed playing the water area and seemed very reluctant to leave.  It's fun to see him developing interests and opinions.

5. I also got to spend all Tuesday afternoon sitting on the couch, talking to my mom.  I like that we can do that.

6. Then Carl, Sven, and I all got sick.  Soren took good care of us, which is why I'm including this in my favorites.  I think he really enjoyed doing many "adult" tasks: making breakfast, putting on movies, stripping the beds, starting the laundry, and reading to his brothers.  I am really grateful to have my big, helpful boy.

7. Thursday afternoon, Sven was so sick he fell asleep in my arms.  That hasn't happened for a very long time and it was kind-of sweet.  He was all warm and cuddly.

8. I did some Christmas shopping--online!  I love browsing from the comfort of my own (cat-picked) desk chair.  I got used books for everyone in my family and most of them came in the mail this week.  I love that I can shop without going out in the cold.

9. My mom bought me a lap harp for my birthday (which was way back in August).  Well, it finally arrived this week and it is so awesome!  I can sit comfortably on the couch and play to my heart's content.  In fact, I did that during Sven's third nap today, with Soren and Carl requesting primary songs and then clapping appreciatively.  (What a great ego-boost!)  I am excited to write some music for our upcoming D&D games and to get a fake book for harp-accompanied sing-alongs.  I love my new little harp!
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