Merry Christmas!

The Pattersons wish you a

Very Merry Christmas

and

A Blessed New Year!

Patterson Christmas Project Grand Total

Our grand total for the Patterson Christmas Project was $315!!!

 

That's over three times our original goal, and over four times what we raised last year!

 

The kids and I were very touched with the amount of support and encouragement we received toward our cause.  With the $315 we were able to buy a goat, a sheep and some chickens from World Vision.

 

 

A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated and encouraged us along the way.  You've all made a difference for some needy families who now have a chance to earn income through these farm animals.

 

Merry Christmas!

Chef Graedon

Graedon is a master chef in training.  He's alway eager to lend a hand in the kitchen, and I try my best to let him.  It's an exercise in patience to have a four year old help out.  Sometimes we end up with an entire loaf of bread toasted and slathered with a pound of butter...and a very proud little boy.

 

On this day, Graedy and I made roasted root vegetables.

 

He cut the carrots and garlic, and mixed in the EVOO.

 

 

 

He helped fry up the fish, too.  He's a pro with the wooden spoon.

 

 

I'm hoping to have him fully on kitchen duty by the time he's 5....anyone want to come for supper?

Yes.

And, then, there it is. 

X

What's that saying?  If you don't like it, change it?

 

I don't think it applies to math tests.

 

 

See what I have to put up with?

 

 

 

A+ for originality, I guess.

Good Deals

I was at a yard sale this summer.  Amid the cowboy boots, dusty vases and slightly used bedsheets, I spied them...a set of Little House on the Prairie books.  Mint condition.  Nine of them.  They called my name.

I was hesitant to ask their price.  Everything in the garage was overpriced, likely the result of the owner spending too much time lingering over each item, nostalgic, sipping glass after glass of Pinot Noir (these were not Boones people). 

But, a Little House set!  How could I risk waiting much longer?

I nonchalantly stepped up to the seller, and asked the price of 'those kids' books over there'. 

Evidently, she had not been nostalgic for the Ingalls.  Probably more of a Twilight fan.  "Oh, a quarter each....but if you buy them all, you can have them for $5."

Um. 

And then came the awkward moment where she thought she was all that and a bag of chips, and I had to break it to her that nine quarters is only $2.25  . 

I got the entire set, and a pair of cowboy boots thrown in, just for kicks.

Why The Cha-Cha-Slide is Part of Our Curriculum

Yes, why indeed?

The Cha-Cha-Slide is a perfect example of overlapping lessons, as well as making efficient use of your time and resources. 

Among other things, it teaches:

*right from left
*sense of direction, namely front and back
*following directions
*working together as a group (Everybody clap your hands! clap clap clap clap clap clap clap)
*counting 1-6
*self-reflection and improvement (How low can YOU go? Challenge accepted!)
*rhythm and tempo
*classic ballroom dance moves (cha cha, yes?)
*copyright infringement and consequences of such

And now, it's time for you to get funky!