Save the Adoption Tax Credit

The Adoption Tax Credit is set to expire at the end of the month and I'm afraid Congress is so caught up in the fiscal cliff fiasco that this "minor" piece of legislation will fall through the cracks.  Please call your Senators and Representatives to ask them to pass the Make Adoption Affordable Act.  Here's a quick link to what you need to do.  If you don't feel comfortable calling, you can send an e-mail. In case you need 3 reasons to make the effort to contact your Congressmen/women, I've posted of picture.  The tax credit made a huge difference in us being able to provide for our goofy kids.  Please take a few moments to make a difference for future adoptive families.

Frugal Christmas Find

Michael's Deal of the Day is this art tub for only $5.



I snagged 2 for the girls and personalized them with puffy letters.  I think they'll love having their own art supply box and I love that they were only $5 each. Plus they are filled with all kinds of new art supplies!

The Gingerbread Houses

The girls went to a birthday party yesterday and made gingerbread houses (great activity when you have a house full of 7 year old girls).  I was very impressed with our girls' creations. 

Chloe's house

Chloe did not put a roof on her house because she wanted to be able to see all her "furniture".  The mints are the couch, the graham crackers are the TV.  She couldn't remember what the marshmallow was. 

Essie stated that she asked her friend's mom if she could use some of the green napkins to make grass before she put the snow (coconut) down. 

The sad ending of this tale is when we came home tonight, our very bad dog had helped himself to Essie's gingerbread house and so it is no more.  SO glad I took the pictures yesterday. 

An Evening with the Sand Artist

On Friday evening our alma mater, Asbury University, hosted sand artist Joe Castillo and made the tickets free to the public.  (Mr. Castillo is an alumnus of Asbury Theological Seminary and lives in Richmond, Kentucky.)  So, our family went over to Hughes Auditorium for the second time this week (see the Messiah post eariler) to see the America's Got Talent finalist do some amazing storytelling using sand and light.  If you're unfamiliar with Joe Castillo, here is a video from his audition for America's Got Talent:

Here Joe performs the same patriotic piece from his television audition in honor of the 71st anniversary of Pearl Harbor.

While telling the story of Creation, Joe draws a lion.

See the lion begin to become an elephant.

Adam and Eve

A unique telling of the Christmas story

Mary, Joseph, and the Baby Jesus

Here is a video we took of Joe telling the story of Jesus' crucifixion.

The Risen Jesus

Our kids were amazed by Mr. Castillo's talent, and it was fun to watch them gasp when they realized what was taking shape on the screen.  A great night of family fun.

The Game of Carrom

The other night, Matt dug out the old Carrom board that he brought back from Gigi's house. If you are not familiar with the game of Carrom, join the club.  Basically, its a miniature pool table and you tap you discs into you appointed pockets.  Apparently it is a Hindman family tradition and Matt decided it was time to teach our kids how to play.  They were quite fascinated and caught on quickly.

Sorry the pics are a bit blurry, the hand movements got a bit intense as the game progressed.

Chloe's first sewing project

Chloe discovered a hole in her sock and asked if she could try to darn it (as in sew it, not DARN IT!)  I got her set up and away she went.  She was very proud of herself but then was afraid to wear the sock again for fear her stitching wouldn't hold.  It held just fine though!  So proud of my big girl!

Yes, the sock does appear to be an ice cream cone, but its just because there is a light bulb in it to help her see the places that need stitching. 

The Messiah

Every 4 years, Asbury University's Music Department performs The Messiah (or rather excerpts from it.)  We took the kids this year and sat in the balcony so they could see all the musicians.  Though they got a little squirmy towards the end, each kid said, "that was awesome!" when it was all over.

Chloe watching the musicians enter

To get you into the holiday mood, here's a snippet of the concert.