Newest Photos

 

Not much has happened since I last posted. We've mostly been home, except for one Easter Homeschool party, grocery shopping, and one trip out to church. 

I have gardened a bunch, started working on a new homeschool curriculum workbook and an easy reader for my own use and to sell. I am actually hoping to get 3 curriculum books out before August 1st. We will see, that will take a lot of dedication, but I think that it will be worth it. My garden is looking promising, though it often does this time of year. I have planted most of my own seedlings this year, and I am glad that that is going well. It is a skill that I need to perfect over time. I have watched a few youtube videos and that has helped me to figure some things out. 

We had General Conference and Rachel's birthday in the same weekend. Rachel came first. We had fun playing a very long story game on her birthday. We also made sweet and spicy wings from scratch, as my mom would say. It takes about 3 hours to do that for 15 people. But Rachel requested that. We had ice cream cones on her birthday because of a 3 hour dinner, but I made her cheesecake the next day. 

We've been pushing through the school days. The weather is nice and none of us are into it so much anymore, but we will finish off this month and be done except for one month for an entire biology course. We will then take off the month of June and start school back up in July. Actually, in July, I think that we will only do math, Spanish, and Japanese, except for Sam and Susan who will be doing their reading lessons. 

We also have to get the state testing done. I have bought the tests, I just need to get the kids on them and get it done. I think I will have Anya and Arwen go this week.

All of the kids, except Joseph are getting their stuff done. Joseph needs to go to bed earlier and work harder and I have said as much to him. 

I have Rachel and Adam on an SAT prep course. Rachel is in pain. She hates it. Rachel doesn't plan to go to college, but in case that changes, I want her prepared. Adam does not have plans right now, but I want him prepared in case he wants to go to college too. 

The little ones are well. Gideon does not like me nursing Eliza and Eliza mostly wants to be held all day still, though she is crawling off to play more and more. School and writing curriculum and the other things that I am doing are hardest on Gideon and Eliza who need me the most. But everything that I do is for my children. The only thing that I do for me is facebook and that's none too exciting. 

    

Eliza, 8 months old

 Oh this year is going to fast. The only new skill that Eliza picked up in the last month is more babbling with more consonant sounds and babbling that mimics conversation more. She stands, she crawls, she sits, she falls, but she is not walking too much around the furniture yet. She is sleeping through the nights, but not every night, so that is coming along slowly. She eats a variety of foods and loves to eat. Let me restate that, Eliza LOVES to eat! She is not at all picky either. 

Sweet 16!!! Happy Birthday, Rachel!

 

Miss Rachel had her 16th birthday! Don't even ask Rachel how that is possible. She doesn't know either. She is a sophomore in high school and will be a junior next year. It's hard to believe Rachel is as old as she is because she is still tiny and still loves to play like a kid. But this year, Rachel has matured a lot. She is taller and looks older. She reads a lot now and enjoys it. She definitely sleeps like a teenager. She can stay up until sunrise and sleep until 1 or 2pm. Rachel's conversation is much more grown up than it used to be too. She is starting to talk to me like an adult and her sense of humor has really developed. Rachel's still pure and has no interest in the gross things this world wants to put before the youth. I will be curious to see what another year with Rachel is like. She has been slow to grow and slow to mature, but I don't think that has been bad. She has maintained her innocence and I think that has been good for her sweet soul. Happy Birthday to Rachel, my 16 year old daughter.