This Week at Our House # 1

1. Our first week of 2016 was spent moving in, getting into new schools, and taking care of funeral arrangements for Christopher. On Monday, John took Kate, Johnny, and Adam to our storage unit to get our beds, couches, and as much stuff as he could fit into a 17 foot truck. He got back after 10 and then they unloaded including bringing a piano into the house. We dropped the truck off at 1 am. John and I went to a private (just the two of us ) showing of Christopher of Wednesday. Then we had him cremated on Friday. John went to the cremation. It was quite the week. 
2.  On Monday, I spent the whole day getting what I needed to get done so the hospital bill will be paid. I got Kate and Ruth registered into the local high school on Tuesday, which took much of the entire day too. Wednesday, I went back to the hospital to get a keepsake box they made for Christopher and then later to the showing. On Thursday, I started homeschooling Johnny, Adam, Rachel, Anya, and Joseph. So far, the kids are being really good about getting their work done. Thursday was the first day I had time to rest. Tonight we will do an in home funeral service for Christopher with the kids. His ashes are home with us, which I am glad about because we do not have a permanent residence. I feel comforted to keep him with me at this time. I am also glad we were able to find an affordable option that we can feel comfortable with. The ward here has been so good to us. The relief society president called me Monday morning and it was only on Tuesday that I could get back to her. But she set up 8 meals to come in starting that night. The meals have all been good home cooked food and the people don't seem afraid of our big family. Actually everyone I have had to deal with here in our little town have been very kind and understanding in a way that I am not used to.
3. Ruth started the new school. We plan to stay here, if at all possible until she graduates in June. The school is easier going than the one she attended at my parent's house. It's very different than Bountiful High and she misses Bountiful High, but I think this will be fine here and she will like better than the other high school she attended in North Carolina.
4. Kate is going to school this week to finish off her semester, but then she has decided to homeschool the rest of High school. She was very distraught at having to take the same classes again. After praying about it, she chose to come home and just study what she wants and what she needs for college.
5. Johnny, as always, is very helpful and cheerful. He has mostly been good about doing his school work. I have been giving him final projects to finish off his last semester and then he will start on 4 more semester courses to finish his sophmore year of high school. He will be studying English 10, Chemistry, Pre-calculus, and Violin/piano. I will require him to spend at least one hour a day in chemistry, pre-cal, and music, and then 2 hours (for extra reading) in his English 10.
6. Adam has been very good about doing his school work and his reading. Because we now have such a nice yard, he also spends lots of time making targets and shooting his bb gun. Adam also did a great job helping to move all of our stuff. 
7. Rachel has been good about her school work, but less good about her reading. She works slowly as does a good, thorough job.
8. I found out that Anya loves to write stories. I got her a writing journal as part of homeschool and it is her favorite part. Anya also had her 8th birthday on Saturday. She is looking forward to getting baptized. I think our records will be in this ward soon, and then we will get that set up.
9. Joseph is easy to teach. He works quickly. He is a good and fast reader. I think he will be easy to homeschool. And he lost his very first tooth. 
10. Joshua says he wants to go to regular school and I will probably send him to kindergarten because I find that it teaches the kids to sit still and pay attention in a way that nothing else does. I think a year of kindergarten will make homeschooling him afterwards a lot easier.
11. Arwen was excited to get her toys! I was excited for her to get them too.
12. Susan was most excited to get high chair. She got all excited and wanted to get into it as soon as she saw it. And she has been enjoying since then. And all of the rest of us are so happy that she is no longer taking our food off of our plates, crawling onto the table during meals, and sitting in our laps. High chairs are win/wins.

This Week's Pictures