This Week at Our House # 19

1. There may be a little bit of hope in the job search or at least after months of silence, we are starting to hear things. This week, the kids caught, a frog that could jump very high and escaped several times before escaping forever, a toad that they still have, and a crayfish that they thought was nasty, but kept for two days. North Carolina is a naturally funner place for kids to explore, even in their own little yards.
2. We went to the beach on Tuesday because it has been hot. That is always such a nice thing to do. We all love the beach. I didn't get a chance to swim much, but I had a lot of fun taking a very excited Suzy into to jump the waves and then having her fall asleep on me later as I watched John and the kids splash in the waves.
3. Ruth went by herself to find John who was at the bathrooms at the beach and a creepy looking guy followed her. When she got up to the bathrooms the guy stopped her and said, "Has anyone told you that you are pretty?" He then asked her her age. She said 18, and then he paused and asked if she had a number. Ruth said, "Nope, but I have a dad,"and waved at John and said "hi" as he came out of the bathroom. He later found us on the beach. I was a bit stunned at the guy seeking out my daughters who were surrounded by family and wearing modest swimwear when there were very many girls there alone of just in twos and wearing bikinis.
4. Kate is very mature. I talk to her a lot and I am always impressed with her strength, discernment and judgment. 
5. Before we go to bed at night, Johnny always ask John and I what he can get for us. He often brings us water and snacks.
6. Adam whistles all the time, and if he is not whistling, he is humming or singing. But if Adam is awake and inside, there is constant music coming from Adam.
7. Rachel is such a picky eater, I have always had a hard time getting her to eat the food I am make. For a time, she could just starve herself sick until we bought her favorite junk foods: chips and ice cream. I finally got wise about it and have been forcing her to eat healthy and regularly, and now that she is 10, she can prepare food the way she wants it, so I always have her make her own breakfast and lunch and then make her eat it.
8. Anya is a good reader. She reads out loud smoothly and quickly. But I have a hard time getting her to pay attention when I read to her. She really does not listen to anyone at all.
9. I bought a book for Joseph for school. He got it Friday afternoon and read the whole thing. It's not a hard book, but I was still pleased that he was excited enough to read it all. Though now I am stuck with deciding what to read next.
10. I am in the process of deciding what sort of curriculum will work best for Josh for kindergarten. Joseph and Anya learned to read quickly and easily at that age, and Adam and Rachel did not. I think Josh may be a little slower and the best course of action would be to wait a full year on reading and focus his kindergarten on simple phonics, books I read to him, and then on his talent for building things.
11. Arwen was a little sick near the end of the week. She had a low grade fever and a bad cough. I used breathe, a doterra essential oil on her chest and feet and her cough went away after one application. I really do feel like essential oils have been a huge blessing to the health of our family.
12. Susan surprised me at the beach. Up until this trip, she was afraid of the water and stayed away, only playing in the sand. This time, she ran right to the water and played next to it. As soon as I came near her, she screamed with delight and ran full speed into the water. I was so grateful that she waited for me. I allowed her to get knocked around a little, to give her an idea of the force of the water, but mostly, we enjoyed playing safely in the waves together.

This Week's Pictures