This Week at Our House # 42

1. My birthday was on Friday, so John made jambalaya for dinner for me. His work went well this week, He had a break through on his recent project and a good meeting with his boss.
2. I am now 41!!! I saw the midwife on my birthday. She did a non-stress test, and it looks like the baby is doing great. I am now 36 weeks pregnant with less than a month to go. I'm looking forward to meeting this new little one. Oh and I got a nice, soft, and new area carpet that covers most of the old, dingy carpet in the living room area and we are loving it!
3. Ruth is working very hard. She has a lot of homework-- more than any of her roommates. Her art class is particularly rigorous. She barely dated during high school and is now having that pleasure. I am glad that she is getting that before she leaves on a mission.
4. Kate and Johnny did not have seminary all week because last week's hurricane resulted in the rivers over flowing and seminary being cancelled for a week. Kate made chocolate cheesecake for my birthday. She has become a very good cook and is often eager to try new things. She can make bread now and enjoys that.
5. John has Johnny working on some projects for school. He had him building a motorized lego thing that will draw a perfect circle. Johnny has not enjoyed the assignment but has worked diligently on it. 
6. Adam made charcoal and then used it to make a water filter. Both turned out well and he really enjoyed the assignment. Adam is going to make a backyard foundry using plaster and sand next. That will be much more complicated, but after that is made, Adam will be able to melt soda cans to make other things out of medal. Adam enjoys this part of home school the best. I think piano is his second favorite, as he plays all of the time.
7. Rachel came with me to my midwife appointment on my birthday. We went to Trader Joe's to buy some high quality dark chocolate and then out to lunch. Rachel was a joy to have along.
8. Anya finished reading Fablehaven and began the next book I assigned her and finished that too. Anya can be seen sitting on the couch and reading a lot more. She has always been a good reader, but now she is enjoying reading. 
9. Joseph had a good week. He did his school work without nagging. I bought a new math book for Joseph and Anya and they are both liking that much more. I had them doing workbooks and they just seemed too tedious and too much of the same thing. So, I bought a regular text book that goes through concepts faster and some multiplication flash cards to help them memorize their times tables. 
10. I found the magic potion to get Josh to stop whining and screaming and just being grumpy and mean. I remembered a conversation I had with a close friend about her screamy little boy. She just put a squirt of soap in his mouth anytime he whined, screamed, or disrespected. I tried that on Josh and our house and Josh were transformed in 24 hours. It never ceases to amaze me how a little push or a little discipline can change an unhappy child into a happy child.
11. Arwen came with me to my midwife appointment too. She was really quite good considering we were shut in a room with no toys for a half hour to monitor the baby. Arwen always wants to come with me. I take her most of the time.
12. When I told Susan that it was bedtime, she replied, "I can't want it." Susan got into everything all week long and screamed when she got her out. Two has definitely been a terrible and an emotional age for Susan. It was for Rachel and Kate too. In fact, Suzy reminds me a lot of Rachel at that age. I had a hard time when Rachel went through it, but Susan doesn't bother me too much. I am surprised that after 9 other two year olds, I am finally relaxed and enjoying this terrible age.

Tender Mercies

1. Since John is really only employed on a month to month basis, it is really important that he keeps coming up with new projects and creating them in a timely manner. Heavenly Father has really been there every step of the way with John and this job and John is doing very well.
2. We had no affects from the hurricane while people all around our little area lost electricity and had to deal with severe flooding.
3. Through Church we will have a few opportunities to help others displaced by the flooding.
4. After a loss, it is always a tender mercy to know that the pregnancy is going well and all is well with the baby.

This Week's Pictures

Making a water filter

making charcoal