This Week at Our House #45

1. I had a really busy week, so I did not spend much time with John. But he did take me on a very lovely date to the best sushi restaurant I have been to since leaving Utah. It was really yummy, a little too pricey, but very nice to be out together. John also very nicely took the van in to have the blower fixed before winter. He just took it and worked while he waited. I was so grateful to not have to do that. We went through the whole winter last year with no way to defrost the car and felt like it was pretty dangerous. I am glad to have this fixed before winter and before the baby comes. John also bought a desktop to help him with some work stuff, but also for the kids to have a computer as his laptop will still be his main work computer. That has been a nice addition and will help homeschool a bit.
2. I had a busy week trying to get things ready for the baby. I had my midwife appointment on Tuesday. They have been doing nonstress tests to see how the baby's heart is doing. So far, things are good. The heart rate fell a little at one point but was normal for most of an hour and a half. We are really praying that this baby makes it here safely. It is now 5 days until my due date. My next midwife appointment is in 4 days. John will come with me then because that is when we will make a decision about what to do if I have not gone into labor yet. We are not expecting to go in to labor by then as I usually just don't go into labor without some sort of kick start. 
3. I did not hear from Ruth much this week. She has been very busy with homework, exams, and art projects. She usually loves art, but I think this course is maybe ruining that. I hope not. She is actually quite good and has always enjoyed drawing as a hobby.
4. We've had trouble getting a hold of Kate's transcripts from North Carolina. We finally got them Friday and now need to mail them out. There was a lot of run around about where they went. We had to be transferred several times on the phone after the high school determined they did not have them anymore. Eventually we had to go to the school board and talk to the right person. Then we had to go back and pick them up. Now we will need to mail them out, All this rigmarole has stressed Kate out very thoroughly. She's learning about bureaucracy.
5. Johnny babysat a lot while I ran numerous errands once again. Since I am his teacher, I make him write papers on books that I assign him to read. He hates that. He will write for school teachers, but he always thinks it's unfair when I make him write. But that is just too bad because he needs to know how to write before college. This week I made him write a theme paper on Huckleberry Finn. He loves that book, but not does love writing about it.
6. Adam had his birthday on Friday, which he just loved! My parents came out today just for a few hours for his ordination to the Aaronic Priesthood. I was glad that my dad was there in the circle for that. Adam is now very excited to join the young men's program. 
7. On Adam's birthday Rachel got herself a serving of ice cream that was bigger than her head. I had warned the kids not to take too much because I did not want to waste such a nice treat. After a couple of kids took a lot, I declared that if someone got their own ice cream and then threw it out, they would be grounded from ice cream for a year. Rachel ate all of her ice cream!!!
8. Anya got to her first Isaiah chapter in the Book of Mormon. She spent 20 minutes reading and trying to understand one verse and then burst into tears because she just could not understand it. John and I thought that was adorable. She is definitely diligent.
9. Joseph may be a very active boy, but he sure is capable. He is only 7, but he can cook using the stove. In fact, he asks to help with dinner whenever he sees me cooking. He makes ramen noodles himself. I think it is time to have him start making brownie mixes.
10. I am just so excited that Joshua can read his Bob books so well. I thought it would be really hard for him to learn to read, but he memorizes well and is not too intimidated by sounding out.
11. Arwen got her new months supply of coloring books, but we are almost out of crayons. She sure loves to color. Arwen also came to me to tell me that she is a big girl. She does this a lot, but this was funny because she was playing with her skirt and lifted it up just like a little girl just as she was explaining that she is actually a big girl.
12. I have been talking to Susan about the new baby coming. One morning, I asked her where her baby was and she stuck out her tummy, patted it, and said "My baby is here."