Almost Finished

 So we've had two birthdays. Adam's 16th and Sam's 4th. I asked Sam how old he is now, and he said, "I am big."

I will need to get pictures and collages finished for those before I write about their birthdays.

We've completed another week of school. We have one more to go. Most of the kids have done well and are ready for a break. I have three kids that have not finished the things that they're required to finish, so I will make them do another full week of school, with what they have not finished plus other educational things.

My three oldest kids were all very serious about their school work, about learning and improving their skills. Adam and Rachel have been the opposite and their attitudes are extending to the younger kids. I have debated about what to do and believe that it is best to enforce their education even if they're against reading and learning. I had a sister who never tried in school and when she was older and had no talents and no intelligence, she blamed my parents for not forcing her to do what she should have done. 

I put our broken washer out on the back deck. We broke the lock on the door, so that no one can ever be shut in. At first the kids used it to spin around in. Now the cats use it to sleep in at night, and the chickens use it to lay their eggs in during the day. It's not uncommon to go outside and see 3 or 4 eggs sitting on an old pillow inside the broken washing machine. I probably would have taken it to the metal recycling place soon, but I think I will keep it longer for the animals.