January Thaw

It must have hit 60 today, reminding me of the January day we moved here five years ago. It's always a welcome relief when everyone heads outside again for more than just a few minutes. Right Hand Man was in his glory: chasing leaves, getting dirty, and getting pulled around the cul-de-sac.

We're in the midst of a busier than usual couple of months, which means I haven't had much time to keep track of our comings and goings. Elbow tried out for her first gymnastics team and made it. She's also preparing for her first communion this Sunday. Exciting times for our ten year old!

Bobo is playing basketball, which makes our Sunday afternoons a bit harried. She's loving the whole team experience though so it's all worth it. She also took on her first real job, which means she makes more money than I do!

The boys are busy with school work, Tae Kwon Do, AWANA, and their neighborhood gang. Here they're hard at work dissecting an owl pellet at our science co-op. 

And the littlest ones always find ways to keep themselves, and everyone else, amused.

We're about to enter round two of birthday season: Crockett will be six in two weeks, then it's baby's first birthday in March, followed closely by the Patriot's 4th. Hubby hits the big 40 in early April. I'm tired already just thinking about it all. 

I can't sign off without this:

The girls spent much of Christmas vacation planning, practicing for, and executing a Beauty Pageant. It involved quite a few of the neighborhood children (even one of the boys - a judge) but the contestants were only Elbow and our "adopted sister." 

Oh, and of course another picture of my not so little littlest one:

 It's been a good start to the New Year.

This Week

Whoa... Trying to take a deep breath in the midst of a very busy - but productive - week.

Ended last week with a first paper due for Bobo's literature class. She got a laptop for her 12th birthday from Gramma, Gerry, Nana, Papa and me and Hubby; a huge treat for her but also a necessity for us. We've been living on one computer for the 7 of us at home (Hubby has a work laptop) and it's not cutting it this year with all the additional writing our oldest has to do. Her paper was on The Call of the Wild. Now the group is reading The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. 

Sunday I got to hear another rousing sermon from my good looking pastor (applause from the congregation to confirm the first point, I hope I'm the only one who gets to comment on the second). Rushed off to see my boy have another triple touch down day on the field.

The girls' Ohio History class took a field trip to Flint Ridge in search of arrowheads and other fun stuff on Tuesday.

Wednesday was our usual craziness. We added to the excitement by bringing three additional kids to AWANA. Oh my.

Thursday Bobo turned 12. One of her best buddies dropped in at lunch to take her out for a surprise celebration. You gotta love homeschooling for impromptu fun like that.

Today the boys had a science field trip; the girls' group had a quiz and their fall bug collections due. Twenty insects required for each student (that's 40 for us!) and of course there's the work of classifying each one. Again, oh my.

Up tomorrow is a Tae Kwon Do tournament for Crockett, Toddzilla, and Elbow. Bobo has to miss it because she has a previously scheduled piano competition at a local university. Which, I may add, has required months of preparation.

In the midst of the craziness we did get out to celebrate Bobo's birthday tonight: dinner on the town at a local swanky, organic joint. Lots of stares coming our way. I'm not sure many local, swanky people have six children.  Happy Birthday, Bobo!

It's been a good week.

Coming to a Close

We're getting close to the end of the year. Tonight was the big finish for AWANA. The boys got book awards for finishing their books, the girls went above and beyond and gathered up 5 trophies between them and took home the 2nd and 3rd place awards for most verses memorized in a year. Elbow learned 205 this year and completed two books; Bobo 311 verses and three books. The first place prize went to one of their friends and fellow homeschoolers. One of the great benefits of doing school at home is the extra time it allows for things like memorizing hundreds of bible verses!

Speaking of bible time, check out this picture from morning devotions yesterday. When I saw what a motley crew we were (Toddzilla feeding the baby, Elbow and Crockett half asleep, The Patriot playing with his Ben 10 watch) I knew I had to capture the moment!

Our Wednesdays Just Got A Whole Lot Quieter

We are now done with choir and AWANA for the year, bringing our total Wednesday activities down to just two...

Last night was the AWANA banquet; all four children (The Patriot is too young) completed their book  and received an award. There's a lot of Scripture memory and Bible work that goes along with each book; it's a great accomplishment to have finished! The girls had their planners strategically detailed the last two months - each Wednesday listing the number of verses needing to be passed that day in order to complete the book in time. Because each child can go at their own pace in AWANA, it's a great exercise in goal setting and staying the course.

Bobo was surprised to also receive the club's 3rd place award for most verses memorized in a year with 111 verses!

Missing (already in bed): Crockett