ElCloud Homeschool: Busy Minds, Busy Hands, Busy Feet - Birthday cake and a family update

Jan. 30, 2009

Birthday cake and a family update

Posted in Family Life
It's our birthday season.  Last week we celebrated M's 5th birthday.  He wanted chocolate frosting with sprinkles on his cake ... so that's what we had.  This week we're celebrating R's 12th birthday.  She wanted ice cream cake, so we used the Duggar's ice cream cake recipe to make her an oreo (not butterfinger) ice cream cake.  Yummy!  J turns 8 in about 2 weeks, but he's not sure if he wants a Star Wars cake, an ice cream cake, or a dirt cake with gummy worms.  He's supposed to be having his first "friends party" so he's thinking about what his friends will like, as well.

The kids all seem healthy again.  A few have lingering coughs, but were well enough to go to church Wednesday night.  Baby G is no longer coughing, wheezing, or having a stuffy nose.  That's a blessing!  We still have one child on medication, since M has an infected thumbnail area from biting his nails.  But even that is improving (it got nasty looking, it was so swollen.)

We've begun the process of updating our family photo wall.  We haven't had the children's individual portraits taken in 4 years, except for a baby photo of 2 yo L.  We had a family photo taken in the summer of 2007, but not any recent photos of the children.  They've changed quite a bit in 4 years, as they've been reminding us.  They're so excited to be getting updated portraits ... and they love their individual time with the photographer and a parent!  The star of the show!

 5 yo M had his pictures taken a few weeks ago, and we'll have 12 yo R's taken this weekend.  M was very bashful and it took him a long time to warm up to the photographer.  He never did speak to her.  Being a distractible boy, we had to shoo his siblings out of the room repeatedly to keep his focus on the photographer's instructions.  Next month we'll have J's birthday pictures taken, and so on.  We'll go in birthday order, and get everyone's photos taken this year.  Hopefully we can end the year with a family portrait in the Fall.

Homeschool is going well.  We've finished testing Further Up & Further In, although I need to read it over some more and gather my thoughts on the curriculum.  I have Beyond Five In A Row and Tapestry of Grace to test with the children now.  Auralog Tell Me More Spanish just arrived yesterday, and I need to start that.  13 yo A is still plugging away at the Latin Road to English Grammar, and we need to begin Friendly Chemistry with her.  SpellQuizzer is ready for me to download for testing, and Apologia science (not sure what level they're sending) should arrive in the mail this week.  It's getting busy again, and keeping track of it all can be confusing at times.  But we're enjoying our TOS Homeschool Crew journey.

Oh, 7 yo J is improving so much in his reading!  He's really reading now, although he still lacks confidence.  I'm trying to encourage him, brag on him, and build up his confidence.  I still haven't seen him pick up a book on his own to read to himself, but one day he will ... and I'll rejoice!

I just created our cattery website this week.  I had originally wanted a full website for our Persian Cattery, but I didn't know how to build one and Steve didn't have time to create one.  Then a friend of mine used a blog for her Ragdoll cattery last year, and I've thought about it off and on ever since.  Our Queen is pregnant right now, so I guess I was subconsciously thinking about a website again.  I'd discussed a website with my sister a week or two ago.  The other night, I was researching something for Steve at WordPress, and just signed up for a cattery blog on a whim.  I should have done it sooner.  You can view our cattery blog at http://elcloudcattery.wordpress.com.  See our pretty kitties!?

That's a little update on our life.  Next week we begin (resume for us) Tapestry of Grace, and I'll give a more detailed homeschool update then.

Trusting in Him,
April
• Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!

Comments


Entry 258 of 802
Last Page | Next Page



My Stick Family from WiddlyTinks.com





Get a playlist!

About Me


Welcome to ElCloud Homeschool blog. My name is April, and I'm married to my best friend, Steve. We have 7 active, creative children ages 14, 12, 10, 8, 5, 3, and 1. This blog is where I share about our Christian faith, our family life, our homeschool, and my reviews of curriculum and books. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 is our goal for our family and our homeschool.

Home
View my profile
Who is April?
Email Me
ElCloud Archives
Subscribe To My Blog
ElCloud Disclosure Policy
My Friends' Recent Posts
ElCloud Homestead Blog
ElCloud Cattery Blog
Lessons I've Learned About Homeschooling

Our Family

Steve 36 yo hubby
April 36 yo SAHM
A - 14 yo girl
R - 12 yo girl
C - 10 yo girl
J - 8 yo boy
M - 5 yo boy
L - 3 yo girl
G - 1 yo boy

ElCloud Categories

Book Recommendations
Book Reviews
Contests
Crafts
ElCloud Kitchen
Family Life
Homeschool Crew Reviews
Homeschool Tips
Homeschool Updates
Homesteading
Keeping the Home
Married To My Best Friend
Memes, Tags, Awards
Miscellaneous Chatter
Motherhood and Parenting
Spiritual Life
The Simple Woman's Daybook


Click HERE to grab an ElCloud Button!



Legal Mumbo Jumbo

All entries Copyright 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 by April E., blog owner.




"Full And By" Crew Mates

ElCloud Homeschool
Angie's Minivan Moments
Faith, Family, and Fun
Raising Olives
The Adventures of Three Guys And A Doll

My Favorite Scriptures

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Psalm 127
Psalm 128
Titus 2:3-5
1 Thessalonians 4:10-12
1 Peter 3:1-6




2009-10 TOS Homeschool Crew [−]

Thank goodness I was never sent to school...Beatrix Potter quote at DailyLearners.com



Click on the + symbol to expand these boxes and view the links.

Homeschool Links [−]








HSB Friends Blog Links [−]
UndertheSky
julie
tn3jcarter
devdoordeborah
JillNovak
cofeeiv
AmandaBennett
catherinelove
PeakmoreAcademy
MySmokyMtnHomeschool
DianaWaring
DandelionSeeds
Lilacs
redmom
TEACHmagazine
Titus2woman
gal51
thewestiecrew
joymommy
MrsMiz
MamaMary
granolamom6
COMamabear
Cre8iveMom
cappuccinosmom
GoingRural
Aligirl
Quiver0f10
FaithfulGrace
Juliestew
Dickinsonfamily
Indianamom
emmaus
Pattycake
conansangel
sagerats
rerlpr
teena6
Janne
Momof5littlewomen
heartofvirtue
Happyhome
weareqf
mycrazylife
jacobsacademy
EclecticUnschooling
momofmore
Raisingarrows
Blestwith10
familyfarm
MuckFootMom
momofsix
ChathamMommy
hskubes
Katartismosacademy
OreoSouza
blessedwoman
kindredspiritMom
mommyto7
lmb4him
TheFruitfulVineHomeschool
REInvestor
dawilli
Kansas
LynninTX
TinaMo
genamayo
Homeschooling6
jazzeejojo
HappySonlightMomof7
rjdjohn316
SuperAngel
barbieheart
JacqueDixonSoulRestES
blessingsabound
haystack
CandyFoote
homeschoolingmommaof4
Glory
Mommaofmany
thebrandtgang
5boys2girls4now
layla7
soldout841
Zookeeperof10
andijeane
6blessings
kristarella
Rmy1299
SarahLynne
5atkins
Cysco
homesweethomeschooler
kaysmarmey
GraceAtHome
aCleanHeart
knowjc4peace
MoreLittleWilsons
SHMILYtime
homeschoolmama
TwaddleMeNot
Sonya
tiredmom
HomeSchoolMomma
TakieNothing4Granted
ApplesofGold
KaneFamily
titus2v5woman
GiffordBabyJournal
timbuck2mom

kristenph
MrsPivec
Kristi
HavenAcres
Backyard
jenn4him
AllThingsMommy
HSBAdmin
WriteInHisLight
charles0322
ReviewsbyHeidi
Ksudoc93
homegrownhomeschool
ArrowsInOurQuiver
happycamper
JoyfulMomma
srostollan
EdisonMom
ChristLover
amaneh
wings
EagleHeights
HomeMomto3
jesmicwilmom
EAMartonyi
brite00eyes
Flybaby
denicelg
ReadThisSummer
jeneastland
PowerlineProductions
homeschoolingKatt
Sheri
LydiaNJoy
momma24blessings
kvenvolden
SevenSmiths
4Girls
SisterTipster
TheCrazyMom
HomeschoolCrew
ejmiller
Kelsi
BrittanyA
laurabelle
sudsinthebucket
cmjenniferm
electricrose
daisy1
affiliateblog



Maiden Voyage of Homeschool Crew BlogRoll [−]

TOS Crew Mate Award





Haven BlogRoll [−]


Blog Carnival Links [−]



Charlotte Mason Carnival

Carnival of Homeschooling


Homeschool

Ultimate Blog Party 2009



Blog Ads & Links [−]



Wordle: TOS Homeschool Crew
TOS Homeschool Crew

Wordle: ElCloud Homeschool
ElCloud Homeschool Blog



BlogWithIntegrity.com









View my page on The Homeschool Lounge

2009 Holiday Digital Supplement/Idea Book








Map of the Humanities
Ever wish your kids could see the "big picture" of what they're studying?

The "Map of the Humanities" puts it all on one page: history, literature, government, fine arts and philosophy from Creation to right now!









I review for Thomas Nelson Book Review Bloggers


Blogging For Books









Entry 258 of 802
Last Page | Next Page