My boys woke me up this morning with ds11 asking to make doughnuts.  I wanted no part of it.  I was up way too late last night and already had my "to do" list made up.  I told him he could make doughnuts, but I was taking a shower.  He got out the cookbook, made the dough, and set it to chill for two hours.  By the time I had showered and dressed, straightened my room, read my Bible, called a friend for her birthday, and started a load of laundry, ds was rolling out the dough and ready to cut out the doughnuts.  (He was using a play-doh rolling pin which, he assured me, his sister made him wash. LOL  Poor guy it took him forever to roll out all that dough!)  He used a mug to cut out the doughnuts and the lid from a vitamin bottle to make the holes.  (I wish I had taken pictures!)  I didn't want him messing with hot oil, so I fried the doughnuts (and the holes) in olive oil while he finished cutting them out.  Dd helped, too, shaking the finished doughnuts in cinnamon and sugar mixture.  It wound up being very fun, all of us in the kitchen singing at the top of our lungs!  (Be glad you weren't here!)  My kitchen is a mess and ds said afterwards, "I had no idea this would be such a big job..."  But I had fun setting aside my list for the morning.

      This afternoon, however, is business as usual (kind of).  Dd13 is working on her Advanced Math lesson.  (Did I mention she loves the Dive CD?!)  Then hopefully she'll have time to work on her PSAT prep book and practice music.  There is also some kitchen cleaning with ds11 that will happen before our Sunday School cookout tonight.  Ds11 did a Grammar lesson, a Spelling lesson, read his Bilble, worked on his verses for memorization, read a chapter in By The Great Horn Spoon, and has a Math Review Test to do before we leave.  I guess we've started school, huh?  (Oh well, we take a lot of days off during the year, anyway.)  

      For those of you who have been reading for a while, you know that finances are part of what our family is working on.  So here's a quick update:  We've been on our cash budget almost 18 months.  We have paid off three debts, with two big ones left.  We are in a pretty tight situation from now 'til November and really covet your prayers during this time.  My husband's job will be over between April and September next year.  My ds11 probably needs braces soon, but we're still paying on dd's, so that's not possible right now.  We're trying to decide which one of us should get a part time job to get us over the hump.  I am still trusting God (sometimes minute by minute) to take care of us as we strive to be obedient and get out of debt.....

      Blessings!!