The kids are all doing well in school, and we have had some afterschool schooling activies. Mainly reading programs and scouts,and piano lessons.

So if you would like to see more of what is happening in our home visit www.xanga.com/midge8

It has been quite busy around here, We have many projects going on in the house, so far they have finished the attic pull down ladder and the arch way in the living room/ dining room. They will be back Saturday to work on the changing the garage into a bedroom, and then onto the roof.

Today the pool guys are coming to start putting in the pool.

But the reason I am so sore is I have been raking out areas of brush before it grows agian, as I am trying to regain some more yard. So therefore my upper body aches,and I have started walking at the local school track with some of the women from my church. It is great there is a grassy area for the kids to play and the track is soft to walk on. We walk and talk which has to be better for my health then to sit and talk.

Kathryn has really been showing signs of growing up lately, she has finally lost her first two teeth. She has started reading all the time. It is funny every time I turn around she has a book in her hands and she is reading outloud to someone. Kathryn is also more helpful and taking pride in doing a job well.

Last night at church, she came up to me when I was wiping the tables and asked if she could help so I handed her the dishrag and off she went. She wiped every table in the hall, then went to the kitchen and asked one of the ladies there for a broom and swept the kitchen floor.

Before long she will be a young lady.

I took all 5 older kids to get there teeth cleaned. It went well Conner has some very small cavities but they are not going to fill them at this time. Nolan has to get a tooth pulled, but that is in order to get his braces. He was born with a extra tooth, that  belongs no where in his mouth. And Sarah well she has two cavities so she will need those filled before her braces go on. Next up annual check-ups for all the kids.

We were at Pizza Hut for a Sunday dinner, and I noticed something we actually order the party meal deal they have in order to feed our family. We have also found that they always seat us at the same table, the only one that fits 8 people. Pizza Hut happens to be one of the cheapest places for us to eat out as a family; we usually go twice a month.

Why to we even take our large by today’s standards family out to eat, because we want them to be comfortable and know how to behave in a restaurant setting. While eating out they practice the skills of reading a menu, ordering, asking nicely for refills, and behaving in a restaurant.

Some if the many things the kids do while waiting for there food is play tic tac toe with there straws and the sugar packets. We also play Family quiz show were Dad goes around the table asking math, spelling and other school questions.

It always makes you feel that you are doing the right thing when some one in the restaurant comes up to you on there way out and tells you what a wonderful family you have.

But of course this Sunday during dinner out the kids were having a fit of the sillies and started taking in rhyme. Pat said “How about a Whale in a pail with a snail? “ And my response was “Dad might get mad, or glad or even sad but it could just be a fad. “  We also had Pat the rat, Nat the cat, the mouse in the house, a fox in a box, and a cat in the hat. It was quite fun, and I think we have read enough Dr. Seuss to the baby.