I'm not sure how so many blogger mommies keep up to date but I haven't written an entry in way too long. Some things that have been going on:

I just got back from visiting my Mom and family in Northern California for 8 days. I spent their spring break watching my youngest brother(12) and  nephew(9) and niece(5) for my mom and sister. Both of them are single mom's working full-time and spring break can be a stressful time (unfortunately) since they have to find daycare for the kids. I had a wonderful time with them all. My children and they are best of friends. I always love to spend time with my family. One of my other sisters also came for a while so all six of us sisters were together! It was great. Not all of the boys were there...we were missing two. It was fun to live communal style; planning and cooking meals together, napping all the kids in various parts of the house, and all the other wonderful things that families do together.

Planning out next years curriculum.It's unusual for me to even begin thinking about next year before the summer is almost over:) But now that Monkey boy is only a year away from High School I feel the need to be prepared. I already got a Sonlight Instructors guide for American History. I am also planning on using Writing Strands for both boys. I haven't used it before but it looks good. I love to write...but have no clue how to teach it. I've finally realized this and quit trying to figure it out myself.

I will use Saxon math for Monkey boy and not sure yet for Action boy. I also am going to try and get through Easy Grammar with both boys, because we have done nothing but very basic grammar and I'm sure that will help with the writing.

Now...just to complete this year and not slack off as the weather is getting nice and we all want to be doing other things!

Remembering how to successfully train a little one.My little princess girl has been showing signs of being the youngest child and only girl in this family and her dad and I have been revisiting how we raised her brothers. We didn't realize how far we had strayed from our ideals, and convictions in training up our children until she began to exhibit some mighty ugly behavior. Thankfully it hasn't taken too much to get her back on the straight and narrow. Just some consistency, follow through, and meaning what we say. Along with consequences that remind her that it's worth it to obey. Happily we have welcomed the return of our sweet, happy, thankful little girl and celebrated the disappearance of her not so nice to be around twin;)

In summary, life is good. Right now it's just a hodge podge of events, commitments, schooling, cleaning and enjoying little ones. (and not so little ones anymore), and being so thankful that I get to do this. My favorite career in the world, I couldn't want for more fulfillment.