I have been so busy lately, and handling it all right. Well, the truth be told I've been less busy than the past. That is I gave up soccer for my girls - at least for now and since dance hasn't started yet and Natalie is without a violin teacher, my schedule is oddly empty of extra-curricular activities.

But, I've been busy because I've had to put my heart and soul back into our business. Business has been slow to say the least. I am grateful I am able to focus better and do my work more effectively than in years past. This week will be about a three times six hour work week for me (three evenings this week, but other times I will switch days with my husband and make it into work that way). Plus, today, I sort of cheated and did some work in between assignments for the girls. That sort of stresses me.

My work is web related. I put up products, make sure there aren't dead links on our site, look after how the site/s look, and pay attention to how our product lines are coming up in search engines and pay per click advertising. Our business isn't related to homeschooling. For anonymity's sake I won't say any more than that, but I just wanted to share my struggles with those that visit my site.

It isn't my desire to work outside my home. I've so fought it in years past. And, my husband agrees, if there were any other way, we'd do it. But, we need to be able to pay mortgages, food, books, clothes, health insurance, cars - that sort of thing, not to mention provide for employees. So, this is where we are at right now.

It's funny...how your kids' books can speak so strongly to your heart as you go about this homeschooling thing. Laura Ingalls Wilder didn't want to be a farmer's wife. Shortly before she married Almanzo, she asked him to not be a farmer. He told her to give him three (or four - I can't remember) years to make a go of it and then, if she wanted, at the end of the three (or four) years, if they weren't making a good living, he'd do something else. Funny thing is by the end of the book the first four years, Laura realizes farming is in her blood too, and that it is worth it. Jon, if you are reading this, I'm not saying I want to farm. But, more than that end conclusion, what I am compelled by in the book, is Laura's attitude. She's working hard, she's by herself and she just figures it's her "job". If you've read the book, maybe you know what I'm trying to say. Well, I just figure, right now, if I've got to do both roles, it's just my "job". I could have twelve chilodren and do both roles and I'd still have it so much easier than past generations. Why do we complain so? Most of our stress is of our own making. A lot of mine was from trying to be out and about too much, or from trying to attain a standard of perfectly pleasing my husband, my relatives, or others I know.

I hope these are truths I can hold onto. I hope what I'm saying is true.

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Hi Everyone! I had a good week. We did homeschool four out of five days. Well Daddy did most of the fourth, so I could put in some time at our business. That fifth day, which was actually Thursday, if you follow me, we cleaned. Doesn't sound very fun, does it. But, we REALLY needed to do it. The weather changed this week and got rainy (well mostly sprinkly) and even a little stormy (thunderstorms), so that was fun. My husband was praying for rain so he could plant his field. 

Things are up in the garden. I hope to get time to weed in the garden and in the flower beds. I never seem to get things weeded and amended in time to plant flowers. I hope to this year. Besides the weeds, our ground is like almost straight clay. It's awful. I mean you throw compost in it and it still forms clods and the thing that seems to like to grow in it best is crab grass. Crab grass loves clay! Well, I'm going to keep trying to amend it. But...my husband isn't as motivated when it comes to flower beds as he is when it comes to something that produces a tangible result (like a garden). So the flower beds are up to me to turn and amend.

You may notice when I show you pictures of my flowers, I usually show an individual plant (that somehow I've nursed to life). The exception would be my strip of shade plants. The previous owners of this place amended that soil quite well. I think because they had Hostas in there and they require composty soil. Ahhhhh. My house is the same. One my asked me if I was very organized. No, I am not very organized. What I am is a tremendous thinker...extremely analytical. So you get to hear all about the projects I get started here At Home On Basketflat. I have to try and reign myself in though and not do everything, because as Charlotte Mason said is (loosely paraphrased) that it is not the things we do that tire out our brain, but it is the things we leave undone.

Anyhow, it is Natalie's birthday this weekend and I may not get to gardening, but it would be nice if I could spend some time gardening as the weather is supposed to be nice and cool.

Here is something I want to share with you - a polkadot collage I made.

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Our Week May 24-May 30, 2009

Some weeks I can remember everything that happened and other weeks are just a blur. This was a challenging week, brain wise it was a more cluttered week.

Faith

I feel challenged this week for some reason with the state of affairs in our nation and therefore in our economy. Some weeks, I feel full of faith and see things from more of an eternal perspective. At other times I feel challenged moving ahead.

Our Farm

We planted our garden last weekend. The automatic watering has been going every other day and we look forward to seeing starts. Jon moved both sets of cows this week to new pastures. He also spent a day picking up hay and reorganizing the barn.

At Home And About

The girls signed up for a new soccer program and they really seem to like it. It is very structured and they keep them busy. Also, they tell them when they aren't paying attention, also when they need to move faster. This is Rachel's first time in a soccer program, but she's been wanting to do one for a long time. Natalie really loves soccer, but hasn't been doing that great on her team. I think her team just sort of wrote her off because she tends to space out. In this program they don't LET her do that. And she loves it.

We went to dance on Tuesday. I was pleased to hear that they are planning on keeping the studio open next year. It is a Christian studio that teaches Classical ballet and my girls just love it, so I am very pleased. The director of the studio is moving away, so we were concerned about the future of the program.

We also went to violin this week, which Natalie goes to every other week.

We went to see one of the waterfall near our house this week and were able to see the salmon jumping up the falls.

I started out the week with the house being behind because of the all the gardening and outdoors activities from the long weekend and I just kept falling behind all week. But, last night and this morning, I and the girls put the house in order. They kept asking if they could play and I kept telling them that the house wasn't all the way clean yet. I think sometimes I end up doing everything because I feel guilty about asking them to help much. I'm not sure why.

In The Schoolroom

I can't really remember much about school, other than to say we continued with what we have been doing. The Burgess Bird Book, Parables Of Nature, Discovery Of New Worlds, Free Reading, Copywork, Saxon Math, God's Design For Plants. Rachel worked on Abeka worksheets and read some.

Our Business

I didn't make it into work during the week this week. But, Jon and the girls and I headed there for a bit today. I didn't get actual tasks done, so that is hard for me. I am trying to learn more Photoshop and move ahead with some marketing things I haven't done before and new things are hard to wrap my brain around sometimes, especially when all the girls are with me.

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Our Week May 17-May 23, 2009

Faith

I've had one of those really great weeks. God really does work everything for the good of those who love Him. You can always just look back. I mean I've had really bad times in my life don't get me wrong, but honestly for the most part during those times my heart was really turned away from God. And, Job, oh man, he had difficult times, but God restored him. And, ultimately, I needn't fear he who can harm the body, but should fear him who can harm the soul. My point is that times are hard; things are hard financially out ther, and man there are people out there that are DOWNRIGHT despicable towards Christians and towards God. But still God's hand is always there for us; providing, healing, sustaining.

Our Farm

I've been weeding like crazy and planting some. I ended up having to replant my second batch of starts, they never came in. Something went wrong. We will mostly likely try to get the garden in over the weekend. But, I've been tending the flower beds mostly. I planted a couple of tomatoes in my greenhouse in hopes of some earlier tomatoes and they are growing alright. I need to get more compost mixed in on the soil - or I'll have to resort to chemical fertilizer.

Below are some pictures of our some flowers and my greenhouse - so you can see the status. The first two pictures are of a couple of Rhodedendron bushes in front of our home. I used to hate Rhodies. They can look so overgrown and when the flowers dies - just horrible. But, I no longer dislike them. One thing I've noticed is that in nature, they most often grown in the shade and don't get so overgrown - look just beautiful as they offer just a spot of shade color. But, the second thing I've learned is that you can really shape Rhody bushes. A couple of years of diligent pruning and you've got a wonderful shape. These two bushes are actually a bit marred as a Feral cat took to scratching them a while back and well they have a bunch of weeds and our manufactured home in the background.

Our Home & Health

I have been well this week. My husband is now sick. I kept up OK on the house. I made dinner four out of five days - did take out the other day. Not too bad. I didn't get back out my sourdough yet from the fridge. I hope it is still OK. I think I'll get it out on Sunday if it is OK and get going on that again.

In The Schoolroom

Well, we had a great week in the schoolroom. My Charlotte Mason reading is really starting to help me. Check out my summary on the latest chapter from Charlotte Mason on moral habits. It has really helped me in keeping the homeschooling rolling along. We've been breaking things into 30 minute chunks of time and if they get done early and in an excellent manner, then the kids get a little free time to do just what they choose. It's amazing what they'll do for 10 minutes of free time every half hour.

I did have a bit of a break from school this week. I went into our business and Jon did the homeschooling TWO DAYS this week. Way to go, honey! The cool thing is that because I was feeling better and because I feel like I'm getting a handle on this Charlotte Mason stuff, I was able to type out a lesson plan for Jon that he could easily follow.

Rachel is doing Abeka writing and phonics and math. I don't really do Abeka, but for phonics and writing I think they are excellent. And I start Saxon math in 1st grade and their Kindergarten math was just right - getting into adding and subtracting, counting by 2's, 5's, 10's, and coins. Just perfect for Rachel. At Jon's suggestion, we started giving Rachel stickers when she finishes schoolwork - and she likes that. Rachel also reads Bob books to me.

Natalie finished the Human Body book in Science. We are back in the Plants book which we previously skipped part of as we didn't have access to plants that time of year. Nat does copywork, Saxon Math (we just moved into 3), reading and narration, art, violin. In reading we/she have/has been reading the Bible, Parables Of Nature, the Burgess Bird Book, Trial and Triumph, and the Discovery Of New Worlds. She likes them all except maybe Trial and Triumph - but I think that one is a good stretch for her and I am certainly learning new bits of history.

We also went to dance this week. The girls are signed up for soccer for the summer and are excited about that. I'm skipping swimming this summer as it just seems too expensive for how much of an impact it is making. At the suggestion of a fellow homeschooling mom, I've gotten the girls life jackets and plan on spending lots of time at outdoor parks and lakes this summer. Perhaps next year we will take the discounted homeschooling swim lessons offered during the year. I'm homeschooling through the end of June. Our schools here actually go through the third week of June, plus I missed a few weeks when I hurt my arm earlier this year.

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Our Week May 10-May 16, 2009

Home & School

There was just not much to tell from this week which was different from last week in our life, except for the beautiful weather this weekend. It was gorgeous, blue skies and warm, but not too hot, and we spent time gardening. During this last week, I have still been fighting a cold, which went down in my chest. Yet, by the end of the week, it moved away from my chest, so that was good. We went ahead with reading, copywork, math, science. We spent some time outdoors. I didn't get in much Bible reading, but I was encouraged by some of the reading about people of faith that I did with Natalie. In particular we read about Francis of Assisi today. What a powerful prayer he wrote.

Natalie (as well as Mariah from her school) was very interested in Pilgrim's Progress this week. We have a condensed version and she has been asking to read it to me. Mariah has been learning about Pilgrim's Progress at her school too and is a great story teller and was busy telling the other girls the story this weekend.

Rachey has really been moving along in her reading and her phonics. Even in make pretend play, she voluntarily wrote out her alphabet with chalk and only got one letter backwards.

We went to dance this week, as well as violin.

Our Farm

My first tray of starts keeps growing. My second and third trays haven't popped up except for that which I lost. I need to get fertilizer on my tomatoes. It is supposed to be sunny coming up and I hope to do lots of weeding this weekend.

Our calf, Little Ann, continues to do well and she and the male black calf let me pet them. The laying hens continue to grow, but not at the same rate as those Cornish Cross. Those things are crazy. They are little chicks and they are FAT! Chicks really have to be grain fed at the beginning, but we haven't medicated them and plan on pasture feeding them before they are made into meat.

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My Weekly Wrapup May 3-May 9, 2009

Faith

I'm just desiring to get well and wanting to get into my Bible reading and have daily prayer and worship with the girls. I feel pretty weak right now, but you know...when I'm weak He is strong. :)

Our Farm

I planted some tomatoes in my greenhouse this week and I've been researching planting strategies for all the vegies. I lost my melon starts on Saturday when it got quite warm and we left for the morning and early afternoon and I forgot to uncover those starts.

Our little calf is doing great and all the calves are cute as can be. We have a bull here too. His owner said he is real mellow, but he's medium on the scale to us. He looks at us nervously when we go in the field with him and circles his girls, but leaves us alone and doesn't signal us in any agressive way. Still, the Pinzgauer bull we had was as mellow as a pet. I like that mellow trait of the Pinzgauers. This bull is a Black Angus.

Our Home & Health

Well, I originally thought this cold I had was a mild cold. But, it's a doozy. It's pretty much affected me in all the common ways - sore throat, sneezing, coughing, tired, etc. Anytime a cold goes in my chest, it's a big deal to me since I've got asthma. I just want to be well and this thing is dragging on.

The kids still seem a little run down, but are a lot better this week.

In The Schoolroom

Ah, well, Rachey is moving ahead reading and understanding reading rules and math concepts. Natalie just finished Saxon Math 2 and I'm thinking of starting Saxon Math 3 or starting some kind of hands-on math. She's been continuing with science. We've been studying birds and plants and she's been reading her Human Body textbook - learning about skin most recently. She's been re-reading the Trumpeter Swan book this week. Also, we finished Carry On, Mr. Bowditch. We've had a chapter left to read on that for some time now. We've read Trial and Triumph, the Education of Patience Goodspeed, and Fifty Famous Stories Retold. She's continued her copywork from the Bible and from the Handbook Of Nature Study. I feel like I'm treading water with school right now. But, there will be better days ahead I know.

Here is a cute picture of my littlest cutie for you:

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My Weekly Wrapup April 26-May 2, 2009

Faith

Oh, boy, it's been one of those weeks. Of course I prayed for my kids and husband and a few other prayers. But, my Bible reading and prayer time could really have used some improvement.

Our Farm

Well, it was a farm week. We had a calf born and she didn't look too great. She was weak to begin with, then when she tried to nurse her Mom kicked her because she was engorged and a first time Mom. We bottle fed her and tubed her some Colostrum. And, we tubed her an electrolyte water mixture, and we headgated the Mom to get the baby nursing well on the Mom. All, seems well now, although the first three weeks with any calf is the critical time. So, we'll continue to keep an eye on her. That took one full day's work, plus a few hours on another couple of days. The kids did enjoy seeing the calf born though and I think even the process of rescuing her was valuable to the kids.

We also got some new yellow chicks. They are meat chickens. We moved the older egg laying chicks outside to a small coop with a heat lamp in it. They will graduate to the big coop when they start laying.

I'm watering and watching my starts in the greenhouse. I need to get out and get some more potting soil to plant anything else. I'm thinking of buying a few starts too because of the late start I got at it. I think it would be cool to grow some tomatoes and melons in the greenhouse. Any other suggestions? What does better with lots of heat?

Our Home & Health

I made a loaf of sourdough this week, although the starter wasn't really ready. It wasn't rising enough yet even though it is a week old now. So, I want to keep going on that.

I cleaned and organized my fridge this week! Woohoo. We'll see how long it stays clean. Anyone else just hate doing that?

The girls got a cold earlier in the week and now Jon and I have it. It's real mild though. And, yeah, no one else to pass it on to! :) I hope that swine flu ends up being nothing.

Aaaagh! Natalie is having a bout with CVS (cycilical vomiting syndrome - stomach migraines) this weekend. Despite taking the REALLY strong medicine - she's still been unable to keep anything down. I've been trying to cut out sources of MSG (and there are a lot of hidden sources) out of her diet to try and prevent these since MSG is a common trigger for migraines. But, apparently, either that wasn't the trigger or I missed something.

In The Schoolroom

I felt like we did well this week. We were perhaps a little short on our reading with all the farm events that happened. But...every day Nat did math, science (she LOVES science), copywork, violin, and read some. We're continuing Fifty Famous Stories Retold, finishing up Mr. Bowditch, and reading Trial & Triumph. Nat does her copywork from the Bible and from the Nature Study Book.

Rachel has been continuing to read to me and to do her math. She's coming along.

Our Business

Jon & I went in together on Friday evening. I did a few tasks that only I could do. But, mostly I worked on trying to clean my digital sensor in my "fancy" camera, because the way it stands right now with most pictures I take over f8 (so if you want most or everything in the picture to be in focus), I get little dots on my pictures. Which is just lovely. I didn't get them off. But the guide that I have for doing this says that sometimes if I try again in a few days, I can get them off. Otherwise, it's off the manufacturer to get it fixed (which is like 3 weeks without my prized possession).

Jon & I really need to get in there more like we used to. We used to work like crazy people - to all hours, talked about work all the time, brought our kids in there. Well, that was a tough time for us, so, we don't need to be so intense. But, in order to provide for ourselves a little security, we really should get in there SOME MORE. Dave Ramsey is always saying, you either cut your expenses or increase your income or both. 

I just love being at home with my kiddos though...especially as I've been homeschooling and blogging and doing all these kinds of home projects. When I only had two kids and they were both little, I felt so isolated when Jon was at work or off doing something. I wanted him to call me on the phone every day. Not now, I'm busy. I always have time for him, but I don't NEED that distraction so much.

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My Weekly Wrapup April 20-24, 2009

Faith

I've been trying to read the Bible daily, but haven't been keeping up with my read through the Bible in a year plan. I need to keep working on that.

I keep having unbelievers and our nation and what we stand for on my heart. I will keep praying. But, also, I pray that God would direct me how to reach out to others in a tangible way.

Our Farm

Dora Ann still hasn't calved. She's at least a week past her due date - according to the last possible date she could have gotten pregnant. And, she keeps faking us out. She lost her calf last year and we weren't home at the time, so we're extra nervous. We hope it was just a fluke and that we get to keep her. She is such a sweet Momma - loves to be scratched.

I'm waiting on my greenhouse seedlings to sprout. I have one warmer for my trays. Otherwise, it's been above freezing in there, but not optimal.

The steers got out of the electric fence at the neighbors, so this week Jon is working on re-inforcing the fence over there - making it double layered in spots. He is also working on tilling a couple acres of field to replant.

Our Home & Health

We've all been healthy, except Rachel is fighting a cold. I don't know where we get them from - dance, church, or the grocery store - those are pretty much the only places we go!

I felt like I was treading water with the house all week. Oh, well, "some days are like that".

I've been trying to eat less, to the point of feeling hungry all week. My feet have been bothering me so I haven't added walking to my routine, but I've done a lot of stretching.

In The Schoolroom

We started each day with Violin practice. On Tuesday we went to dance. Nat did Saxon Math four out of five days, but it was taking her like an hour to an hour and a half to do her math by Thursday, so on Friday, I just let her do her own thing on math, which was actually a pretty good summary of what she had learned this week. Nat's been working through the human body book on her own. She even wanted to do it on Saturday she is that interested. She learned about teeth and nutrition among other things this week. She's been doing copywork from the Bible and also from the Handbook of Nature Study. She has chosen mostly to write about sheep. She really wants a goat and I think sheep are close to goats, so she's hooked. We've been doing a lot of nature study this week. Not four to six hours a day, but a good hour of dedicated time each day, plus free time outside. We looked at our giant Douglas Fir and it's deep grooves at the bottom of our property this Friday. We've continued with Parables Of Nature, Fifty Famous Stories, and Trial and Triump this week. Nat is reading By The Shores Of Silver Lake of the Little House Series this week. We went to soccer on Thursday - in the rain, and Nat had a soccer game on Saturday. The game is a challenge for her - especially the cold, early mornings, but she pretty much begs to continue next year, so I think we may. I keep going back and forth.

Rachel has really made progress reading this week. She is finally getting most of the letters - including the letter "I". Yeah! And she is all the sudden able to understand the "vowel followed by a consonant followed by an e" rule. She can't actually tell me vowels from consonants - but she gets that certain letters followed by other letters followed by an e say their name and the e says, "shhhh!" How cool is that! I can't tell you how pumped I am at that.

Abigail, well Abigail is cute and she likes to do "Copywork" too right next to sisters - she likes to get out pencils and paper, help with the dishes and the laundry. She's just plain cute!

Our Business

I haven't been into work this week at all. Business is pretty slow as I hear from almost everyone, yet we are hopeful for opportunities and for God's blessing.

On Friday, we went to dinner with some friends. Here are some cute pictures from that night:

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My Weekly Wrapup April 13-17, 2009

Faith

I have been feeling convicted about praying for unbelievers we come into contact with and to set an example in this with my children, rather than just get frustrated with people that seem to have no regard for God or Godly things. I have also had some good prayer times praying for my husband before he leaves and as we go to bed. This may seem too obvious to even state, but it's a habit we frequently get out of that is very important to us.

Our Farm

Things are starting to turn green! Jon moved the steers over to the neighbor's pasture this week. Just in time too as we are running out of hay. We sell pasture fed steers that people have butchered. It's totally healthy. And great meat - although it has a slightly different taste than grocery store meat, but I think better!

We also raise Momma Cows who have babies. We keep the girls for breeding, and hope to get all our steers from our own herd one day. We have a Momma Cow we've been waiting to go into labor forever. Jon says now at this point that she had to have gotten pregnant the last day the Bull was here because even according to that date she's overdue a couple of day. She looks REALLY ready. So wait to hear about another calf. It will probably happen at night, it always seems to.

Our Home & Health

I managed to mostly (except my room and a carpet shampooing) do a house top to bottom this week. It feels good to me. After the broken arm, I've felt really behind.

I hope to get back in the swing of things in my cooking soon. I made home-made bread one day this week, but I hope to get some sourdough starters going, some buttermilk going, and get an Azure order placed.

In The Schoolroom

It's often hard to remember exactly what we did during a week. Of course, Natalie continued on her Saxon math. I love its gradual approach, for instance even in 2nd grade they are introducing multiplication with 5's first, then 2's and 3's.

Natalie -7- finished reading Kavik, The Wolf Dog, which was one of my favorite books when I was in grade school. I'm glad she liked it as well. She finished reading Tom Swift and His Sky Racer at the beginning of this week as well. She is also reading the Black Stallion. Natalie -7- does a great job of reading picture books to her younger sister -5- as well.

In science the girls have been learning about the senses - including taste, hunger, hearing, and sight. I just can't say enough about the Answers in Genesis God's Design For Life science series. My girls love it, are always fascinated by what they've learned, and love the hands on activities.

We've been reading in Trial & Triumph, the Discovery Of New Worlds, Parables from Nature, and Fifty Famous Stories Retold. I actually find myself not only better informed for having read these books to the girls, but convicted by the stories of church leaders (or servants) throughout the ages. One particular character that will stick in our memory from this week (especially since there were stories about him in more than one book) is King Alfred The Great.

Natalie -7- has chosen to do her copywork out of The Handbook Of Nature Study and has been writing about sheep all week. She has done a great job.

I continue to work with Rachel -5- on phonics, phonics readers, and basic math worksheets. She is quite good at math and always wants her worksheets. She isn't as interested in phonics, although she has come up with her own form of copywork - taking her sister's books and the Bible and copying them, then asking me what they say. This might just be how she ends up learning to read in the end! It's what interests her.

We've also spent a fair amount of time outside this week as the weather has been warmer. We've been seeing wildflowers, blooming trees, and other signs of spring. Since I am back to driving, we were back to all our activities this week. We went to ballet, to violin, and to soccer and enjoyed them all.

Our Business

We're continuing to get settled in to our new work location, although we have a lot of set up still to do. It's amazing how many details regarding this. I went into work for a few hours this week with my husband, then went out to dinner with him. It's amazing how this kind of arrangement suits us - when there isn't anyone else there at work, it is like a date for us - and we really enjoy working together. This hasn't been the case when we've worked together under the pressure of a daily business.

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My Weekly Wrapup April 4-April 10, 2009

Faith

I feel like God is continuing to do a work in me to pray for my world and country and family. I did not do much Bible study this week, I am afraid.

Our Farm

We are still waiting for Dora Ann to have a baby calf. Any time. She isn't showing any signs yet. Jon moved the main herd (mostly steers) to a bigger pasture. Next week he will move them to the neighbor's pasture - who generously let us borrow their field. Between my injury and the move at work - we have been behind at implementing the greenhouse. It is halfway done, however.

I am also watching all sorts of perennials start to bring forth new buds. I want to get out there and divide up some clumping type of flowers before they become too big.

Our Home & Health

My wrist is feeling quite good. I'm typing with two hands without any trouble now. It's two weeks till I'm home clear. I'm excited for that day. I want to start exercising and want to get some cooking goals accomplished. I'm slowly getting started on some of it now.

The house is getting much easier to keep up with. And I did a lot of organizing of my desk this week, which desperately needed to be done. I'm analytical in all that I do and I tend to collect more and more papers which I don't know what to do with. I like my various hobbies and interests, yet it is my desire to stick with the interests I have going and not add to them. Of course, the Lord can lead me, but too often I lead myself into disarray.

In The Schoolroom

I've really been enjoying my Charlotte Mason reading this week. It's about the out of doors. The weather was beautiful this week and between that and how I've been influenced by my Charlotte Mason reading, I have largely been allowing my girls to enjoy the weather. We have done math and reading of course. Natalie has done science. Natalie has been reading a Tom Swift book from the library. And, we have been studying nature. It has been enjoyable.

Our Business

It's been busy because we just moved and everything is still unsettled. Also, Jon's work computer went down (the core of it was about six years old and was due to be replaced) and so he has been dealing with an unreliable computer all week. This has been frustrating to him.

Other Activities

The girls went to dance this week. They just love dance. It's a Christian classical dance studio and the girls absolutely love it. I love it too as I get good fellowship there.

We also went to soccer this week and have soccer tomorrow morning. The girls really enjoy soccer, but unfortuneately I don't so much. I'm not sure what to do about next year. Sometimes I wonder if I started soccer to make up for my own lack of sports ability anyhow. Yet, sports were a really great thing for my husband growing up.

We went and watched Mariah's Easter recital at her school this week. Mariah (my step-daughter) is in a Christian school this year and we are as pleased as can be with how she is doing. She had a solo at the performance and was beautiful and sounded beautiful.

On Sunday we are planning to visit cousins, which is a long drive, but one we usually only make a few times a year.

Here is a picture of the girls explaining about their outdoor art (people made out of cedar chips).

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