My last entry was Feb., maybe blogging is a quarterly event for me, I dunno. I am spending my computer time on the Sonlight forums and facebook - but I felt like I was being neglectful of this little blog.

My server is down, which is why you can't see any of my pictures, my sweet husband has ordered me a new motherboard and will get it fixed soon.

Since I last updated:

Preston turned 17, we spent his birthday camping in Destin at Henderson Beach State Park, which was beautiful. We were there for a few days and the kids enjoyed skimboarding on the beach while I watched from my sandy lawnchair (they made me a lawnchair out of sand, oh so comfy!) Andre' and Preston rode a Waverunner, Preston drove and succeeded in throwing them both into the bay! They had a blast, male bonding and such! I am so thankful to our dear friends who allowed us to use their camper and gave us this great memory with our family.

Catherine, 12, is dancing again, in a limited way. She dances for our children's ministry worship team and is having a wonderful time. She is finishing 7th grade and spends her days reading, writing and dancing, and if she cannot engage in those activities she is talking about them! We just got our big box of books for next school year and she was helping me go through them to make sure everything was there (and to oooh and ahhh over the titles). Preston is taking British Lit and she was eyeing his books with envy, asking when she could read them! I told her she could read them her senior year and she was visibly bummed, so I caved, if you finish core 7 (we are taking 2 yrs to do it) this summer, you won't have anything to read next year so you can read them then! She is such a cool kid!

Cuyler will be 11 soon, is still a lover of numbers and is reading tons. I am so grateful that we did not push him, he really did catch up like I was told he would. And because we did not push, and did not make him feel like a failure, he loves to read. His favorite right now is "Good and Evil" by Michael Pearl. He is also fascinated with all aspects of Star Wars and has created elaborate storylines with his friends and brothers. Honestly, I enjoyed the movies, but I do not care who is a Sith Lord and who is a Jedi and whose Padawan learner is better than the other. I listen, I am really good at asking the right questions and making him feel like his world is important, because it is, but I do tire of the constant Star Wars news that is reported ad nauseum in our house. I also know that if I listen now, and he feels loved and valued, that when the issues are important, he will keep talking. So I keep listening, even with a smile on my face!

Cade is 9, hard to believe he is such a little guy. Gramps tells him "We are dimes among nickles." My sister, Michelle, took him to the vet where she used to work to show him around. He had a great time and got to see a "procedure" done on a cat. This kid is so into science and animals, I think I have a doctor on my hands with him! He is also very compassionate and tender to others, esp. if they are smaller and weaker unless of course the smaller one is Geoffrey, then all bets are off! He is also the child who makes it a point to ask for permission for most of the things he does, I did not realize that was unique until a friend said something. We were at a party and Cade came to me to ask if he could have a peice of cake, I said sure and thought nothing of it. My friend (our children's pastor) sat there shocked and pointed out that bc of the location of me and the cake, he could have easily taken a peice and I would have not even known. Nice to hear something good that I did not know about him!

Geoffrey is 7. Seven, my baby is seven. He is still 'the baby' even though he is not A baby! He is finishing first grade and loves school. I know because I asked him, his favorite is handwriting, which is really neat because at the beginning of the year he really struggled with penmanship. He is my leftie, but when he is coloring he uses both hands at the same time with 2 different colors. You see, he dislikes coloring and has figured out a way to finish faster! Math is pretty easy for him too, as is reading. He loves to be outside in the dirt, riding his scooter and jumping on the trampoline. A few weeks ago we were visiting friends and he was jumping on their tramp (with a net) - the trampoline has a net, not the kid. Anyhow, he and Cuyler were playing guess what - Starwars, that is ALL they seem to play - and Geoff lunged for Cuyler, Cuyler dodged him, the pole did not! I was inside fixing a hamburger prepared by my dear friends husband, and really looking forward to eating it cuz he can make a mean burger - alas, we were not meant to be, that burger and I - apparently I had an appointment with the ER! Geoffrey needed four stitches in his forehead. He is my most accident prone child, he has had the most medical issues - not illness, injury. There was a period of several years that we showed up at every family function with someone in stitches or with a broken bone - usually Geoffrey! Something to ponder, is it HIM or is it that he is the fifth so I am more relaxed? hmm

We are almost finished with school and we are all ready for a summer of fun. See you again in August for our next quarterly update, kidding -I think!