We have enjoyed our summer. Lots of activity in June, Cuyler, Cade, Catherine and I went to Kids Camp, Catherine also went to Jr. High Camp 5 hours from home! Catherine danced on the VBS Worship Team and at Kids Camp - she loves helping lead the kids into worship - it is so amazing watching my little girl dance for Jesus!

School is now back in full force, we are in our third week and it is going well so far. I am no longer watching my little neice, we miss her lots - she has been with us since she was 4mos old (her mom is a ps teacher). But this year, she is four and going to preK at the school where her mom works. And my accountability system is gone! She used to arrive at 7:15am every day, so I had to be awake and ready to conquer my day! Now I am relying on my alarm clock and the boys - and am having a tough time getting going in the mornings!

We are using workboxes this year - which is all over the internet, I won't try to explain the system since I am using the term but have not read the book! Basically, at our home, the boxes are sterlite drawers that have one subject per drawer, with fun things in every few drawers to keep them moving. This is the first year we are actually getting to play all the wonderful games we own! In the past school would be mornings till lunch time sitting at the table doing their individual work, me reading history at lunch and read alouds after lunch, then they were free. During the free time they often got on each others nerves and basically trashed their rooms or ran through the house like banshees - hey, just being honest!!

With the workboxes, their school day is longer, but there is a plan from 9 or 10ish when we begin (ok, 10 -11ish - honesty remember!) until 3 or 4ish. I am exhausted by the end of the day, but we all feel so productive bc not only are they getting to the book work, they are getting to play too. Only, this year the play time is structured, so the banshees have given me a rest.... except in the mornings, when they wake up before me and play this wonderful game involving a baseball and 3 boys running up and down the hall!