He LOVED everyone singing to him and clapping for him when he blew out his candles!!

He's "helping" make pizza!

He was a little unsure when he first got on Daddy's mower, but then he had a blast, waving at all the other kids playing in the yard!!

Josiah, from his bed: "Mommy, don't forget about my tooth under my pillow."

Mommy, surveying the wall-to-wall mess in his room: "I don't think the tooth fairy could make it over to your bed anyway."

Josiah: "She has wings, dosen't she!" 

This is the scene at almost every meal around here. I've never seen a child who loves to help so much!!

Snack Time!

Dress-Up!

P.S. Yes, I am alive, and obviously quite busy!! Boy, I haven't looked at that ticker on the top in a while. I'd better start getting baby clothes ready!

Sunday - Shrimp Creole, Rice, Green Beans

Monday - Spaghetti, Salad, Italian Bread

Tuesday - Creamy Chicken Enchiladas, Corn on the Cob

Wednesday - Stroganoff in a Bun, Chips, Veggies

Thursday - Garlic Lover's Chicken, Spinach and Rice

Friday - Hotdogs/Mac&Cheese, Peas

Saturday - Homemade Pizza

Well, here he is! That's the placenta on the left, kind of blocking his face, but it's the best one we got. He's definately a boy and appears to be completely healthy. We think he looks like Jarrett!

Sweet and Sour Barbecued Chicken

4 garlic cloves, crushed

4 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Juice of 1 lime

Juice of 1 lemon

2/3 cup light brown sugar

4 Tablespoons Dijon mustard

2/3 cup honey

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

8 Tablespoons olive oil

8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

In a shallow bowl, whisk together the garlic, vinegar, lime, and lemon juices, brown sugar, mustard, honey, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the olive oil. Reserve two portions of the mixture for basting and for dipping sauce, then add the chicken to the dish and turn it to coat. Grill the chicken for about 4 minutes per side or until the juices run clear. During the last minutes of cooking, baste the chicken with one portion of the reserved sauce to glaze it. Garnish with chopped parsley.

Yummy - Great summer recipe! I think it came from Family Fun magazine.

Well, we have sickness still going around here.  Devin and Kayla are the last two kids with the fever/headache/sore-throat thing, and I think I have bronchitis. I have a doctor's appointment Friday anyway, in case I need an antibiotic. I'll get to see the baby in 3-4D ultasound again!

At least I did finish up the attic before it hit me too bad. I got rid of most of my girls' clothes - how sad!  I've given up all hope. Well not quite all, I still kept the pretty dresses! It was just too crowded up there, and I sure don't need to be giving up any boy clothes! I told Devin and Kayla they could have a yard sale with all the stuff we de-cluttered last week, if they wanted to price everything and run it. They're always after me for ways to make money lately.

I guess we'll just call it a sick day around here, get the house straighten up a little, maybe put in some Walton movies, and dump some chemicals in the pool while no one's in it.

Our $50 Diningroom Table and Chairs.

The former diningroom table now in the kitchen.

The former kitchen table now in schoolroom.

Since Casey was off Monday and Tuesday, we took the rest of the week off school to do some organizing/decluttering. So far we've gotten the monthly shoppping done, Kayla and the boys' rooms done, and we have a BIG goodwill pile! Sometime today, Casey's going to go get a small rubbermaid shed for the kids' bikes and sports equipment. So tomorrow, we'll have a big yard clean-up day! The kids have been having a blast in the pool - I'll have to post some pics - but, today looks like it'll be a rainy one.

Our plans for today:

-Make several loaves of banana and zucchini bread - to use for Sunday and to freeze

-Get the ironing done

-Several loads of laundry, including bedding

-Clean out van

-The plan was burgers for dinner, but since it looks like rain, I'll probably switch it with our pizza night tomorrow

-As soon as the temp cools off this evening, I'm gonna climb around the attic for several hours to sort everything out.  I just threw everything back up after sorting summer clothes, so if I don't do it now, I know I'll regret it when I'm eight-months pregnant and trying to find everyone's winter clothes and baby clothes!

Casey preached at a church in another town today. It's small and they don't have a nursery, so I spend most of the time in a room with the baby. I can always overhear the Sunday School class next door. Josiah and Jarrett are in there together. I heard the teacher ask Jarrett, "Who is Jesus?" He answered, "God." I was just thinking how proud I was of my four-year-old's theology, when she asked the class, "Who is the king over the jungle?" Josiah answered...........................

"TARZAN!"

Guess we'd better break out the catechism!!

Josiah: "GRANDAD HAD KIDS??!!!!"

Josiah, in a loud voice, from the back seat of the van:

"I sure hope the next baby's a girl, so Kayla won't be so special!"

Well, I had my first doctor's appointment today. My due date has been changed to October 12. And the big news is:

It's a .........................................

Brother!!!!

We're back! I only found one thing off my Need List, but that saved me $30. Lots of the stuff I'm looking for is consumable, so it's rare to find unused. I gave the kids a bag of change, so they had fun running around, buying books. For $10 I got a bunch of misc. history, science, drawing books, and two Steve Green CD's. So, I guess it was worth the trip. Now back to the actual learning!

Well we're headed to Graham this morning. They're having a used homeschool book sale at the rec center. I'm going to drop Josiah and Jarrett off at Ashley's house, since they're the two who are the most distracting when I'm trying to think! I already bought one book I needed used the other day for $1 - can't beat that!

Then we'll come home to do some more school, and Devin plays in his basketball tournament this evening. He plays one game if they lose and two games if they win.

Elias just got over several days of high fever, so I'm hoping it won't spread, but it seems to be stopping with him.

We're moved on from cat stories to dog stories. Our miniature datshund (ok - i can't spell that) was diagnosed with heart worms a long time ago, but lived years without symptoms. Now she's starting to cough and have trouble breathing. From what I've read on the internet, once they have symptoms, they don't have long to live. So we'll probably have to have her put to sleep very soon.  I just have to tell myself that no matter how upset the kids get, do not say, "It's ok, we'll get another dog one day." See, now everyone can laugh at me when we have a lapse of judgement and fall for pleading little eyes and some cute little puppy! My dad used to tell me, "All kittens are cute, but they grow into cats!"

Wednesday - Beef Tacos, Refried Beans

Thursday - Tuna Casserole, Veggies

Friday - Spaghetti, Salad, Italian Bread

Saturday -  Homemade Pizza, Salad