School started today.  Jennah and Jake were back to public schools.  They sent home a load of paperwork to be filled out.  Jake, my son who does NOT like to read (milkwoman's baby, obviously not a child of MINE!) is supposed to read 100 chapter books by the end of the year.  Books of 100+ pages will be counted as 2 books. 

While I'm really pleased that there will be all of this reading going on ...... I'm having my doubts about whether or not he will actually DO this.  Please, please don't repeat this --- but Jacob is probably my child that learns the easiest, grasps concepts easiest and, well, is the most naturally intelligent.  Does that make sense?  Everything comes easy for him.  He is NOT the hardest worker though.  Jennah is.  She is very smart as well.  She has had all As and Bs since K (she's in 5th) and last year her last report card was all As.  But she worked HARD for that.  HARD.  She also has the best memory.  She remembers books word for word.  And she easily reads a couple hundred books a year.  She also does extra homework, for FUN.  But it doesn't come as naturally.  She works for it.  As Emme is homeschooled and only starting 1st grade -- I'm not sure where she falls yet.  All three kids are different.  They have different strengths and weaknesses -- just like I'm sure all of your children do as well.  Jacob's weakness is his attention span.  His unwillingness.  His impatience.  THAT is why he doesn't like to read.  It TAKES TOO LONG!  I'm serious.  Really!  Have you ever encountered this before?  So I hope this won't be a big ordeal for us.  I wonder if he will count the books we read aloud as a family?  Listen to on CD in the car?  Or should I make him actually read all the books himself?  (He will complain several times each page.........trust me, I know!)

  On to other things.......  I got 8 green pepper for a dollar and I've chopped them and frozen them for meals over the next month or so.  I did the same with tomatoes -- after peeling them.  I want to make some homeade spaghetti sauce.  YUMMY!  I think I"m going to go and get more of those green peppers -- they are generally about a dollar each in the winter time!  Great deal.

I ventured away from my menu plan for today -- but I did use 2 of the main ingredients.  I made fried potatoes w/ onions and ham and cheese omelets.  Not healthy -- oy vey!  But it was a long day and I didn't have any lunch and just couldn't wait for the chicken, rice, and ham casserole to cook in the oven.  (We didn't get home til 630)

AND -- great news!  Jake scored a GOAL in soccer tonight!!!!! 

My Dad was so proud!!!!  Me too.  He didn't score a goal the entire season last year.  He was too timid to get in there and kick the ball.  Now he's trying and he's seeing it pay off.  I LOVE that he sees that if he puts in a little effort that it WORKS!  I mainly want him in it for the exercise -- but these perks are good too!  Plus it gives my dad SUCH joy!  He comes to every practice and game. 

Well, time to pick up dh from work.....

Sherry