It's been a week since I've updated, and for that I am sorry. 

Things here have been pretty slow.  Today is church -- and I am hoping that will be all for today.  I know it's a day of rest, but I was sick on Friday and gone all day yesterday, and this house needs attention!  Desperately.  So, I will be cleaning house.

Emme has been really into crafts all week long.  They hold her interest for hours.  We did some collages for her  Native American Notebook, and they turned out really nice.  I think this week we'll work on some fall trees collages for the nature notebook.  Those should turn out really pretty, I think.  My Mother's friend gave us a HUGE bag of craft supplies.  One thing that was in there was a book about collages and several very uniquely printed tissue paper.  It should work out nicely.

The boy's birthday is Thursday.  He'll be 8.  My Dad and I were watching home movies yesterday of his 5th birthday, and I just couldn't believe how much of a baby he still looked like.  He still talked with his baby-like voice and had a baby face.  And then the video from Easter, just 6 months later, he began to look more like the grown boy he is today.  It's truly a blessing to have those video tapes.  My Dad watches them for hours.  I especially love the one where we bring Jake home from the hospital.  Jennah is 2-1/2 and very protective of "her" mommy!  Jake is all head with big eyes and dimples.  It's great.

Did I mention here about Jacob's improvement in soccer?  On Thursday he actually kicked in the winning goal!!!!  His first goal ever!  My Dad and I were so choked up when it happened!  What an awesome three-generation moment!  We couldn't even look at eachother because there would have been tears!!!  We were so proud of the BOY!  Then yesterday he got yet another goal!  We are hoping that this will help his confidence and make his game time and team playing even more important to him now.  We are going to sign him up for indoor soccer over the winter (Grandpa is paying! Thanks Dad!) and then he'll be back with his regular team in the spring.  I'm thankful we found a sport that gives him such great exercise while instilling in him the importance of working with a team.

Em and I have been really buckling down with the basics over the past few weeks.  I think it may have been Susan (?) that suggested that if I was feeling overwhelmed, blue, or behind, to stick with the basics.  We've been doing a lot of math, handwriting, spelling, and reading.  We get some history and science in there too, and of course Religion, art, music, etc. -- but the math and other basics is what we spend the bulk of our time doing.  For now.  I feel guilty about it, as I follow Charlotte Mason's principles and I know I am not reading nearly enough living books to her at the moment -- but I will get back to that.  I am just not myself right now.  And it's taking me some time to get back to myself.  But I AM getting there.  It's just a slower process than I thought it would be. 

It's supposed to be a glorious day, weather-wise.  I am going to work on the front lawn today, and the backyard tomorrow.  The grass is knee high!  Ok, not knee high, but it seems like it!  My own little house on the prairie!  :D   Speaking of that, Melissa Wiley, author of the Martha and Charlotte years, is traveling cross country right now to her new home.  Say a little prayer that she and "Jane, Beanie, Wonderboy, and baby Rilla" get there safe and sound.  I admire her so much as a homeschooling mother and writer.  I know I've mentioned her several times here on this blog.  You can catch HER blog at: The_Bonny_Glen. 

Well, it's time for me to get dressed for church.  My good friend Cindy will be here to pick me up in about 1/2 an hour.  Time to praise the Lord and worship in his house!

Have a very blessed Sunday my friends,

Sherry