I spent a lot of time today going through my friend's list here at HSB.  Anyone who hadn't posted in the past three months, I took off my list.  Now, I realize that I MYSELF left for several months and you guys didn't ditch ME!  But I have a reason, I sincerely do!

I had 50 friends on my friends list.  I have a really hard time keeping up with everyone and generally only get to about 10 or so at a time, so some journals I was completely overlooking.  THIRTY of those 50 haven't updated in several months!  So, now I have a few over 20 friends on my list, all of whom update every once in awhile!  Now I can be a better commenter for all of you!   (And if you are someone who hasn't posted in awhile and have started back up, let me know!  I will add you right back!)

See?  I'm not a mean, cold-hearted person!  I had the best of intentions!

Well, it's 8:41 on Easter eve.  The kids are watching a movie in my bedroom and my dh is at work.  The eggs are colored and pictures of them have been taken.  (I will post on Monday)  I have everything all set to put together the baskets as soon as the children are in bed.  I THINK I am prepared!   The laundry is caught up, the dishwasher is running, and I am oh so tired!

Janette Oke's 4th book in her "Love Comes Softly" series is premiering as a movie tonight on the Hallmark channel.  Only 15 more minutes!  I have been patiently awaiting t his!  I love that series so much.  I have the 7th and 8th book to read still, and they are next on my list!  Lately I have been caught up in the Abram's Daughters series by Beverly Lewis.  I read the first three of those.  I also recently read "The Queen's Fool" by Phillippa Gregory and right now I am reading "The Queen's Confession" by Victoria Holt.  I really love historical fiction! 

In Jake's Easter basket, I got him the book Eragon which I just found out was written by a homeschooled teen.  We went to a book fair last week and Jake wanted the book, but I knew he didn't have the patience for it.  I told him I would read it aloud to all three of them this summer, but figured I would surprise him and start it tomorrow.  A homeschooling friend of mine just finished it and loved it, so I thought I would give it a try!

As far as school -- last week was probably one of the best weeks we've had in a long time.  Things are moving along smoothly and we've got a good routine going.   We are reading "Squanto Friend of the Pilgrims" right now along with "If you Lived in Colonial Times", which Emme loves.  I think she is enjoying learning about how this country was discovered.   We've been keeping a notebook all along, so she will have a nice reminder of what she's learned.

We will be starting a second, smaller notebook on Monday.  In science we are learning about different types of forests and the animals that live there.  The notebook will be filled with drawings and coloring pages of animals, trees, grasses, and temperature/precipitation differences in the three types of forests and we will end up by going on a hike through a local (very small) forest and adding in whatever we happen to find on our nature hunt.  I think it will be really enjoyable.

Oh, I watched a show last night on The Discovery Health channel about raising a dozen (or more) kids.  This family had 14, and THIRTEEN of them were BOYS!  Oh, that poor, poor mom!  They were an impressive family though.  She homeschooled them and the father is ordained and they ran their own ministery.  They were all just so happy and loved their family -- it was really great.   The show airs once a week on Saturdays at 8 EST, I believe.  It's called something like Parenting by the Dozen?  I can't exactly remember. 

Well, I hope you all have a most blessed Easter Sunday!  Hug those kids!

Sherry