Persistence, pain, and learning personal hygiene…

Today was the Christmas party for the kids at co-op. It was exhausting, long, and now… It’s over. Whew. Co-op is done until January, we start our break from schooling next week, and it feels like I’ve passed the first leg of surviving homeschooling for the year.

Tonight was my 27.5 week midwife appointment. Baby’s head down! After one breech baby resulting in a c-section (Ruby), I was relieved to hear this baby is doing its part in cooperating. As achy as I’ve been lately, everything looks great with baby. Enduring the next twelve or so weeks could be interesting. Heartbeat’s consistently 140. If I guessed, I’d say girl… but I’m rarely right. Just often enough to say “Yeah, you have a fifty percent chance of being right.”

Yes, I accidentally scheduled my midwife appointment on co-op party day. Not the smartest thing I’ve ever done.

The four older kids got their free pizzas from Pizza Hut on the way home. Small town, I sent them in together to get the pizzas I’d called in. The young server asked if they’d be dining in. Four kids, ages five to ten, without an adult, dining on Book It pizzas, alone. I know it’s a small town, but is that something they’ve had happen?!

Tammy, bless you for mentioning swipe on kindle. I had to Google it to find out what it was, but wow, has that made this process faster. I think it might even be faster than typing. Amazing.

Charlotte told me this morning that she’d put undies on already so I wouldn’t have to tell her to cover her bottom. Progress, my friends. One of these years I might not have to remind them of these things. Right?! I finally told them I was starting a cavity fund and fining them a quarter each time noon rolled around and their teeth weren’t brushed. None of them have yet to have a cavity, but I’m not sure how. My nagging skills have been finely tuned, and my pet peeve of such things is quite over it. Strangely enough, I have yet to collect anything for my cavity fund. Funny how money talks.

The kids managed to chop down the tree they were working on the other day all by themselves. They brought it to the house, recruited Blaine to set it up, and decorated it all by themselves. The light strands hang in clusters and the ornaments only cover the bottom two thirds of the tree, the star won’t stay on the top because the branches are too soft and bend under pressure, and most of the ornaments have to hang from lights. But oh, the pride in the job they accomplished all on their own, together. This family of mine, with all of its interesting moments provided by many small children, is so different than the way I grew up – but I love it. Independence and teamwork are lessons built in if I just stop back and let them figure it out. Priceless.