Charlotte turned nine last Thursday. Blaine took the day off and we made the rounds with free food coupons around town. Breadsticks at Little Caesar’s, popcorn chicken at Sonic (not free, but on sale and a fun treat), frozen yogurt at Orange Leaf. Then we went to the local painting place and the kids redeemed […]

We started school and free time for writing, breathing, and laundry vanished. Yeah. Ruby caught the laundry up finally yesterday. I folded, she washed and dried, kids all put away. I folded about eight loads two days in a row. Today: two loads and done. It’s all put away and everything. I think that’s the […]

We began co-op this week. I managed to get photos beforehand, run errands, and only pulled into the parking lot a minute after I planned to be there. We’re off to a good start. I had each child write their own name on the blackboard. I want to be able to compare handwriting improvements next […]

Stellan stared at his classmate with envy this week. He carried his backpack down the hallway and said, “I need a backpack with rollers on it, Momma. Will you buy me one?” I took his backpack from him and carried it, thinking maybe he was right. If he could manage it himself without deciding it […]

Stellan’s glasses lasted three days. He left them on the floor while he changed out of his church clothes and someone – who remains silent about their involvement – stepped on them. Like I said. Toddlers in glasses is no joke. He’d been doing so well though. His replacement frames are ordered and I ordered […]

We started school last week. At least, we tried. It’s been sketchy at best, trying to get a full day’s work in. Any day now we’ll have a full day at home to accomplish greater things. Stellan visited the eye doctor last week. I’d noticed his eyes traveling inward when he’s tired, much like Eden’s […]

We got home Tuesday evening without incident. I have yet to catch up since. Laundry is done, folded, and put away. I found a new dresser for the two littlest girls and swapped that out for the one that was no longer fully functioning. That turned into a far bigger project than I expected. In […]

After an uneventful trip north, during which my big green diesel van achieved new greatness with 19 mpg and then was insulted with a rock bouncing off the windshield not once but four times in rock chip hall of fame glory, we are in South Dakota at my parents’ house. We got here Friday, bought […]