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| 10 Years Ago...
1. I had only been married for 6 years
2. I only had 2 kids
3. I lived in Parker, CO
4. I was thirty
5. I thought I knew a lot but now I know I didn't have a clue
5 Things on tomorrow's "to-do" list
1. finish laundry
2. go to the "Hanging of the Greens" at church
3. see the Christmas parade in Poulsbo
4. plan lessons for the next 2 weeks
5. practice the violin
5 Snacks I enjoy
1. chocolate
2. dark chocolate
3. really dark chocolate
4. hummus on anything
5. dark chocolate ovaltine
5 Things I would do if I were a millionaire
1. travel with my family
2. buy property and build a house or two
3. learn to sail
4. buy a horse
5. pad kids college accounts
5 Places I have lived
1. Mitchell, NE
2. Denver, CO
3. Parker, CO
4. Bainbridge Island, WA
5. Port Gamble, WA
5 Jobs that I have had / or still have
1. Mom
2. teacher
3. paper girl
4. grocery clerk
5. nanny
5 people I am 'tagging'
You know who you are! 8)
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| Yes, we actually had a fun Monday. I loaded up the kids and their instruments, sans piano, and headed down to a friend's house. There we had a Christmas music jam session with A on the piano, C on the string bass, J (her oldest son) on cello, J (her second son) on violin, and L (her oldest daughter) on violin. She and I chimed in on violins when we could--when we weren't holding babies or helping the other kids. T and R had more fun playing with their friends and didn't really want to "practice". [This was the first time we have taken the bass in the car. When C straps it on his back it is a little taller than he is. It is only a half size but still quite large and I was surprised at how easy it was, once we took the middle seat out of the van!] A good time was had by all and we are sure to do it again soon! I'll try and post pictures soon. | | |
| Just one thought on Election Day. It loses a lot when you've mailed in your ballot awhile ago. I remember taking the kids to the polling station and explaining what I was doing. No more, I just fill out the ballot in my own home and mail it off. Not quite the same..... In other news........we have no "new" news.
School has been going well. I think we've had two days where we played hooky but otherwise we've been hitting the books 4 days every week. Tuesdays we don't do school because we have piano lessons, 4-H, and trips to the library, bank, chiropractor, etc. It is wonderful to have a day to sleep in a little and get the house in order. We also have time in the afternoon to relax a little. It is becoming our favorite day! Mondays are long and tiresome, not sure why but they usually are so it is nice to look forward to Tuesday.
T & A are doing well in piano lessons. R & C are both still enjoying violin and R seems to have made some big jumps and is able to play songs now--Yay! C loves his Bass and practices both instuments diligently.
Choir is going well; the boys sang on Sunday. The whole youth choir sang last Sunday and will sing again Thanksgiving Eve. We are working on a ton of music for the holidays and have some really fun pieces.
Everyone is enjoying 4-H. There is a wide variety of classes being offered and the kids already have plans on what they will be taking to the fair next August.
P was asked to be a Deacon in our church and was voted in at the last business meeting. He will be installed Nov 30 and is looking forward to helping out with the workings of the church. Last Saturday night we had our traditional Reformation Wiener Roast and it was such a blast. Most of the kids dressed up as either Bible characters or characters from the Reformation. A wore P's graduation gown and was "Judge" Deborah. R was Miriam complete with Moses in a basket. T and C were the kids who made fun of Elisha and got mauled by a bear, P even shaved his head for the occasion.
I have been able to start walking again. I'm up to 45 minutes of brisk walking with no pain. I'm doing some isometric exercises to strengthen my thigh muscles and that really helps, as does my Pilates. The problem is that my knees don't track properly and when they are under a lot of strain, such a running 2-4 miles every day, the tendon really gets inflamed. Then any kind of activity is painful. So if I can keep the tendon happy, I'm all set. I'm hoping to start running soon but I'm going to take things easy.
I can't think of anything else but if something comes up, I'll be sure and let you know! 
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Here is R and I. 
And here is the whole crazy bunch | | |
| Monday we went to the Puyallup (Pyew a lup) Fair. It was grand. We went Monday because it was $1 ride day and that's about what we can afford! I made everyone try the Ferris Wheel first because it's one of my favorites and then the older kids with P went to ride the Roller Coaster. Just the two oldest, not P or T. R and I had so much fun riding the Carousel and the Ferris Wheel (again). We also got her face painted (a green and pink butterfly) and she made a decorated tile at the Home Depot booth. We also had a picture taken just the two of us. We both enjoyed it and it was some great one-on-one time with R. One-on-one time is rare in our family; we are so often all together, which is great in itself but a little individual attention is good too. We all met up again and A and C tried another roller coaster which was "way more cool" because you spent part of the time sideways. Next came the swings for A,C, and T and P, R and I went on the gliders. T was dying to go on a roller coaster so we walked back to the coolest one and the three oldest were in line to go when they found that A couldn't ride solo. P took pity and actually rode on his first roller coaster. They all loved it and can't wait to go back, even P! After the requisite cotton candy we were ready to head for home. Another reason we went to the fair on Monday was that Tuesday we started school. I really needed a break before we started because this year has been a bear to plan and prepare for. All 4 are full time this fall and I have been feeling very overwhelmed thinking how it would all work out. Plus I have to schedule 4 different music lessons (soon to be 5) with 2 different teachers, Youth Choir practice (I'm the co-director), Latin for A, and 4-H (starts next month--yay!). On paper it doesn't look that difficult but being organizationally challenged it was a scheduling nightmare. Add in to the equation that I need at least a couple of days where I don't have to go anywhere or I get rather cranky and my house might be condemned. Finally it all worked out with a miracle from God, the piano teacher can teach on Tuesdays again instead of Mondays. So we will be home Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and gone on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons for choir, piano, latin, and 4-H. The violin/bass/guitar teacher comes to my house on Wednesdays--God bless her! After I figured all this out I had to plan the "school" part of our days. I came up with a detailed schedule, down to the 15 minutes, that totally bombed! I kept looking at the clock and feeling rushed and behind--because I was always rushed and behind! On Thursday night after a couple of very stressful days it struck me that I was looking at the wrong thing. Instead of looking at the clock I needed to focus on the rhythm of the schedule. Grammar follows math and comes before history and science etc. Also, although all the kids are doing Math at the same time, A and C cannot ask me questions about their work while I am helping R and to some extent T with their Math. I just can't make the jump from "No R, that isn't the way you make a 5, erase it and do it the other way." to "A, the formula for slope is y=mx+b." Once I figured this out, Friday went so smoothly! We do our Bible lesson together after breakfast, a quick tidy and then upstairs for school. Math is first, A and C do what they can and save their ?? for later. After math, R and T do their grammar and then music practice. C is generally working on grammar around this time too while A is still doing math. At 11:00ish everyone stops and we do history reading together, they break up again for individual science--R and T are together again, R is being stretched up to 3rd grade science. Thne everyone works on their writing assignments--R does handwriting and a reading lesson. Then it is time for lunch and about time too! After lunch I read to R and T while C and A practice their instruments. It's quiet time next for R and T and then I answer any ?? that A and C had on their math or grammar or vocabulary or science or, or, or... I also grade the days lessons. We have one or two subjects to add next week for A and C but I think if I focus on the rhythm, we should be fine. The house suffers a bit but the kids are doing a lot more now and I'll just have to fit things in when I can. Laundry is a problem but the kids all help fold so we'll muddle through. I've also been exercising every day before school. I still can't run but I'm biking 6-8 miles a day. I've been fighting with my back all summer so I am hoping to start pilates in the evening this week. P will lift after the kids go to bed and I'll do 20-30 minutes. I'd better run, dinner is ready! | | |
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