I really need to get a digital camera. These pictures were taken with a non name brand disposable camera. Picture quality is very poor. I can't find batteries for my camera, I think I'll have to order the battery online.

Here are my three little cookie monsters. But who can blame them? Those are oatmeal, peanut butter, chocolate chip cookies. Wow, they were good!

Here is a picture of grammy with her one and only grandson. Grammy is in Ecuador, we won't be seeing her until christmas.  But hopefully she will have a good experience.

This is from the green belt walking trail on the Green River. An early morning walk near my home.

This place has a strange, sweeping, barren beauty. I feel it creeping  farther and farther into my deepest parts. My soul begins to harmonize. The voices of the past are loud here. Mankind has not managed to subdue nature. The wild harshness persists.

Finally my prayers have been answered. The evening after my last post, when putting my children to bed, I happened to look out the window. Large flakes of fluffy white snow were steadily falling. The ground was already covered with a blanket of white. Telling the kids goodnight, I ran out of the house, softly shut the door, and stood in the gently falling snow. 

As if by magic, the depression and darkness that has been plaguing me was lifted, floating away to somewhere beyond my sight. The energy and light that I have been praying for rushed in to replace the discouragement. As my hair pressed against my head with the weight of the snow, it felt like a blessing upon my head. The muted silence of the snow covered earth instantly filled me with such peace. The snow, falling straight down, illuminated by the soft light of the streetlamp, filled my with joy. Tears fell down my face, an echo of the beauty surrounding me.

I can't explain it, but I know that the moment was an answer to my prayers. The fight isn't over. My life is the same. But I pray I will be able to keep this peace. To pass it to my children. That light will continue to glow in our home, in my heart. I am now able to be content with what I can do. The things left undone do not not at my constantly, throwing me deeper into depression. I can remain calm, and joyful. Putting good times with my family first.

My husband and I watched the movie "Click" the other night. While maybe not a masterpiece of the silverscreen, it did give me much cause to think. It does seem like life goes by that quickly, even without a fastforward button. The months and years speed by, blurring together. I can't stop that, I can't slow down the rapid growth of the beautiful children in my home. I can, however, make sure that the blur that they look back on as their childhood is a postive on. Full of as many wonderful memories as mine was. Sometimes I get so sad. Longing for times past, upset for the things my life is missing now, that I forget I am the one who is responsible for the life of my children. That they too are missing things that I had, and I am the only one who can bring those things to them.

Yesterday, after watching the movie, I resolved to take advantage of the time we have. To turn of the addicting brain sucker, for my children and myself. To stay away from the computer when they were awake. To give them good memories. We had a good day.I went to the gym and jogged before the kids were up. School went well. We spent time with daddy at work, had lunch with him there. Came home and carved pumpkins. I just spent time conciously spending the moments of the day loving my children.

When I put Sarah to bed last night she said, "Today was the best day."

I am so happy that she noticed the change, and yet saddened that  have been so distant that such a normal day would be noted by her.

Well, one day down. I pray that will be able to keep it up. To live today. No waiting for tomorrow, for a house, for the baby to finish cutting teeth. I will live this day and be greatful for it.

I tend to have epiphanies, show resolve for a day or two, and then fizzle out, go back to the way things were. I can't do that.

Well, I better get off of the computer, and enjoy this beautiful fall day with my little ones.

My blog has been much neglected of late. There are two reasons for that: first, I am so busy, as any other homeschooling mother of four young children knows; the other reason is that I really don't like to be writing discouraging, depressing posts, and, unfortunately, I don't feel like there is much else in me at the time.

My life is complete and utter chaos. The days seem to have five hours instead of twenty-four. In the past, if I was neglecting one area (most likely the cleanlyness of the home), at least I had the comfort of knowing that something else was well taken care of. Now, however, I feel like everything is neglected. I swim upstream all day long making little headway. Any ground that I gain is lost when I stop for two seconds to rest, when I am swept even further downstream than where I started.

The house is a disaster. Our meals are spur of the moment and iffy on nutritional value. School work is inconsistant. Children are out of control. The car looks like a homeless family has been living in it without a method of trash disposal. The t.v. is on too often. Children aren't even getting mommy attention and play time. Baby and two year old are both teething and cranky. Husband is on new schedule and cranky also. Prayers seem to hit the ceiling.

Allright. Now that I got all of those complaints out of my system, I feel a bit better.

So, now for some positive thoughts.

We are all safe and well other than little colds.

If the house and children are in chaos, at least I am at home with them.

God is still there, even if he seems far away.

My husband loves me.

Last week we saw a friend at the library. When she saw Mary she said she had to take her picture. She is an amateur photographer. We wanted to get some photos of Mary incase her curls don't stay. She is soooo cute! My friend took the pictures and gave me a disk for no charge. She wanted to add to her portfolio. Now I just have the problem of sorting through 75 pictures to see which one I want to put on my wall.

Isn't she adorable?

Well, here we are, two days into our school year, and already the stretch from now until christmas seems unendless. I feel hopeless. Uncapable. The weight of my responsibilties pounds upon me. I just want to lay down and sleep. Let someone else deal with things for a few hours.

Of course, much of this is probably due to the fact that I had around three hours of sleep last night. My poor burning, teething little boy kept me up most of the night. He won't sleep during the day unless I am holding him, and cries every time I try to set him down. It is wearing. Poor little guy.

Really, deep down, I am excited about our studies. At eleven this morning I gave up on trying to do any school at home, and we took off for the park. The baby fell asleep in the stroller, and my two year old was so distracted that we got a few subjects done at the park. And, we actually worked in our nature journals. I think every fine day this fall we will walk to the park and do school there. Distraction for the little ones.

My sleep deprived brain must go take care of baby screaming, laundry timer bizzing, dishes stinking, floor shrinking. : }

Yesterday was the first really warm day that we have had this year, over 70. By afternoon, it was baking in the house, and we threw open all of the windows. The girls were playing happily in their bedroom, and I was in my room next to their's feeding the baby. Then I heard a heart sickening thud, and Elisabeth yelled "Sarah, fell out the window!" Not believeing the possibility, I threw the baby on the bed and ran to their bedroom. The screen was gone, and there she lay, far below. My husband ran outside. She was bleeding profusely from her head, and crying. I quickly called 911, thinking that she had to be hurt after that fall. In the meantime, we saw that she could move her arms and legs just fine, and was coherent, she was moving her head around with no apparant pain, though we tried to get her to hold still.

By the time the paramedics, and then the ambulence came, and then loaded her onto the gurney, we were pretty sure that she was going to be fine. And, after an ambulence ride, and three hours in the hospital, this was confirmed. She had a slight scrape on her side, and a cut on her temple that they put some glue on.

I started writing this on Monday, and got distracted. All week long I have been praising God, and thanking him for keeping this precious child safe. It really opens your eyes when something like this happens. You realize that life is so uncertain, and those you love could be taken from you at any time, even when you were sure that they were safe and well.  

The irony of this happening on mother's day was not lost on me. I don't believe in coincidences. This happened, and happened when it did for a reason. As I have pondered over this, I have come up with two reasons for it: the first, to get me to wake up and enjoy these precious blessings NOW. To make the most of everyday, and be in the present moment; and second, I believe it was for my daughter, for her mission and purpose in life.

She has a very different mind from mine, it works in amazing ways. While I have always been a lover of words, and have rarely had a book out of my hands since I learned to read at five; she wants to know how and why and what everything around her is, and how it works, and most of the time she figures it out on her own. Her brain makes those connections. And the thing that she is most interested in, is bodies. Last summer, we were living in a house that had a large sculptured chimney, adobe style, with shelves all the way up to the ceiling. She had climbed up to the top. I told her to get down, or she would fall and crack her head open. She then told me that she wanted to do that so that we could see what was inside of her head. Of course, when I explained that she would then be dead, she changed her mind. We have a felt anatomy model, with all of the organs removable, which she loves to play with

.

Anyhow, after she fell, and the paramedics came, it was like one big adventure to her. Even being strapped down on the gurney, with that horribly uncomfortable neck brace which dosen't allow you to move at all, she just looked around, taking everything in.

She said that the ambulance ride was "fun", and when they wheeled her into the room to get an MRI she said, "that's a cool machine". The only time that she cried was when they put the IV in. I would cry if I could too, it hurts!

I really feel that I need to put her in the way of information in this field. I am not much of a one for doctors, preferring nature methods of health care, but they are neccacary, and we do need good doctors, who even have some training in altenative health care.

God is good, and I will praise him daily for these sweet little children He has given me the opportunity of caring for. I know that He sent angels to catch Sarah and lead her gently to the ground.

And here is the little Princess with her usual huge smile:

Yesterday afternoon my husband saw a picture of the girls sledding this winter.

 "No more snow." he said, with an exultant grin. (He grew up in Phoenix and hates the snow and cold)

"That's a pretty optimistic statement." I said, with upraised eyebrows.

"It's May!" he said.

"Yes," I said, "And it's also Wyoming."

As you may have seen coming from the conversation above, we woke up to snow this morning. On the ground and continuing to fall.

We have a homeschool field trip to the firestation this morning. I invited everyone to join us at the park for a picnic afterwards. That is certainly a no go. I should have known better than to plan anything outdoors here this early in the year.

The kids are doing well. Sarah and Elisabeth have been begging many times daily to do their new math (Singapore), handwriting (Without Tears), and  phonics (Learning through sounds). We are not quite half way through the Ambleside Online Year 1 with Sarah. But I wanted to do it in 18 mnths anyhow, as she wasn't quite ready for the full load when we started this fall.

Mary (20 mnths) already wants to join in anything that her sisters are doing. I have to set her up with  paper, which she writes what she calls "e"'s on, and pencil, which she holds correctly. No matter what I happen to be doing, she brings books to me and says "ree". Books are her favorite toy.

Samuel (3 1/2 mnths) is the sweetest, calmest little babe. He rarely cries, only when mean mommy eats things that upset his little tummy. He sleeps 11 hours through the night, and wakes up smiling! I am so grateful to God for sending my a fourth child who dosen't overwhelm me, but makes my life easier by giving me smiles all day long.

Well, I better go get ready for the field trip. And read a story to Mary, who is hitting a book against my arm as a type saying, "Ree Plee"

Lisa

Shopping, in the normal sense of the word, is something that I emphatically deplore. But shopping for specific (non clothing) things, with money in hand, and the place where it will be purchased predetermined can be quite enjoyable.

We went to Provo, UT to stay with my little sister while my mom was gone to Ecudor, and I had the chance to do some shopping for things that I can't get here, in the middle of nowhere. The kids were so excited, we went to a homeschool supply store, and amazingly enough only spent $100. There was so much I wanted to buy, I could have easily spent $1000. I am pretty much set up for the next year of school, other than a few items.

We also went to a healthfood store, and loaded up on things that aren't available in the cowboy state.

I have spent the last couple of days since returning home catching up on e-mail etc. I think I am ready for another break from this time eater. There really wasn't anything that I missed during the week I was gone. I'll have to remember that.

Back into school this coming week. I let my children gorge themselves on cartoons while at my mom's house, and they are so ready to start school, and get back into a routine.

So am I.

I've had a nasty cold/sinus infection for days. My head is starting to drain today, relieving some of the pressure, so hopefully I am on the mend. On a positive note, I've lost 5 pounds while sick, and my sweet hubby took the last couple of days off of work to help out. My five and six year olds have been doing a good job of entertaining themselves. Yesterday they cut out and colored pictures from their coloring  books quietly for six hours. They never have a problem playing on their own, I don't think they even understand the concept of boredom, but they usually play so loudly. So it was very nice that they found something to do which was quite while I was out of comission with an exploding head.

First thing this morning they asked if they could continue, and have  been at it  for over an hour.

Well, I think I'd better go lay back down.

After planning to all winter, we finally got our bird feeder up last week. The first place we put it was too close to the door, and we didn't get any visitors there. The day after moving it to a more private location, we had birds! Only one variety so far:

the Black -capped chickadee. I have always loved these little birds, they are so cheerful and enduring, staying around all winter. The kids were thrilled, and run to the window frequently during the day to see if any birds are feeding.

There is something about the early wild days of spring that stirs up feelings inside of me that I do not feel the rest of the year. I feel the wind calling to me, I feel restless. Spring fever, I suppose you could call it.

"Peace, what is peace, I disdain it, it isn't for me,

 I feel caught in a trap, I only want to be free.

 To ride some wild wind hold on for all that  I am worth.

 My life was was never meant to be one of careless mirth."

I wrote that in the spring when I was 15 or 16. And I feel the same emotions now. The desire to fly with the wind, to let it sweep me along. I remember feeling that I had so much to do in life, and that I could wait no longer, that time was running out and I must lay aside my idle pleasures, and pursue my  mission or  purpose in life. Winter is over, and now growth must come. Or I will be as the olive tree which did not bare fruit, accountable, and cursed for my refusal to do what I am meant to.

Now, my main mission is to teach these little spirits that have been sent to me. To teach them to love God,  to know Christ, and to serve mankind. Yet, I know that there are other callings that God has for me, that do not conflict with this, my most important role. And I desire to be able to rise, as a wife, mother, and being.

Sarah, age 6:

Math: pages 42-47 of  Singapore's 2B math book. On telling time. She wanted to do more, but we have to save some for another day. She really loves work books.

(I asked if she would like to do math)

Reading: Lessons 1-3 in McGuffy's primer. We tried to do this last summer, and she was not ready. She read them yesterday with no problems, and no help. I once read somewhere that reading and losing teeth were somewhat connected, and since she has lost her tooth, something seems to have clicked in her brain.(I asked if she would like to read)

Geography: Holling C. Holling's Seabird : The first chapter, about Greenland. Narrated, but not in great detail. (She asked to do this)

Other: A word find. I have showed her how to do these before, but she didn't have the patience to sit down and find the letters. This one she found in a coloring book and worked on for half of and hour on her own!

Outdoors: Finally some sun with no wind! Nice enough to be outside with just a light jacket. The girls went outside exploring. Found some bent rebar and pretended that it beeped when they found gold, and they would dig there. Sarah went off on her own as a thing finder (from Pippy Longstocking). She filled her pockets full of all kinds of treasures (otherwise known as thrash), and rocks. Unfortunately she wondered too far where she couldn't hear me call her. We had to have a discussion on where she was allowed to go. It is so sad that we have to worry about this. That I have to make her afraid  of people.

Read aloud: bedtime story; Pippi Longstocking, chapter 2.

My narrations on Anna Botsford Comstock's "Handbook of nature study". It has been a long time since I have really narrated, or tried to remember most of what I am reading. But, if I am expecting my children to do it, I should be doing it also. I am also going to be patient with myself, as I am with them, in starting out. More details and information will be remembered the more frequently I do this, and hopefully the quality in my narrations will increase. I am looking up the quotes that I really liked so that they will be word for word:

Nature study as a help to health:

 Fresh air and exercise are good for physical health. Mental health is also benifited, "love of nature counts much for sanity in later life". This has been my experience also, being out in nature is so soothing and grounding. Tensions and depression melts away as healing air is inhaled.

What nature study should do for the teacher:

Ms. Comstock next talks about the benifits to the teacher. And although she is talking of teachers in a school setting, the same applies to mothers. Many of the teachers said that they just didn't have time to add in nature study. They were already stessed to the max. "Their nerves were at such a tension that with one more thing to do they must fall apart" I know that I could definately claim to be in such a state. Which is why we need to get outside and revel in nature. It will calm us as it calms our children, increase our health, and bring us closer together. We will be renewed to be able to return and face with energy all of our other responsibilities.

When and Why the teacher should say "I do not know:

It is very important that "I don't know" is replyed to questions that we don't know the answers to. But we need to be cafeful that we are not squelching  interest , that we let them know that we may not know, but that dosen't mean there isn't an answer. We teach the children that there is much to know. Tell them let's see if we can figure it out, ask them what they think. They will see that nature is not all known, there is more to be discovered. This makes it exciting and worth while. I think it is very true what she says about teachers who don't say I don't know, but try to give an answer even if it not correct. These or less educated and less sure of themselves.  People who are really educated have learned enough to know that they don't know anything.

I just recieved my "Handbook of Nature Study" by Anna Botsford Comstock. As I want to make it a 'study', and not just a read, I am going to narate it here as I read.

In the preface, the author explains how the book came to be. In brief, it came from an extension course for young naturalists through Cornell University in the late 1890's. The leaflets which were put out for the classes were expanded and revised to make this book.

Something in the  preface that I wanted to note. The author apologizes for the largeness of the book, and then says, "it does not contain more than any intelligent country child of twelve should know of his enviroment; things that he should know naturally and without effort, although it may take him half his life-time to learn so much if he should not begin before the age of twenty."   How true this is of many things that we learn. If the knowledge is not aquired while our brain is in the formative mode, excited and searching for information, it is so much more of a struggle to learn it later.

Part 1 of the book is: The teaching of nature study.

What nature study is:

Nature study, the author explains, is, quite simply the study of nature. Making truthful observations that lead to understanding. She goes on to explain what nature study should do for  the child, what goals we should be aiming for. Since I am first and foremost concerned with studying nature myself, developing a passion and understanding of it so that I can pass it on to my children, these are the things that I should expect to gain from my study.

What nature study should do for the child:

The first and obvious thing, is a knowledge of the ways of nature. Next, it cultivates the imagination, miraculous and marvelous things are possible in nature, and beyond simply observing, I think that if you  contemplate on God's creation of all these amazing things, you realize that within your own being, you might have some of this ability. And yet, only truth is observed or allowed. I love what she has to say about this, "Perhaps half the falsehood in the world is due to lack of  power to detect the truth and to express it. Nature study aids in discernment and in expression of thingsas they are." A pretty optimistic veiw of man, but she may be right.  Nature study cultivates a love of the beautiful. This I have gained through my time in nature, probably the only one of these things that I have any degree of experience with so far. She waxes quite poetic over this. This is what I love about how authors used to write. This is, really, a textbook. I certainly didn't see any language like this in the science textbooks I had in school. This is literature, I would enjoy reading it simply for the use of  words, let alone for what is being taught. The last and most important thing is that the child be taught a love of the out of doors. If this isn't being taught with your study of nature, then you should cease it.

I would agree, this is definitly the most important thing. A lasting realationship and love for the beauties of the earth is more important than the ability to identify something by the arbitrary name that someone has given it.

My oldest daughter lost her first tooth on saturday, March 10. We are late tooth loosers, my husband's family and my own. When everyone her age started loosing teeth, she kept asking me when she was going to loose a tooth. To be on the safe side, I told her probably not until you are seven. Well, she beat that by 2 1/2 months. She was so very excited. We were eating dinner, and she said, "Mom, I think my tooth is wiggling." She came and showed me, and it sure was, wiggly to the point that it was bleeding and moving all around. Half an hour later, she ran to me with a tooth in her hand and shock in her eyes. "It came out!" We hadn't been talking much about loosing teeth, as she kept getting anxious for her own to come out. I was rather shocked myself, I didn't expect for it to happen so quickly.

Of course the next thing she did was run upstairs and put it under her pillow for the tooth fairy. Not something I have ever taught my children. Although it was kind of fun seeing her overjoyed face when she woke up with money in the place of her tooth, I really hesitated before deciding what to do. The precident is now set. This was the first tooth loss in the family, and how I handled it will now have to be followed by the many teeth of many more children.

I almost cried watching my little girl sliding her tongue back and forth through the emptyness left by her tooth. It dosen't seem like very long ago that I was there. I can almost feel the rawness of my tongue from the days of   probing that void. (of course, as I lost my last tooth when I was 14, I suppose it wasn't that long ago) I know how quickly children grow up, but up until now, it seemed that I still had all of mine in the baby stage. Baby teeth still in, my six year old not reading yet, even the fact that she wasn't sent off to school a year ago. All of these things have contributed to this feeling. But yesterday, with her grown up silky shirt and skirt, and the heels on her shoes,(my daughter has large feet, size 13 at age 6, I have found it almost impossible to find flat heeled church shoes for her)  her hair pulled back, and her gaping smile, she had suddenly passed over. Out of the baby stage.

Her cute little tooth just seemed too precious to throw away. I wonder, has any one out there kept your kid's baby teeth? And if so, what did you do with them?

Also  are there those of you who have managed not the fall into this other myth, which, like Santa, and the easter bunny, is impossible for our children to not know about and believe in unless we teach them otherwise?

Welcoming a new stage of motherhood,

Lisa

I have just started using the book 'Teaching children Joy' by Linda and Richard Eyre. I say using, because I have read, or at least looked through the book before, but recently decided that it was something that I want to add to our lifes. The books premisise is that the primary thing that young children should be taught is joy. That they come with certain joys that we need to preserve, and that there are other joys that we should teach them at this time. As I have read through this book, I am finding that my children are lacking in joy. I have managed to squash out much of the joy that they are instictivly born with, and have not taught them joy in other areas.

The first order of business is to find joy myself. I admit that it is something that I do not let myself feel often, I am too busy, too stressed, too obsorbed in the little details. I used to feel joy most of the time. It bubbled forth from deep inside of me, and spilled out of my eyes and face. I could feel myself shining. Now my face and eyes are dull, my brows drawn down bringing headaches instead of good feelings.

In time past, one of the things I most enjoyed was sitting and looking at the beauties of the earth around me, all seasons and climates I was able to find beauty in, and I could feel it filling up my soul with delight and energy. My first daughter I would watch and play with all day, having fun, being spontaneous, silly and calm. Then sometime when I was pregnant with my second child, this ability left me. When I would sit to bask in the warmth of the sun, I found myself tapping my toes, unable to sit still, tension in my stomach. And since then, as the demands of daily life have increased, I have not been able to relcaim peace and joy. Actually, after having this fourth child, I have been able to feel calm and content, something I haven't felt for some time, so I am hoping that with the return of that feeling, I will be able to teach myself and my children how to find joy in life.

The first joy that the books sets forth is one that children are born with, and this is spontaneous delight. Honestly, I don't quite understand how they differentiate this joy from some of the others that children come with. I am, however, able to see that my two oldest ages 6 and 4 have last much of the ablity to feel this. I have managed to yell it out of them with too many no's, and too many hurries, and too many "don't do that's, you'll get dirty". I see the difference so clearly from my 18 month old, who is still full of this joy. I think that you will naturally lose some of this in life, as you experience it, but I am willing to be optimistic and believe that much of it could be preserved, even into adulthood, and that an adult such as myself could even learn this.

So, as recommended by the author's, we are going to take this month to learn joy form being spontaneous. My goal is to be able to be spontaneous myself, and feel good about it, and not the squelch the little ones when they are being  spontaneous.

It seems a bit funny to me that the books teaches spontaneous joy with a list of activities and books.

Seeking joy,

Lisa

I have decided that my reading addiction needs some accountability. I go through phases where I devour books, mainly fiction, lighter reading. When I am in one of these moods I tend to neglect books of a more serious or educational nature, and I lose track of what I have read. If in a weeks time I find that I have had to put down the names of a dozen or so books, I will know that I am spending to much time reading. I will also be able to see the fiction to non-fiction or classics ratio. Such as the books that I put down today as having read this year (I know that there are more that I have already forgotten ) have a ratio of 1 non-fiction to 13 fiction, and the one would really be called a booklet as opposed to a book. Of course there are other books that I am in the process of reading, but haven't finished. And maybe vanity is not the most noble of motivators, but it does work. The thought that other people can see what I am reading will help make me think twice about what I am spending time on.

Not that I am saying that only non-fiction or the traditional classics are of value. If you view a classic as something that you can read or experience over and over again, and gain something new from each time, some of the books I have read this year are definately classics. "By the Light of a Thousand Stars", was a beautiful thought inspiring book, and I know that I could read it again, and find more to think on. In fact something one of the character's said  near the end of the book was the reason that I decided to add ' Books I Have Read' to me sidebar. Page 413, "You know, it's a funny thing about books," she said. "They're wonderful things, and I'd hate to try to do without them, but you know what? They can only go so far. I used to be such an obsessive reader I missed out on huge chunks of real life. I can still get so caught up in a book I forget about laundry and supper and everything else. I forget there's a world of real people all around me.I forget sometimes that the story in a book is only temporary." She waved, and started backing away slowly. "After the last chapter is over, there's all this real life waiting for you."

I know I often miss out on so many opportunites for vital , sweaty, beautiful, straining life because I am wrapped up in the passive life of characters in books. I neglect my children, and myself. I don't want to do this anymore. I know that I will always love to read, and indeed will always read probably more than I should. I just want to remember to live also, and to give my children all of the joys and wonders that my parents gave to me!

Here is our little guy at one day old.

Here are daddy and Saumuel, daddy finally has another man in the house.

And here are the rest of us. I can't believe I am posting such a horrible picture of myself , but it was the day after I gave birth, so I guess I can handle it. It is the only picture with all of the rest of us in it. Somehow we didn't even manage to get a picture of the baby on the day he was born. All of these are from the second day.

Samuel is five weeks old now, and I can't believe how much he has changed and grown. This week we are finally getting back into our schedule. I didn't expect it to take this long, but I haven't stressed or tried to hurry things. I am so thankful for these four wonderful blessings that God has sent into my life. How empty life would seem to me without children.

Announcing....... Samuel David Harvey!

Birthdate: Thursday, January 12, 2006, 7:26 a.m.

Weight: 9 lbs

Length: 21 1/2 in.

It's a Boy!

I think I am still in shock, somehow, after three girls, I didn't really ever think that I would have a boy. It is so thrilling. He is so sweet!

I only  had a couple of neutral looking sleepers for him, and all of the pink stuff from my  girls, so my mom went on a blue shopping spree. The little blue outfits are so cute.

Everything went well with the birth. It was a home birth with a wonderful midwife and her assistant, along with my mother , who is a doula. A two hour labor, with the last hour pretty intense. The only thing that I am not thrilled with is that my husband was not there for the birth. I went to my mom's house in Utah, as there aren't any midwives to do home births around here. When we decided that we knew it was very unlikely he would make it. My last labor was also 2 hrs, and it is a three hour drive. But daddy was able to see him when he was a few hours old.

The girls are loving their little brother, maybe a little too much. The poor little guy is constantly surrounding by prodding,  poking children. No jealousy yet shown from my 17 month old, she is so excited. Everytime she sees the babe her eyes light up and she says, "baybay", it is so cute.

I think we will be waiting until February to start any formal shcool schedule. Get our life schedule going first.

Now to come up with a new name for my blog. Hmmm.

Wow! I can't believe that 2005 is drawing to a close. We've had a very eventful year, and in many ways it seems that it has been much longer than a year, yet on the other hand it has just flown by. As I'm sure it was for most of you, December was a crazy, busy month, with little formal schooling going on. We'll start back up again next week, but with a baby due in two weeks  , I'm afraid January may be much the same as December was.

Some highlights of 2005:

January: hubby burned out on job with horrible abusive boss

February: new job, not enough money

March: All of my family visited us in Vancouver, WA, trip out to the cold ocean.

           Elisabeth turned 4

April: got a job in UT. Moved to house on 20 acres in Utah.

May: found out we were expecting baby #4

June: Sarah turned 6. new job terrible

July: sit in front of swamp cooler roasting, with morning sickness, go to the park    most days and sit in the shade, play in the water.

August:Mary turns 1.  get new job in Wyoming. Move into another apartment/townhouse

September: Enjoy new little town, mom moves from family home to townhome.

October: visit gramdma in new home for halloween

November: Thanksgiving at our home with mom and brother Todd visiting

December: Visit mom before christmas, wait for baby (unless something happens in

                  the next few hours, baby will be part of next years news)

This September I started more of a formal school schedule and program with my six year old. We have been doing Ambleside Online Year 1. It has been enjoyable, but as we haven't really done any since Thanksgiving, we are not yet finished with the first term. Hopefully we will be able to finish the next couple of weeks before the baby is born, then I will feel better about taking some more time off before starting term 2. 

Reading is still coming very slowly for her, but I know that she will get it when her inquisitive little brain is ready. She is so brilliant in some areas, and "behind" in others. She definately has a very scientific brain, the opposite of mine, and it is a challenge for me to know how to help and develop this.

Elisabeth, my four year old is much more average in her development. She takes much less effort, and I fear sometimes that I tend to neglect her as she is so easy. She is coming along very well, learning along with her sister, and in most areas about the same level.

As for Mary, she is just a constant delight and trail. Trying to keep her out of things while we are trying to do school is a constant battle, and we have lately been waiting for her nap to try to do much.

It should be interesting how things work out with a toddler and a newborn.

This is rather stiff and boring. I usually write when I am in the mood or have something to say. I can claim neither at the moment, but as I haven't posted anything in nearly a month, and it is the last day of the year, I felt I should at least write something. I am just so consumed with waiting for this baby to come, that everything else has kindof faded into the background.

Happy New Year!