Weekly Wrap Up, 2012, Week 13

Little notes I write myself, so that I can remember each precious day!  ('Cause the days are long, but the years are short!)

Prideful or prejudiced?  Neither! 

Sunday...
It was so good to be in church this morning!  Afterwards, we came home for a nice lunch of leftovers.  We had a little time for resting before we had to be back for Trevor's children's choir practice.  We also made a trip to Target.  Grace and I had time to watch some Jane Austin on BBC, thus inspiring the above dress that Grace pinned together with safety pins!  (She wants a Regency style dress made for her, but we need a seamstress. Hint, hint, Nana :-)

Pretending to be an accomplished young lady. 

Monday

Suddenly the weather is cooler, but still very pleasant.  I rode my bike today after lunch.  In the morning, we had gym class, a quick trip to the library, a stop for Great Harvest bread, and back home for lessons.  The evening went quickly as Jeff got home late.  We ate our late dinner of salad and garlic cheddar cheese bread and had smoothies for dessert.  Ryan's Latin and another history book arrived.  Next week I will order the last of next year's books when they are on sale! 

Grace's latest.  (She says the glass has grape juice in it.) 

Tuesday...

Because of a freeze warning, I had to bring in Grandpa's geranium, which by the way is wildly out of control!  That makes me so happy.  It's a living link to a man I miss so very, very much.

Today, I want to get a lot done with our lessons.  We babysit this afternoon.  I will catch up the laundry while the kids entertain our little friend.  Then, I'll take Grace to dance.  I think we'll have a "mock" Moroccan chicken with mashed cauliflower and brown rice.

I've started thinking about our week off next week for spring break.  I don't usually take a full week off, but we've done so well that I think a week off will actually do us some good.  I wish we could go somewhere, like a beach, but I've never been able to do such a thing, even as a child, we could never get away for spring break.  It is not my lot in life!  (I say with self pity as Facebook friends are about to dash away to Florida.)  Silly me!  I think it is just the taxing season getting to me.  I really want to go camping!   

Target practice time! Only with Dad, of course.

Wednesday...
It turned into another lovely day after a cloudy start.  I think the high temperature reached in the 70's.  We got a lot of reading done.  I got caught up in one of our readers and ended up reading the whole thing to myself.  Oops.  I have always found the kings of England very interesting and we are up to Henry the VIII, what a scoundrel!

Dinner was excellent, by the way.  I made oven roasted potatoes, a crustless quiche with spinach and ham, and cut up apples.  I think that this will be back on the menu soon.  Despite the crust being my most favorite part of a quiche and despite not having cheese, the quiche was very good.  

AWANA went well tonight.  My kids were happy that it was their favorite theme, walking wounded.  All the kids got into it.  I never saw so many kids with head injuries!  *wink* 

"My sister did it to me!" 

Thursday...

Today, another fantastic weather day, I want to ride my bike after lunch and before our little friend comes to play. (Done.)  If we work hard this morning, today could be our last day of school until after spring break next week.  So, the school books will get put away, if all goes well. (It did.) 


I made Asian Honey Chicken with brown rice and mixed vegetables for dinner. 

Distinguished. 

Friday...

*Yawn*  Storms kept rolling through, waking me up all night.  I think we have a tiny bit of reading to finish the week strong.  I need to give Ryan his science test and grade his weekly essay.  I plan to walk in the morning or ride my bike, if the weather cooperates.  (Rain is predicted.)  We will have to go get groceries, but otherwise today will be mostly relaxing. In the afternoon, a roofer is coming to give an estimate on a new roof, so glad I don't have to pay for it.   I am going to make a homemade pizza for dinner.  I want to tidy the house, but that doesn't sound very relaxing!  We may invite neighbor friends over to play. 

AWANA flag ceremony, Trevor with the AWANA flag. 

Saturday...

First official day of spring break!!!  Jeff works.  We do our best to get through the day.  Most likely we will tidy the house, because after I wrote all that about Friday, I started to feel less excited about cleaning!  I do know that we will be watching some Deep Space Nine before bed tonight.  Dinner will be determined after I go shopping today (Friday.) 

Have a great weekend!
Jenn

Wordless Wednesday: Love

These two know how to love others. 

^" Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant  or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 ESV







 

Today I Am...

Bees for my dad. 

Happy... that Jeff located my missing prescription sunglasses after they'd been missing a couple weeks!  I was really getting worried that I'd never find the new, expensive things!


Excited...to have "new to me" curtains in the kitchen.  A friend was giving them away and asked us at bunco last week if anyone wanted them.  Well, they were the perfect fit and color for my very own kitchen so I took them!  I love the burst of red to cheer my north facing kitchen. 

Pleased...that more of our school books have shipped at last.  Now I just need to order from one other company that is having a sale in April. 


Going to... ride my bike with Grace!  It's supposed to be a lovely day.  Jeff got "my" bike out of the storage barn yesterday.  It's not exactly my bike.  Grace's long legs took my vintage bike from me!  I have my mom's bike, but it's just a bit too short.  Oh well. 

Annoyed...that my sweet Grace doesn't like her picture taken and placed on my blog!  I tell her that no one really reads my blog, no offense to those who do, so why be so camera phobic?

Starting to think... that summer will be here before I know it and that means just one thing, highschool is not too far behind!  Heaven help us!  (And I really do mean that!) 


Enjoying... another busy week of good things:  gym, art, dance, AWANA, babysitting, karate, and getting together with friends. 


How about you? 
~Jenn

This Week At Home, 2012, Week 12,

Little notes I write myself so that I can remember each precious day, 'cause the days are long, but the years are short!  (Gretchen Rubin said that last part.)

A treat. Mine was tart, but refreshing. 

Monday...
The last day of winter is here.  It's 80 degrees and sunny AGAIN!  I am so spoiled now that I can't even imagine going back to the 60's that a couple weeks ago seemed like perfection!  :-)

Ryan is with Nana today.  I miss him, but know he is having a grand time.  The younger two and I had a pretty good day together.  First there was gym class and a stop on the way home to get our Great Harvest bread.  Then we had a yummy lunch at home.  The kids did their math on their own, both getting all questions right.  :-)  Next, we sang a couple hymns, because churches don't teach them these days.  We continued our reading in Acts, while Grace illustrated for us on her flannel graph board.  We read poetry.  We read in our history spine, The World of Columbus and Sons.  We read a chapter of Leonardo da Vinci and a chapter of The second Mrs. Gioconda.  The kids did their language arts on their own while I cleaned up lunch and hung some clothes out to dry.  This is pretty much our typical Monday. In a bit I will take Grace to dance class.  While she's in dance, I'll read.  Dinner is started already.  We're having pinto beans and brown rice with steamed broccoli and fruit. 

A picture just doesn't do it justice! 

Tuesday...

Sunny and in the mid 80's!  Grace and I took our walk a bit earlier today so that we'd beat the heat.  I still can't believe that I just said that in March.  Ryan got right to work on his mostly independent studies.  Grace, Trevor and I kept on reading away.  Grace and I are having a great time reading about all the kings and queens and their sinful lives.  History is entertaining!

Our little friend comes this afternoon.  The kids keep her occupied and I think they enjoy their time with her.  I think it is good for them to spend two afternoons a week caring for a youngster under my watchful eye.  

Tonight is my bunco night.  I'm making homemade chicken tenders, green beans and fruit for dinner here.  Not sure what I'll be served at my friends' house, but I do know that I will have to behave myself.  :-)

This is what happens when I say no to screens. 

Wednesday...

Ditto on the weather.  Now, I am really beginning to think we are going to have to mow the grass soon.  I've never mowed in March.  Not once.  This is the last sunny day for a couple days, as rain is on the way tomorrow and Friday. 

Today is a bitter day.  We're going to a 21 year old cousin's funeral.  Young persons funerals are beyond difficult.  I did not know her very well, but her mother and aunt are close family.

I hope to get some reading with the kids done today before and perhaps after the funeral, but I'm not so sure it will happen.

Tonight is AWANA.  I'll make (whole grain) pancakes with real maple syrup before we go.

Grace's new pencils!

Thursday...

A mixed bag of weather today.  It stormed a little, but was still warm, in the 70's.  We continued with our lessons in the morning, making good progress.  Our little friend came in the afternoon.  I made a huge salad, fruit salad, and bread for dinner.  Kids went to karate.  Uneventful day.  Praise the Lord!  Even the laundry is caught up.  *grins* 

Looking at a spider climbing up behind me! 

Friday...

Woke up to a gentle rain, but still very warm in the 60's this morning.  We need the rain.  I am supposed to meet my friend to walk this morning.  We'll see how the weather is in a few hours. 

I need to finish our reading for the week.  We are on week 31 of 36 weeks of our Sonlight curriculum.  I plan to go to the end of May, so for a few weeks, we will concentrate on other subjects, like spelling, perhaps?  We really need to! 

Dinner?  I must think of it now!  Options are dwindling.  I really need to go to the store, but there is no time or energy for that.  I will thaw a package of chicken and see what happens!  Perhaps the dinner fairy will arrive in time to save my sanity?  Getting dinner made and cleaned up before small group is a job.  PB& J would work for me!  

Tonight we have our small group over.  The house will need some work, nothing major.  I am out of *gasp* coffee, so at some point I will have to get some before tomorrow morning or else! 

Saturday...

Jeff works.  It's one of the last of the Saturdays to work though.  We're counting down.  Only 3 more after this week!  I'll have to get food, because tonight, friends coming for dinner.  :-) 

Sunday...

Our one family day. Not sure what we'll do after church.  I think Trevor has choir practice in the evening, so there won't be a whole lot of time.  Maybe we'll just hang out. 

Waiting for art class. 

I hope you've had a good week. 
Thanks again for reading,
Jenn

It's Worth It

Please indulge me this sentimental post.  I sense the years left with my children slipping by so quickly.  Fortunately, I have very few regrets about the time I did spend with them as little children.  I gave myself wholly to their daily needs.  I am so thankful that I can say that I like who my children are and am thankful that I was able to give them the gift of home education. 

It's just that only one short year ago, he was just a boy.  (But he seemed so big.)I look at that picture and I see just how much he has matured this last year.

At age 13

And in the course of this short year, a young man emerged!  (Although his taste in cake decorations did not change.) *grins* 

Two weeks ago, age 14.

I knew this would happen.  I saw it happening to others.  Two years ago,I remember telling myself that in a couple of years, Ryan would morph into a young man.  I tried to prepare myself. 

Two years ago at 12, just a baby, really. 

In two years from now, he'll be even more transformed than he is now!  Why don't they warn mothers at their baby showers that they'll blink and that little baby will be all grown up?  (OK, they did tell me, but I couldn't comprehend!)

So, I'm trying to hang on to the last years with my last "baby"...

He's only 10, but 29 is just around the corner!  I don't even want to think about Grace being 13 this summer.  (Suddenly, I feel old and really nostalgic.)

Just 4 years ago

Just 4 short years ago! 

Again, what saves my sanity is that  I have very few regrets.  Keeping them home all these years has been a blessing to our whole family.  Any sacrifices we have made have been worth it all.  I never regret giving up my nursing career.  I am thankful that I do not look back and wish I had spent more time with them.  I do not think of it as giving up anyway.  I received so much in return.

If you home educate your children long enough, you will run into so many people who say, "I could never do that!"  I usually just smile, they probably wouldn't understand the joy and peace I receive knowing that I have found contentment in being at home, serving my family.   It's such a short time.  It's worth every thing to hear my 14 year old tell me, as he's watching the school bus drop off some kids, that he loves learning at home.  He loves being with me.  *melt*

It's worth it.

Wordless Wednesday: Tuesday Edition (LOL)

Happy Spring to you! 

Next Year's Books

It's that wonderful time of the year when next year's books start to arrive!  They are all crisp and new, with so much promise.  (Well, not all new, but close!)

Here is what we've decided to use, so far.


Trevor, age in August, 10, 5th grade 
Grammar:  Abeka (finishing book A, should be in book B by midterm)
Spelling:  Spelling Wisdom, book one  (This is new for us.) 
Science: Exploring Creation, Zoology, part 3
Math:  Math U See Epsilon (just started, so may finish midterm)
History/Reading:  Sonlight Core H, second part of World History
Music:  children's choir at church
PE:  archery, homeschool gym, karate
Bible:  Sunday school and AWANA


Grace, age in August, 13, 7th grade
Grammar/Writing:  Young Ladies Course in Writing
Spelling:  Spelling Wisdom
Science Exploring Creation, Zoology, part 3
Math:  Teaching Textbooks, finishing 6, starting 7 soon
History/Reading:  Sonlight Core H, second part of World History
Art:  Indy Drawing School
Dance:  Instep Dance Ministry at church
PE:  archery, homeschool gym, karate
Bible:  Sunday school and youth group
*Grace also works in the nursery at church, faithfully each week.  I need to count this as Child Development or something!  


Ryan, age in August, 14, 9th grade
English 1 (Lifepac)
World History, part 2 (Sonlight & Steam's of Civilazation)
Geoghraphy (Lifepac)
Math U See Algebra 1 (already started this, so might start Geometry around Christmas)
Latin 1 (Getting Started in Latin by Linney)
PE:  archery, karate, other classes offered at community center)
Literature (tied into history)
Computer (Language C) Coding (online class)
Bible:  Sunday school and youth group

I will be looking for some fine arts options for Ryan.  He might just take an art class or pottery at the community center.  He's also expressed interest in photography. 

Thankfully, the big high school question has been dealt with.  The principal and I will be working on record keeping this summer.  I want to get our system in place.  Jeff and Ryan are working on a blog together as well.  They want to encourage others that it is possible to homeschool highschool.  I'll get a link when it is all ready for you.  :-)

This summer, I want to keep the kids working on their math at least 3 times a week.  We will also be working on spelling, the younger two.  For Ryan, I want to get him a logic class to do this summer or maybe health as an elective.

It's all very exciting and yet, makes me think summer will fly by!

Thanks for reading!
~Jenn

***Update, we bought a French immersion computer program yesterday!  All will get a chance to learn at their own pace.  (Not Rosetta Stone, too $$$)

This Week At Home, 2012, Week 11

In which I write little notes to remember each precious day!

Grandpa#1 and Ryan last Friday

Monday...
The weather is rainy.  I get up at 6:30 and it is pitch black.  I feel as if the hour we lost has taken us back to February darkness.  Thankful for my coffee and date time with Jeff.   Thankful for grandfathers who took the time to drive hours to see us Friday and Saturday.  (Love you!) 

Today we have gym class, feed the neighbor's dogs twice, dance class, roasting 2 chickens for dinner tonight(and tomorrow,) and I hope to get our reading aloud done.  I'm still congested, mostly just in the mornings.  Otherwise, I am functioning, so I am not going to the doctor.

Tuesday...
Lessons, babysitting, art class, and more sunshine!  Laundry is king today.  Oh so much of it to do.  I made chicken and biscuts for dinner.  It's super easy and they love it!

Jenn's Easy Chicken and Biscuts 

De-bone a chicken that was roasted the day before.  Lay that meat in a big pan and almost cover with chicken broth.  Chop up some carrots, celery, and potatoes and put them in another pan to boil a little until almost soft.  To the chicken that's in the big pan, add some green beans, the chopped vegetables.   Then, sprinkle with onion, garlic, pepper, salt and parsley.  Top with whole grain drop biscuts.  Bake for 30 min. on 350. 

Whole grain drop biscuts
4c. whole grain flour
4t  baking powder
2t baking soda
1 t salt
4T melted butter
2c. milk

Mix all together and drop rounded very large spoonfuls on top of chicken and vegetables. 

Twins! 

Wednesday...

Another beautiful day with sunshine and open windows!  We are making steady progress towards our weekly reading goals.  This week, I added a book, so we are reading quite a lot.  Sometimes you have to add a great book!  

AWANA was tonight and Grace finished her book.  She worked so hard to get through it.  It's not something that I think I could do very easily.   Trevor was injured in game time, so he won't be doing much on his ankle the next few days.

Lunch outside in March?

Thursday...
Wow, this weather is absolutely wonderful.  I have windows open all night as the low only reached the high 50's.  We are breaking old high records right and left, too.  Makes me think we will pay in April.  (A snowy Easter, perhaps?) 

Trevor finished Math U See Epsilon today!  Woo hoo!  That boy is amazing!  He's limping around today or else I think he'd have jumped up and down a few times in celebration.

We had big salads with real bacon *gasp*, I know.  But it was antibiotic and nitrite free!  Eating bacon on a salad makes me think of ordering a diet coke with a double cheeseburger, though.  For our "vegetable" we had pumpkin custard! 

Friday...
Busy, busy day!  I'll just list my list! 

• make bread
• write menu ideas, grocery list
• finish reading for the week and any other stray subjects
• get groceries (3 stores)
• do laundry, dishes as usual
• make home made shake 'n bake chicken for dinner with steamed broccoli and brown rice.  Blueberries for dessert. 
• take Ryan to Winterblast at church (He spends the night!) 
• clean bathrooms (may do tomorrow)

This is where Abbey likes to be! 

Saturday... Jeff works a long day

• Whole house blitz!  (Floors, purging, dusting, tidy, surfaces...)
• Pick up Ryan after lunch
•  Put laundry away (because by now there will be baskets of it sitting around again.  
• ???  I'm sure I'll think of something else to do around here. 

Hope you have a great weekend and thanks, as always, for stopping by to read about our busy week at home!
~Jenn 

A Winsome Wednesday

This is March, right?  I can't recall it ever being this nice in March.  I'm not complaining.  I am in shock.  I really expected a different type of winter, one with snow and freezing temperatures for days on end.  Oh well.  Not going worry about it now.  Bring on the sunshine and warm days of spring.  And a little rain too, once in awhile would be nice, just not on camping trip days.  (ha!) 

Good Bye Pinterest

After reading this, and just not really getting all into pinning things, I've decided to delete my Pinterest account.  I'm sure it's safe and fun, but I really just don't have time to spend there.  Just letting my friends know, in case you wonder why my boards are gone.
~Jenn

**Update, since writing this, Pinterest has changed their agreement language to be more favorable.  I do not plan to rejoin, as it could be a source of discontent for me.  

This Week At Home, 2012, Week 10

Little notes I write each day so that I can remember each precious one!

Finally, his big day is here!

Monday...

Happy birthday to my big guy!  Time goes so quickly that I am amazed we are here. You being 14 blows my mind! And yet, I am so happy to have such an amazing young man in my world.  You are not a typical teen.  You are creating for yourself your own life, little by little.  I thank God for you!

Since it is a birthday, I gave the option for a day off of lessons.  Imagine my surprise when no one wanted to do school today.  (ha)

We woke up to a dusting of snow and flurries falling.  What a difference from the tornadic weather last week!  I'll take this and be happy, even though I can't walk outside today, not that I would.  I did not sleep again last night for the coughing fits lasted all night.  :-(

Homeschool gym class, a trip to the bakery and cake tonight filled our busy, happy day.  The kids all seem to be getting over their illnesses.  Perhaps I will get some sleep tonight!  One can hope. 

They eagerly watch him open their gifts.

Tuesday...

Sunshine is the word of the day!  We are back to the books today, too.  Everyone seemed fine with that.  I wondered if it would be hard to get back on track, but it was just another pleasant morning of lessons.  In the afternoon, our little friend came.  I was able to rest a lot, leaving laundry to pile up another day.

I did get some sleep last night, but still woke a few times coughing.  Thank you all for your prayers!  As I write this, I am feeling better.  I think if I just pace myself, I can manage to get done what has to be done and then rest.  I am not allowing myself to worry about having energy to work at AWANA tomorrow night and getting the house ready for small group on Friday.

His birthday lunch

Wednesday...
The day passed quietly.  The sun was shinning and its warmth drew the kids outside for a couple hours after lessons and before AWANA.  Speaking of AWANA, it went well, but I strained my voice and ended up feeling pretty drained at the end of it.  But, it was so good to see the kids again and hear a good message on how prayer is not about us.  At this point, I am thinking I may not have to see a doctor, but do wish I was feeling back to normal.

He's just so funny! 

"Mom, look.  I'm organic." 

Thursday: 
Woke up to rain and clouds with falling temperatures.  I am so congested, but not coughing.  We got right to our lessons.  We have our little friend arriving soon.  Tonight, kids go to karate.  Jeff is off at 5!  That means we can have dinner before the kids have to leave and he is going to Costco for us, so I can rest.  (What a guy!)

At bedtime I found a big white spot on my tonsil.  I think it is time to fly that white flag, but no time until maybe Saturday.  

Friday: 
Grandpa (Jeff's father) is coming down for a visit. He lives up near Lake Michigan.  He had the day off and wanted to see his grandkids.  So, we'll work a little on finishing lessons, do a quick tidy, and make some pizza dough before he gets here.  This evening, we have small group at our house.  It's been awhile since we all last got together. 

Saturday:
Jeff works.  My father is coming for a visit!  It's grandpa week!  :-)

Sunday:  
Trevor has children's choir in the afternoon.  Other than that we are home and keeping quiet. At least that is my plan.  

Not So Wordless Wednesday: So Long Ago

Feeling kind of nostalgic today, so I dipped deep into my early Photobucket account and found these... some of you will remember those days long ago! 

Always dressed up to play!

Loved hats! 

Our bird phase.

The most precious baby!

Boo hoo!  I miss those days.  Yes, they are still here, but the carefree happy days of early childhood are long gone.  We're going to have to change that.  I am declaring a need for us to get out and enjoy life before they really are gone.  More on this later.  I am making a plan.  :-)  

Today, I Am ...

Happy... because it's Ryan's birthday and I get to be with him all day.

Excited .... that my new hard drive is working in the laptop. 

Pleased... that I lost another pound over the weekend, although, it might just be water, but who cares! 

Going to... rest between running around if I can.  I coughed all night again.  That's three nights. 

Annoyed... that I can't sleep because of this cough.  It's a post nasal drip that sets me off in a coughing spell. My abdominal muscles are getting a work out.   They are more sore than when I do sit ups! 


Starting to think... I will be seeing a doctor towards the end of the week. 

Enjoying... the surprise flowers my husband got for me when he went with Grace to the library to pick up a book I had on hold and get groceries for us for the week.   Thank you, Jeff!  I really appreciate all you did this weekend, your one day weekend, at that! 

This Week At Home, 2012, Week 9

Little notes I write each day so that I do not forget these precious, fleeting moments! 

Trying to decide if I want lace in the kitchen, this is clipped in place until I decide. 

Monday...
I decided, last night, that I must get up early (5:30AM) today and exercise with my darling, so I did!  It made a huge difference, too.  I had a buddy to keep me committed!  

No school today, instead we had a wonderful visit with Grandma and Mom.  Grandma is doing pretty well.  She is less and less mentally "present."  I think she remembers us.  She sure loves the chocolate milkshake Mom brings her.  Anyway, it is good to go see her.  It's good for us all.

Grace has dance class tonight.  She'll be tired.  Ryan made a little money fixing another computer issue for a friend.  I need to find him a part time job in a computer shop.  He's ready.

From the kitchen today, I am making salmon tuna patties, broccoli slaw, and fruit salad.  (I discovered that canned salmon is gross!  Skin and bones are not for me! ) 

Grandma, Mom, and Kitty

Tuesday is here.  I'm grateful for the sunshine again today.  Rain is coming tonight and tomorrow, but there will be a warm up tomorrow afternoon.  It may reach 60 degrees!  Unbelievable!

Our morning went well. I am on top of the laundry or will be by the time you read this.  We started a new book, I, Juan  de Pareja  by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino.  Right from the start I can tell that we are going to love it.  We touched on all our subjects today, which is a great way to make progress, if you know what I mean!  ;-)

Ryan and I took a brisk walk after lunch.  Our little friend is here now.  I will fold clothes and make garlic lime chicken for dinner.  Grace will be off to art class.  I may get to see her latest creation.  It was not brought home last week.  I am also registering her for the art show coming in April.

A cake I made Saturday. 

Wednesday...
Trevor's fever came back last evening.  *sigh*  It's been since Feb. 12th that he's been sick, so I think a doctor's call is in order.  Grace is still fighting her cough and runny nose, too.

So,I take Trevor to the doctor and get his antibiotic for bronchitis.  Grace tells me that she woke up with ear pain, after I get back home. (Ugh, why not before?)  It's been a week for her sickness, so back to the doctor we go. Turns out that she has an ear infection!  So she is on an antibiotic. 

Ryan started getting sick on Tuesday, too. I am feeling a bit stuffy today.  Looks like I will not go back to AWANA tonight afterall.

Thursday...
I wake in the middle of the night with a sore throat, headache, and stuffy nose.  I can't sleep go back to sleep, so I am very tired this day.  I manage to get our reading aloud done.  Grace and Trevor do reading, writing, and math.  The school day is not a loss, at least.  I spend most of the day on the couch, however.  We've already canceled small group tomorrow.  I do need to find energy to get groceries,maybe in a couple days I can go.  Right now I just want to rest. 

Friday...
Woke up feeling a bit better after having slept for 5 hours straight last night.  The kids seem a bit better, too, though still congested and dragging.  I made a batch of bread first thing this morning so that we'd have some to eat today.  We were out.  I think I can get a little laundry done too.  We will do a lot of resting today after we finish our lessons.  The weather is a concern today.  The experts are saying that the conditions are ripe for tornadoes, hail, and damaging wind this afternoon and evening.  After all the poor people hit this week, I sure pray that the weather remains calm today.  Tornado weather in March is normal, so it's time to get the storm shelter back in order.  (Just a closet under the stairs, but better than nothing!)