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This is nothing special, well to you anyway. I'm not a scrapbook type, or a baby book writer, or even a picture printer. I'm terrible at recording memories. This blog is my attempt at holding on to some of my life as a Christian, a wife, and a homeschooling Mom of 5. I am a country girl that lived in a big city for 14 years, and moved to the Deep South for quiet, quaint, small town living.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

FOUR!

George turned 4 on April 13th.  
 (Is it sad that I have a hard time remembering his b-day?  I went into the hospital on the 12th, so that is in my mind, but he was born a little after midnight.  I think I have a few more years before he notices the delay when I say his actual birth date.)

We are not having parties this year, with a new little one on the way (could you imagine planning 2 July parties a month after you gave birth???).  But one tradition we have started was for Troy to take the actual birthday off and we surprise them all with a special day out.  For George, on a rainey Tuesday, we ate some birthday pancakes that Troy made (complete with candles and singing) and took off for the Baltimore Cupcake Company.  (I had a Groupon for 9 cupcakes that would usually cost me $27, but because of a referral credit and awesome daily deals, I got this one for $4!!)  George got to pick out the most and the girls picked out a few also.  We saved them for later.....

Then, to the Aquarium!  Liv went there when she was little, but didn't remember, and George and Virginia have never been, so it was extra fun.  
Ginnie watching a lovely puppet show performed by Liv and George.
George eating his birthday lunch of choice (mac and cheese at the aquarium cafe).  Of course we had more candles and singing.  We tend to do this in anything/everything edible ALL day long, ha ha.
The Dolphin show!
We then went to Barnes and Nobles at the harbor to let the kids pick out a book and get a special treat- strawberry and cream fraps at the Starbucks.  It was a good wind down time for us to drive home and enjoy some presents!  George got a tee ball stand, a double feature movie- Monsters vs Aliens plus a bonus feature about Bob that is in 3D, a Wii game, and his Spider man puzzle book that he picked out at the book store.  Oh, and the cupcakes were pretty good too! (Which included more candles and singing)
The kids' first 3D movie experience. 
 All in all, I say it was a good way to spend George's first day being Four.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Easter!

We had an unusual Easter... alone.  Well, if you count our rockn church family at Trinity A/G, we were far from alone!  After working in the nursery and kid's church, we enjoyed all the fun things church had set up (train rides, petting zoo, age appropriate egg hunts....) before we went home to a quiet afternoon. 

The week before started a little strange for me.  I am usually all about Easter since it is the most important holiday of the year!  I had a hard time getting excited- no idea why.  After hard boiling 3 dozen eggs, I started to get in my groove. 
On Easter morning, the kids woke up to their baskets on the table.  (We don't do Santa, the tooth fairy, or the Easter bunny, but we do like to give the kids gifts.)  It is kind of fun for Troy and I to remember and see what we got them, since I shop all year long for b-days, Christmas, and Easter and stash it away.  I might have to get a panoramic shot with four baskets next year!

After church that day, Troy took them outside to play so I could make dinner.  Since it was just us, we only had ham, mac n cheese, green beans, and sweet potato biscuits.  But the decorated eggs and a real table cloth made it fancy!  In stead of our usual devotional time, we discussed the Resurrection eggs that I love so much! 
Of course we had to have our own Easter egg hunt in the back yard.  
And of course I had them wear their bunny ears!

It was a lovely, simple, talk (all throughout the day) about the importance of Jesus dying and coming alive again, kind of day.  Perfect!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Don't know where to begin.

I know it has been a while, but I'm still not quite right with this macbook.  I told you I'm slow!  The unfamiliarity is not making anything but surfing the web fun.  I do have a private tutor (thanks Valentina!) coming soon to set me straight, but no promises on any regularity!  I'm getting bigger (in my third trimester) and more tired so I'm not getting as much done as usual. 

So, to catch you up.......

We have decided to keep George home next year (as opposed to sending him to Pre-K like we did Liv).  He did so well during the Feb blizzard, I feel better with his adjusting to homeschool from pre-school.  Plus, not having to drag around 4 kids, one an infant, every day to drop off and pick up George at Pre-K will make life a lot easier.  We are still thinking/planning on sending Virginia to Pre-School and probably Pre-K, since we do love the school.  But we are always praying and trying to be flexible to God's plan.
George has learned his letters and is now learning the sounds and printing!  He is jumping right in with table work, and following our schedule.  He has a great attitude about school- I love it!

NICE WEATHER HAS COME!!!  We have finally taken a break too!  We never really stopped for Christmas break, and the kids have no idea what a snow day is because I'm mean like that.  Since they don't know, they don't question and keep on as usual.  Because of this, Livia has finished her K curriculum in March.  Of course, she doesn't know we have completed her requirements.  We are finishing up the rest of the school year (until George's last day) with fun units, field trips, and experiments.  Of course we took off to the zoo on the first nice day!

One fun day was Dr. Seuss day. It started with a special breakfast to get them in the mood.  

After some green eggs and ham, we gathered all the Dr. Seuss books we had around and read, read, read!  We also made up poems and talked about rhyming words.  The kids didn't even realize it was school.  Ha ha!