Two updates, too soon . . .

Now that I have a reason for writing regularly, maybe (just maybe) I can keep this going. I figure once every couple of weeks would be acceptable, but who knows.

We went to the Natural Science Center for Seafest this weekend and then drove to Raleigh in the snow, yes, SNOW!! We went to Jellybeans skating rink and the children had a wonderful time. In the picture you see three of the cousins: Sarah, Marielle, and Sydney. Marielle (the birthday girl) is my brother, Brett's daughter, and Sydney is my sister, Olivia's daughter. Both Kris and I skated, but I was the only one to fall. I fell very hard, just as we were leaving the floor for the last time. Completely knocked off my feet and landed on my back, just above my right hip. VERY, very sore!! Ouch!


Seafest was interesting, we only had a few minutes to spend there so the children made shark hats, Sarah got her face painted, and the highlight (which is the whole reason the children wanted to go) STRANGE SEAFOOD TASTING! A local seafood restaurant brings in squid, conk and muscles.


Brian Michael remembers the squid from last year. "Kinda squishy! Like rubber!" is how he put it. So we waited for quite some time for the food to arrive, then the children didn't want to try the muscles, so dad ate them. The conk fritters didn' arrive. But there was still the calamari (squid). Dad ended up eating almost all of it as well. Oh well, it was an adventure.

The car decided to die on us on the way to Raleigh, but after trying to crank it about 25 times, it decided to run again, and we were on our way. Fellowship Meal and Lord's Supper that evening with our church family, home for a good nights sleep, and then back to church today. It has been a good weekend.

Sarah has had Cubbie Bear all week from AWANA. Each child gets to take Cubbie home for one week during the year. This was her week and she loved it! She brushed Cubbie Bear's teeth (with the provided toothbrush) each night, took Cubbie Bear with her, almost everywhere she went, and slept with Cubbie Bear each night. She loves Cubbie Bear!!

Enjoy the pics.

Close to a year of silence . ..

Well, I am not a blogger, that much is obvious. Part of it is taking the time, but most of it is the writing. I am not a proficient writer, and I really don't like to write, so . . . why do I have a blog???

That is a question I have pondered for quite some time. I have decided that I must have a blog to tell about my family. Specifically, to tell others about how my children are, what they are doing, how they are growing and what is going on in their and our lives. So we will start with the latest news, . . .

Brian Michael has lost his 3rd tooth. This time it is top front! And the other one is loose!

Brian Michael has also finished his Iowa Test for Basic Skills preparation for Book 1. He has done remarkable. Now what do all of those words mean. Since Brian Michael and Sarah are homeschooled the state requires that they be tested every year using one of the approved standardized tests. We have chosen to use the Iowa Test for Basic Skills. Since Brian Michael has never taken a standardized test, Kris wanted to prepare him for it and use the first grade (his age group) Book 1 test rather than the second grade (the material he is studying) Book 2 test. She felt this was more appropriate and wanted him to experience success in his first real test. So she bought the preparation materials for Book 1. Well, he has far exceeded her expectations. She now has the Book 2 preparation materials, and depending on how he does we will then decide from which book he will be tested.

Sarah is not sure she likes brother getting all the attention with mommy spending time testing and preparing Brian Michael, so she will be glad when this is over. She won't have to start the testing for another two years.

She is still in speech therapy, but has cut down to one day a week. We had asked for more time but the county can't justify the time when she is making acceptable progress. Kris is teaching her to read and is being reminded daily that, WOW!, her children are different! They act different, think different, look different and, yes, even LEARN different!!