Did I ever write about how Norah was addicted to Halloween candy? She wanted to eat it all the time. All the older kids also shared with her when ever they had theirs, so she had plenty. One day, after I refused her request for more, she stomped into the school room. I kept folding laundry in the loft but it only took a moment before she came back dragging Megan by the hand. Then she pointed at me and very seriously and sternly told on me. "Do do do do do," it went. Megan looked at me quizzically until I explained the reason why Norah was telling on me. Megan promptly pointed her finger at me and lectured me about how I should let that baby have all the candy she wanted. Just having someone sympathize with her was all it took for Norah to be happy. Isn't that what we all need sometimes?

Norah is out of candy and the rest of the kids have instructions to keep it away from her. She has gone through the withdrawal and rehabilitation process and is back to asking for "cawn" (corn) when ever she is hungry and wants a "nack." (When she's really hungry she puts her fingers in her mouth for extra emphasis. The other day she woke up from a long nap and must have been really hungry. For some reason she tried to eat my fingers.) Luckily, now she is letting me warm up the corn instead of eating it frozen.

Last week when she went to her doctor's appointment she wanted to leave after seeing the doctor and didn't want to stick around for the immunizations. She kept pointing at the door and saying, "go." When that didn't work, she stuck her whole fist in her mouth and said, "snack!" It was her snack time, and we had a few things to get, so we stopped by the store on the way home. She was so excited when I pointed to the Vanilla Wafers on the shelf and held them all the way home.

Derek is ever the patriot. When Mike gave him some of his old pirate ships he traded Nathan until he had a complete American fleet and forts. He often colors things in red, white and blue. On the way home when Megan asked who wanted to play a choose your own adventure game Michael cried, "I'll be the wizard." Derek shouted, "I'll be an American." He also wanted to put an American flag on top of his birthday cake.

The other day Eliza wanted to play with something that Derek had and it was making her quite upset. Merian stepped in with a wonderful solution. Eliza dressed up like a princess, complete with a tiara and a wand and Merian wore a Little Red Ridding Hood cape. Then Merain guided Eliza through an entire episode of Super Why! (Eliza's favorite thing to watch.) I don't know what story she chose, but the story line is always the same and I heard them shouting out the familiar phrases with gusto as they moved through out the house collecting Super Letters. The answer to her Super Story Question was "w-a-i-t". Because of the fun way she was told the answer, she was happy with that and really didn't have to wait that long since her story had helped her past time. I think Merian is totally awesome.

Eliza was so excited to give the scripture in primary today. Just like the times when she was assigned to give her talk or give her part for the primary program, she practiced and had it memorized and couldn't wait to say it. Just like the other two times, when it came time to do it, she shrugged and looked at me with a smile and
I had to say it. Then, just like before, when we got home from church she complained that she didn't get to say her part! We had her say her scripture before family prayer tonight. Maybe if we have her keep practicing in front of the family, next time she will do it! Next time, I'm sending her dad up with her.

Tonight after reading her books I told her we only had time for one more. She laid them out and very scientifically chose:

"Eeny Meeny Mo Mo Mo, da da da da so, so, so. My mom told me to pick the one I want."

Eliza insists that her name is now pumpkin, but sometimes she is Little Red Ridding Hood.

Norah is currently eating nuts that she requested. She loves them. It is so strange to me that she can handle them. With her mouth full of teeth she can also eat tortilla chips. The other kids were so late at getting teeth they would always choke. Sometimes when I see Norah smile it looks like she is wearing dentures to me because I'm not used to seeing that many teeth.

Emma has been practicing the piano a lot. I love hearing her. She is very good at getting her school work done and using her afternoon time wisely.

Michael gave a talk in church last week. He came home from a babysitting job Saturday night and said he just remembered he had a talk. He worked on it right away and it's pretty good if I do say so myself.

For those of you who don't know me, my name is (state name) and I'm so grateful to be here. My talk is on gratitude, and how it is good to have a gratitude attitude. I am grateful for my family, our ward, our church, this world our Father in Heaven has given us, and for the small wonders of everyday life. Sometimes you see these wonders so much, that they become less, and less visible. You have to open your senses to the wonders of this world, and I quote from President Monson:
“a grateful heart,then, comes through expressing gratitude to our heavenly father for his blessings.” Close quote.
I have a scripture in Matthew chapter 15 verse 36, where Jesus is breaking the fish, and the bread to share with the crowd of thousands. The people were grateful for what little they had, and there was enough for everyone.. In the scripture it says, “And he took the seven  loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. We all need to be grateful, for we can give thanks on any day, not just this Thursday. I bare my testimony, that if you can be grateful, and have a gratitude attitude, you will notice a change in your life. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen

I hadn't previously given much thought to the fact that the food was blessed and thanked at the feeding of the multitudes, but it made me think that even though they didn't have a lot they were thankful and it was more than enough. In my life, if I am thankful it always seems like I have enough.

Megan got a dance card. There is only the New Year's Eve dance left that she can go to. That should be fun.
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There's an update. Did I miss anyone?

Bon Jovi lives in our house

Norah is so different than the rest of my kids. She is the only one that will not let me rock and sing her to sleep. Instead, we lay down in bed and watch the fish from the baby aquarium toy from Carrie's garage sale. I miss the rocking and singing but at least I still get to snuggle with her. On the plus side, she is different from everyone else because she actually usually sleeps through the night! If she wakes up she will just turn over and go back to sleep on her own!

Derek is constantly creating. We are keeping Costco in business with our paper and tape buying habits. The other day as he was building something he was enthusiastically singing, "We may not know if we'll make it or NOT! We've got each other and that's enough! Loooove....We'll give it a SHOT!  Oh! Living on a prayer. Take my hand, we'll follow God's plan. We'll make it I swear...." I can't remember the rest of the words he used, but he sang them over and over, never losing gusto. I'm guessing he learned the song from Lego Rock Band. I hope I can record it before he learns the actual words to the song.

I've heard that the third year of homeschool is when things start to come together. Although I still have a long ways to go to satisfy my idealistic self, things are getting easier and I am a lot more confident that the kids are getting a great education, a good social life and we have quality family time. All those nights of staying up until 3 in the morning are paying off. I'm hoping I only have a few more of those left. It's not fun, but it is so nice to see progress and enjoy the accomplishments.

Our school room is the most put together room in the house. I suppose that is fitting since we spent the most time there. Today I wrapped an old cork board in fabric and hung it on the wall. It looks like modern art! I wish I could do more things to decorate our home. Patience, all those projects and dreams in my head will happen...someday. :)