Introducing Our Newest Addition

We haven't been able to go somewhere as a family since we had Norah. Mostly it is not a big deal, but it can be annoying. Sometimes we've even stuffed Nate in the back of the van or I've ridden on the floor. Who would have thought big vans were so hard to find? It's consumed a lot of our time, especially since it was our goal not to get into debt and we had a lot we were looking for in a van. But we finally found it and it has everything we could want and more. Fifteen passengers, running boards, it's not white....it has been so great for our family. There is so much room; we love it! It's really not that hard to drive either.

The kids wanted to name it. Their suggestions were: The Ark, Ahpa (from Avatar the cartoon - I don't know how to spell it), Thomas (for the train - that was Derek's), and I can't remember the others now. I pushed Ahpa because it is big, it is gold, and it can fly. Not really. I really wanted that name because I thought it was so cute when ever we started it Merian would say "yip, yip!"

I just have to say again that it has so much room! When ever we drive the Silhouette we all wonder how we fit/got into the seats. Especially since after we had Eliza we added another seat to fit her. We can get in and out so much easier and I know our upcoming trip to Grandma's will be so nice and we all will actually have room for our feet and my lap won't be holding anything! Now if we could just get a bigger house...

We found the van in Nampa, Idaho and had a fun trip to go get it. The roads were pretty bad and we saw quite a few accidents, but we were excited to finally be getting a van and we got to try out Tucano's. On the way home the freeway was closed and it took us and hour and a half to go 20 miles. We ended up staying in a hotel. Derek forlornly remarked, "I miss Grandma, we are so far away from America." (He's really in to the whole American thing lately. He'll use it as an excuse: "American's don't do that" when he doesn't want to do something.) It was a much better trip than when we went up to Seattle but decided not to buy the van that was obviously a convict carrier and spent all afternoon in a Krispy Kreeme parking lot using their wi-fi to try to find another one. Memories.

The kids sang for the ward Christmas program today. Eliza wanted to be a part of that and she did a great job.

I should write more of what is going on but I am so tired I can't think of anything that makes sense!

Oh, it's late and the house is a mess, the laundry that was piled in the hallway now has expanded to the loft and even the part that once was in piles has shamefully been scattered for days now. What is the deal? I really thought I had the laundry situation solved, either by doing one load a day starting at 5:00 before my morning run or by doing gobs of laundry and having folding parties with the kids. But once I am behind in laundry it is so hard to catch up. Laundry that has been sitting out on the floor, being trampled on, gives me the creeps. If I had the money and time I would collect it all up, plus the dirty laundry and head for the laundry mat, completing the task all at once and getting caught up. It would be quite interesting. I've only used public laundries owned by the apartments we lived in and I have a feeling this would be a bit different. I'd also be afraid of losing articles of clothing.

Homeschool is going well, but it is so time consuming. I want to do it right. I don't want my children to forfeit anything academically or socially and that takes a lot of effort and scheduling. Because the kids have different days of MCP I'm having a hard time going shopping. With Norah still waking up through the night 5:30 in the morning just isn't happening, even though I've had good intentions. Hence, the laundry clog up.

We have added a subject every week. I like this. I feel like I almost have Algebra/Math perfected and Science is getting there. Those are the hardest. The rest should be easier. Our current subjects are: Algebra/Math; Science; Spelling; Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics; Vocabulary, Novel Study (Treasure Island, for which I was excited to find pirate gear to wear at the Dollar Tree), Literature, and History. We just have to add Composition, Spanish, Art, and Music, although we've done a little in those areas. Someday this will be easy, right?

Algebra is pretty easy for Meg. She's had lots of experience with it. She graciously consented to take again since being pregnant made me such an inconstant teacher last year. It is challenging for Mike, but I think he can do it. He is one smart guy when it comes to math and I want him to be stretched. I'm grateful because it is more efficient to be able to teach them together. Emma loves division. Go figure! She really enjoyed long division last year and was excited when we started reviewing it again. I find that perplexing.

We've been studying the Mayans. I think we'll try to speed through the Incas and Aztecs so we can get on to American history or we won't be done by the end of the year.

We broke out the microscope the other day and I must say it is awesome. It is of impressive quality and we've been looking at all sorts of things under it. I can't wait for someone to get hurt so I can see some blood.... I mean.... maybe I'll just prick my finger. I'm really not sure it is that great of a microscope, but wouldn't it be cool?

I've learned about reflexive pronouns, antecedents, and how to diagram sentences. Um, is there any purpose for this? I'm pretty sure this all means nothing to my kids and that they forget it the minute they take the test. Today something funny happened. I've understood the whole, first, second, third person thing for as long as I can remember and have never even question why speech was labeled that way. Today when I was explaining it to the kids I drew a stick person pointing to himself/herself and gave the examples of "me" and "I." Then I drew a person talking to another and pointing to them saying "you." Finally I drew a person talking to another and pointing to a third for "him" etc. Then it hit me. Oh, First person has one person, Second has two and Third has three. I think I already knew that. I think I need to get more sleep.

This really isn't an exciting family journal, and this isn't really what I mean to write here, but maybe it will be an interesting pit stop for the kids to read when they are older.

Merian is becoming a great reader and has good friends at school. Please say that means you'll stay at public school at least until middle school! :)

The only thing I really regret about homeschooling is that I am missing out on a lot of snuggling time with the three youngest. I hope it gets better as we get better with our schedule.

Friday, Michael was away babysitting. When we were putting Derek to bed he asked, "Mom, where did you put Michael?"

Derek-isms

These are all from today:

• Why is there an "ick" in my name?
• Why are all the people that live in Pasco and Costco and Mount Rainer our cousins and neighbors and friends?
• I like grandmas better than bad guys. (He said this after I told him Grandma Johnson was coming tomorrow.)

Sometimes I have a hard time understanding this kid.

I recently painted the boys room. We took out the red race car bed and set up the bunk beds in its place. I wish I would have gotten a picture of the boys in the race car bed. I thought it was cute how they liked to share it, even though there was another bed that most nights remained empty.

When I was taking the bed apart Megan told me how surprised Michael was when we first got it. He didn't think we could afford something like that. That is why he asked Derek to share with him. I'm so glad he did. Every night Michael would tell stories to Derek to help him go to sleep. We need to thank Aunt Carrie for letting us use the car bed.

Slow Down Kiddo

Eliza is so full of energy. She is driven and determined. She gets hurt several times a day. She runs into walls, falls off of things. She just can't seem to slow down.

A Little Dramatic

Last night Derek wanted a Lego piece that Lizzie had for the airplane he was making. Overheard: "But if I don't have that piece I will DIIIIIEEEE." I tuned out for a while while he continued. I wish I would have kept listening because a few minutes later I heard, "and if I die...."

Derek was excited about me painting his room last night. Since Nate and the older kids are at the Johnsons' for Christie's homecoming I let him stay up and keep me company. He talked and talked until about 10:15 when he finally layed down on the floor and mid sentence fell asleep.

We've had lots of fun while the rest of the family has been gone. Derek didn't not want them to go. "Our family should go on trips together." I agreed with him, but we don't have the transportation. When it was dinner time he didn't want to eat without everyone else. He's a tender guy. But other then that he's been okay. We have read a ton of books, made a tent in the toy room, a pretend fire, and roasted marshmallows. Then I cut up hot dogs for dinner and let them use their roasting sticks (bamboo skewers) to dip the pieces into ketchup and mustard.

All the kids have had swimming lessons the past week. Derek would rather not, but has stuck it out. On the second day Asher did a bob and so Derek had to follow. Way to go! Also, at lunch afterwards, Asher ate his broccoli, so Derek did too! On Friday they went off the diving board. (One guard threw them in and another caught them.) I was a bit worried about that, but after he did it he screamed, "that was fun!" Merian, on the other hand kept moving to the back of the line and avoided getting her head under water. How is she going to be baptized? I think Derek's main problem is that the kid has not meat on those bones and he spends the whole time shivering.

Asher, Eliza, Merian, Cecily, Derek

Kenna, Emma, Callie Emma and Kenna

Uncle Mike and Norah

I've wanted to write down things we usually do during the summer because this summer I forgot and we missed the Reptile Man.

* Sign up for the library summer reading program. This gives us coupons so we can go roller skating and out to dinner sometime later in the year.

* Library programs such as the Reptile Man and Recess Monkey.

*Free summer movies

*swimming and tennis lessons

*splash park by the baseball field

*Howard Amon Park to play in the sand and go swimmin in the little round pool. (I remember going there when I was little when he came up here from Utah for a family reunion.)

*I want to try the "free" bowling.

*We are finally starting Cousin Camp this year

*Last year we picked blueberries. That was fun, expensive, but fun.

*I know there is more. See I'm forgeting and we do these things every year. Too little sleep. I'll add more as I think of them.