2010

This is likely to be the last post of the season.  In two days we leave for Oregon.

This past week we put school on hold and enjoyed our time together as a family enjoying the Christmas season.  We made over-sized paper decorations and hung them in the upstairs windows.  We watched Christmas movies, sang songs, made food, and wrapped gifts.  The activity days girls made nativity scene figures (the kids and I made some last year, too).  Josh and I did a little browsing at the stores downtown.  It's been a wonderful week.

In reflecting on the past year I have to say that we've been so extremely blessed.  Our days have been filled with a lot of joy and very little trouble.  The kids have grown up so much in the past year.  I can't believe how amazing they are.  Josh and I are grateful every day to have been blessed with five such awesome kids.

Hannah is continuing to study at Josh's office.  I think it's going well for her.  She's able to get so much more done without the family interruptions.  When Josh moves to his new location in a month or two, she'll have to study at home and that will mean making some minor adjustments so that she continues to study (instead of stopping and helping me as is her nature).  She asked if she could start taking piano lessons again.  I have to admit, I was hoping that she would ask.  That's part of the reason I didn't bother finding her a new piano teacher when her old teacher retired.  I wanted her to feel that it was her choice to continue with lessons.

Brynne has grown so much just in the past weeks of having Hannah studying somewhere else.  She's stepped nicely into the role of oldest helper.  I've noticed lately that she loves to sing and we've had a great time singing Christmas songs together.  She's loving her violin lessons - all two that she's had so far - and is motivated to practice.  Brynne was challenged to read all 7 Harry Potter books so that she could watch the final two movies (as they come out) in the theater.  She met that challenge and it took her less than four weeks.  If you haven't read the books, you should know that many of them are over 500 pages.  Quite a major undertaking!

Logan will be starting Cub Scouts in January.  He's pretty excited, but also a little nervous.  It's time to start thinking about baptism prep. for him, as he'll be turning eight in April!  He's turning into quite a reader and his trying his darndest to keep up with his older sisters.  Every time they finish a book he's right there grabbing it and trying out the first few chapters.  I enjoy his love of learning.  He's one of my most enthusiastic students.

But I'd have to say that  my most enthusiastic student right now is Kenna.  She reminds me daily that "she needs to do school".  She also heard our discussions about "if you read Harry Potter you can watch the movie" and has informed me several times this week that she read Harry Potter and now she can watch the movie!!  Kenna's fully day and night toilet trained now and doing fantastic.  She still enjoys a little sweet reward after her bathroom trips...as does Natalie.  Kenna is in the fabulous stage where the funniest things pop out of her mouth.  It's been really fun.

Natalie is the same charming, smiley, girl.  She's working hard to follow in Kenna's footsteps. She mimics everything Kenna does and is her constant shadow.  I call her my little pink and yellow baby - her blonde hair and pink cheeks are so cherubic!  I love watching her try to jump.  She just figured out this week that she can take steps down the stairs without holding on.  How exciting!  It's a big deal in our family because our kids have such short legs!

And did you know we had hail today?  It was pretty cool.  We've had a pretty big storm blowing through so there's a lot of stuff strewn around the yard.  No matter how much I try to storm-proof our house, there always seems to be something I miss.