School'in

We are in our third week of school. I'm telling ya, it is tough getting back in the saddle. We've had a great start though and the bug are worked out. I finish and *new and improved* chore chart for 2010-2011 that is working quite well. By 10 am school has been started every day and by 1pm, with lunch in there somewhere, school is finished. Animals are cared for and music is studied. Jessie and Jacob just switched from their long time piano teacher Mrs. Gerlach to my sister Julie. Jacob was apprehensive of gong(I found out later) as he heard us joking about Aunt Julie keeping a ruler on the side of the piano to hit children's knuckles with they they played a wrong note, lol! My sister actually HAD a teacher who did this when she was young and that is who he must have heard us talking about. Boy, was he relieved.

I am enjoying my new 1st grader immensely. Is there anything better than a brand new student?! Micah wanted to start school so bad, so we did. He has learned his vowels and just put his first two sounds together today, it was so fun to see his eyes light up when he *read* the combination. I was sitting at the table today correcting(and correcting and correcting and..) and it hit me I have FIVE students. I am now where I dreaded being five years ago and it really isn't bad at all. It's fun. The Lord has revealed much to us in that time, as I knew He would. I want to keep their lives quiet and simple. I want the children to remember a joyful home life, uncluttered with business and stress. Rich in learning and rooted in love for our Lord and Savior and each other. So far, I have been quite pleased with our days. So far. ;)

Family News:

My laptop did die...officially. We are mourning it's death because along with it's death comes the inability to upload pictures from my camera.

We got a buck from some friends to breed our does. We have had him three? days now and Junie should be expecting in mid Feb! Whew, that was quick. He is a cute little feller, his name is Ferdinand and he has big curly horns and he stinks something awful, but we still love him.

We are mudding and taping! The addition is looking like a home! the chickens roosted in there last night. Dumb birds.

That's all for now.