Catan

This is what homeschool looks like at our house today. (We did have our scripture study earlier in the morning.)
Settlers of Catan is a great strategy game. Pictured is Settlers, plus the Cities & Knights expansion, plus the Seafarers expansion.

Dead Dryer

Our dryer died Friday night. My first reaction was "Yay! Now we can get a front-load washer/dryer!" We ended up ordering them online from Costco. The bad news is it will be three weeks before they get here.

I optimistically pulled out the clothesline outside and hung a load of wash. The temperature was around 38 degrees with sunny skies. But the clothes never dried.

So, we went with Plan B. An inside clothes line. In the rarely used TV room. Have I ever told you how much I adore hanging the wash? Well, I do!

Seatbelt as Bookmarks

Lillian, does this beat your best bookmark find?!?

The book is The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale.

Feliz Navidad!

We thoroughly enjoyed this Christmas season! We had such a fun time singing songs and playing games and reading stories. Our third annual Christmas Sing-Along was our best one yet! Thanks to everyone who came. We look forward to doing it again next year.

The kids got the traditional new pajamas on Christmas Eve, and wore them for two days and nights straight.

The kids put the Christmas tree together by themselves, and decorated it by themselves. I think that is awesome!

DJ's favorite present was a huge Lego Medieval Castle 1600+ pieces. All the kids play with it, but DJ uses it the most.

Gwennie's favorite present was the book The Three Muskateers. That girl loves to read!

William's favorite present was the animal-themed kids Mastermind. They play all kinds of games with it, not just the original game.

Amanda's favorite present was a huge cardboard house. It is like her own little world inside.

Lyman's favorite present was the Seafarers expansion for Settlers of Catan. You can find us playing Catan at least three times a week now. DJ, Gwen, and William love to play it, too!

Jennifer's favorite present was a guitar. She's teaching herself how to play.

Oliver didn't get any presents, but he was just happy to be here!

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When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Mother

Today I had a delightful experience. My children and I went to a mini concert given by Janeen Brady. For 40 years she has been writing music to teach and delight children. When I was a little girl, my favorite song was When I Grow Up, I Want to Be a Mother. I was just in tears thinking of how much that song means to me now, as I have five little babies of my own.
Janeen was so sweet and fun! She showed us how she can play the piano blindfolded, with gloves on, with the keyboard covered, and even lying on her back and playing over her head - at 80 years old! We sang lots of Christmas songs, with instruments even. All the kids, even Oliver, had a great time!
Janeen Brady's music is available at www.britemusic.com. One of our family favorites is Take Your Hat Off When the Flag Goes By. We downloaded her Christmas music CD, after hearing one of the songs performed by a friend of DJ's today at the concert.
Music is such a gift and can be a great tool for teaching, for playing, and for expressing yourself through song and dance. I am so grateful for everyone who creates good music and shares it with us!

We made it to week 6!

Many times in the past 6 weeks I've asked Lyman to remind me that it gets better, life with a newborn gets easier. And now, suddenly, it is easier. Suddenly he's happy laying on the floor watching his siblings play. He doesn't think he has to eat just because he is awake. I can have an hour to myself in the morning to use the treadmill, shower, and make a smoothie, before I become the mom again.

Oliver does still hate the car seat. It makes it difficult to go anywhere, when he starts crying before he's even buckled. All my children have been that way, it makes me wonder if it's something I'm doing. Anyone else have babies that hate the car seat? What do you do?!?

This is my first attempt at using the web cam on the laptop I've had for 1 1/2 years. Did I mention I love the beautiful sling my sister gave me?

Guess which baby is which!

For those of you wondering who Oliver looks like, here's a little hint - all of our kids look pretty similar as newborns. All of the pictures were taken around 5 or 6 days after birth. Can you guess which baby is which?