Blessings

This Sunday was our first back at our own ward in 6 months.  Of course we got all done up to go out in public and it was the perfect opportunity for photos.    

Lucy is 9--very nearly 10.  She is responsible, creative, imaginative and bossy.  She takes charge of every situation and is working on being a leader by including others more!  She is SO helpful!  She knows where everything is and can help me with just about every errand I ask of her.  She plays with Annie--her puppy Bo, and seems to never tire of it.  Lu loves reading and is so good at staying focused on her homeschooling.  She basically teaches herself.

Wade is a jolly fellow.  His eyes sparkle when he smiles and he has a lot of love to share.  So much sometimes that he ends up rubbing his face or hands on peoples' heads to feel their softness.  What a hoot!  He makes everything more fun.  He is very loud--second only to our three year old neighbor John according to some members of our family.  He just has a loud speaking voice and a huge zest for life.  He is working on checking every item off his chore chart each day.  He improves daily with his ability to focus, and his determination is endearing.  He walks from task to task muttering exact instructions that I give.  If he doesn't, he often comes back to ask what it was he was supposed to be doing.  He LOVES school and wants to do as many workbook pages as possible each day.  His reading is improving quickly and he is currently reading books like Go, Dog, Go and Green Eggs and Ham quite well.  He's 5 and nearly a half.

Sam is one handsome kid.  He is an explorer and expert level hiker.  He loves to be outside just to see what he can find.  He currently LOVES hunting frogs at Lonetree and catching minnows in a #10 can.  He gets all the siblings excited about it and soon they are up to their waists in the pond.  He is torn this week between the option to hunt with Dad, or to stay in Lonetree for the week where he may explore some more!  He is an excellent mathematician.  We hope that he will have the multiplication and division facts memorized at the end of this second grade year.  He is working on focus while reading and not skipping words.  Reading aloud (well) is truly a skill!  He enjoys art and spends lots of time and effort on his artwork at school.  He is seven now, and will be eight in just about six weeks!

Annie is a ball of fun.  She loves to play in the newly finished basement while we start school upstairs.  She plays Diego, or Little People, or Farm or Littlest Pets and can be entertained for quite a while.  This is truly a blessing for me and I think she quite enjoys her independent playtime.  When she has had enough of that she will join us in the school room and become our pet, Bo.  She LOVES to be Bo.  I think it may be the raisins she gets as snack, or maybe the fun doggy bed she gets under the desk.  She recently turned three and continues to just be a joy.  She really loves snacks, reading, dancing/taking laps around the living room to Disney music, playing anything with siblings, and watching our family favorite TV show, Avatar.  She follows the story really well and is highly entertained.  She is working on going to the bathroom without asking me to join her every time.

Oh, what beautiful children I have been blessed with.  I read a book to them tonight--about Big Bird and what he wanted to be when he grew up.  We discussed what they might want to do.  Whatever they choose, I am so excited to see it play out.  I think these little ones are going to do big things and I am looking forward to watching them choose their paths.  I have been feeling grateful for the opportunity to homeschool and for getting to watch these kiddos learn and grow.  It is happening so fast!