Quick Updates

I can't believe it's been eleven days since the last blog. I have to say that I haven't even thought about blogging much at all, and it's slowly moving down the list, as the school year begins. For what it's worth, here are a few of the latest updates for those who need them. :)

1) Mark is officially unemployed and I'm loving it. :) For those who didn't hear, Mark is currently job-searching after his entire division was dissolved two weeks ago. The company has taken very good care of us for a long time, as Mark worked there for 10 years, and we feel blessed in so many ways even in the middle of this searching time. We both have the peace that God has already prepared the next place for Mark and is working all things together for good. Mark has been absolutely amazing through all of this, and has been searching and interviewing since day one. He is one talented guy, and God has truly gifted Mark for business and sales. It's been cool to watch him work! What has also been GREAT is to have him home with us so much! We are a one car family right now, and it's been a great excuse to have him join me on all kinds of outings. For example....Today, he took Kendyll to school for me, picked the rest of us up, we took Carlie and Abby Kate to their check-ups, got lunch, had a picnic at the park, played with Carlie, picked Kendyll up from school, went swimming at the pool, had dinner together, and played games with the family tonight. We were with him from sun-up to sun-down and are definitely being spoiled by so much Daddy time!!

2) Kendyll is having a BLAST in school and is already learning so much. She has been randomly spouting out all kinds of information and Mark and I just stand there amazed! (Side note: In order not to bore my readers who really don't care about what specific things Kendyll is learning, I have decided to start a school blog, just for myself. So, this will be the last blog you have to endure these details, I promise!) However, until the new blog comes, here are a couple of stories---or maybe more than a couple:

They have Nature Studies every day and learn about different habitats. Right now, it is the farm. Now, I completely discounted what they could really learn about the farm, thinking she already knew the animals that lived there pretty well. Boy, was I wrong. Yesterday, she told us about how a chicken grows inside an egg, including details I have never heard of, and explaining the process from beginning to end. She also told us that an animal who hatches from an egg is "oviporous"....I think that's right, anyway. On the way home today, she explained the entire process of wheat turning to flour...from seed to loaf of bread. She also told us that "many farmers work hard to produce their crop, and don't make enough money. So, we prayed for them today." For her after school snack, she insisted on having two slices of wheat bread and a glass of milk....to support the farmers. (I actually got her to eat all her veggies tonight by pulling the same plea for those poor farmers!) Her prayers have been absolutely precious, as she copies so much of what her teacher prays throughout their day. She has prayed a great deal about Jesus as her Savior, which I can't get enough of. Last night, she started reciting Psalms 1 while I was drying her hair. I went in and told Mark to listen to her say Psalms 1. He thought I meant Psalms 1:1. No. The whole thing. And, she's been to school four days! This school is very big on memorization and I am just amazed by it. We do scripture memory at home, and I've never been as successful as they have been in FOUR days! She has planted her first vegetable garden, and her specific veggie to plant was green onions. I might actually get her to try them now! We've been getting the daily update on how they're growing, so I think by the time they sprout, she'll be ready to chow them! Somehow, they're also fitting in reading, math, handwriting, art, and music in there too---which we also hear ALL about.

3) Carlie is apparently having a great year too...but I don't exactly have stories for you from her. This is how our after-school conversations go with her: "Carlie, what did you do today?" "Don't know." "Did you go to PE?" "Yep." What game did you play in PE?" "Don't know." "Did you play with Caroline?" "Yep." "Who else did you play with?" "Zachary." "Zachary? I don't know him. Is he in your class?" "Don't know." I'm not kidding. Nothing more is offered up, no matter how I try to trick her into talking. But, overall, I think she's having fun. :)

4) I have officially stayed on our new schedule for a whole week! Carlie has one day home with me alone, so we have done library trips, crafts, and special playtimes. Kendyll has one day home with me alone, and we have done fun school things (which I will save for my other blog too), including science experiments, art projects, and reading books with cooking lessons that go with them. We've also made some time for field trips when we've had everyone home (which have even included daddy while he is around!). Here is yesterday's trip to Owens Spring Creek Farm. This was such a fun day, especially since Kendyll is learning all about life on a farm. This was a beautiful place, and we lucked out with great weather too. (Sorry to my ladies' class friends for skipping out. It was just too tempting to hang out with my hubby all day. :)

Here is Carlie posing before we left for the farm. Kendyll picked out everyone's clothes for the day, including Mark and me. She even picked out accessories for each person too. All of which Carlie decided she should carry...Notice the red heels in the background that Kendyll picked for me. Perfect for the farm!

One of the first stops, after going through the Owens museum, was the "tea party table". The girls thought this looked like a place you would have a tea party. Here they are pretending to do just that. Later, we ate our lunch at this table, which they thought was SO cool. Funny the things that get kids excited.

The farm man gave us food for the goats, sheep, and longhorn. Kendyll jumped right in with feeding everyone....Carlie had to warm up a bit. Eventually she liked it, but only the "baby sheep ones". I have to admit, I even shuddered a bit when the big longhorn stuck out his tongue to take my food. YUCK!
And, this one is just for proof that Abby Kate really was there. Poor thing. She's never in the pictures. This is the only one I had of her!

Tomorrow's trip is to the art museum. Kendyll can't wait. And, I really can't either! I will probably learn as much as she does! In case I haven't already said it a hundred times, I'm truly enjoying being at home with them. I know I've "stayed home" for five years now, but this is the first school year where I really do feel like I'm home and not running five directions. I could get really used to this!

5) Our little peanut is doing well too. Abby Kate had her six month checkup (at almost seven months), and she only weighs 15 pounds, 3 ounces. This is what Kendyll weighed at 3 months. She is our peanut. But, she is also quite the pistol. She is getting up on all fours WAY too much, and is scooting around to get what she wants. I don't even know what I will do when she actually moves. Our lives will change dramatically! She is loving her baby food these days...so she might chunk up after all. :)

Well, I think that's it for now. I know I've been tagged 2 or 3 times, so I'm planning to do that blog next. First I have to think of 8 random things about myself. I'm SOOOO boring that eight might be a stretch for me! Have a great week, blogland.