April updates

To say we've been busy would be an understatement. I'll fill in the details later but for now...Rick graduates seminary in about a month; we're putting our house on the market this week, and we will soon be moving to another city (close by thankfully) for church planting. Many changes are in store for us.

And now for a school update: we are almost finished with the year and it has been a good year. Kate (1st grade) says her favorite subjects are Greek and Writing with Ease.

Claire says her favorite subject is Math. I have already purchased almost everything we'll need for the upcoming year and my plan is to start the new year in July and school year round. We'll school for 3 weeks and then take a week off (with an extended time off for Christmas). I'll have to see how it goes but I like the idea of this much better than breaking for 3 months in the summer. I'll share our new curriculum soon because we've made some changes.

Thoughts on Daycare

Let me begin by saying that we drive past a daycare every time we leave our neighborhood. Apparently, they have a really fun looking playground.

We were in the car today and I was a part of the following conversation:

Henry - MOMMY!! Claire says she wants to go to daycare!!

Me - You do Claire? Why?

Claire - I just really want to play on that playground! I just really like playgrounds!!

Kate - Well, I can't hardly blame her. AND, they probably get a lot of snacks. Although, it's probably just like one carrot stick or something.

Claire's Violin Recital

Today was Claire's first violin recital. She began taking lessons in September and we absolutely LOVE her teacher. She is wonderful. Claire is only taking 15 minute lessons this year because she is only 5 (will be 6 next month) and we wanted to see if she would like it.

The recital was scheduled for last Saturday but 6 out of the 7 of us had the stomach bug. Yes, it was a mess, literally. Jack was the only one spared. Miss Chi (Claire's teacher) arranged for her to play in another recital today.

Below are some pictures and a short video. And by the way, isn't she adorable!! :)

About to go in...super nervous

Trying to get a picture of the boys...

Claire and Miss Chi

Catechism

Wow! I haven't blogged in awhile. I'm going to try and pick it up. I want this to be a diary for our kids.

I love teaching the catechism to our kids. I really do. When they ask questions, I can almost always point back to a question they have learned and it seems to help it "click." I love the discussions that arise from learning new questions, and I LOVE when funny moments arise.

I was reviewing questions with Kate today and came to this question:

Q-How did you break the covenant of life?

A-Adam represented all people, and so I fell with Adam in his first sin.

I asked the question and Kate gave the answer and then said(sounding a little ticked off), "Why did Adam have to represent all people. I would NOT have eaten that fruit. I don't even like apples."

I am thankful for these conversations.

ER and RSV

Until this past week, I had never taken a child to the ER. I suppose 7 years is a pretty good record. Little Simon Oliver was the child who broke the streak. I'm not one to rush to the doctor when my kids are sick. Tuesday, though, I knew I needed to take him. He had been running a fever and had a cold but he starting wheezing and almost panting to breathe. He was breathing over 70 times a minute and was not his smiley self. (I need to add that we were out of town-Hilton Head-and Rick was not with us but my mother was.) I took him to the doctor and after examining him, I was told, "Don't panic, but he needs to go straight to the ER." Those are not exactly the words a mother wants to hear but by the Lord's grace, I did not panic.

We went to the ER and he was diagnosed with RSV. He was given breathing treatments and we had to stay until he began breathing more regularly. He was also given a steroid shot, which was also something new to us. Boy, that was an experience. I also had to do breathing treatments at home for 3 days.

He seems to be completely well now and I am grateful and thankful to the Lord for keeping my little guy safe.