Lily Is Learning

Today was the second time she has practiced writing letters. She's amazing, if I do say so myself. I got this dry-erase board at a homeschool resale shop for $1.50. She was interested because it is different and I like that it doesn't use up a ream of paper on print-outs.

Up until about a month ago, Lily did not care in the least about ABC'c or 123's. Every time that I broke out the flash cards, I would get a slouchy "I don't know" from her even on the letters she did know. So I decided it was time to go high-tech and let her use the computer. Now she asks me every day to go to www.starfall.com to do her schoolwork. She even wants to do it at night before bed. And the best part is that it doesn't cost a thing. It has inspired her to do more things like writing now that she's confident in what the letters are. I think it's that she associates the letters with colors and the cute little songs and games instead of it just being a symbol that makes a sound. That means I will most likely be purchasing the Math-U-See program at the homeschool conference this year. I am so proud of her!

Happy Birthday, Ruby!!!

Ruby's favorite things to play with are in the kitchen. She wants to pull everything out by herself.




All of the bottom cabinets are "Ruby safe" items: tupperware, collanders, cookie trays, bundt pans. My kitchen floor is usually a mine field of dishes, but I love it.




She loves the Happy Birthday song and thinks it's for her every time.

She really hams it up with her crown on. She knows she's cute.

Isn't she adorable!?

I'm about ten days late in posting birthday pictures, but that's the way it goes sometimes. At her check-up she weighed in at 17 pounds, 9 ounces and 30.5 inches. Long and lean, just like all of her brothers & sisters. She has two teeth on the bottom and two teeth on the top and is so happy to be able to eat whatever the big kids eat. She says: Mama, Dada, bye, ball and yesterday she said "baby" to her dolly. She is our most affectionate child. She is independent and loves to explore, but checks in every couple of minutes to give me a hug. I love my little princess.

Lily got stuck upside-down. I had to take a picture before helping her down.


Ruby loves being outside.

We've been enjoying some nice weather for January lately during the daytime. Nighttime is quite cold, though. Our family is trying to conserve energy (selfishly to save money) by consolidating our unused space of the house. The back half of the house is drastically colder so we're just not using it for now. We closed off the vents to the homeschool room, back bathroom, and the two bedrooms in the back, and we put up some heavy quilts in the doorway leading to these rooms. Where does everyone sleep? There are still two bedrooms that have heat: the master bedroom and the baby's room. Paul and I sleep in our room and all the kids sleep in the baby's room. we moved the girls' bunkbed into the baby's room and three of the kids sleep in that, and Ruby still in her crib. Adam prefers being cold so he will sleep in his own cold room by his own choice. The kids can still play in their bedrooms. If they are cold, they can put on a jacket. They would rather be outside than play in their rooms any day. So, we'll find out when the electric bill comes if it has made any difference. Even if it doesn't reduce our bill, we will know that our family could live happily ever after in an itty bitty house if we needed to. Personally, I think the kids like being all together. We have a pioneer spirit. Bring on the one room cabin and put ten kids in the loft!

Very Important

As a family with five children, most of you can imagine that buying second-hand clothing is very important to our household. Our right to continue to do so is being taken away. A law making it illegal to buy or sell used children's clothing is due to take effect February 10. That's just a few weeks away!

Please take a moment to contact those in Congress who can stop this craziness. http://www.rallycongress.com/make-second-hand-kids-clothes-legal-/1471/save-kid-s-clothing-resale-consignment-thrift-stores-from-closing/

This link will explain everything and help all of you to send an automatic email to your Congressperson.

Worship Leader

Sorry it's sideways.

Nolan got ahold of my camera.

Ruby fell asleep while playing in her crib.

Christmas Pictures

Ruby is very passionate about cinnamon rolls.


Nolan had a good time, but only wanted one turn.












We took a nice long walk in the woods.

Christmas Pictures

Nolan played with his Bat Mobile all day.


Lily really likes playing Pixos.



Emily bought a Paper Recycling Factory with her money from Great Grandma and Papa Lewie




Ruby ia so excited about her first laptop!
Now maybe she'll leave mommy's laptop alone.

Ruby modeling the sweater pants that I made for her.

I took apart one of Emily's old sweaters, sewed the arms together for the legs, and sewed the turtleneck to the top to make a yoga-style waistband.

Soft, comfy and warm.

Emotionally Overwhelmed.....in a good way

I don't know if it's the sleep deprivation or what, but Christmas is really getting to my heart this year. I've never gotten into the "holiday spirit" too much, whether it be materialistic giving or reflection of Christ's birth any more or less than I do on the other 364 days of the year. Furthermore, I generally don't cry very much.

Suddenly I find myself overwhelmed with emotion with every song singing of our sweet Savior's birth. Tears flow with my heart bursting in my chest if I even think about what rejoicing in Heaven was going on that night when Emanuel was born. I watch my son playing with the dog and imagine to myself God's Son laughing like that when he was three.

I was just reading the newsletter from our homeschool group, and at the bottom was Luke 2:11

"For there is born to you this day in the City of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Needless to say, I lost it. So I wanted to share this emotional overload with all of you who read this. For I know that you are the ones who love me; my dear friends, my family, the ones who have known my hardened heart and have prayed for my babies. I love all of you and I am so thankful for each and every one of you. Our bond of love and sisterhood is through our Christ Jesus who came to us on Earth and is preparing a place for us in Heaven with Him.

Merry Christmas