Catching Up

I just transferred some pictures from my camera to my computer, and thought I'd send some here as well.

Here's Kenzie in her indoor softball tournament in January. Her team won all three games.














Tay and Ty got some Eitech (similar to Erector Set) Sets and began building all kinds of stuff. Here's Tay with his windmill. Then, they both designed and built their own rocketships.















Here was a lazy day in early February.














The weather broke nice one day, so we let the chickens scratch outside their pen. It made their day. They love to scratch up new territory.


















Finally, here's Kearsyn.

Cake Walk and a Sonatina

Here's Connor playing a song called "Cake Walk".




And last month, he played a Sonatina, by Clementi, with a string quartet. The editing is a little shaky, and keep in mind that these people and Connor have never played this song togehter before this performance.

#2 Disadvantage

In a large family, it seems there's ALWAYS something crazy going on. Now, it's a fracture. Kenzie's now worried it's her turn. She tends to follow her brother in the injury category.

Last Man Down

I held out as long as I could, but the bug was stronger. Thankfully, I have really good kids who could watch after their younger siblings while I was in bed. I thought we'd be all better today until I found, well, I had to change Bekah's sheets and give her a bath before breakfast.

Last Man Standing

That's me. I don't know how long I can hold out. It's been a vicious assault. Since Tyler bit the dust (or should I say, porcelain), I figure it's only a matter of time. I hope reinforcements arrive, before it's too late, to care for those who have gone before me and who haven't quite recovered yet.

#1 Disadvantage

The number one disadvantage to having a large family: it takes too derned long for a virus to work its way through everybody. It started last Thursday, with Bekah. Then it hit Kearsyn and Taylor. Then Vicki. Then Alex and Kenzie. Now it's starting to attack Connor. I think that makes seven of nine. Taylor now seems okay. Vicki went to work today, and Alex, who stayed home from school today, has begun moving around again. Bekah and Kearsyn are moving too, but that's mostly in bowels. Ugh, do I hate diarrhea in diapers! Usually a stomach virus moves through in about 24 hours per victim. Not this one! It's got to take the time to attack both ends. I'm exhausted, and I haven't even gotten sick yet. All I've been doing is changing diapers, mopping floors, and scrubbing carpets. Oh, and washing sheets; and towels to be used again in the clean up process.

Algebra I

Connor is eleven. He is (age-wise) in 6^th grade. Today, he started Albebra I. I really wanted to hold off on advancing him to Algebra, but I simply ran out of stuff that challenged him in math. At least we don't have to feel rushed to get through this material, like I was with Alex. He started Alg I late in eighth grade, and never actually finished Alegebra I before getting placed in Algebra II in ninth grade.

This kind of thing is Reason #2 for Homeschooling.