What's been going on

We have so much going on, so much to catch up on.  I haven't written here in so long.  It's been a busy, busy school year.  I'm exhausted!

Some things that are happening:

Sweet Leo kitty died.  This was Donnie's cat when we first started dating, over 10 years ago.  Leo was about 17 years old, and such a sweet cat.

We started fostering a litter of 6 kittens with the Cat Adoption Team.  We got the kitties and their mommy about a month ago.  They are so much fun!  :)

We're moving!  Mom and Tom and I have long talked about getting a big house, all together.  For me, it would mean more help with the kids, housework, and everything else that comes with the running of a household.  For Mom and Tom, it would mean having 5 grandkids in the house and a live-in handy-man.  :)  Mom and I drive over to each others' houses enough as it is, we've probably worn a path in the road between our houses.  It's so much easier to do everything with Mom's help.  And Mom and Tom are super-duper loving, involved grandparents.  (They have 13 grandkids, and if they could, they'd have all of us living on one nice big piece of land, so they could be surrounded by all 13 grandkids.)  My kids spend the night over there about once a week and visit nearly every weekday.  Anyway, in the last few years, Donnie's income has been cut by about 20% (thanks to the economy) and our family size has increased by two darling children.  :)  So we finally came to a point where something had to give.  Donnie said, "What about that idea where we live with your mom and Tom?"  So, we're taking the plunge!  We're renting out our house and combining households.  We're taking over three of Mom and Tom's four bedrooms - and one of their two bathrooms.  :)  As it gets closer, we all look forward to it more and more.  At first, it was going to be at the end of the summer, but we keep moving the date up.  There's a lot of work to be done before both houses are ready, so we're working like crazy to get everything done.  YAY!  :)

Spread the word

Love this blog!  This particular post is so important.  Money is so tight right now, but I did contribute $10, because if everyone who clicks on that link contributes $10, they'll raise a fortune quickly!  I can't think of any more deserving recipient of those badly needed funds.

She's got it all planned out

Ruby says she's going to have a whole bunch of kids when she grows up.  They are all going to be adopted - from China.  Some of their names are going to be, Diamond, Sparkle, Cupcake, and Julia.  :)

Wow, I felt claustrophobic watching this video, but I like this woman's attitude and it helps to put things in perspective.


I'm all about New Year's resolutions this year.  (The new year just happened to coincide with some changes I was already making).  With the help of Flylady, I'm making some new morning and evening routines for myself and the kids.  I'm also cracking down on the budget, and determining to get rid of a bunch of our excess stuff.

School starts again next week after a long winter break.  It's been such a nice break, but we're all looking forward to getting back to school.  My mom is going to attend a few of the classes with the kids.  I'm SO glad for her help!  :)  (I occasionally read about families with 9 or 10 or more kids and I'm impressed and envious and overwhelmed all at the same time.  I couldn't even manage with these five, if it weren't for my amazing hubby and supportive family.  How do those women do it?)

Anyway, we've had some really nice holidays.  Thanksgiving was really fun and special.  Christmas was a little disappointing (Claire and Donnie were sick.)  New Years was really fun, and kind of like a second chance at Christmas, 'cause everyone came over.  :)

I'm happy to be in a new year!  :)

Another kind of adoption

Ever heard of embryo adoption?  So cool!  So many frozen embryos, waiting for a chance to live... so many mothers waiting for a chance to give birth to a baby.  Miracles Waiting makes it happen.

checking in...

We had cameras in our school last week for a documentary about homeschooling.  :)  The documentary is called Class Dismissed, and I can't wait to see it!

Soccer season has finally come to an end.  It was a great season - the twins' team was (unofficially) undefeated.  We're not supposed to be keeping score at this age, but, well, we did.  And we won.  Every time.  :)  We're having a little pizza/trophy party tonight.  The kids are so excited.
I'm actually kinda relieved the season is over.  I'm SO not a sports person.  Even with my own kids out there on the field, I couldn't keep my attention on the game.  When I watch sports, I feel like I have ADD because everything else catches my attention and I forget to watch the game.  My mom would say, "Did we just score?"  Oops.  Wasn't watching - even though she told me to watch and my own kids are on the field.  Ugh.

Let's see, what else...Ivy is still super-duper cute and sweet and easy-going, Claire is still hilarious and darling and occasionally challenging...Ruby is doing great, loving school, has a super-tight best friend who is just the sweetest...Lily is funny as ever, and has discovered a new love of piano-playing and song-writing...Reid is still my darling, sweet guy who loves life.  :)

School and baby update

Wow, I am so impressed with the classes my kids are taking at school!  Wow, wow, wow.  We have such talented teachers, such great parents, and just a great system there.  I love walking the halls and seeing all the little kids, middle-size kids and teenagers intermingling with respect and kindness.  I love seeing all the moms nursing babies alongside their learners or assisting with art projects or sitting on the grass picnicking with their children between classes.
I'm so glad for the enthusiasm my kids have for all their classes.  Their eagerness to learn is palpable.  The other day, we went outside to look for a friend.  Lily got confused and thought we were going to the car.  When I turned back to go inside, explaining we had one class left, she whooped for joy.  :)
In their Chinese class, we're all learning the language together, and it's such a fun class.  In music, I'm also learning right alongside them, as I know so little about music.  The folksongs we're learning get stuck in my head and we all sing them in the car on the way home.  In Magic Tree House, we read the books together and when questions come up about the time period or the facts in the book, we look up the information so we can learn more.  Their curiosity and interest is contagious.  It's just such a great life I'm living right now!  I love this.  :)

Sweet Baby Ivy is growing and developing like crazy and I'm convinced she'll be walking by 9 months.  This baby is never content sitting on her bum.  She crawls all over the place, pulls up on everything, and constantly surprises me with the things she can do.  She's still incredibly sweet, easy-going, and happy.  We are all head-over-heels for her.  Claire thinks she's Ivy's second mother.  She thinks she's being so helpful when she comes over and picks up the baby and carries her across the room, or holds the baby in her lap, not letting her go.  Although it's adorable, it's not so helpful, and Ivy doesn't appreciate it.  :)