Life in a large family is often, at best, controlled chaos. I used to have much higher standards. Simple things like knowing for sure that everyone was wearing socks and had brushed their teeth in the last 24 hour period. I can't tell you how many times I have gotten to town and realized that not only did my boys not wash their face from dinner but had the entire menu printed on the front of their shirt. It's embarrassing the things I've had to let slide. They move in a wiggling writhing mass that I am unable to subdue. So when I say, "stand together for a picture", it's not a pretty sight.
Funny, but not pretty.
Homeschooling has been a checkered career around here. My two homemade daughters, Kirsten and Kara, attended public school -Kindergarden through High School. Another child was asked to leave public school (don't ask) and thus began our adventure into homeschooling. Some of the kids have been been half home educated and half through the schools. One year in October I woke up and decided that four of the kids would enroll back in school that day.
Once a year we pack up all the kids and drive for 12 really long hours to New Hampshire so we can visit Auntie Weez -who makes being 96 seem like a cake walk- and Cousin Tony - the coolest uncle in the universe-just ask the kids-. Unbelievably there was a lot of sleeping and quietness on the ride and it wasn't horrible. I actually think I was the biggest whiner and I'm positive that I needed the most bathroom breaks.
After a quick initial visit we headed to the hotel for the night and the kids swam while James and I slumped in chairs and pretended to watch.
And the big event of the night - kids in beds with bags of candy and television till they fall asleep in their sugar drool.
Can't wait for tomorrow!
Our new puppy mill rescue dog, Maddie Lue, is settling in nicely. She quickly figured out that we like her to use the bathroom outside instead of on the couch cushion. She allows most people to pet her now and she loves me entirely, going wherever I go and happily sleeping in her cage at night.
I'm not feeling as settled as Maddie. I can almost taste the end of the school year and it's all I can do to keep from leaping up and running out. We are on Unit 33 of 35 and I should be pouring on the coals to get done but instead I want to sit outside in the sun and plant flowers and.....play. I really do love homeschooling. Keep going. Keep going.
Tonight was the second photography class that Lane and I signed up for. We had to choose between the beginner and advance class and we were sure we were more the latter. Ha! Wrong. Art, the teacher, knows pretty much everything there is to know about f-stops and shutter speed and depth of field and assumed we did too. We didn't. So I have to learn really really fast and it's like gulping down an entire mackerel without chewing.
So here's my depth of field shot. And don't ask me what the aperture was.
Easter day was perfect with family, an egg hunt for the little grandkids, egg throws for the brave and a long walk to Lane's new house. And my boys once again allowed me to dress them in shirts and ties - lovely aren't they?
Having my daughter Kirsten and family next door for over a year now has been amazing. Sure, the other grandparents spoil the kids a lot more and can take them one at a time to special places and get them treats, but I have them right here. They have been part of the crazy fabric of every day life - in and out of the house, sleeping over, getting in trouble and waving goodbye to me each morning when they get on the bus. And once again, God has called them away back into ministry and they will be moving to Florida this summer.
I'd barely had time to get used to the idea of missing them when my daughter Lane and family bought a house in the neighborhood. And already Layla and Lauren are here, playing with the kids, swinging on the swings and just being part of the day. I'm sure they'll get in some trouble in no time and I'm happy like only a Grandma can be happy.
