I do have some blog posts in the works: my son's 9th birthday, our 13th anniversary, our trip to De Smet's L.I.W. sites, and those ever-looming curriculum posts.
In the meantime we have been taking care of so many odds and ends in and out of the house:
:: My dh took the van in for new brakes, got the A/C unit cleaned and tuned up to handle the beastly tropical weather, assembled two bookshelves from IKEA for our bedroom, and is in the process of distributing the 3rd load of mulch/wood chips to refresh certain tired and weedy areas of our backyard. That is, when he is not mowing the yard and spraying deer repellent and mosquito spray.
:: In the house, I've been framing the annual photos of the kids, framing my maternal ancestors, developing photos for little school year books (this year done, six to catch up on), ordering dance gear for the eldest, shipping sold books about every other day (there's still more!), mending my husband's work clothes, laminating the picture of Sunshine that was in the newspaper, washing hot pads, watching the septic system get pumped, and keeping watch over the two fat monarch caterpillars we brought with some milkweed.
The urge to clean and re-organize the den overcame me one morning like a freight train, so that's nearly done, just the computer desk to go. Yesterday, I actually blew the dust off my iron and pressed the precious little size 5 church dresses as well as the prairie dresses/aprons/bonnets that I washed when we returned from The Homestead. (Wait until you see how cute they are!) They were in need of washing after three days of 100+ temps on the Dakota prairie.
:: Then there's the endless Dr. appointments, but all good news: none of the kids need eye glasses and Sunshine's eyes miraculously improved to the point where she doesn't need glasses anymore (which is great since she refused to wear them anyway). The best news is that allergy tests show that the Little Princess is no longer allergic to egg! Hip hooray! However, there must be a reason she comes in from playing outside with hands this this but we don't know why. Our allergist no longer tests a broad sampling of common allergens, just the main suspects.
:: I still have curriculum to order, plans to make, bookshelves to rearrange, copies to make, and tons of organizing to get ready for a new school year. I am contemplating a purchase of three 10 drawer rolling carts for implementing the Work-box System, but have two bookshelves I don't want to move to make room for them, so there is really nowhere to put these rolling carts. I think I've convinced my husband to take all the kids out of the house for at least two Saturdays in August so I can hunker down in the classroom with some coffee and cookies and get to work.
:: Plans for the fall are taking shape: ballet and violin for #1, piano and theater for #2, cello and _____ for #3 (Swimming? Soccer? We decided to break from karate after he earns his red belt), and beginning ballet for #4. Science class for all and perhaps a parish children's choir for #2 and #3. One or two monthly homeschool mom support groups for me. Plenty of field trips, maybe too many. We are discerning a Catholic homeschool group but praying for the resolve to get out the door by 7:30 am once a month for their First Friday Mass and after-Mass activities.
:: I am researching ways I could earn or save $500 - $1000 each month to help the budget. I don't really want to turn my blog into a billboard and my Saturdays are booked, so we'll see what I can come up with. Suggestions are welcome!
:: Sunshine has one more theater/dance camp on the summer agenda and Dancer will partake in the Ballet Intensive and choreography class. Ball Club comes to a close tonight. Dancer has two more violin lessons this summer and most of the lesson time is being used to select a full-sized violin (she grew!). I am taking some cello lessons to prepare for my little guy's transition. It's harder than it looks! My arms tire quickly.
:: I think my kids need new blog names. Shall I stick with the castle theme or does that sound too pompous?
:: I didn't win the limited edition Peter Rabbit book and pressed rose that Susan Branch garnered at Hilltop Farm ; ( but was inspired by her generosity to host my own little give-away with a sweet Laura item from De Smet (so stay tuned).
:: Sometime since I last checked, one of my favorite authors of all time started a blog so I am super excited about that: susielloydunedited.
All for now, more later, much more!
