Caterpillars and More Christopher

It was a beautiful day. So nice to see the sun shining unexpectedly.

Guess he caught me trying to snap a picture. He is such a good sport.

Day four of fevers. I think we are all ready to be done. Hopefully I haven't forgotten to drive. :)

First of our God's World News subscription. Pretty cool articles. The guy in the center won some contest due to the fact that he was covered with 55 pounds of bees. Ugh.

Crazy looking caterpillar!! Kate wouldn't go out on the deck to look at it (Isaac told her it was poisonous), but she spent lots of time starting at it through the screen.

Spreading Sickness and Other News

We are getting started on doing our Classical Conversations memory work. Simple exercises with help the kids with their weekly memorization. Columbus is a fun one to start the year out with.

She sure does love her brother.

We have another sick one. It looks as though it is working it's way through each one. Praying whatever they are fighting stays far away from me. She was listening to a book on cd and fell asleep just before dinner.

I woke her after a bit of a nap so she would get a full night's sleep.

Isaac has declared that this one just might be his favorite so far. I haven't decided yet.

Everyone has decided this game needs to be played daily. No argument here...it is definitely one of my favorites.

Tucked the kids in, am doing a bit of blogging, will work on my photography class a bit, read the chapter in the book that we (Dean and I) are reading, and will finished making a grocery list for the goodies that I am going to make for Andrea over the next couple of days.

The laundry may or may not get folded. :)

She Makes Me Smile

I love that each of our children has a different and wonderful personality. This middle one, she makes me smile. I love her laugh, her spacey ways, her love of reading, her care for her little sister...

and I absolutely love her unending cards and drawings. This one, both authored and illustrated by her, is a definite keeper. Where does she come up with these? Love it. My favorite part is the poem, her favorite part is the heart. She said it is definitely the best one she has ever drawn. :)

Clouds and Fevers

While my hubby is in China, my goal is to keep this blog updated with glimpses into our daily lives. There will be a little of everything, both the mundane and the exciting, so enjoy what you will and pass on the things that only a Daddy would care about. :)

The beautiful view from our temporary apartment was a bit foggy when we woke up this morning. It was actually the perfect type of weather for a day filled with fevers and sleep-deprived family members.

Isaac was fighting a sore throat and fever all day today. The highlight of his day was catching up with his Dad via Skype this morning.

Cardboard Dean, thanks for joining us at breakfast. :)

School started today and due to the fact that Kate and Isaac were both battling fevers (although Kate was much better today), we just eased into things and will jump in with both feet by the end of the week.

After naps (all of us slept except for Isabelle), the two oldest had some "screen time". I was all about handing out extra screen time today. That's what happens when Mom doesn't sleep much the night before.

After dinner Isaac was feeling a little better, so we broke out a couple of games.

Mom caught up on some email and a bit of blogging while everyone watched a few episodes of Flinstones before we did our bedtime reading.

Beautiful sunset. The rain ended and the skies cleared a couple of hours before bedtime. Tomorrow is supposed to be beautiful!

Determination

Don't Quit

Author: Unknown

When things go wrong
as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging
seems all uphill,
When the funds are low
and the debts are high,
And you want to smile
but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
as everyone of us sometimes learns
and many a fellow turn about
when he might have won
had he stuck it out.
Don't give up
though the pace seems slow
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the goal is nearer than it seems
to a faint and faltering man.
Often the struggler has given up
when he might have captured
the victor's cup and he learned too late
when the night came down
how close he was to the golden crown.
Success is a failure turned inside out-
the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
and you never can tell how close you are.
It may be near when it seems afar
So stick to the fight
when you're hardest hit
It's when things seem worst
that you mustn't quit.

I am currently taking an online photography class and the assignment this week was to upload a picture that conveyed emotion. I immediately thought of this picture of Isabelle. I posted the story in the past, but she had just started riding her new bike and the little tiny hill in our driveway was SO frustrating for her. However, she was determined time and again to get up that hill and it was hilarious watching her (although we had to hide our laughter...she would definitely NOT have appreciated it). I pray she continues to have that determined, fighting spirit.