As usual, thanks to Jennifer for hosting this!  For more quick takes, check out her post.

– 1 –

Our unseasonably warm weather has caused Gregory to decide that winter is over.  The snow is gone, the sun is out, and it is warm enough for him to play on the deck without shoes so therefore winter is over.  Emma tries to argue that it is only January and winter can’t be over, but Gregory will have none of that.  There have been several heated exchanges over this issue in the last week or so.

– 2 –

I’ve started making baby food for Nathan and freezing it in an ice cube tray.  It is working really well, and has proved to be less time consuming than I expected.  I usually prep it while I make dinner, and cook it while I’m doing the dishes, then blend it with my immersion blender once it has cooled a bit.  So far I’ve made yam, sweet potato, applesauce, and carrot for him, much to his delight.  It is a very satisfying endeavor, and the baby food tastes really good.

– 3 –

Homeschooling continues to go really well.  I am so glad we’re doing this.  Not that there aren’t moments when I wonder if boarding school wouldn’t have been a better choice, but thankfully those moments are fairly infrequent.  I’m really pleased with her progress this year, and I’m very glad we spent so much time drilling math facts.  She doesn’t mind it too much now, and she’s able to do subtraction facts without hardly blinking because she has her addition down so well.  

– 4 –

I’m going through another round of homeschool charter angst.  It all started last week when a wonderful woman offered to give some of the kids who go to the Tuesday/Thursday Mass an art lesson once a week.  She’d like to get paid for it, but would rather get paid as a vendor rather than directly from the parents’ pockets.  I also heard that other moms uses a charter contact who is pretty hands off and is also Catholic, so she’s been quite decent to work with…  and she’s also supposed to be looking for more families.  And then yesterday I found out about a violin teacher who is doing lessons for a couple of the kids in this group and who is looking to add some more students.  Emma has really wanted to start taking music lessons of some sort, but I’ve always thought I’d start with piano because that’s what I’m familiar with.  However, violin would be something we could start before we’re in the house and have the money to buy a piano…  and the charter would even pay for the instrument rental and the lessons.  So, do I swallow my desire for control and put aside my disgust of bureaucratic paperwork so I can get the payola?  Hmm.

– 5 –

I’ve had a little spending money recently because of some gifts, and I’ve recently discovered J. Jill.  I really like their catalog and when stuff is on sale, it can be quite reasonably priced - especially for the quality.  For example, I recently bought three nice skirts for 11.99 each.  With tax and shipping they were probably about $15 each, but still - they are very nice with side-zippers, good fabric and interesting lines.  I am very pleased!  Now if I could just find somewhere where I could get a couple light colored shirts that are not see-through, I’d be set.  As it is though, I’m now in very good shape clothes-wise, and I’m looking forward to not having to think much about clothes for a good long while.

– 6 –

Today has been a weird day.  Nathan, at about 11:15, started throwing up and not keeping anything down.  He was one unhappy baby for a little while and it lasted about long enough for me to start looking up infant dehydration on the internet.  By about 2:30 though he was able to keep down a little bit and at this point he seems just about back to normal.  And now I’m left wondering what on earth just happened!

– 7 –

It is really hard to get down to the house to work on it during the week.  I managed to go down for a bit on Monday, and an even shorter time on Tuesday, but that’s been all.  I had hoped to go today, but with Nathan’s stomach weirdness, that threw everything off.  I wish I could do more - especially since we’re at a point where I can do more - but between taking care of the kids and the house and errands and school…  oof.  It just isn’t happening.  I am slowly making progress on the painting though, and we’re getting close to having all the lights and cabinets picked out.  It feels so close, yet there is still so much left to do!