Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

I can't believe that my baby girl is 6! One of her requests was breakfast in bed. Of course she wanted to eat in our bed and watch tv.


Breakfast in bed (waffles with whipped cream and blueberries).

Daddy and Emily

Emily's cake.

I am having some majoy mommy guilt because Emily wanted a party and I didn't get my act together in time. She still said it was one of her best days every.

Workboxes

We have been using Sue Patrick's Workbox System for about a month.

What we love:

• We are are using more of the games, puzzles and fun learning items that we have around the house.
• Emily has one box where she works with Aiden. She loves to be the teacher.
• She can see that there are fun things coming up and will stay on track to get her math and reading done.
• I have lots of art books and workbooks that have just been sitting on the shelf. I have actually starting using them. (Emily is only in Kindergarten, and I wonder how I have already accumlated so much stuff.)
• It keeps us on schedule.

What we have changed:

• I have to admit that we only used 12 of the boxes for about two weeks then cut it back to 6 (9 on a really good day). I love the system but it would take us from 8:00 am until lunch to complete 12 boxes.
• One of the main purposes of the workboxes is for the child to learn to work more indepedently and since Emily is not able to read directions I decided it was best to slow down a little.

This is something we are going to continue to use next year. I am even planning on adding a set for Aiden (3 at the most) since he wants to do what Sissy is doing.

Mother's Day

I have the greatest husband and kids every! I was served breakfast in bed on Mother's Day. Rick even went out and purchased a tray just for the occasion. Of course I spoiled his plans a little when I got up at 6:00 am. I had no problems climbing back in bed with a good book and waiting:)

On Mother's Day I can't help but think about and pray for all those families who are unable to have kids and for all of us who have lost a child. Rick and I struggled to get pregnant and I remember how hard Mother's Day was. It always seemed like everywhere I looked there was someone pregnant. I thank God everyday for my kids. Sometimes it may be with a clenched jaw (*grin*), but they truly are blessings!

Friends

Rebekah and Emily

Home again!

Dad is looking and feeling much better! He is off most of his medicine and they think they have the bleeding stopped. He is going to have to have surgery to remove the spots on his kidney. They hope is that the bleeding has completely stopped so they don't have to remove his kidney. We are still waiting to find out what is going on with his lungs. I am so blessed that we are homeschooling so I can focus on my family right now!

Dad...back to the Hospital

My dad is back in the hospital. He was put on blood thinner due to a genetic problem they found while testing his blood. Well, the spots on his kidneys started bleeding so he is back in the hospital for more test. They had to do a blood transfusion since he was loosing blood and in order to help remove the blood thinner from his blood. Ugh!

Update on Dad

Well dad is finally home from the hospital. We are still facing some uncertainties about his lungs. Both lungs have spots on them. They are not certain if this is from a virus, a result from his prior chemo, or cancer. He also has two spot on his kidney which they think could be cancerous. He has numerous doctor appointments scheduled to check his lungs and kidneys.