Well gee, where to start?
When we last left the Merkels, the boys were industriously building with LEGOS.
Jen was enjoying the last relaxing days of Christmas break.
Tim was going to put up the new handrail and put drop ceiling in the pantry.
He did. It looks so nice. The handrail is really beautiful!
The pantry looks so clean and well lighted.
This was our first week back to school. It seemed like it was going to be a long week. It is.
I worked really hard last week getting all the planning done. The boys are moving along really well. I added a couple of subjects and changed some of the books.
John is doing more reading comprehension and I have added a new Art program for all of them.
Paul is flying through phonics and is reading at a second grade level.
Brendan has moved into the fourth grade books and is almost ready to move into a new math book.
John is loving science. Astronomy is a great motivator.
We will be going up to the Franklin Institute next month. They have a lot of great space exhibits.
So on Sunday Laura and her family came back to MD from Washington state. They had a wonderful visit and really enjoyed catching up with everyone. Lucy had been sick, but seemed to be recovering fine, however, on Tuesday she seemed to be wheezing and Laura took her in to the doctor, where she was diagnosed with pneumonia. It was just getting started and they got her on antibiotics right away, however, between that and the jet lag, she has been a very unhappy little camper. Wednesday morning I popped onto Gmail and Laura was having a REALLY bad day. Lucy is not supposed to cry very hard, to rest her lungs, so all she wanted to do was to be held and entertained. Laura had a house full of unpacked luggage, laundry to do, meals to cook, and it's nice to take a shower occasionally. So I asked her if she would like me to come to Frostburg for a few days to help her out.
I packed up school, canceled a couple of appointments, and tied up a few loose ends and off we went. The boys were so good on the ride up.
We spent the day doing school, laundry, shopping and organizing the house. We got a lot done.
It was a very good and productive day. Lucy seems better. She doesn't have a fever and she is eating pretty good, but has a nasty cough. I am really glad we came.
The boys are being so good! They finished school today, they ate what we fed them. They have been playing the Wii all night with Andrew and having a great time!
We will be here for a couple more days. Tim is being so patient, he had to work so he is home alone with Bosco.
So that's what we are up to...
