A Pox on the Merkels!

Well they caught us.
Yesterday morning, during his piano lesson no less, John started popping out pox all over the place. He had already had a rough morning. It was pouring like crazy when we got to Petra's house and he made a run for the porch. The porch is tiled and had no rug. Poor John slipped and landed really hard on his hip. He has a huge bruise. I was asking him about how his hip felt and he said it hurt. He raised his shirt up a little and I spotted a little blister on his side. Once they started they showed up pretty fast and furious. He felt pretty good yesterday but today he feels lousy. He is not hungry and he's itching like crazy.
Brendan was getting ready for Mass this morning. Tim had already gone and I was going to take Brendan and Paul. Brendan couldn't find a shirt to wear and I was helping him when I found a tiny blister on his back. He doesn't have very many pox but he seems like he really doesn't feel well. He has been complaining about his tummy and he just doesn't seem himself.
I think they may decide that it was all worth it in the end though, because Celeste offered to bring over their game cube and I am only going to have them do subjects that require reading tomorrow. No math. That won't be the case for the week, but for a couple of days...
John is hoping that his electronic pet will come in the mail. He ordered it a week ago with his allowance and he is very excited about it. It is a Golden Retriever and is kind of a Tamagachi sort of thing.
There has been a lot of chess and Monopoly playing in the family room. Paul loves board games and he is taking full advantage. He is turning into a little chess hound. He only beats me and I rarely play so he is very optimistic in challenging everybody else. John is getting pretty good.
I really need to get a real chess table. I keep watching for one on CL...
Well, I made an apple pie and it is calling me. I am going to go partake and then after the boys go to bed we are going to watch a movie that we borrowed from Paula. "Focus". It has William H Macy in it and I like his movies. Paula says it kind of creepy, but good.

Lilly's pics...

Well, you all read Nina's blog anyway but since I was whining about not being able to post her pics, I grabbed them off Nina's blog and I am putting them on mine too.
The photographer was a rather sour young man who desperately needed a belt. Despite all of that, Lilly came through like a little star.
These babies are so cute!

I won't post the ones that I got of Lucy today though, because I know Laura wants to blog that experience herself.

Beautiful Girls!

Here are a couple of cuties!
These were taken when the cousins went out shopping together in Hagerstown yesterday.
Lucy just LOVES Lilly so much!



Lilly had her pictures done on Monday but I can't post them because I don't have them yet...Sigh...

Getting in Gear

Well after all the shenanigans with getting our insurance coverage switched to the new company that Battelle uses, I finally made an appointment with the orthodontist for John. We went for a consult last week and the little lady was practically giddy with excitement when she saw how much work will have to go into John's mouth! Actually she is very nice and John is quite anxious to get started. He is getting kind of self-conscious about his teeth.
So Monday we will be going in for the "records" appointment. Our insurance is actually better than I had thought and they will give us a pretty good jumpstart. He has to go today to get sealants on his back teeth before they start with the ortho. She told us that he will start out the first year to year and a half with headgear to straighten a very crooked palate. His palate is over about 1/2 inch so his front top teeth are not lining up with the bottom. He has to wear headgear for about 14 hours a day. Nice thing about homeschoolong, he can wear it during the day too and the doc said it will work faster. John likes that!
I'll check with John and see if we can post pictures of this little venture.

Fat Cats and Math Books

Bosco cracks me up!
Every time I set down John's math book, he goes to sleep on it.
It was open on the floor earlier and he laid down on it. As soon as John finished I set it on the desk to finish correcting later and he crawled onto it and went to sleep. He's been there all afternoon. I don't have the heart to wake him up, so I guess John is off the hook until tomorrow. I wonder if they have a deal...

Monday, Monday...

Ah, the joys of Monday!
It wasn't really too bad a day actually.

We always seem to drag through school on Monday and today the boys got right to it without even being asked! Of course, John had an investigation in Math, which he loves. Brendan was all about doing his music and Typing Pal. He is really getting the Piano. I can't wait for the recital.
I keep waiting for John to hit the proverbial brick wall in his math book. Last year we had a much harder time. This year he just keeps cooking along and he is getting excellent scores on his lessons and A's on his tests. He is writing a lot more this year and that is a challenge, but I think he is enjoying the process a lot more than he would be without the IEW program.

Paul doesn't seem to think that school is for real yet. I think he thinks this is all just a diverting game and that when he decides that he doesn't want to play anymore, he is just going to be able to opt out. Hmmm... Well, in the meantime he is making amazing progress.

We had our art group today and the older kids, my little group, had to draw from what they learned last year. I had them use three of the artistic principles that we studied last year and draw something that they really love. In the Spring I am going to have them draw the same thing again, using the new things that they learn this year so that they can see the difference.
One of the girls drew a beautiful sunset with pastels. Don't know how she is going to improve on that one.

Then we went out to the Mall to help Nina with Lilly as she got her pictures done. She doesn't ever complain when we take pictures of her, but she didn't like this guy! He just made her unhappy and vice versa.
The pictures did come out really cute. Such a pretty little girl.
The boys had to hang out and couldn't get near the baby, so we treated them to pizza to thank them for their cooperation. They were quite happy about that.

No scouts tonight. Aw shoot! Not really...
We do have Karate tomorrow night, I have a meeting on Weds. and one on Thursday. Gee, maybe we'll be able to sit down to dinner on Friday night.
Oh well, tomorrow is another day!

Laura is an Angel!

Nina and I both agree.
Her generosity and willingness to share her time and talent are so special. I am so impressed with all the things that she does so well and the way she shares these things with everyone.
Her little business is taking off and I love the little shirts! I gave one to Lilly and it is so sweet.
We had a very nice time this weekend and Laura really gave her all to make everyone feel loved!
Thanks Laura for being such a special daughter, sister, wife and mom. We love you!!!!