We've Got Crab Legs!

Thank you Ron and Mary and Grandpa, for the delicious crab legs! There was enough meat to feed this family of seven, plus some to nibble on the next day. As promised, your photo of the girls with the claws!

First Day of School

Last Friday, my babies had their first day of school! I homeschool under an umbrella school, Family Partnership Charter School, and they provide enrichment classes for us to choose from. So Friday was the girls' first day of kindergarten, and Andrew had 3d grade classes at the same time. Here's Sarah, in purple, and Amy, in pink, getting ready to go.We took them out to breakfast for their big day. They were so cute, and excited.

Here's where I get choked up. Big brother walking his sisters to the front door.

We got there early, so the girls got to help their teacher get the classroom ready. Here they are settling in and waiting for the rest of the class to arrive.
Their teacher has been our sponsor teacher since we started homeschooling; she checks off on my curriculum and learning plans, and visits us at the end of the year to review what the children have learned. She's been absolutely wonderful to us, and the children know her well, so there were no tears when we said goodbye; they were right at home with her.
So, another milestone has come and gone, and I have to say, I was so proud of how well they did. They were so confident and outgoing, it did my heart good.

It's Dirty Laundry Time!

So, I'm nothing if not atrociously honest. And a lot of you have been asking about my blog's great disappearing act. So how do I say this?...

Let's see..................................

....Welllllllll..............

Okay. You see,...I may or may not be married to a man who is an avid gamer (that's video games, for those less technologically savvy out there). And we may or may not have had a horrendous argument around the subject of whether it is a wise and considerate thing to talk to your online video game buddies over your Xbox headphones while I am sleeping...at 3:00 in the morning... And the word "immature" may have been randomly thrown around by two supposedly mature adults, in reference to not only video gaming, but also blogging. And a certain bloggess that may have been me, might have lost her temper and deleted her blog in order to prove some kind of point. Or something. Only to find out later that people actually do intentionally visit her blog just to see what crazy stuff the gang in Alaska has been up to. That might be what happened.

Or maybe the computer just ate the whole thing. I donno.

So I guess I don't really deserve any cool blogger awards right now, as the whole darned thing is gone forever. But I will write more and hopefully earn back some coolness. For now though, it's back to square one with my bad self.

Anybody else out there want to air some dirty laundry with me?
I'd feel so much better!!

*Disclaimer: aforementioned husband is not immature or irresponsible at all times, and has done a great many things to appease said angered wife, including not playing online during her sleep and buying her a new sewing machine. Beleaugured husband also pleaded with wife not to be rash in deleting her blog, but alas!

Happy Birthday, Taylor

Taylor turned 14 on August 5! He went camping with Aunt Tracy and Uncle Eric the following weekend, and then came home to his birthday party on Sunday.

Taylor, waiting patiently for presents (that's Jake, in the cage, and Andrew, out of the cage).



Aren't the girls getting so big? I didn't realize until looking at this picture. Taylor is 5'6", taller than me already. That's Tracy on the couch beside Paul, with Sarah climbing in his lap.


Grandma gave Taylor a Chinese calligraphy set. He also got a couple of Redwall books from Grandpa, and various art supplies from his siblings. Also, an air mattress, some gift certificates to Old Navy and Barnes and Noble, and clothes from Aunt Tracy and Uncle Eric.

Grandma, sitting in front of the newest member of our family, a snake named Flick.

Tracy and Eric.
Taylor's other guests included his great-aunt, Sarah Jane, who was here in Alaska visiting my dad. Her childhood friend and the friend's husband were also here with Grandpa. Taylor's birthday cake was a carrot cake with German Chocolate Cake (creamy coconut and pecan) frosting. Paul made Spicy Mongolian Beef for dinner, and a great time was had by all!