Weekbook: Birthday week! (final week of Sept)

Highlights of the week: Jeffrey's first birthday, Grandma, Gram, Uncle, and Cousin birthdays, lots of home repair type stuff

Hight point: Jeffrey's first birthday, getting an island for the kitchen

Low point: a deserved (on their part) but too grim and loud (on my part) lecture on obedience and being nice

Needs work: me being "on their side" and letting consequences speak instead of me

Projects: sewed one tote bag. It was supposed to be for the girls but it turned out so big that I'm taking it for me. The plan was to make one for each girl to tote their school stuff around in. I'm tired of the 99 cent ikea plastic bin look. Hopefully I'll take pictures when I'm done with the lot of them (like in 8 months, LOL)

Discussion: the blessings of family and life (5 birthday celebrations in 4 days will do that to you ;-) )

Milestone or Progress: Jeffrey's walking!!! Rose's spelling is improving overall using All About Spelling, and she's getting better in her rollerskating class. Skye learned to add time and carry and borrow from the hours part. Jane is more than halfway done with her Nancy Drew chapter book. Batty had a wonderful if heartwrenching moment when she showed true remorse over a prior disobedience.

Focus, Theme, or Atmosphere: Birthdays - family and friends, candles and cupcakes, presents and paper were our atmosphere

Independent interests: Rose started ribbon embroidery practice

Spiritual: While I can't remember a particular lesson or moment, the spiritual was intertwined in our lives this week

Nature/Outdoors: rain and cooler weather! I'm hoping the rain will help our little garden - it's not growing very fast. Nothing seems to be *wrong* with it, the plants just aren't getting much bigger! We've also been having fun watching the chipmunk that has taken up residence under our front steps.

Literary: Carry On, Mr. Bowditch continues.

Artistic: Drawing pictures for the birthday people - Gram, Grandma, and Jeffrey.

Scientific: Still on venus. We're trying to catch up in our science notebooks with facts about past lessons (and we didn't do 1/2 as much school as usual due to the other business going on)

Historical: Revolutionary times with Carry On Mr. Bowditch. Watched America Rock ;-) . Talked about the moon landings and all the kids' birth stories.

Musical: Singing happy birthday and learning it on the recorder (at least Rose)

Beauty: We are finally, blessedly, making progress. What is it around here about a child turning one? It's like a huge weight lifts temporarily allowing other things to be accomplished. We purchased and put together (by "we" I mean dh, LOL) a portable kitchen island. It will go a long way towards helping solve the lack of storage space and counter space in there. Now we have to figure out what to do with the kitchen table! Dh also installed a much needed and beautiful new faucet in the main bathroom. I'm planning a fall display for the front steps, but not exactly sure what yet. :)

Thoughts and plans for next week: Lots of soccer practice and me trying to bilocate. Wish me luck. :) Working on the aforementioned front steps display. Getting back to bookwork. Getting donations together for charity pick up.

A Photo Memory: Jeffrey eating his first birthday cupcake