So I posted once in January, twice in February, and this makes thrice in March...see if we can continue the upward trend. :-)
I've been challenging myself a bit at looking at things that I've let slide in my life and evaluating how I feel about that change, and then what needs adjusted. Last school year I did pretty good with walking on the treadmill regularly. Then summer happened and that didn't. While I planned to restart in the fall, things changed. Baby joined us! I recently thought about this again and, while thinking it was a good idea from a health standpoint, internally laughed at the thought of making it happen. Last night, though, I did! Instead of plopping down and watching TV with the kids, I walked on the treadmill for 20 minutes...baby steps...but something!
Blogging is another thing that has really dwindled in the past few years for various reason...the growing up family is probably the primary reason...with facebook being a close secondary. I'd like to get back to blogging as well...We will see.
I realized recently that Baby has now been with us for 6 months. Foster Care is really a bummer. I adore baby and are thrilled that he's part of our life while simultaneously feeling sad that his family doesn't get to experience all the fun all the time. We continue to take him for regular visits with his family. He is getting older and getting into everything. It's fun....and so much fun to have an on-behind child. I love watching the kids relate to him. And it's so different having a little one without other toddlers as well.
Randy, Josiah, and Autumn are in Louisville, KY this year at the Mid Atlantic Truck Show. Randy tries to go about every other year. Often he takes a child or two along.
Josiah is wrapping up his Junior/Senior year of high school. He worked hard his first two years of high school so that he could do 4 years in 3 and graduate early. So I will have my first graduate this year!
Autumn is nearing the end of her Freshman year of High school. She seems to be enjoying Homeschooling and says she plans to do so again next year. She works a few hours a week at a local farmer's market.
Janae, Zachary, and Micah are entering the final quarter of their year at our local private school. Hard to believe that it will soon be summer!
Mark continues to work with me here at home. I have recently added a computer based component to his learning which frees me up a bit. I do love that his homeschooling schedule allows us to do his therapies while the other children are at school.
Mark and Autumn are also enjoying their homeschool Co-Op (and I'm considering my options for next year). Mark is taking a class on Bodies (Science) and Curious George (Long Vowel Sounds) this semester. Autumn is continuing with her Environmental Science class and a Quilting Class (Art/Home Ec....not sure which this qualifies as!)
At the end of the year, we dropped the girls music lessons. Next year I'm going to look at having Autumn continue lessons through the Co-op. Not sure about Janae...she'd like to learn Guitar...so we'll see.
Randy and/or I have started going to a Support Group run by our former Family-Based Therapists. It's held once a month. I've gone once now and did appreciate it. I'm signed up for a training later in April with Jonathan Baylin who co-wrote "Brain Based Parenting". Last year I went to a training by Daniel Hughes, the other author of the book.
This photo is from last year...I'm looking forward to spring!
