Weekly Update!

Public school kids begin school tomorrow, or some of them have already begun in different parts of the country, but we started school here at home on August 1st. It had been my intention to school straight through the summer, but like every year past, that never happens. This year I was sick from about May through early July due to pregnancy. It was the longest I've been sick in any pregnancy and the heat around here didn't help. The forecast for this week is for high temps from 104-106* every day, just to give you an example of what our entire summer has been like. We have enjoyed going to my sister Marina's house to swim several times a week, but we haven't known much of any other outdoor play this summer.

School pretty much rules our lives around here. It has gotten quite a bit more demanding than ever due to Riis beginning a full schedule (last year he only did a half day), adding activities, and Leonora being of a mind to be fully involved as well. We have averaged 32 hours of school a week in the last three weeks with an additional ten hours of outside activities/instruction. Lily takes 2 ballet classes and piano plus Activity Day Girls at our church twice a month, Riis takes cello and gymnastics, Evelyn violin and tap class. Every week they also have play dates and time with their cousins swimming and trips to the library. The first two weeks of this schedule was overwhelming but I am really glad I began when I did because with the start of the public school year comes even more: Leonora is going to a co-op preschool one morning a week while we go to "Park Day" with a local Homeschool group, Evelyn adds violin group class to her regular lesson time, soccer practice/games begin for Riis, Lily will have Nutcracker practice on Saturdays, we will start doing French club again with their French teacher, and our playdates will become more interesting with more kids being involved.

I suppose I should say (though it's cliche) I'm living the life I always dreamed of. I find that I can be successful doing all of this if I get up early the same time every day. I don't really struggle with motivation if I get past that! Some days are hard and I even cry a little feeling a bit burdened, but I truly feel fulfillment from all of it. With the pregnancy I have the usual discomforts and some pain, but I try to take my breaks and count on Casey to do those dishes for me at night! Sometimes all those pots and pans can be like the straw that broke the camel's back! I couldn't do it all without Casey and I being a great team.

Casey has begun his last year of fellowship and can already see the benefits of being the chief fellow because he gets to make the schedule! This allows him to work more moonlighting hours and still obey the law. He is very driven to pay back our loans and I am so proud of him for being willing to work so hard going the extra mile! He does have to work overnight many nights of the month, but it seems to be working well for our family. Most nights he doesn't go in until 9:30pm and then he gets to sleep there.

We have also begun the job search. This has created a lot of turmoil and stress for us as we view our next place as more permanent. We are trying to have the same attitudes of faith that we've had when faced with other moves, and I'm very confident we'll go to where the Lord wants us to be and will be right for our family, but it's also hard to please everyone! We are looking for opportunities in Texas, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and Oregon. It is a very limited search area but Casey, especially, has felt that living close to mountains is our destiny. :) There aren't mountains in Texas but we had to stay open to the possibility of staying here since it's a great place to live and we've been so happy here. So far we have pursued two job opportunities and have been invited to one interview in a place I'm really excited about! Durango, Co may also be a possibility for us but we don't have an interview there yet.

Other things that went on this past week:
~Casey got out in the 100* heat (of course, because that's all there is) and got up on the roof to trim the trees. Not quite like my brother Mark who set up a logging operation in his backyard, but still impressive and time consuming.
~In celebration of the beginning of school for the cousins, we had Miriam, James, and Rachel over to spend the night for a big slumber party. In our family we don't "encourage" sleepovers but this is something that Miriam and Lily had been begging for for a couple of months. It was quite a party with the kids staying up past midnight and building forts, watching Shaun the Sheep, and eating choc chip cookies.
~Marina and Abin celebrated their tenth anniversary and Mark and Daciana celebrated their fifth anniversary this last week also. Congratulations to them!
~My sister Aslinn came over and we tried to do a yoga session together but I could barely move on the floor and the kids were way too distracting! Oh well. We'll try again later?
~The kids got to swim a couple of times and one of those times Uncle Abin bought about 40lbs of dry ice (again) for the pool.
~Evelyn had another eye check up with no changes (but at least she'll get to pick out new glasses) and Riis had an exam and was found to have great vision! Yay!
~ Leonora's 3rd birthday was last Sunday and we celebrated with presents and cake, but no party because I was all partied out after Evelyn and Lily's parties. I hope for her sake I don't burn out every year.
~Nora is also successfully potty trained. I have to say that she was fully ready almost a year ago but I was not willing & ready myself. I put it off and now I wonder why I did because it is so nice having a potty trained child. So for the first time in NINE years our home is diaper free. (temporarily)

Busy is how I like it and I hope every week is just as crazy!