Quick Update

As usual life is crazy but for anyone who is still reading my blog - here is a brief update.

1. We finished school on Friday!! Thank You, Jesus. Norah finished with 1st grade and is loving telling people that she is now a 2nd grader!! This year definitely had more challenges than last, but we are done and ready to look towards next year.

2. We had a garage sale on Friday evening and Saturday morning. The weather was horrible, but we made about $200. I was happy with that but we have TONS of stuff left. My mom took some stuff home to add to my SIL's garage sale so hopefully I will make a little more.

3. We had a family birthday party for Lucy on Saturday afternoon (yes, you read that right. I planned a garage sale for the same day I had planned a birthday party. not the best idea I ever had.) She loved having both sides of the family here for her party!! We definitely missed Shawna and Jackson - Jackson was sick. And we missed Alison's boys - they were with their dad. Otherwise, we had a great time!

4. Norah went to my parents' for a couple of days. She has been looking forward to this for a couple of months. It is strange not having her here. Lucy really misses her. She has told me all day long that she is so bored. Maybe they will appreciate each other more after some time apart. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? Does that work with siblings?

5. I am trying to finish plans for the summer. We are going to do a big "Space" unit this summer - a couple of days a week. We have to be here in the afternoons while Daphne naps so we need something fun to do. All 3 girls are doing swim lessons in June plus Norah and Lucy have VBS at our church in June. Norah is going to take an art class this summer. She is really excited about that.

6. I am trying to plan for school in the fall. There are a million things that I want to do - with all 3 girls. I just need to find the time to plan. Trying to decide if it would be better to take a whole weekend to plan or if I should commit to one evening a week to plan. Norah and Lucy are going to do Bible, History and Science together - with different expectations, of course. I really like the Bible curriculum for that I have for both of them so I need (want) to figure out a way to do them both.

7. I have Bootcamp Challenge training this weekend. Once I finish that I will be able to teach my own classes. I am so excited. Right now I am teaching a 6 a.m. class with Blondina and I LOVE it. I put Kevin through one of the workouts last night and he texted me today telling me that he is really sore. That is saying a lot because he is in great shape right now anyway!!

That's it for now. I will try to post some pics from Lulu's party. No promises, of course!!

Mother's Day Out & Ballet

First day of ballet class:

First Day of Mother's Day Out:

I know, she seems way to little to be going for the whole day!!! Although, they may kick her out if she doesn't start napping.

Lucy just realized she doesn't get to go back until next week - and she is NOT happy about that. I think once a week is more than enough for them to go.

Such the Slacker!!

Wow! I am clearly going through a blogging dry spell!

A lot has gone on in the last several weeks - not all good stuff, some that is really hard to talk about, and lots of the normal everyday school/play stuff.

The not good stuff - I'll start by mentioning that in the last several weeks all 3 girls have been to the doctor and/or ER. Norah and Daphne have ear infections and Norah and Lucy have been wheezing - which means TONS of breathing treatments! Daphne has the same icky cough, but I have had the doctor listen to Daphne multiple times and so far she isn't wheezing!

The hard to talk about stuff - My mom was diagnosed in early January with breast cancer. A lot has happened since then - multiple surgeries already and now she is gearing up for a mastectomy the end of the month. This all came to a shock to us and to the doctors, but while I know this is all hard for her, she is an incredible example to others. Her faith is strong - I have heard her say several times that she knows God has a plan and she is trusting in Him to give her strength.

The normal, everyday stuff - School is going well. Norah is doing great! We started a new math curriculum (I had put together my own kindergarten curriculum, but we had finished it by Christmas) called Singapore Math. We are doing level 1A - I love it so far!! Lots of hands on stuff and a few workbook pages (which Norah enjoys as long as it isn't everyday). We just finished up a bunch of winter/snow activities and we are now learning about the human body right now - about a 5 week unit.

Lucy has all of the sudden learned all of her letters. I'm sure this had a lot to do with it, but she also is with us when Norah does school. I think she is picking up a lot more than I realized!!

Daphne is a spit-fire. She is full of life - laughing and screeching at her sisters all day long!! She still prefers to crawl but she can walk. She will walk across the room if she thinks no one is watching her, but as soon as she notices someone watching she falls to the ground and crawls. She has been a little bit of a mess since she doesn't feel well. She wants to be held constantly - which I am trying to take advantage of while she is little, but my house is falling apart at the seams!!

I have been making aprons like crazy recently. Several people have contacted me about buying them - I love it!! I am contemplating starting at etsy store. Hmmm.

This weekend is going to be sort of low-key. Norah is cheering tomorrow and we have some projects to do but otherwise we are hoping to just have some family time!!

MIA

I know I have been missing in action. Along with everyone else, we had a great, but very busy Christmas! I have pics to post and school stuff to post - but I am also trying to spend less time on the computer. Less time on fb and less time blogging/reading blogs.

As Heather mentioned, I also need to be better at managing my time so I can keep up to date on my blog without spending too much time on the computer.

I'll be back. . . . .

More Sickness

I was hoping to post about all the great things that I got accomplished over the weekend because Kevin took Norah and Lucy to Indy to see his parents. However, my plans changed drastically when Daphne needed to go the the ER in the middle of the night on Friday night. She was barking/coughing and gasping for air - all of this came on very suddenly because she was totally fine during the day on Friday. As it turns out she has croup. Blah. I spent most of the weekend snuggling and rocking a very unhappy baby. I actually thought she was starting to feel better yesterday, but then she started rubbing her ear so I just knew something else was going on.

I took Daphne back to the doctor today and she has an ear infection, too. Lovely. She has been fussier today than all weekend!! Hopefully after 24 hours on the meds she will start feeling better!! I have a feeling this is only the beginning, though. It seems to be a Swinigan trait - the ear infections. Norah and Lucy both have tubes (Norah had 2 sets) and my niece and nephew also had tubes.

Side note: When they weighed Daphne at the doctor today she weighed 16 lbs so she has gained almost a half a pound since her 9 month check up. Maybe she will be 17 lbs by her birthday.

I did get all the presents (that I have) wrapped and under the tree. I cleaned out my laundry room during Daphne's naps - which was a HUGE job. Seriously, it was a dangerous place. Anytime I opened the door I had to duck to make sure nothing fell on my head and whenever I had a dry load of clothes, I had to lift the basket over my head to get it out of there!!

I was hoping to get some scrapbooking done, but was unsuccessful. I have everything out on the dining room table so I am going to try to work a little bit this week. I would love to have Daphne's baby book up to date before she turns one (I have 2 pages done).

Hopefully, I will get more down (and more rest too) next weekend. I still have about 1/3 of my shopping to do.

How about you? Anyone totally done with their shopping? Anyone not even started?

December 1?!?

So I missed posting something yesterday, but I still did 30 in the month of November. I may need to take a week off - I am out of post ideas!!!

I can't believe that it is December already. Daphne is going to be 1 in a month and a half - that is UNBELIEVABLE!!

Norah asked yesterday what we were doing to celebrate December 1. Not sure why she wants to celebrate December 1. She decided Kevin should take the day off and we shouldn't do school - neither of which are happening. They have enjoying candy canes instead.

Oops

Just realized that I never posted yesterday! We had a little bit of a crazy day. It seems like I am having a hard time keeping the house in order so when we have company coming, I have to run around, cleaning like a mad woman!!

Today, my niece has been here all day, so with 4 little girls running around, I haven't had time for much of anything!!

Hopefully, I will have more to post tomorrow. . . hopefully!

Random Pics

Wow! Was that a whiny post yesterday or what? Bleh! Sorry - totally over it now!

These first two pictures are right out of Daphne's Adventures in Wonderland. Have you not heard of it? Well, in one part Daphne becomes a giant in a little house. Check it out.

Enjoying the beautiful weather we have had over the last couple of weeks.

We attempted to get some pictures of the girls for Christmas cards. I think we have a couple of decent ones to choose from but here are some of the ones that are NOT options.

I think Daphne is trying to decide whether to smile or cry.

Okay, leave it to her sisters to really make her cry.

Umm. . .not sure what Norah is doing. Daphne is trying to escape!

Tuesday To-Do List

1. Finish 4 aprons

2. Clean out the refrigerator!

3. Finish some file folder games

4. Get file folder games laminated

5. Straighten up kitchen and wipe down counters

6. Work on December lesson plans

Not so bad unless you add the fact that I have to do all the normal things: cook meals, laundry, school, change diapers, etc