Out of duty

Because I love reading everyone else's blogs, I have a debt to the blog readers everywhere to update this blog sometime. It WAS Daddy's blog, but someone has to do it. As for pictures, my camera is broken and Daddy's has too much memory - we have no recent photos uploaded.

We're enjoying the swimming pool and visiting family. Mommy and Daddy wish there was more time to visit friends, but right now we're busy enough with family visits. We are looking forward to seeing some CWA Ethiopia families in August (I am REALLY excited).

We are sending the children to school next year. Daddy has always promised several things about educating our children

1. They would spend at least one year in a brick and mortar school.
2. They would never attend a public middle or high school.
3. They would never ride the school bus.

So, Princess and Mr. Clean are attending the public school. The principal told Daddy that it was ILLEGAL for children to walk to school in Virginia. I've looked but not found this "law" and I'm curious what it really says. Daddy is reconsidering point 3, because there is all that excitement about getting on that big yellow bus which drives by the house every day, and how much corruption can a child soak up in that one minute drive to the school. More research will be done.

Her Regal Highness's application went off today for a University Model School where we are planning on her going. All 3 children really value "school" although by April the girls understood a little about why homeschooling was a good thing. She'll have to take placement tests, but then I'll teach her M,W,F at home and she'll attend there Tu, Th. Hopefully that way it won't be too frustrating for her and we are still the major influence in her life time-wise.

And the hope of Daddy is that Mommy can be a better influence. Mommy has had a short temper of late and he is tired of Mommy needing to defuse the stresses of the day. He'd like some days for Mommy not to be fuming when he comes home. So, 3 days a week with only 2 children at home for several hours, and the better ability to defuse situations (1 to 4 you are so very outnumbered, especially when they are learning your standards of behavior). Then 3 days a week there will only be Little at home, and we're hoping he can destress (google says it isn't a word, but I know that unstress isn't either, and calm down isn't right either, because he's a boy and he's 3 1/2 ... calm down won't happen for what... another 30 years?).

We're also hoping that some time apart can change some less desired family dynamics between the kids and make the times they are together happier - they may enjoy each others' company when they don't have to be in it so much.

Pray for the transition to school. Pray for them to have the right teachers who can meet their needs. Pray for Mommy and Daddy to know the best way to support them and make choices for their education.

Mommy