You know you're a homeschooler when...

A friend's daughter put this together for an end-of-year homeschool project. A couple of my kids (and myself) are sprinkled in there.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

The first interview says "You know you're homeschooled when Life Skills class consists of DOING things rather than just working on project sheets..."

What 13 Looks Like...

13 can be a lot of things.

It can be confident,



competent,



pensive,



not too sophisticated to show your playful side,

and a lot like Dad.




A lot like Dad.



Happy 13th birthday, Brian, and many happy returns!

Recent Twin Pictures

We still don't think they look very much alike, but there are many who can't tell them apart. I think that it is mostly a matter of not bothering to take the time to pay attention to the differences. At this point, they will correct you decisively if you get them mixed up, although I don't know how long we have left until they figure out that they can pull one over on us.


After 2-and-a-half years, I've finally decided in favor of dressing them alike. At first it was simply a question of maintaining their individuality versus intensifying their traffic-stopping cuteness.



Now that they've begun to run away from us in public, dressing them alike becomes a safety feature. This way, when one of them disappears, we can say, "My child is missing! She looks just like THIS!" and hold up the other one as an example.

I'm only half-kidding.

"Run away? US?"

The twins, from top to bottom:
Noelle, Natalie
Natalie, Noelle,
Natalie, Noelle

100th Post

On the occasion of my 100th post, I present to you our firstborn, Sarah, who graduated from high school this very evening.

The Weekend in Review

Today I celebrate my birthday, surrounded by my favorite people in the world...

...most of them, anyway. My dh had to work night shift, so I didn't see too much of him, but we're spending the whole day together tomorrow. The oldest two were also at work. :-(

As a birthday surprise, the camo kid above decided to make my birthday cake. Tradition has it that mom usually makes her own cake, due to husband's work schedule and kids' ability level. He chose a dark chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting. He was so sweet and proud of his accomplishment, especially since it turned out de-li-cious! He even cleaned up every bit of it himself, INCLUDING the dishes afterward!


The angry cake.


I know this isn't such a flattering picture of me, but I decided to swallow my vanity and post it anyway, just to show all the eager help I had blowing out the candles. There were a LOT of candles.


Brian's surgery was quick, successful and uneventful. He wasn't too pleased with the anesthesia, and had some pretty funky "dreams" as he was going under. He spent about an hour in the operating room, and hour in recovery and an hour in post-op, where I was allowed to see him. At first he looked really dopey, but by the time he was discharged he was starving for a double cheeseburger. Ah, to be young, resilient and invincible...





1988