It looks kind of like March out there...the snow is getting thin enough in places to see the grass, and it is very slushy.

It was a wish come true to have all that snow right over Christmas and New Year's school vacation! There was no reason the children couldn't play

out in it for hours....

      I just spent some time searching the Internet on the subject 'swelling in pregnancy'. (Especially hands) There is more about feet, which I haven't had an issue with;

but discovered it must be carpal tunnel, what do you know? It happens in pregnancy, and should clear up after the birth. It is mostly my left hand, and it is tough to do many things...holding a phone, combing the girls, grasping anything....I am not safe with anything glass! It hurt so much yesterday morning, I woke up dreaming about all I was trying to do to relieve the pain! I need to try drinking more water, although I think I do drink a lot...even during the night hours. Exercise and sleeping on my left side are things I do right I guess... oh wow! I am so glad for my body pillow! We forgot it for the camp out with the Weavers over Christmas, and I joked that I needed Jason to turn around and get it for me.

      It has been so hard to get back to doing school again. Was I the one that enjoyed the break the most!? Even this week we are still 'easing' back into doing all the subjects again. Yesterday was the sewing, so Monday I tried hard to get all the wash done and work ahead some in school. We accomplished that, and had a good day Tues. of spending time away from home. I told my friend that while I see the other ladies doing these projects; making dresses, sewing slips, cloth diapers, blankets, curtains, I am simply patching Ryan's pants....again! Oh well...he has a few more to wear again. :) I did cut out about 24 6 in. patches from jeans I decided were beyond repair. I want to make a jean patch blanket for the boys room. I realize it will take at least twice that many patches though, even for Eric's small bed. I don't do well with long term projects. :(

       It is now 11:00 and time for Math Class. Oh dear, skip the 3 subjects that should've been done before this, and go straight into Math! I am having everyone pile into the office for something different. It may be a mistake...but so far they are getting the first pages done. Venesa is staying happy with a paper and something to scribbble with, and Eric is busy putting circles around letters of the the alphabet; he has a used work book. He is asking me should he circle the H, or the F or the O ect. and when I look, sure enough he is picking out those letters! I really don't know how much of the alphabet he knows... I could flash him cards and find out , I guess. I just know he is learning more all the time! He has trouble counting past three though...

       We have the window open! I told the children that the sooner they get their school done the sooner we could have a snow ball fight.

Now I do wish we had the Phonics and Language arts all done for today! At least today is the day we don't have any Science, History or Health. ( I might do Health though, cause we should be farther ahead in that then we are if we want to get it done when summer is here!) I was earlier planning to visit the nursing home. During the school year we go at three o'clock.

But I think we got the first touch of the flu last night. Ryan threw up twice before he went to bed. He seems fine this morning, but that still will change any plans to be with the older folks today. Ciara couldn't finish her Math because her tummy hurt....but it can't be too serious I see....so "come back and finish your second page, Missy."

       The other day Jason broke the cap of his tooth that was fixed about 4 months ago. We are so relieved and praising God that the dentist will put another on with no charge!

Saving us another 700 dollars! Thank you God! We have had plenty dentist bills last year. So it is so nice not to have to start the year with a huge bill the first month!

      Why am I smelling meatballs? Wishful thinking!? It will be left over pizza for the children's lunch...I will have to find something else. There isn't enough, and besides, the heart burn afterward isn't worth it....Do I have enough lettuce for a good salad at least? It sure is time to go for groceries again. It would be good to wipe out the fridge first. You know, that is an unwritten goal for every Wed. I'd almost forgotten :)

      It sure is drippy outside! We will get so wet if we go out. The sun is shining bright and warm.

      I know I like to hear what other people's children are doing, so maybe I'll mention each of mine and what is up with them.

       Jennika and Ciara received American dolls at Christmas from Jason's mom. They were able to pick out the ones they wanted! She is buying one for each of her granddaughters when they are old enough to take care of them. I requested last year to wait another year or two, so they'd spent time with their baby dolls and mature a bit more!

So they are having a great time with their beautiful dolls. Ciara changes her dolls outfits a lot more...just as she is always doing with her own clothes. Both the dolls have curly hair which is a challenge to keep looking nice! I do wish we had chosen a doll with straight hair for Ciara. Less stress for me!

Thanks to their girl cousins, they have some extra dresses for their dolls. And I bought doll night gowns at Pat Catans.

       I am eating the salad. I didn't have much besides some good lettuce, carrots and cranberries with sweet and sour dressing. It is so good, though.

       Eric is learning to tell me when he needs to go potty. It is so great to reach that point! I think pretty soon we can stop the sticker chart, and I can stop asking him if he needs to go. He is always telling me that he loves me the best! Sometimes he will say," I still love you!" That is nice to know! He got a duplo lego set recently that he loves to play with, and often cleans them all up himself when he is done. Now he knows that he will be able to stop wearing his braces when he is his cousin's Kendall's age. We need to get him a new set- just need to take the time to order them....and maybe we can if we don't have that a-fore mentioned dentist bill.

       This baby was so still on Sun. I could've been concerned, but since then he/she has been doing everything to reassure me...hiccups, stretching, nudges.

I almost have the birth kit ready. There are a few more things I need to buy yet. Cleason has come over twice to stay with the children while we went to the midwife and did some shopping. I think everyone enjoyed that alot.

       Venesa is going to be one in a few weeks. She walks well around furniture and will push a toy around the house. But her first steps are still to come.

Her first sentence was the other day..."Hi Dad!" when Jason came around the corner. She will still nurse to sleep although she doesn't depend on it very much; she will fall asleep for me or the girls without it, too. I'd say it gets her to sleep the fastest though.

        Ryan goes to work with Jason every once in a while. Seems things are more low key here when he is gone- but the children do miss him. I guess he is the leader in most of the playing and keeps it lively too. What everyone says the last few years if it has been a bit since they saw us..."he is really growing!" Jason has noticed that he is getting strong too, wrestling is more of a challenge now! :) It is funny how he has two younger sisters just as Jason did at home and struggles just like his dad did to get his sisters to do anything... like help clean up, ect. I can just imagine! My husband as a little boy, threatening and getting frustrated with his sisters. Yes the girls need to do their share. It is just that he sometimes wastes more time trying to make sure they're working then getting much done himself. He had pity on Jen last night when she had to clean up part of the basement instead of coming for supper since she waited too long to help out. He and Eric were nice enough to help her out so she could join us for supper!

        This year we went skating once so far. Maybe the only time? When we drove to the pond, Venesa was sleeping so I never had to get her out at all when we were there.

It was a cold day, too cold to sit around in the camping chairs the whole time! Since my baby was sleeping, and Eric was on the sled, and all the others were skating, I finally decided there really was no reason I couldn't skate a bit if I was extra careful. The part I hadn't thought of was how I was going to get my skates on. Shoes aren't too easy at this point! :) It was awfully uncomfortable, but worth it I thought once I was up and skating. The getting up from the chair was hard too! Since we didn't have any skating last year I wanted to take my chance while we have some ice....I usually don't fall unless I'm trying to play a game! Ha! The others were playing ice hockey... no thanks!

       Baby is down for her nap, and Eric should be too, but I sent them out to play in the disappearing snow, and plan to join them in a little bit.

       Jason is doing a Bible study each Sat. morning with the neighbor guy. They are enjoying it alot I think. I am amazed when I think of my shy husband and how God is using him to lead this Bible study and be a godly influence in this younger man's life. He will be a father for the first time this summer.

       God wants to use us all in lots of different ways! Let's not be anxious about when and how it will be; but just willing and ready all the time. He has a purpose for each day we live. What if it is simply to show a child that they are loved today? My prayer is that I would not disappoint God in the little things while I am waiting for a 'greater'? purpose!

        Ok I really got chilled, playing outside....then I laid down beside Eric and slept for a while, and my skirt was a little wet. Not good!I am finally starting to feel warm again. I showed the children how you can make huge snowballs with the wet snow. That was fun, but way too much work to stack the snowmen! We have 4 big snowmen and one little one out there close to the road. One for each child. Anyway, my back does not appreciate it, but it'll just have to get over it! I have a lot of work waiting for me now...