Almost Daily

It seems like she is always on this machine. She loves it. One of the best Christmas presents she has ever gotten according to her. So glad to see her enjoying this almost daily. 

This Week

I started to post several times this week, but realized I had basically nothing to post about. I had pictures I had taken but we really have not done much. The weather was great last week and this week was ok. We had a few warm days and the kids were out playing more than usual. Sunday was a great day as it was warm and sunny and after church Bethany and Tess spent probably 3 hours working on a fairy house. This is something Bethany has enjoyed for years and still does -- now Tess is joining in and helping. They spent the entire afternoon working on the house. 

While Bethany and Tess made the fairy house, Zola decided to take advantage of the warm weather and so she took the harp out onto the porch and played for an hour or so. Beautiful music on a Sunday afternoon. It is also a nice change to practice outside, I guess. 

We had a good school week and I felt good at the end of the week that we had accomplished a great deal. Plus, the kids seemed to enjoy what we were studying. We also managed some art and a little cooking.

Piper has made great strides in the past couple of months. She could hardly write or draw anything at Thanksgiving and now she is actually doing some pretty neat work. It all happened so suddenly. We were starting to wonder if we were going to be able to get her to where she needed to be, but I now have hope that she will start moving ahead. I can hardly believe she drew this picture. I guess it just takes time and sometimes we get anxious that it is taking too long. I am hoping she will continue to learn and move ahead.

I took Luke out back to try to get a cute picture of him with the ducks and realized he did not like them. He would have nothing to do with them so I did not get that cute picture of him with ducks. But, I got this one and he is cute even without ducks.

On another warm day Bethany started another fairy house by herself. She can really get into these houses.

Today I took Bethany to a doll shop as she loves to look at dolls -- especially old ones. This place happened to have some old dolls -- one was 100 years old. Bethany loved this. There were some really cute little dolls that were not quite that old but still pretty old -- dressed little gowns and long dresses. After we did that I went and got Piper, Tess and Bella and took them to the playground. We have not been there in so long. They ran around for an hour before we left to get ice cream and then go home and eat dinner. 

The Farmer's Market

Today was such a nice day we decided to go to the Farmer's Market. I was surprised it was open this time of year but, apparently, they are open all year long. The last time we went it was hot and humid and crowded. Today was beautiful. It was in the upper 50's and the market was not crowded at all. It was so nice. There were not as many vendors as in the summer but still plenty to do. Now that I know they are open in the winter I think we will go again the next nice Saturday we have. 

This Machine

I would have never guessed how much everyone would like this sewing machine that Bethany got for Christmas. Everyone is constantly standing over the machine and watching whoever is sewing and trying to get a chance themselves. It has been used constantly since we got it set up and working. Andrew seems to have really taken a liking to it. Bethany isn't always happy about that, as he wants to take over and try out everything on the machine -- that's the way he is, always taking things apart and trying out anything and everything he can. Piper has already said she is asking for a sewing machine for Christmas -- thinking way ahead. 

I actually get a lot of joy watching them sew. I think Bethany has used up every single scrap of material she can find and now says she is saving to buy more. Watching them makes me want to learn how to sew.

Andrew is figuring out how to do something new as the girls all wait - again, I don't think Bethany wants him to figure out anything. She just wants to move ahead on her own. Actually, this evening I found Bethany in a room all alone with the machine set up and sewing. She said she just wanted to sew by herself. I guess we need more than one machine. 

Baby Blankets

The girls got to their sewing class today to learn that the material we bought would not work. We bought a fleece and we were supposed to by flannel. She said the girls were not ready to work with the fleece. So, we had to run buy more material and fast. They only had a few minutes to pick out the new fabric as the instructor was waiting to start their class. But, I think they both picked out really cute fabric. I think I actually like it better than the fleece they had chosen before. They worked all morning on the blankets and they turned out really nice. Bethany took her new machine that she had gotten for Christmas to the class and the teacher helped her get it set up. So, she used her own machine this time. 

The fabric that Tess chose. I think it is really cute for a little boy.

Bethany chose this for the girl. We just call them the boy and girl as my daughter and her husband have not chosen names yet. The one Bethany chose was nursery rhymes. 

Then Bethany decided to get out her machine and practice. She and Andrew got it set up and then he wanted to learn how to use it. They practiced for a pretty long time - until I realized Bethany had not done her math and the math tutor comes tonight. 

Somebody was getting a little irritated with her brother for hogging the machine.

Finally, all hers to use.

Unfortunately, Piper had to work on her ABCs and it was taking her a long time. She did not even get to try out the machine because it was put away before she finished.