Schoolhouse Rock

Today was the first day of school for Kaitlyn! We're off to a great start. I think the tentative schedule I've set for most days will work out very well. Most everything can be done in the morning after breakfast. We do Bible reading/lessons during breakfast. Things like science (which involves experiments), art, and math that require little Joe to be elsewhere can be done while he's napping later in the day. Since Jeff wanted to be involved in Katie's school too, he will do music and geography in the evening. That will only be one day a week for music, and a couple of days a week for geography. She'll have art just 2-3 times a week. We are thankful every day that God has given us the opportunity and the ability to homeschool. Even on the frustrating days, it's entirely worth it all!

Happy Birthday, Little Joe!

Today is Joseph's second birthday! On Saturday we had a little party for him with our parents, siblings, and our friends the Cospers. We had a great time and I loved being able to cook for a bunch of people! Our friend Abbie owns Common Road Bakery here in Commerce and she made the cake from my description of a rock quarry.

"You Wreck Me, Baby" (Tom Petty)

Well, I have wrecked our Taurus. I was driving home in heavy rain at 9:30 on a Friday night -- never a good combination! To top it off, I was heading into a curve and the car coming at me had its brights on. The road also has a railroad spur crossing it to join to the main track. When I completely lost sight of the road, my right front tire dipped off the edge. I might have gotten the car back on the road, but the tire caught on the train track. The car simply followed the rail up to where the two tracks joined and wedged itself in! It's hard to believe the damage it did. After talking with the insurance company and the guy at the body shop, we've decided to cut our losses and buy another vehicle. The insurance company will pay to fix the car, but we'll take that money plus what the body shop owner pays us for the Taurus and buy a van we were looking at just last week. (Until Friday night, the plan was to sell the Taurus and buy the van.) It's a 1996 Windstar -- the same color blue as our "old" car. Pictures to come!