We all know how Tucker is the artist in residence and how he leaves a constant stream of papers all over the house. Well, he's taught his little protégé and now Charliebear spends his days working on "art pwojects". It's great because he keeps himself busy while I teach the others.
I found this note- Charlie "hearts" the U.S. Navy!
He has wars on the brain- he thinks he's going to be in the Navy.
Overheard: Tucker: Charlie, do you think you will go to the Naval Academy? Charlie: Yes. Tucker: That's great! We will call you Navy Charlie! Charlie: No, I will be older so you will call me Naval Charles. When I am older I will be Charles. :)
By Charlie-
He's making signs a lot too. He learned from the best.
War Eagle!
The boys are helping us revive our dead plants from the draught-
Daddy figured out how to sling them into the leaf pile with a sled on a rope. :)
Friday was Veteran's day and the Feast of St. Martin of Tours. St. Martin was a Roman Soldier who tore his army cloak to give to a cold beggar. That night he had a dream and Jesus was wearing the torn cloak.
Martinmas is celebrated in other parts of the world with lantern processions. So in honor of that and Veteran's day, our friends hosted a little lantern procession through their neighborhood. We went to the houses of retired servicemen and gave them cookies and thank you cards and then said the pledge of allegiance with them. It was so touching to us, but it was also very touching to the veterans. I loved seeing them salute the flag.
Saturday we celebrated a birthday party for our Godson. We have had three Godson's birthday parties the past three Saturdays. Such a treat to have great friends and families to celebrate with.
Monday BB and Poppy came over so Poppy and Marky could repair our deck stairs. They replaced all the rotten wood and they look brand new. Thank you Poppy!!! We also had a birthday dinner for Marc! We cooked out steaks and had a wonderful night!
Happy Birthday to you.......
Tucker's card-
Marky said, "So when you are big you only get clothes for your birthday?" Ha!
So on Monday Julia was complaining her stomach hurt and that she was cold, but I just gave her some Tylenol and we pushed through piano lessons, Latin lessons, math and horseback riding. After riding we went out to eat at a place that had cookies as big as Tucker's head. :)
While we were there she couldn't eat and fell asleep in her chair! We realized it was more than a cold and ran her up to the doc in the box. Turns out she had strep throat- just a word to all you readers- strep throat sometimes presents as stomach pain in children- I had no idea.
Move along to Wednesday, Julia is now much better and we have run to the zoo for a science class and all of a sudden Tucker grabs his stomach and says, "Oh- I'm in so much pain- I can't walk." Then Charlie leans on me and says he feels terrible. So off to the pediatrician and low and behold the boys have strep throat too. So we have been running a sick ward in the den. I kept the T.V. on easy listening instrumental music to drown out the house noise and they all slept all day Wednesday.
Julia read about twenty Best in Children's Books. I think she secretly enjoys days of not leaving the couch. :)
Happy to report everyone is back to normal. Strep throat 2016- over!
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And this is just an aside- but Amber texted me this picture of a little photo shoot we did when the children were little. Look at bald little Tucker! Such precious memories!
We had a nice end to last week. Julia finished her Horsemanship 4H class, which she LOVED! She made a great friend who is also on swim team with her twice a week. (She is older than Julia-ha!)
On Friday night Julia, Tucker and Charlie went to Parent's Night Out at the gymnastics place. They have always asked to go and this time we finally let them. They had a blast doing obstacle courses and trampolines and the foam pit! We were the first ones there. :)
We celebrated the feast of All Saints Tuesday. We colored pictures, read this book and guessed the saints-
I also read them the last story from Once Upon a time, Saints (one of my favorite saint series). It was about Saint Adauctus, a saint about whom we know very little. All we know is that as the Christians were being paraded into the arena by Diocletian that this saint from the crowd said, "May I walk with you? I too am a Christian but nobody knows it." The priest in the line said, "Of course, my unknown friend, we shall go home together." And they did. If we want to know how to live lives that honor God we can follow the Godly men and women who have gone before us.
Basketball practice has started back. Marc is playing again with the same crew he's played with since 3rd grade. We had to get him new basketball shoes and he is wearing a size 11!
Also- the Alabama Symphony Orchestra is having a Christmas concert and were looking for a boy to sing a solo. We heard about it, and Marky asked to try out. We were shocked as he's never sung a solo ever. Well- even more shocking- he won the part! He will be singing "Walking in the Air" by himself on stage with the symphony! Here's the haunting song- I will say that he sounds exactly like this video!
Welcome to my blog! I am Donna- wife to precious Marc, full-time mother to five angels here- Marc, age 18, Julia, age 16, Tucker, age 14, Charles, age 11, Anastasia, age 4, and five babies in heaven. Deus nos conjunxit is Latin for "God Joined Us" and is inscribed on my husband's wedding band. Thank you, Lord, for joining us together and shepherding us home.
