We are so enjoying the lazy days of summer. When I don't have to handle homeschooling, running the house seems easy (relatively speaking). All the children are enjoying the down time. They are doing a ton of crafts. Tucker and Charlie made yet another planet model today. It's just what they like to do.
We still think Tucker might have a future career as the cruise director of a Michael's Crafts Crafting cruise. :) He begs me to stop by Michael's or Hobby Lobby every day.
We have discovered new bugs already this summer- this is a dobsonfly! It's giant!
We finished
The Italian Twins and toured all over Italy with Rick Steves on YouTube. :)
Marc had a hearing in Florida that happened to be 20 minutes from Zaza and Grandpa's house! He got to spend three days visiting them and then dropped by Amber's house on the way to the airport for a visit. Such a treat to have work in your hometown!
With me being "great with child" and Daddy out of town, BB came and stayed with us. :) We took the children to the science center to see the IMAX movie Everest, which was interesting, but not my favorite.
And we enjoyed seeing the new Dinosaurs in Motion exhibit-
My brave boys riding high in the air-
And we finally went to our neighborhood pool for the first time- we love to go after supper-
And no, Mommy did not swim. I am totally exhausted and swollen and hanging in there! Amber asked me to send pictures. From the front it's not so bad-
But from the side you see- Momma is large and in charge! Whoa! Somebody get that lady a chair! And this will be my one and only tummy picture- I am not big on pregnancy photos, but I know one day I will want to remember how big I got with baby girl.
But as big and tired as I am I have
so much help! BB was amazed when she saw all the children can do around the house. Charlie- my SIX year old- is the one who gets the laundry, puts the Oxyclean and detergent in and runs the load. He loves to help. BB took pictures of the whole process. (Marc moves the clothes from the washer to the dryer- as he is doing here)-
The children always throw their laundry down from upstairs and Charlie gets an empty basket to collect it-
You can't be a stickler about sorting when you use the Charlie system- :) I keep stain remover bottles by the hamper so they can spray any stains before they put them in.
Way to go, Buddy!
This morning they woke up, all made their own breakfasts and put their dishes in the dishwasher. BB and I went to the grocery store while Julia cleaned the kitchen and folded clothes. Tucker and Charlie cleaned the living room and watered all the plants on the porch. Marky mowed all the grass- front yard, back yard and both sides. He also used the blower to clean the driveways. And of course they all made their beds and cleaned their rooms first thing. Later, Julia and Marc put clean sheets on the bed in BB's room after she left and put away the clean towels in the guest bath.
By lunch, everything was clean and the pantry was full. We had lunch, read stories, played games and did crafts. I told my mom, "Yes, there is more work and more to do with more children, but there is also a team of people to work together!" When everyone pitches in it is not hard to keep things under control.
And no, we aren't "there"- this is a work in progress. :)
But it's so worth the hard work. I enjoy these children so much- they are my delight!
