I thought it was about time to give some updates, so I'll start with my oldest. I can't believe that N will be turning seven in just a few short weeks. This weekend Dan and I celebrate eight years of marriage. Has it only been eight? It's been eight years already? That basically sums it up. Seven years ago we were getting ready to go away for a weekend. Our last as just the two of us. Today I'm looking at the end of first grade.
This was our first year officially homeschooling. What I mean is I tried to have some kind of schedule and "do school" every week-day. We did all right. I was better at the beginning. I had all sorts of grand ideas of things we could do, then December hit and things started to fall apart a little bit, what with having a new baby and all, but he is reading well, knows a good bit of the phonics rules, even if he doesn't like to use them, and by Friday will have completed the first grade math book. Math is a chore, but that's the way it is for most six almost seven year olds right? I remember having similar conversations with my mom. "I hate math!" " I hope I never have to do math again!" "I'm never going to like math." etc. etc. But like I said, only five more lessons. I'm excited to have a few months to enjoy summer, and re-group before second grade starts. I'm sure it will follow in the foot-steps of first grade, we'll start out strong and by this time next year counting the days until we can call it quits, but that's just a part of homeshooling, it's just a part of the schooling years right? 
N. continues to enjoy G. and she him. He has a way of making her laugh like no one else. I enjoy watching this brother-sister bond develop. She's good for him in many ways. She not demanding (not yet any way) and greatly enjoys his presence. It's good to watch his gentle side come out when her interacts with her. It's a side that you don't see much when he's with A. I guess it has something to do with the age difference and the difference between brothers and sisters.
This past weekend N got to go on the annual fishing trip with Dan and the rest of the "men of the family" Last year was his first time with just Dad and Pap-pap. This year was the regular hoop-la with uncles and cousins galore. It's been a good time for N to bond with his dad and have some one on one time without A.
Last week he lost his fourth tooth. He certainly has the look of a grade-schooler, and is getting rich from the tooth fairy. I must confess that that is one child-hood fantasy that we indulge in. I'm sure he'll figure it out soon enough, he's a bright one and Dan and I aren't too subtle about it. We enjoy asking him all sorts of questions about it and listening to how he reasons things out. He's so practical and logical most of the time, I enjoy trying to encourage the creative, imaginative side of his brain. 
