Reading to her Baby

Baking Bug

I haven't baked much lately because I have no desire to heat up my house when it is ninety plus degrees outside. But I felt like baking today, so I did anyway despite the heat.

Caleb asked me randomly the other day if I could make M&M cookies the next time I made cookies. Since that was an easy request, I said yes. When I actually got around to making them today, he and Alexa were busy playing some elaborate pretend game, so only Jordanna actually helped me, which was fine by me.
I also made these ham and cheese muffins from a recipe that I saw in Family Fun magazine. I must eat protein for breakfast, especially while pregnant, so I'm always looking for quick, easy recipes like this. They smelled really good, but I haven't actually tried one yet.

Trouble

My little Jordanna is trouble waiting to happen these days. She is always busy and is into everything! It's a good thing she is cute.

She's not content to play with toys while we do school. She has to be right in the middle of everything. She's happiest when I give her old worksheets from last year to scribble on.


She LOVES babies even more so than Alexa did at this age. She gets very distressed when they cry and wants to help. Last Sunday, I was bouncing a fussy Audrey, so Jordanna bounced her baby next to me.
She is often found carrying around one of her babies. I am sure I will find her trying to carry around her baby sister if I don't keep a careful eye on her.
Despite the goofy look on her face, she was very excited when Molly let her hold Audrey. A few minutes before this, Audrey was crying upstairs, and Molly went to check on her. Jordanna quickly followed carrying Audrey's bottle.
I was working in the kitchen this morning and came out to find her with one arm out of her shirt coloring with a pen (which she is not allowed to have).

I love my sweet Jordanna even if she is trouble!

Baby Shower

I hosted our church's baby shower for Molly at my house on Saturday. We managed to put 28 people in my house somehow. Here are some of the best pictures (out of the 300 or so that were taken by the resident photographer) in no apparent order.

My mom holding Audrey
Cute Alexa
The guest of honor

Alexa helping Molly open presents
Alexa holding "The Baby Audrey"
Molly with a grumpy Jordanna
Grammy with a grumpy Jordanna

Teaching Time

This was our 2nd week of school. On Monday, Caleb and Alexa painted a picture of a tree in our yard for a nature study. I thought Alexa would enjoy it better than Caleb, but he surprised me and really got into it.

Meanwhile Jordanna colored and looked cute.
On Tuesday, Caleb had his first day of classes at the same school where I teach. He'll be going one day a week for English and history. He was so excited and had a great day!
Today in science we used jello and fruit to make a replica of a plant cell. Fun was had by all, and they might have actually learned something, too.

Another Sign That We Homeschool

Yes, that would be a world map in my dining room.

Girly Girl Room

In preparation for the arrival of baby girl #3, we redecorated the Winnie the Pooh room into a Princess room, all for a total of around $60 (including the new beds, since we were able to sell the old ones on Craigslist to fund the new ones). The girls love their princess room. Jordanna keeps pointing to her bed and saying night, night and grinning.

Fun Trip to the Mall

Caleb had a dentist appointment in the mall on Friday, so Molly and I made an outing of it. We managed to survive our first shopping adventure with 4 kids and 2 strollers and even got everything that we needed and had a fun time. Maybe we'll even be brave enough to try a trip with 5 kids come December.

Lapful of Girlies

First Night in Bunk Beds

In preparation for the arrival of baby girl #3, we bought bunk beds for Jordanna and Alexa. We will probably have to rethink the whole room sharing situation in a few years, but for now, this will work. Here are some pictures of their beds; I'll try to get some of the rest of the room in the next few days.

First Day of School

Today was our first day of school for the year. It's amazing to look back and see how much they've grown and learned since the beginning of last year. Caleb is now in 1st grade, Alexa is in K-4, and Jordanna is generally in trouble. She is definitely going to make home schooling interesting this year. And then in December, we get to add another little one to the mix. Anyway, Caleb starts classes one day a week at my school next week, so I wanted to go ahead and start up with a light schedule this week before adding that in. So, here are some things we did today.
We made new name tags for their desks. Alexa just used the small table last year, but now she has her own desk.
Meanwhile Jordanna put stickers on a piece of paper.
Caleb and Alexa worked on their math. Caleb is doing 2nd grade math this year.
And Jordanna played with the math blocks.
We stopped for cookies for a first day of school snack.
And the kids had "recess" time before it hit 96 degrees like it was supposed to do today.
Later on, I gave Jordanna some Color Wonder markers (the kind that only color on special paper) to color with, and this is how I found her when I came back.
Caleb and Alexa worked on their phonics and handwriting.
We also did Bible, literature, science and more today. All in all, it was a good first day!

Another Sweet Baby Girl

In between our trip to Canada and my whirlwind trip to meet Molly and Nick's new baby, I had my twenty week ultrasound and found out that we will be welcoming another baby girl into our family. As of yet, she does not have a name, but we still have another twenty weeks or so to agree on one.

Sweet Baby Girl

So, after getting home from Canada on Friday, I turned back around and left on Monday to meet Molly and Nick's new baby girl, Audrey. She is tiny and precious, and it's been a fun trip. And I'm very thankful that Dave kept all three kids so that I could come by myself. I'm headed back home tonight to a busy several weeks of Dave heading back to school, starting back homeschooling Caleb and Alexa, getting ready for the English classes I teach, redecorating the girls' room, and hosting two baby showers.