Literary Tea

Olivia, Annabel and Grace had a literary tea at their school. They go to a Classical Christian home schooling school one day a week where they are taught their humanities.

You can imagine my excitement when I got the call asking if I had any tea sets. Oh yes, I have many.

It became quite humorous in China when something absolutely crazy came over me and I became obsessed with tea sets and squeeky shoes. I bought a lot of both. The last day we were packing up I purchased my last tea set ~ much to Skip's dismay. I kept telling him that each tea set would go to one of the girls as a wedding present, he'd say okay that is only five. The justification that they were for their wedding offered no comfort to him, the thought of five weddings sends the precious man into prayer. Suitcases bulging we were able to get home with all! AND now I had a chance to use them!

amelia's excitement

quinn has just learned to be content having been the only boy for so long

this only captures one second of grant's enjoyment

annabel the literary and ruthie

ashley, recently engaged and about to graduate from nursing school, standing next to quinn who was certain one day he would marry his favorite babysitter (he is hiding his disappointment)

olivia the tiny literary

grace the literary

the third fourth and fifth grade class

I am so proud of my girls and am very impressed by how they were able to memorize such long poems ~ I have a hard time reciting my home phone number and I have had the same number for over 10 years. They did a great job!

Big Boy

Grant is growing up, some days reluctantly.

Good-bye Crib

All tucked in for the night . .

in his big boy bed.

VICTORY ~Shouting from the Roof Tops!!!!

The laundry has finally been defeated! For the first time since we arrived home with Ruthie the clothes hampers are EMPTY! I had to record this because it is such a huge mountain. Yesterday I did 9 very full loads. I have been reading big family blogs about laundry and the last big family blog I read was a dear friend of mine and she summed it up referring to her own family, so I am just going to steal it because it fits: we are a big family but we still think we are small.

I am thankful for spring break which has allowed me to focus on all the things I neglected from spending HOURS on Rumor Queen waiting for TA.

I am thankful for clean closets and the discovery that each child used the back of their closets as a dirty hamper OR a place to stash clean clothes.

I am thankful for clean closets, the proper season of clothes hanging in them AND the 7 bags of clothes we are getting rid of and hope they will bless someone else.

I am especially thankful that I am able to do many things with a baby on my hip. And I look forward to the healing that I will have of my shoulder (feels like a rotator cuff tear PAIN) from carrying around the empress.

I love having a large family and I am absolutely overwhelmed. This has been a big jump from 6 to 7, but I am believing that in time I will realize we are a big family and that doing laundry 2 times a week will not cut it!