I bet the laundry rooms in heaven have sinks.

Ok, really I bet we won't have to do laundry in heaven, but if we do, I bet there will be sinks right there next to the washers to soak dirt stains, etc.  We don't have one in this house, but it would be soooo helpful if we did.

In the glass-is-full view of laundry, I'm am glad that I have a washer and dryer that work.

But, on the topic of homeschooling.  This is the first year since I started homeschooling that I haven't been pregnant and/or nursing.  Yes, and/or.  I was nursing last year until almost the end of the school year.   When I'm pregnant I am sick from about 4 weeks until the baby is born which makes school, shall we say, challenging.  I would often fall asleep while reading to the kids.  They were never so quiet as when I fell asleep during school.  When I'm nursing, I try to teach/tutor/administrate, and yes, cook,  while cradling a baby, or while having a toddler nurse and stick his/her leg way up in the air like a trapeze artist.  Also challenging.  But, not this year.  No nausea.  No circus maneuvers.   Just the dreaded active toddler.  With Sophia and Levi I had someone come in to help watch them a few hours a few days a week (as much as we could afford!).   Rachel started coming last fall when she was available.  She's graduating from grad school in December and then has a job in Kansas City. 

On days when she doesn't come I sometimes have the kids rotate to play with Levi for a little during school. When Sophia was young she would entertain herself for hours.  Not Levi. Nope.  He says "Mom" every 3 seconds.  If he's quiet it's usually because someone turned the TV on for him.  A no-no.  It would be easy if I let him watch TV for a few hours each day, but I really don't think that's good for him so I don't do it. 

With 3 kids in braces, we need to use the babysitting money to pay for the braces.  So, I'm going to have to figure out how to engage Levi without a babysitter to help.  In the past I read all the forums and blogs with ideas for homeschooling with toddlers.  I think the only recommendation that worked was duck tape.  But my other kids are really against their little brother being duck-taped.  Again...just kidding. I didn't really find any good ideas for remaining sane while hsing with a toddler.

Change of subject....

I made some cupcakes today.  I goggled "Easy vanilla cupcakes".  I should have added "tasty".  The cupcakes were terrible.  Well, dry.  The icing was my standard so it came out good and chocolaty.

Steve made Sausage- Zucchini Soup.  Very good. 

Here's Levi enjoying the icing at least...

Facebook sent me a notification about something and I actually clicked on it.  I found out that one of my friends, Tara, from Fort Polk (6 years ago) is living on post here!  I called her right away.  She said she saw my blog and saw how big the  kids got, and that my blog made her miss homeschooling.  Miss homeschooling?!  I said, you are just remembering the good stuff.  It made me realize that one day when I am not hsing any longer I'll probably say the same thing.  What an epiphany.  Maybe I really like homeschooling!?  I really have to think about that.  She said, "Yeah. it's like childbirth."  I never thought I liked it as much as I felt called to do it.
(Deuteronomy 6:6-7  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.)