New Years

Today was our first full day back at school and it went so well.  I did math with Reuben, and we did all our scheduled Ambleside readings. I did not get to math with Becky because my mom came by to do the Barton Reading Program with her and we only do math on non-Barton days to keep it simple. She's doing so well with the Barton Reading Program even though I know it's such hard work. Dyslexia making reading hard. I should know, I am also dyslexic. 

I bought these pompom sheets for Esther and she's loving them. Keeping Esther entertained during our school day is half the work! She's a busy toddler with tons of energy. We have play dough, these pom pom sheets, a "school only" play basket and various other distractions to throw at her during the day--it's a lot harder in winter because I can't just send her outside. I mean, I can, but even she doesn't last long (even in layers of clothes) in 32f temps without her fun big brother and sister to play with. 

Well, we made it through school and I made chocolate chip cookies for New Year's and they are so delicious! I can't believe the year is done and flown again and here we are staring 2026 in the face. I wonder what next year will bring? I really wanted to have a baby this year and I've been through all the emotions deciding that it wasn't going to happen, because it didn't happen. And realizing that my chronic illness is too severe to keep trying. I am placing that sadness in the hands of God and moving on with my three amazing blessings and new dreams will come, I am sure of it. 

While I did math with Reuben the girls made a "escape boat" and rescued all the stuffies. They played together nicely with a few interruptions but that's life. It's hard though when Reuben is in the middle of a timed math sheet and Becky rushes in with news of their impending doom on the high seas! I just had to smile through the shhhushing. 

The doll bonnet on Esther seals the deal. 

I make sandwiches on Wednesdays for lunch--and the kids got to pick from toasted cheese or PBJ. And I also made a side salad and hard boiled eggs. Esther ate like one bite of sandwich and one chocolate chip cookie but apparently that was enough for her all afternoon. Anyway, she took her hardboiled egg and made it into her baby, whom she named Mr. Eggy. Becky drew the face. Mr. Eggy had a short life of two hours before he was dropped and summarily consumed after three seconds of remorse. Being two is wild. 

We are doing well with the no-screen time until 6 or 7pm. I'm really proud of ourselves. I still want to work on reducing it. Screen time right before bed is not supposed to be healthy. We read more of Winter Holiday and did a lot of crochet. Reuben's glove is coming along amazingly. He made the entire glove by himself except I helped with the thumb gusset. 

It is amazing to see him grow and take off in ways that don't involve his mother. He can put away his own laundry, clean the bathroom, unload the dishwasher, and make simple meals all by himself (usually baking) and he does all his piano lessons by himself. He is always into something new and I'm glad he still wants to tell his mother about it. Reuben is such a gem, all my kids are. But as the eldest I get to see him grow up first!

I'm plinking away at two sweaters, both over half finished--and trying to doodle and get into watercolor painting, and keep up on reading all the books. I'm working through Harry Potter again with the new full cast audible recordings. They are so good! Highly recommend. Sometimes the volume in a few voices is irritating when they try to make people sound far away, but other than that I'm loving it. I just listened to Harry's first quidditch match and they had crowds of yelling and the sports announcer was just a whole vibe. It was very exciting, like listening to a real match!  

Tomorrow we have the day off school and I'm planning on resting, cleaning, and getting ready for Friday. Happy New Years! 

I'm down to nursing Esther only once a day, when she wakes up from her nap. We are so close to weaning. I'm so ready and she seems to be as well (there is no fussing when she asks to nurse and I say no. She happily accepts a glass of milk with a big pink straw in it or whatever juice or kombucha we have on hand!) but I am also sad because...she's probably my last baby and I worked so hard to nurse her after she was born with low tone and was unable to nurse for three months. I remember all those nights of pumping and feeding her with a syringe. What a journey! And a little bit of PTSD over how much weight she lost in the first 2 days before I figured out she wasn't nursing...oh, my mama heart! I'm so glad she's okay and I'm so glad I got to nurse her. God is good, even to this exhausted tired mama! 

January brings...me turning 39. Becky turning 8. Maybe some snow. Cognitive brain development for Reuben. Barton for Becky. Salads and chicken and a big azure order. A new governor for Virginia--democrat now instead of republican--and so many changes. I hope to meet them with my arms wide open and my eyes on heaven. God is good and he's made me for such a time as this.