Brilliant Parenting Hack

Rose is nine years old and until recently, had a huge phobia to stink bugs. It was getting to be a problem because she was afraid to go to bed because there might be stink bugs in her room, and she was nervous about going outside for the same reason.

They don't bite. They are herbivores. But nine year olds are not always logical.

So Kevin and I prayed about it and Kevin got the brilliant idea of capturing a stink bug and presenting it to Rose as a pet.

It took about thirty seconds for Rose to get over her stink bug phobia.

She immediately fell in love with "Stinky" and checks him many times a day.

We feed him and his companion, "Spinky" (captured a couple of days ago) cucumbers and peaches and stuff.

Thank you, Lord.

Late September

 

I decided to take this week off from formal homeschooling. I am trying to finish my latest book and also want to get some decluttering and organizing done.

Yesterday, I came downstairs and Rose promptly bombarded me with questions about the International Date Line. Which is complicated. We looked it up and I understand it better than I did. Maybe she does too? I hope?

This morning at breakfast, Daniel and Rose were asking questions about eclipses. I pulled out the globe and used a lantern to explain solar and lunar eclipses.

At the end, Rose asked me, "So if you are on the moon, does the earth seem to have phases the same way the moon does?"

Like, um, that is a sophisticated question from a 9 year old!

Angela vegging with cats. She has a lot going on; her first college class, Freshman English, plus she is working 15 hours a week at Burger King. Sometimes you need some kitty time.

Our pool is sitting at 70 degrees, which is too cold for my blood. Oh wait, there was one day last week when I was dirty and hot (thanks, menopause!) and leaped in for a full ten seconds. Wow. I wasn't hot anymore. Anyway, Kevin will close it soon. In the meantime, sometimes the big boys swim to show they are REAL MEN. This is at night. 70 degrees in the pool, like 60 outside. Wow.

Moonbeam looks like a seal when he is sleeping.

I bought an A1c meter from Amazon. Pretty pricey but I find that frequent A1c checks help me to behave with my diet. 5.8 is pretty good. I did just up my metformin to 1500 mg a day so that helps. But I am also still sticking to a very moderate diet. My one guilty pleasure is chocolate, which isn't as bad as it could be. I love chocolate. Dark chocolate, to be exact, with almond mixed in. Yum.

Kevin is Retired! (From the Air Force)

We had a party on base last week to say good-bye to Kevin's work colleagues.

Kevin brought some of our books to explain our new endeavor.

Miriam came to chat with people about IT.

I came to chat with colleagues as well; I used to work on the base until 2021 or so.

Isaac came to chat with people about engineering.

The weather was great and it was a lot of fun.

And yes, as of Friday, Kevin has retired from his engineering job!

 

Five days!

 Friday is Kevin's last day of work!

He has a bunch of stuff to do with turning in equipment and stuff. Also, he is having a retirement party on base on Wednesday to say good-bye to people.

My parents graciously gave us 20 pounds of blueberries when we went to Michigan. Kevin made a bunch of jam.

I finished another puzzle. I really like puzzles.

A friend of ours whom we have not seen in twenty years came over on Saturday. It was so much fun to catch up with him!

Sarah loves to read.

So does Daniel.

Now they don't necessarily read what I like to read.  Daniel's favorite book probably is Predatorpedia, about animals that eat other animals :-).

Kevin is Retiring!

 Kevin is leaving his job in less than two weeks!

He is only in his early 50's so this is WEIRD but the books are doing very well and we have a bunch of kids and we prayed about it and God said GO!

So yes.  That is very exciting.

He is currently doing a whole bunch of out processing stuff.  He has to do this and that and the other. 

He is having a little retirement party next week on the base.

I am overjoyed. We have both been running fast for many years with caring for the kids and so on and so forth and while I know that is not an amazing thing -- lots of people have dual careers and kids, though usually not NINE kids -- we are really excited about having more time together and to devote to the children.

Speaking of the children, three kids are doing college right now.  

Also Isaac is excited about fishing all of a sudden. He and Kevin and Daniel went fishing a few days ago and didn't catch anything, but they had fun.

It is 9:30 and time to start school.

Trip to Michigan

 Eight of us went to my parents' home in southwestern Michigan this weekend. My parents had a 60th wedding anniversary party. The weather was perfect and it was all a lot of fun.  My parents are 80 years old. You can do the advanced math and figure out they were 20 when they were married. A long and happy marriage is a blessing from God.

My parents have a nice back yard and the children helped a great deal by hauling tables and chairs outside. My back isn't great, and my parents are, frankly, old, so it was good we had young blood to help out with the lifting!

My brother Darrell, on the left, is a professional balloon master. Rosie suggested a contest between Darrell and my brother Jeff, who is not a balloon master. Jeff kindly engaged in a contest. Which was of course very funny because he doesn't know how to tie balloons.

Daniel with his octopus, and my father behind him

A crowd of relatives, with me in red hair. I recently got my hair dyed redder.  I like it!

The entire clan!  A bunch of relatives came to the party which was awesome. Lots of my parents' friends too. I got to catch up a lot with people.

Rose likes root beer.

The big boys did a lot of hauling and a lot of walking. They spent hours walking up and down the road my parents live on. It is a dead end and very quiet.

My mother is an amazing gardener. My brothers are also excellent gardeners. I missed that gene.

More peoples.

Sarah and a palm tree

Various grandchildren shucking corn. The little guy in green is the children's cousin.

My mother kindly gave away a bunch of her jewelry to the ladies of the family.

My two brothers.

Lydia and the children's only cousin on my side.  He is a little older than Rosie. It was great that the cousins could spend time with one another.

So yes, great trip. Kevin and Miriam and Naomi didn't go, and everyone else did. The minivan was jam packed. It was great seeing everyone and I am thankful for the party and the trip.

Birthdays

 

Joseph turned 19 and Angela turned 16 in the last week.

How did they get to be so grown up?

Joseph was my first C section so I remember his birth quite well. Angela was my third C section and as amazing as it was, I don't remember it specifically. 

She was my smallest baby -- only 5 lb 12 oz at birth! She was 39 weeks so not early. Just small.

Joseph was 6 lb 8 oz so he was not a heavyweight either.

They are both thin. They are both kind, gentle people.

I am proud of all my kids. Thankful, so very thankful, that we are blessed with them and that all are alive and healthy.