Tuesday

One water pump and three hours worth of labor later and the van is fixed. It makes me so mad that I just replaced the water pump a year ago... but what are you going to do?

Today my SIL's grandpa died. I offered to stay in Ohio for as long as they need me to to help with the girls while they do what they need to do. I think we have decided that the boys will stay until the 20th, when we planned to come back down for Shelby's 2nd birthday. I wasn't too keen on the idea, citing school as the reason - until Marty reminded me that this is one of the reasons we homeschool. The ability to drop everything and be there when someone needs you is something I am grateful we have. So we will take a shorter winter break and start school later this year. We will still get done what we need to, so I'm not worried.

My borrowed niece started Kindergarten this year, as a cyber homeschooler. So far it is going great. She has a teacher that she can talk to whenever she needs to, and she has been very positive with her. She said that Rhiannon is the first kid in the state to test out of K math and reading. Not bad!

Tonight the boys are with Marty's dad out for dinner and a movie. Tomorrow, Marty's mom is taking them to dinner and for a hike. I'm glad they are able to spend time with them. Sometimes when we come into town we are so over scheduled that we miss someone.

Tomorrow while my SIL is at work I am going to pack up the boys and the nieces (1, 3 and 5) and take them to see my grandparents and then to lunch. Wish me luck!