Chloe can read!

Chloe learned to read a couple of weeks ago. We are using a curriculum called "Teaching Reading for the Oridinary Parent". She learned to recognize the letters and learned their phonics sounds. Then she started sounding out words and now she is reading simple stories. She is the only one of my kids to learn to read before the age of 5. She won't be 5 until June.

The date stamps on these pictures are wrong. I need to reset it on my camera. These were actually taken August 25, 2009.

Bits and Pieces of My Life

Well, I was scolded again for not blogging. I didn't realize that my sister was a reader and now I'm nervous because I have so many readers that it's intimidating! I don't have anything big to blog about but I'll throw out a couple of old pictures and put a few bits and pieces of everyday life in here.
Currently Billy is showing me the cake-eating technique that he says he has had since he was a little boy. We just got back from Vernon Hills. We went to On The Border for dinner, then we went to the christian book store and bought the Left Behind DVD series and a book for each kid. Then we went to Sam's Club and bought a huge chocolate cake that we totally didn't need, but it was delicious. Now Billy is doing his college homework and I'm fixing to read my new InStyle magazine.
Today we homeschooled, did chores, and gave away three bicycles and a desk on freecycle.
Yesterday I tried to unlock our front door with my van remote (not my brightest moment). The embarrassing thing was that I tried several times and then rang the doorbell. I told Megan that my clicker wasn't working and she explained how to unlock the house with a small gold key, interesting. See, I always enter the house through the garage door via a remote control in my van and if I want to unlock the van I use the clicker on my key chain. So, house doors are hard for me!
Also, yesterday I cooked a casserole for an hour before I realized that the oven was off.
I tried to swipe my library card at Target.
Despite my recent brain farts I've done a lot of redecorating. I really should take some pictures and post on here. Eventually I will get around to it. I redecorated the homeschool classroom and made it look so awesome, like a real classroom.
Tomorrow is our shopping day. We will be going to Target and Walmart(Lawson likes the Star Wars Legos at Walmart better). Then we will go to Sam's Club, the commissary, and Jewel Osco(grocery store). Somewhere along the way we will have lunch and I vaguely remember promising Lawson that we would go to Starbucks. Oh, and Old Navy (Grace said she needs white flip flops). I'm exhausted already but I like to get it all done in one day. Then I can go to the teacher supply store all by myself on another day.
Chloe is a reader now! I'm so excited! She has read three stories so far and has a thick stack of word cards that she can read. She is only four by the way!
Thank you all for reading and I'll try to blog more often and hopefully something more interesting!

Homeschool Field Trip

Yesterday our homeschool group had a field trip to Sunshine Craft here in Highland Park. Each child got to choose a piece of pottery to paint. They had a great time. We spent about two hours there and then we went to The Mean Weiner in Highwood for lunch. I just love our homeschool group!

Chicago Tea Party

Wednesday Megan and I took the train into downtown Chicago and walked several blocks to attend the Tea Party. It was amazing! This is the first time we have been on the train and we were amazed at how easy it was to get into the city. Union Station was not what I imagined. It was more like a fancy shopping mall than a train station. Despite what the liberal media are saying (sometimes not saying) there were several thousand people there! And this was Megan's first protest. Here are some pictures that Megan took. The last picture is the poster that I was holding. And yes, I know, I'll probably be audited.

Easter Trip to Grandma Wayer's house

Saturday we left the big city behind and drove south to the little town of Tamaroa in southern Illinois. We stopped at Amishland on the way which I have wanted to do for a long time. We stayed at Billy's mom's house and had a wonderful time. Sunday we drove an hour away to Marion and went to church with Billy's sister, Donna, and her two boys, Trevor and Trenton. After church we drove all over Marion until we finally found a restaurant that was open. I'm not crazy about Western Sizzlin' but I didn't have to cook so that was nice. After lunch we went back to Grandma's house and had an Easter egg hunt. Monday we went to Billy's grandparents house to see them. I was happy to learn that Billy's grandma watches my favorite TV show, 18 and Counting. She said that she was expecting us to have another child with us this time. She knows we are wanting to adopt and she said "I just knew you were bringing me another grandchild!" I hope we have one for her soon. Tuesday morning we left the small, quiet country behind and headed back to the hustle and bustle of the big city. In spite of the crazy traffic it was great to be home.

Happy Easter!

This picture of my Momma and Daddy was taken last summer as we were leaving for Chicago. Love and miss you Mom and Daddy!

The past two days have been chilly but beautiful days. The kids have played outside from sun up to sun down. All the kids are on spring break this week so I gave our kids the week off. They have dozens of kids to play with and every one has been having so much fun. When they came inside for dinner this evening they all had sunkissed faces with the beginning of their summer tans. After dinner the whole family walked down to the lake. If you haven't heard me say if before we live right on Lake Michigan. It is absolutely beautiful! Last year we used to walk down to the beach just about every day and we took tons of great pictures but unfortunately I can't seem to find them right now.

Saturday we are leaving to go to southern Illinois to visit Billy's mom and sister for Easter. We will be there until Tuesday of next week and then we will come home. Then on Wednesday Megan and I will be going on the train into the city to Daley Plaza for the tax day Tea Party rally. We figured it was time Megan learned how to participate in a good protest march. :) Then, if we don't get arrested, we will go to lunch somewhere cool!

Well, I hope you all have a wonderful Easter!