We started our “official” first day of school last Tuesday, September 8th!

I had already been doing school with the four youngest for several weeks, but last Tuesday our two seniors joined in.

Here is the line up for this year!

Grant, 18 years old, a senior.

Addie Mae, 17 years old, a senior.

Chad, 11 1/2 years old, a 6th grader.

Lane, 7 1/2 years old, a 2nd grader.

Tate, 4 years old, doing preschool.

Eliza, 3 1/2 years old, doing preschool.

What a great looking group, don’t you think?!!

School has been going smoothly, and the schedule I made is working so far! I am sure it will need tweaked as time goes on, but I am so thankful for how things are going for now.

The big three kiddos work on there own except when I meet with each of them for a half hour everyday.

We are LOVING having Grant home again! He leaves for work in the afternoon and works until after dark.

There is always some Science going on somewhere.

The littles and Lane have school and then directed activities throughout the day.

The littles and Lane also have a time on our schedule called “Chad time.” Chad runs an acitivity for them during this time.

These activities have been outside lately, because it is just SO nice here! One day they did put blue painters tape all over the living room floor building streets and buildings and parking lots for match box cars.

Would just like to add that Chad’s heart for his brothers and sister is an example to ALL of us each and every day. He is SO loving and sweet!

Here they are playing where the pool used to be – a huge sandbox now!

Since Addie Mae is working on her school, I have been put back on the schedule to prepare breakfast and lunch! I LOVE being in the kitchen, and love this change!

Even though it is now in the 80’s again here this week, soup season was started, and we are not turning back! It is my favorite food season!! But a healthy one!

Chopping veggies is therapy. Really. Try it! This was the start of a delicious soup, and then I made some sautéed greens and sliced some apples for lunch. It was all gone in 10 minutes and 20 seconds!

Today we are having tacos! Taco Tuesday!

We have not had any doctor’s appointments last week or this week and are so thankful. Next week we will have two days of appointments at UW Madison with an overnight stay. Praying for the logistics of all that….how to divide and conquer it all.

I had a friend tell me the other day that our blog makes it look like we have it all together.

Guess I should have taken a photo of my hubby kissing my head and loving on me while I cried myself to sleep the other night. Tears for my littles…there is just so much to overcome. Tears for my middles….are they getting enough of their Mama? Tears for my bigs….their hearts are so precious. Tears for my Dad….because I miss him so much.

Nope. Don’t have it all together. I am just a real person, making real mistakes, waking up each morning striving to do my best for the Lord, and living by Grace alone.

Thank you, Jesus, for your Grace.