Kim 365

This little man has impressed me so much over the past few months. Big brother Markus began kindergarten work in the fall, and I thought Wyatt would tag along but I didn't have any real expectation for him to do everything that Markus was doing. He is learning so much, and keeping up just fine with his big brother.

Homeschooling definitely presents its challenges. When something isn't clicking for them, it is tempting to wish it were not my problem to help them through it...but when it does click, I am so thankful that I get to be the one to share in their victory with them! I never thought we would be venturing down this path, but I really do love it!

It's been a while since I've done a self-portrait. This is the kind I'm most comfortable with.

Hi!

Deacon joined us for supper today. While the rest of the family was eating tacos, he feasted on avocado. While not technically his first food (since he had a taste of peas a few weeks ago), this was the official first sit-in-the-high-chair-with-a-bib-and-be-fed-with-a-spoon food. He loved it. He kept grabbing the spoon on its way to his mouth and shoving it in. He's so eager to eat solids with the rest of us, and I am not eager for him to grow up too quickly. Stay small, my sweet child!

This masterpiece was painted by Markus. I quite appreciate the swirly theme throughout, and his choice of colours.

Before you get any ideas in your head about how patient I must be to let my kids find their inner artist, while the paint flies through the house...rest assured, that is not me. We don't do art often around here because it stresses me out, but I'm glad they have fun with it on the occasions when I do give in to their pleading.

I picked up a few bargains when I was shopping for groceries. Two shirts and a scarf, and I am noticing a colour trend.

Why mess with a good thing?

A traditional Mennonite delight, New Year's Cookies are a memory seared in my mind from many years ago. I remember my Grandma Fehr making them, and being amazed that I was actually being encouraged to dip my cookie in sugar before every bite. They were delicious. They still are.

My sister Jean, with the assistance of some helpful hands, made a huge batch of these cookies today, and we all eagerly dug in. Thanks for the delicious treats Jean, and for making memories to live in the kids' minds :)

There's no party I'd rather be at than the one in my living room. Clay and I are eating popcorn, drinking artisanal peach soda, and watching The Debt. Thanks for the recommendation, Jessica B...or maybe I should wait until it's over to decide whether I should thank you? :)

Ta-da! Haircuts courtesy of yours truly. I call this style, "The Homeschooler". It's the only cut I do.

Truly, one of the perks about homeschooling is the fact that my kids can take on whatever shaggy and unkempt look they morph into, and there is not a classroom of kids to judge their adorable but not quite socially acceptable appearance.

I decided to get in touch with my inner Francophone and made these tourtière turnovers for supper. I opted for the turnovers rather than a traditional tourtière pie because I thought they would be more well received by the kids. Clay and I really enjoyed them, but apparently our kids don't have one cell of French Canadian in their bodies. You would have thought we were trying to feed them fish eyes or chicken feet. They were that extreme!

Tomorrow we eat the leftovers: some more happily than others!

After I took this photo, it looked strangely familiar. Then I titled it 'Clean', and realized it is the third photo I have given the same title to. Apparently I like photographing clean floors and clean dishes! Here is the deja vu photo of my floor.

Anyway, the reason I took a picture of my floor is because it is in fact, clean! And yes, I have washed it since the January photo linked above. The mess that follows Christmas is driving me a little crazy, and I needed to get a clean foundation to work from as I get the house back in order.