Thursday Update

Ill. Most of us are, anyway. It started with Sophia and has worked it's way through Eleanor and Anna and as of this morning, me.

The cough and runny nose did not keep the middle girls down, though. Yesterday afternoon in fact they strapped on parachutes (that is, pillows tied to their backs with scarves) and literally screaming all of the way down they jumped from a plane (the sofa) and landed face down in the middle of nowhere (the living room floor). It was so much fun that they did this about 12 times.

I've prompted Margaret to give an update to her play try-outs but since she hasn't I'll just say she got a part that isn't big, but I'm sure she's going to have a lot of fun with it anyway.

To get inspired for the Christmas shopping season, we watched a documentary called What Would Jesus Buy?
The Jacobs family review of it is that it was quite funny in places, a bit depressing in others, gives a lot to think about, and is (for those wondering) not necessarily coming from a Christian viewpoint. Having a simple and traditional Christmas shouldn't seem like such a challenge, but we need inspiration at times to ignore the pressure around us to buy, and just stay home and bake cookies.

Here are a few pics and then I'm going back to bed.

A beautiful pink unicorn, part of a series of animal drawings Sophia did this week, based on this book.


Our chickens have been spending the chilly days pecking about the leaf-scattered backyard and digging up what remains of the garden. Margaret's favorite afternoon past-time is going outside to chase the chickens around. They are surprisingly fast, and outrageously funny to watch!


Edited to Add:
I almost forgot, I actually gave myself my first black eye this week! In a surprising feat of clumsiness, as I was sweeping around the table and leaned over to quickly rescue a teacup that Anna was about to grab, I stuck the end of the broom handle in my eye. It really hurts, and it's pretty embarrassing, and I can't wait for it to go away. I'll skip the photo. :)

Thursday Update

So Wednesday, I (Margaret) auditioned for the play Best Christmas Pageant Ever at our local children's theatre. I was invited to the callbacks earlier tonight. I still don't know what part I will get, but I have that wish (that all kids get) to have the BIG part.

Sophie and Ellie are rejoicing in the large amount of toy catalogs arriving in the mail for the holiday season. They have cut out hundreds of the little pictures of toys out of the catalogs and have been playing with them for hours at the table. As usual, Anna climbs onto the table and tries to play too, making them scream as she crumples the cutouts up.

Right now, everyone is exhausted. Mom has been breaking up fights, and Dad has been juggling family life, work, and church. Sophie and Ellie are throwing fits randomly. Now Dad is reading to them 'The poetical works of Spenser'. I think they are asleep. Anna is sobbing because Mom set her down to do the dishes.

Thursday Update

My cleaning efforts have been hampered lately by Eleanor's paper dolls.


She makes dozens of them each day


And leaves them all over the house




They are really cute, though.


We had several nights below freezing this week so I've been cleaning up and mulching over the garden for the season. Today we cut down the cannas that grow next to our patio, which means that the chickens will have to find a new favorite hiding place until next summer.

We have about as many leaves on the ground as there are on the trees now.


Maggie isn't doing too well, but for now we're just waiting to see what happens with her. I believe we will have to put her to sleep soon, and it looks like I will have to take her. I'm not looking forward to it, but I suppose when the time comes we'll just do what needs to be done.

Sophia's Fashion Designs

Here is a sampling of outfits for girls, designed by Sophia. The descriptions are by Sophia, just typed by mom. :)


A violet skirt with a pretty Valentine's Day shirt and heart-shaped earrings. This outfit comes with a green belt, peach high heels and a purple rose.



A green and peach party dress with a pretty heart-shaped necklace that is pink, and pretty blue high heels.



This outfit comes with a violet purse and high heel boots. The dress has pretty orange ribbons for straps and can be worn on a date or to a party.



This outfit has a brown shirt and blue pants with a pretty pink belt; the jewelry is a pretty heart-shaped necklace and pretty earrings; the shoes are violet purple and come with the outfit also.



This is a wedding dress for a flower girl, or it can also be worn to a party or everywhere you go.

What's under your table?

After seeing this comic, Margaret and I have observed the mess that Sophie and Ellie are making right now, and we feel that we might just have her beat. Here's what's under our kitchen table right now:

one eggshell,
a can of pinto beans (unopened),
a bendy pen,
half-finished friendship bracelet,
102 small bits of broken crayon,
5 or so colored pencils,
237 scraps of paper,
a pink sweater,
a basket,
a box,
a library book,
a toy ladel and soup pan,
3 ziploc bags,
a phone book,
a phone book cover,
kumihimo instruction book,
broken watercolor box,
swiffer broom,
tipped trash can,
parts of a purple silk flower,
big, wide, 84-year-old midwestern bear dog (aka Maggie),
10 broken pencils

That just about covers it. It helps to keep this in perspective if I point out that yesterday afternoon the table and floor were completely clean. Sigh.