Where have you been?

A lot going on over here. I know I have been quiet, but it is more important for me to spend time with my family than update this constantly. Kayla's 11th birthday was last Wednesday. I took her to Disneyland. She hadn't been there since 2006 when I had taken the whole family. This time it was just her and I. She had a blast. We also took the monorail to Downtown Disney and got her a bear from Build-a-Bear. We were there from opening to closing. I had fun, but ended up thinking of Beverlie constantly because (as many of you know) I am exclusively breastfeeding her.

I found out when we came home that she had refused to eat by bottle and was not a happy baby at all for Daddy. She seemed happy when we got home though. I don't want to be away that long from her again. I was in intense pain, and I am sure she was one very hungry baby.

I've been researching curriculum in anticipation of the upcoming school year. I have a curriculum conference in August put on by the kids' charter school that I am going to. I am interested in learning more about a Thomas Jefferson education, and am taking classes there on it. On my own I tend to lean a bit more to Charlotte Mason and a little bit of unschooling, but I like to be flexible because all of the children have different learning styles.

I've enrolled Lucian and Beverlie into Early Head Start. Jen is very nice and I am hopeful that Lucian working with her will help him verbalize more. She has me working with him more also, and that is always a good thing. I need to find more age appropriate books for him. I have a limited amount of board books available. They have been much loved, and like the Velveteen Rabbit, have fallen apart. I suspect there is a forest somewhere with a walking "Goodnight Moon."

Adam is still getting limited hours, and was approved for unemployment because his hours were so greatly reduced. He hasn't gotten a check yet, but it will be a help when he does. I continue to also look for a job, but there isn't anything to be had here. I hear talk of the economy improving, but I don't see it. We are still waiting on our Medi-Cal to be approved so we can take Beverlie and Lucian to the doctor for a well-baby checkup.

Melody has been working on her drawing. Time has gone by so quickly. I still remember her carrying around her baby "Amy" and "feeding" her as I fed her sister. Or sitting next to her as she "read" her favorite book to me, "Love You Forever." It is such a privilege to watch her grow up.

Ambrosia is playing Little Big Planet with Kayla right now. She's going into 3rd grade this year. Wow. I worry about her. She was bullied a lot last year because she was the youngest and smallest in her grade (she skipped a grade). I am worried that bullying will take her sweet personality away. It saddens me.

We plan on going to the park again today after it cools down a little bit. We've been doing more as a family since getting rid of cable, and I think it is just wonderful. Yesterday was swimming. It was 106 here...definitely swimming weather. =)