The first 10 days of 2010!

It's already 10 days into the new year, how crazy is that? We've been pretty busy but have had some fun times too. Here's some of the things we've done in the past 10 days.

We started off the new year by visiting with the Douglas'. They came over on New Years Day for pizza and fellowship. We always have a great visit with them. Luke kept saying "Ella" all night and even the next day! I think he's in love. LOL! On this day I also started my "sugar diet" as the kids call it. The first few days of it were pretty hard. I had alot of cravings but was able to resist! I did allow myself a bit of apple juice but it was 100% juice and counts as fruit, right? Hey, you gotta have something! After a while it got easier and I finally wasn't thinking about it all the time. I felt a little better, and think I would have felt great except I had a cold which didn't help. The kids have also gone on the sugar diet and have done well. They didn't even complain when they didn't get dessert or treats. We did say that since they made it a whole week we can get a small treat today (they decided on a Frosty), but they have to go another week before they get another treat. I thought it would give them an incentive to keep at it, and it will make their weekly treat really special.

Anyway, so over the next couple days we just relaxed, and we also took down our Christmas decorations. It is always sorta sad to put it all away, but it was nice to get everything back in order too. I also spent some time getting ready for school on Monday. We had two weeks off so I was ready to get back to it. We didn't go to church though because the kids and I were still not feeling the best. Katelyn had a cough since the previous Tuesday and I came down with it on Saturday. Luke had a runny nose for a day or so but that was it. Zach got the cough and stuffy nose on Sunday night. Chris is usually the only one that doesn't get anything! Or if he gets it first, he is the only one and usually none of us get what he has!

Monday was a busy day! We had homeschool co-op which was kinda stressful because I REALLY wasn't feeling good but it was the first day of the new classes, and I didn't want the kids to miss it. Zach is taking Michigan and Gym again but instead of speech, they are offering an arts and crafts class. I think it is good because he needs practice in this area and it is something that we don't get too often in school (but I am working on it). (: Katelyn is in the same Preschool class as last semester and is really enjoying it. After school, we took naps, and then after dinner it was time for Zach's first basketball practice! He was really excited and he did a great job. The coach seems nice and there are 6 other boys on his team. His team's name is the Junior Spurs and it's all 1st grade boys. I think they did a good job of selecting a team that is pretty similar in ability. They have weekly practices and also a game every week starting Jan. 23, running through March 13. We will be busy but I think we will all enjoy our debut into the sporting world!

Tuesday was our first day back to lessons. Everything went great although I lost my voice so it was kinda hard to teach. We did not do school on Wednesday since I still couldn't talk. Zach did his seatwork though. I will do a homeschooling update post soon, talking about all the things we are doing right now.

On Thursday, we went to my parents' house for our weekly visit. The kids love playing over there and spending time with their Grandma and Grandpa, and I love visiting with my parents and having a break from the regular daily routine. Mom and I went to the new Salvation Army and it was pretty nice. I got a few things, but we had to cut it short because it had started snowing pretty hard and the roads were getting bad. As soon as we got back to the house and Luke woke up from his nap, we left. We ended up getting about 4-5 inches I think. It was pretty deep the next morning!

On Friday, we did school again and then the kids went out to play in the snow! We took Luke out for the first time and I think he liked it, but he didn't want to sit down in it or touch it. (: He looked so cute all bundled up in his snowsuit. The kids had fun playing with their new sleds they got for Christmas.

Yesterday I went shopping with my mom. We went to JCPenney's and got some great deals on clothes for the kids. Katelyn really needed some pants, and my mom had been there earlier in the week and found some jeans for $8.99. When we went on Saturday, they were lowered to $7.19 so we got the price adjustment! We also found some shirts and pants for $2.99 each. I got a bunch of stuff for next fall and winter as well as a couple things for the rest of this season. I think I will start looking at JCP more often for the kids' clothes. Usually I get most things at Kohl's but it's good to branch out once in a while. You never know what you will find! (:

So today I am just trying to get caught up on a few things. I have a few more ideas for blog posts that I am working on as well as some new activities for school, so keep an eye out! I hope all of you are having a great 2010 so far!

2 Corinthians 5:17- Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.