January 2011 in Review

2011.  I think I have written the date out twice since the new year began.  It feels funny like it always does when January 1 rolls around. :)  When we were kids I could not imagine living into the 2000's -- it just seemed too far away.  And here we are, already into their second decade!  The Lord has stuck with me all this time, and I am just so glad I know him, or rather, that I am known of him.  God is so faithful.  What a blessed life I live.

In January:

We continued with Emily's home-making skills:

 

Betsy caught a geography bug.  She wanted to learn about one country each week, cooking a regional recipe each Tuesday and writing a report.  That didn't last long, but she did make this recipe from Botswana, spaghetti with broccoli and garlic.  Who would have ever thought spaghetti would be an African food?  Well, why not.  We eat plenty of it here in America!  It was very easy and quite tasty.  I can never leave a recipe alone, so we added some chicken. 

Amy had a birthday!  Number 14, it was.  This is her now:

Rare photo of Amy without camera around her neck.

This was her when she was two years old:

Nevermind.  I can't find a photo!  My album stopped when she was a baby.  See how far behind I am with that stuff?  Better add it to my To-Do Someday list.  Anyway, I am very blessed to have this creative and fun and helpful daughter!  Her goal in life is to have children, play with children, take photos of children, and love children.  I don't think she cares if she ever gets married, though.  Maybe she'll be a Baptist Amy Carmichael or something.  But here in America.  :)  Or she could work for a disaster clean-up crew.  

Before:

After:

 

Doesn't she do a good job? 

My dear parents came for Amy's birthday, and we played Quirkle:

We had a good school day in January. :)  Would they all went like this one did!

They look so content.  (Looks are deceiving.) We hit a wall with algebra again.  I think I am creating some big math monsters, changing curricula every time we get stuck.  It is NOT going well, and I'm sure it's me.  (Oh dear.)

Alison and Amy helped at Kings Kids, assisting the children to memorize scripture:

 We enjoyed crepes a la Betsy again:

Alison and Amy practiced a happy tune for their mother's pleasure.

And, we played outside!

In our short sleeves!  :)

Last but not least, Monocogman rode his bike home from Boulder City.  This was to keep up with his dad in their annual bike mileage competition.  Sadly, he is already behind in spite of this eighty-four mile, downhill ride with the wind at his back.. Downhill except for the 18 miles of climbing. Poor Monocogman.

We girls dropped him off then enjoyed a frigid picnic, an afternoon at the wonderful Boulder City Library, and some window shopping.  We also had the privilege of watching a glass-blower making a little plant buddy for Emily. He had an exquisite glass carriage with horses in his shop for only $100,000.  That was a bit out of our price range, but we sure did enjoy the freebie!  Committing a slender piece of fragile glass to a seven-year-old ended just the way you think -- it broke on the way home. :(

We hope all of you in climes north and east of us are keeping warm and enjoying your ice and snow! ♥

The entrance of thy words giveth light;

it giveth understanding unto the simple.

Psalm 118:130