Last week Mary started 6th grade. It has been quite an adjustment. Free time is now at a premium. I can't wait till we settle into a routine and I have a little more time during the day. She is enjoying her classes, some more than others of course, and is doing really good. Mary is also continuing her Viola this year. She is still able to go to the school twice a week to have music with other 6th graders.

Isaiah has started cross country this week. He has practice 3 days a week with a meet on Friday. Adding homework, reading and Scouts to his schedule, he is very busy. He likes his teacher Mrs. Golden and so far 4th grade is treating him well.

Rebekah is thrilled to be in school. She is in a combo class this year, with 3rd graders. She will be getting her first homework packet on Friday and is very excited. She is a child that I don't really have to remind to do her homework. She and Mary both lost another tooth on Sunday.

Emma had a birthday (finally!) on Sunday. She is absolutely thrilled to be five. Monday morning she asked me if she was in school now. She is very excited to have her first loose tooth. She has been frequently asking the past while how old a person has to be to have a loose tooth. Although her tooth wasn't very loose, I am confident that in her enthusiasm her tooth will come out sooner rather than later.

Benjamin is also doing great. I can't believe how tall he is getting. He often makes Steven and I laugh in disbelief at his grasp of words and sentances, he reminds us of Emma in that way. He can also usually be found with a car, dinosaur, or lightsaber lost in noisy make believe for quite a while.