Catchin' Up

Well, we have been hoppin' around here lately - sometimes, literally!  Of course, life moves on at a relentless pace whether we are ready for it or not - so we're just trying to keep up.  We have been canning (97 qt. of pears) over the last few days and we estimate that we've got another 60 qts. or so to go.  We have also been blessed with some nectarines and peaches so we're doing more jam also.  

I know I'm way late with James' 4 month update, so here's a quickie:  He's a very happy baby, when he's not cranky!  He is finally well after his series of colds, but he is definitely teething.  He is growing like a weed still and developing new skills on a daily basis.  He is doing the caterpillar crawl, as we like to call it.  Hopefully he'll start creeping soon, it's got to be easier on his face.  He's discovered the joys of rice cereal and now peaches!  If we could just get him to sleep through the night. . .

Somehow, in the midst of life's business, we are managing to do a bit schooling.  Josh's reading skills are taking off and he is fond of grabbing just about anything and trying to decode the words.  Ben's reading skills are improving, as well as his speech, but at a slightly slower rate - he's much too busy to be "bothered" by schoolwork.  Hannah is learning to read also and she is flying through her reading workbook.  Not to be left behind, Grace will tell you she is learning to read, too - and she is working through a pre-reading letter recognition workbook (and doing quite well!).