As the school year comes to an end, and I think about all that has gone into this year, I cringe.  This may rate as my all time least favorite year.

We started school the day after Labor Day with our homeschool co-op. It was great.  A chance to reconnect with friends and begin new textbooks.  The next day we got started at the kitchen table eagerly with our new books.  And then, the lake decided to intrude into our home, our school year and our peaceful life once again.

As I type, it is raining.  The spillway is high.  Hopefully the rain gets no stronger.  I hate living in fear of rain.  That is why we bought a piece of property.

That is why Dad has been working 60+ hours each week.

That is why Mom has gone slowly crazy and put the three youngest kids in public school.

Culinary Exploits

Daniel called while I was out the other day:

"Mom, I want to make something."

"Well, what do you want to make?"

"It's my own recipe. Listen, one egg, one cup flour, 1/4 cup Hershey's chocolate syrup or cocoa mix, 2 cups of oats and 1/2 cup of sugar. Do you think it will taste good?"

"Yeah, maybe it would taste good. Well, it sounds like it could be cookies. Just wait till I get home and we can work on it together, OK?"

So here it is,

Daniel's Excellent Recipe for Chocolate

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies:

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup brown

2 eggs

***

1/4 cup cocoa

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp each of salt, baking powder and baking soda

2 cups of oats

1 cup chocolate chips

CREAM the ingredients above the ***

MIX first five dry ingredients together and mix them into the creamed

ADD oats and chips

BAKE at 350 for 15 minutes Makes about 3-4 dozen.

I think we greased the pan.

They were very good.

I forgot to take pictures of the finished product. We'll have to make them again!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KAI!

So on Wednesday it was 4 years that Kai Wei has been with us here in America. Four years ago we got home from Taiwan with a sweet, somewhat shy little ten year old. And now look at him!

Ready for his first dance!

He's several inches taller than me, needs to shave and has such an easy going, friendly way about him. Kai went to school in January, because homeschooling 4 adolescents

got to be a bit much for me. Plus he seems to learn better with the interaction in a classroom setting. So far he seems to like it and he is doing well.

Last night Dana and I took him out for Hot Pot to celebrate. We had a good time and a good meal:

Happy 2012!

It's a bit colder here than in Colombia, but I've been enjoying the time with family!

Rebecca has been living in Washington State and I've been in Colombia, so it was good to have the whole family together.

The house flooded 2 times this past year and my parents were hoping to re-carpet before getting a Christmas tree. When they got a date for the carpet installation and it was after Christmas, they decided we might as well get a Christmas tree. The good thing about last minute Christmas tree shopping is that prices drop. Here we are buying a $10 Christmas tree 4 days before Christmas. :)

Here we are on Christmas morning in front of the Christmas tree at church.

While I've been gone the kids have gotten involved in the Society for Creative Anachronism (a medieval reenactment group). I went along with them to a sword practice session.

After the house flooded twice in one year, my parents decided moving to higher ground was probably a good idea. Here we are touring the new house which is still a work in progress.We decided to go into New York City one day. Central Park was a bit chilly, but fun for taking photos, and we all enjoyed exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art.