During this stage of the game, sometimes it’s easy to forget there’s a person growing inside me. Yes, my jeans are fitting more snugly these days and I tend to nod off on the couch each night around 10, but other than that I don’t feel all the different. And so I go through each day making meals, cleaning up messes, and trying to accomplish lessons, errands, and other excursions and quite often forget that all the while there’s a life growing inside of me.

One of my favorite parts about home schooling has been the field trips. We have tutorial sessions on Mon and Wed. Tues we have school at home and typically it is a catch up day for me around the house. I try to keep Tuesdays open as I need that day to just be at home. Thursdays we have school at home, plus BSF in the morning, and often a play date over lunch.

This year in my Bible Study we are studying the book of John. Last week we read in John 4 about the Samaritan woman at the well. It’s funny to me how I can read a passage I’ve heard many times before and this time see it in a new light with fresh application. I love how living and breathing the Word of God is. Many things challenged me about this passage.

It appears my oldest daughter is trying to prepare me for life with 4 kids. She has taken on the job of mothering her baby doll “baby Eli” literally 24-7. When we sit down to eat, she makes sure Eli has his bib on and a special seat at the table. We now set our table for 7 (b/c our youngest has to include her baby Eli too).  When she’s getting ready for bed, baby Eli also gets tucked into his bed, with his own baby and she is always certain to read him his special Bible story as well.

Many of you have asked for the details on my pregnancy. Some you will just have to infer for yourself as this is a family friendly blog :-) But, as for the rest….I am around 11 weeks pregnant. According to a site I read online that gives me the update each week, this week my baby gets his/her irises and finger nails and he or she weighs in a whopping 7 grams!

For all of you who have bought something from Amazon and done so by clicking through my site, congratulate yourselves. I checked my Amazon affiliate account today and I have earned $50.00 thus far! As you may remember, Scott and I decided to match whatever money it earns (up to the first $200), so tonight I wrote a check to World Vision’s Sudan Relief Fund for $100! Whoohooo!  I know I just got through telling you that I don’t want to rush the Thanksgiving season, by thinking of Christmas.

Long before the costumes and candy were even consumed for Halloween, stores already had their Christmas products on the shelves. I saw Santa and Jack-o-lanterns literally across the aisle from each other at Target a few weeks ago. And now, while the candy still lingers in our pumpkin bowls, if you walk into any department store, mall, or craft store, you’d swear it was December as the sights, sounds, and smells all tell of Christmas.

OK, so Halloween was 6 days ago, and I gotta tell you this circus mom has had more than her fair share of the loot. The kids are doing quite well with an occasional piece after a meal here or there. Mom on the other hand seems to go for the candy bowl come nap and bed time and she rarely stops with one. The other morning when the kids came out to the living room my son spotted a few candy wrappers sitting on the couch.

Visit here or here for more fun with pictures.

Remember my confession back in May about my hefty library charge? I am happy to report that I’ve actually gotten much better about returning library books since then. And no, it’s not because I’ve stopped going to the library. Sure, I’ve paid an occasional fee here or there, but nothing close to the $42.09 I paid back in May. Perhaps they won’t be naming the local branch after the circus family after all.