Update...inspired by you, Elisa!

Ok, let's see if I know how to blog anymore...lol.
    Our days seem to be full to over flowing all the time. Carson has been busy working and keeping the business going. It takes up all of his time and then some. We did take a much needed family vacation at the end of September. We went to Long Beach and stayed in a rental house for 4 nights. We brought bikes for everyone and a bike trailer for Jamen and Evelyn. Riding bikes on Discovery Trail was definitely the highlight of our trip.
    Discovery Trail is a several mile long trail that runs along the ocean a little ways up in the dunes. You can see the ocean from the hills at times and hear the ocean too! It's paved and the hills are gently rolling so it isn't too much work for even the littlest ( or the oldest...lol) We even rode at sunset one night and stopped to watch the sunset before heading back. A very nice memory! (Since this post is not supposed to be about our vacation I'll have to move on, but hopefully I can get a post on here about that soon.)
    We are full swing into our school year, but it's been different for us because so much has changed. Life circumstances have made me relax a lot about having a set curriculum or scheduled days and focus WAY more on the most important; Bible, character training,and relationship. With Colten working 2 days a week, he's not home nearly so often. I have two high schoolers, but I have found that my requirements for high school have been mostly met already so now it's time to explore other interests (and vocational training for Colten).
      Colten is still hoping to learn to be an auto mechanic, but we'll see if his interest holds. He bought his first truck and has to pay for half his insurance and clothes so working might get to be more attractive. I don't plan on pushing him into being a mechanic or anything else, but I do want to provide him with the opportunity he needs to do what he's called to do.
      Emily is totally into writing poems and continues to write, read about writing, and be published once a month in a local newsletter. She writes beautiful poems from her heart. She also finds time to do housework, play with the "littles", sew, crochet, read, or bake. She just recently made her first two yeast breads and they turned out very nice.
     Dustin was very excited to work through Hunter's Education online. He got 100% on nearly every test. He did the required field day last Saturday and now has his certificate and hunting license. He is anxiously waiting for opening day of hunting season, which happens to be this Saturday. He just bought his first gun from Uncle Marlon so he's even more excited! And he still likes to be a clown every now and again.
     Kenyon is busy being a boy still. He spends hours playing with Damara and Jamen. They play in the sandbox, swing for hours, and build houses for rubber girls and little army guys. He does spend time with Dustin and Colten, but with Colten gone so much a lot of things aren't quite like they used to be. (They used to spend lots of time playing baseball and basketball) He is also getting more into reading for fun and taking care of Evelyn.
     Damara's reading has improved a lot in the last little while. She can now read enough to do her school books without too much of a struggle. We had quit her books for most(all?) of last year due to the fact that she just couldn't keep up. She is about half way through her first grade books still, but she is improving! It's such a great relief to me! She also spends a lot of time caring for Evelyn and playing with Jamen.
     Jamen LOVES to spend time playing in the sandbox with the water running from the hose! He spent most of this lovely fall weather doing just that. He also enjoys learning about animals still and has become very good friends with Damara. He enjoys Evelyn too, but tends to tease her too much. He is definitely our "baby" boy still and gets away with laying in bed with me until Carson has finished brushing his teeth.
      Evelyn is a crazy monkey. She is constantly on the move and tends to break more things than not. She is SO much happier than she was, and much more predictable. That is SO nice for me! She still sleeps so-so, but does usually take a 20-30 min. nap or two (and up to 60 min. when she's held) during the day. Believe it or not that is an improvement. She tries to talk and do whatever the rest of us are doing. She sings songs, dances, walks, wears shoes (she just recently decided shoes were okay and now she's excited about them. She even clomped around with one of my sandals on earlier), she is stubborn and determined, and very vocal about her wishes. Maybe she is a little spoiled. It's pretty hard not to be with so many to cater to her. She says; up, go, bye, hi, da, mama, tries to say belly button, and many other things. Yesterday, she would say "Cheese!" with a goofy grin when I told her, "Say, cheese." for a picture.
     I usually spend my time running in circles and spinning my wheels without getting anywhere. I think that is the main reason I have to focus on Bible and the other important stuff, I would feel useless if I didn't know I was at least doing the one most important thing each day. And that pretty much sums it up. Good night & God's peace!