Life Stauts Update

I realized that it's been awhile since I wrote down what we are up to with our everyday selves, not just the fun events, although that is the best part...
Some highlights:

• Stephen proposed his doctoral dissertation in April, the PhD should be in the bag by 2010. Whew!
• Zachary has embarked on the journey of doing first grade at home. So far, so good...I'm breaking us in easy, this week, we've only done math, next week we'll add grammar, by the beginning of September, we'll actually be covering everything. He likes it, but I'm struggling with Payge since she wants to eat the math manipulatives. I think my solution lies in a box of toys that only come out when we're doing math, so she has a special (and new) thing to look at during that time. Chayce works along side us, and counted to 30 today!
• I'm still working at the farm, and I love it! I mentioned to Stephen that when we do have to move, that the new house will have to have room to have a BIG kitchen garden.
  
• Due to this schooling thing being brought to a close in the next year, I've realized that I will need to mend some walls (due to home improvement gone awry--crayon fiends as well) and do some good old-fashioned cleaning in areas that I usually don't worry too much about. If you know of anyone who is starting a degree program at Notre Dame next year, let them know we'll be selling our wonderful home (future post to come). Sob, sob, sob. Can't I take my house with me?
• Chayce loves dance. I should repeat that--Chayce ADORES dance, and begs to take ballet. We're considering it, but I'm still weighing some advice I got from a great friend who is a professional ballerina about not letting kids take actual lessons til age 8.
• We all (children included) are weeping and wailing that our friends the Monsons are really never coming back again because their house sold. We're also happy for them.
• Silver beach, on Lake Michigan is about 30 minutes from our house (unless you get lost, like I did...today, which is weird, since I've been about six times now...) so we go regularly.
• Payge is growing!! She is 17 months now, and we'll be heading off to take her to nursery at church very soon. Thank heaven! As it is, she bangs on the door to get in, and doesn't understand why her peers are going in, and she has to stay out. I think we'll do well at the transition.

Hmmm, I think that's all for now. Enjoy what's left of summer!