Bailey Family

This summer has been a summer of getting things done, and the one I've worked on most is trying to rearrange and declutter the house. Here's our new "office" - which used to be the storeroom (2nd pantry). It's tiny, but the computer is no longer cluttering up the den corner. Seth has been working on his art skills. He's been doing a drawing class we got online from udemy. He'll do more drawing and painting classes this year. He wanted animation, but that wasn't available through any school option. (We have one of those from udemy also  that he can do on his own.)  These 2 just want to play. Finished library levels for coupons. Gideon was easy - I read about 15 minutes before nap and another 15 minutes at bedtime daily. (Alee had a little more trouble getting her minutes in since I left most of her reading to her to complete - audiobooks count - but she is not a big reader. She finally finished last week.)  Seth got braces. Becau...

We began our summer break with a trip to my parents for my grandfather's funeral. Daddy Tom had suffered a stroke 6 months earlier, and it had been a hard half-year for him, for my grandma DeeDee, and for others in the family helping take care of him. So, although death is always sad, we were at peace knowing he was free from his physical suffering. We enjoyed time visiting with family we don't see often enough, remembering good times and funny times, and taking pictures. My brothers have the best memory. I laughed with them, but struggle to remember things like they do!  The house was a little full with our family (Mom, Dad, 5 kids and their families) Later that night it got really full when my aunts and uncles and as many of their kids and families that could join us were there! Jacob's on a quest to get Gideon to like him. Gideon (like several of mine) is not the crowd-loving type, and was not happy about the noise. Kristen's a favorite and he f...