The rain continues washing away our pollen, an effect for which we are grateful! Homeschool continues with music lessons online today.
Little tykes playing at my feet while I teach school
Little tykes playing at the table while I teach school
Joseph (newly 7) has discovered on the shelf George Washington's Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation and has declared it "THE BEST BOOK IN ALL THE WORLD." He is reading it aloud to us. This new reader has launched!
Today I sent Chris to the grocery store for one week's worth of food (we are not hoarding because it unnecessary now and is damaging to the food supply chain). I watched the news for the anticipated "shelter-in-place order" as so many states across our country are instituting. Well, North Carolina's Governor Cooper did not choose to issue such an Order (at this time?), so our local county officials issued a three-week-long Proclamation to Stay at Home. It is not an Order, no matter how many times the local television news organs call it an "order" that must be followed under serious legal consequences. The entire 16-page document, which I read in full within minutes of release, does not even list any way in which it can be enforced. The city-county police department have already published that it is a voluntary proclamation and those not following it will be given educational materials.
Meanwhile, President Trump's hour-long Town Hall is well worth watching for all citizens regardless of party affiliation, so we did with our older children. This whole situation has provided innumerable educational opportunities to discuss how viruses work and about politics/government.
In order to bring us all some innocent joy, I immediately accepted my daughter Mary's proposal to write a guest piece for our family blog about her and Margaret's dolls, which they are playing with many times throughout each day. I have not edited her work.
Playing Dolls by Mary (age 11)
The Greegs Family
Last year, our favorite thing was playing with an antique set of dolls my mom gave us. Unfortunately, a certain little brother tore their clothes of and ripped the arms and legs off of one doll. We thought them too far gone to save and gave up the game. Just this last week though, we redressed our old dolls and mixed them with our new dolls into one huge family. Their family has eleven members. Nine children, including four pairs of twins. The only girl who is not a twin is the girl in the red dress with orange hair; Mettie.
Parents Katrin and Michael
Katrin and Michael are 28 and 30. They have three biological children, Mettie, Mary, and Max, but they have six adopted children, all twins. You can tell they like kids. They have nine of them! All in a house that is the size of a shoe box. It takes a lot of spunk to run a house that has eleven occupants and just barely has room for your family to sleep in at night. Every morning, Mettie, Amanda, Max, and Mary go off with Michael to school. They are the students, and he is the teacher. Right now, Katrin sleeps on the couch, and Michael on a mattress on the floor.
Another shot of Katrin and Michael
Adopted twins Dan and Ellen
14 years old
Ellen is very helpful to her mother and watches John and Angela while the others are at school. (Ellen and Dan are homeschooled) Dan is also a help. Jonathan is put in his care during the day and the two get on famously! Right now, Dan sleeps on the floor with his dad, and Ellen sleeps on the lower bunk with her little sister Angela.
The only child without a twin; Mettie
9 years old
Mettie's one problem is that she has no real playmate. Everyone has a twin, except her. She is lonely, but is usually cheerful. She does not smile much, and often asks her mother why she didn't have a twin too, but life isn't all sorrows for Mettie. Ellen, her older sister, is very kind and nice to her. They are very good friends and rarely quarrel. Right now, Mettie sleeps on the upper bunk.
Adopted twins Amanda and Jonathan
7 years old
Jonathan is the doll who had his arms and legs ripped off.
It is one of the twins greatest trials in life that Jonathan has no limbs. Amanda was as sad and scared as Jonathan when the great accident happened. Despite this, they are great friends and love to be with each other. Right now, Amanda sleeps on a small bed with Mary, and Jonathan sleeps in the crib with his baby brother John.
Mary and Max
4 years old
Mary and Max are the only biological twins that the Greegs have. They are the only non-identical twins, but they still love each other as much as ever. Max is shy and cautious, but Mary helps bring him out, and introduce him to new and more dangerous types of play. Mary is a adventurous, outgoing, and cute little girl. Her mothers favorite and a good friend to all. Right now, Mary sleeps on a small bed with her sister Amanda and Max has his own bed in the corner of the room.
Adopted twins Angela and John
1 year old
Angela and John are the babies of the family, and known for getting into as much mischief as their baby hands can get hold of. Their only habits are these: Angela loves to kick off her shoes and suck on her toes, and John likes to pull his arms out of his sleeves and pull himself up on the edge of the crib. Right now, Angela and John sleep in a crib together.
The Greeg's cat; Lavender
Lavender is also a twin, but the Greegs thought nine children and two cats was too much. They gave up adopting the other cat, Sparkle, when they adopted John and Angela. Right now, Sparkle sleeps in a little kitty bed in the corner of the room by Max.
I loved Mary's story about the doll family! I have to admit, I got a little chuckle about one doll leading her sibling into new and dangerous types of play. Sounds like those dolls are Lauer children at heart. :)
I loved Mary's story about the doll family! I have to admit, I got a little chuckle about one doll leading her sibling into new and dangerous types of play. Sounds like those dolls are Lauer children at heart. :)
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