Library Rules

We have not been able to go to the library lately because our fines have exceeded the limit. I had $55 on my card and $35 on Eaden's card. Since fines do not simply disappear, I finally brought myself to pay $40 on my card.

Our problem is that we always have the max amount of books out on my card (75) and more out on Eaden's card. Then, when 75 items are even one day late, it adds up. Plus, if you have a certain amount overdue, none can be renewed. Ugghhh.

So I established some rules today.

The three oldest kids choose 10 items each and then they are responsible for what they choose. If an item is lost or late, they pay the fine.

We will go to the library either every Thursday or every other Thursday. If a book (biography, for example) is returned, then a new book (biography) can be checked out. I haven't figured out how I want to handle holds yet. I guess I will allow myself 15 homeschool related holds and I will be responsible for those (sigh).

Otherwise, I allow myself to check out two items (one fiction and one nonfiction) and then I check out five books for Mirek.

We still have 37 items out (plus any holds), but this is surely better than 100 right?

Thursday wasn't the prettiest of days, but the kids wanted to get out. They've been wanting to go to the "dinosaur museum" and dig for bones, but that costs $5 per kid and will have to wait. Maybe next week.

We went to a nearby park.

Taven immediately went to look for nutria. We did not see any. Too cold I think. I did see lots of pretty little yellow Pine Warblers, but did not get a good picture because the kids kept scaring them off.

Some sign language fun.

We have been enjoying our rental car the last couple of days. A new mini van! With working heat and a working radio! Ahhhh luxurious. We were rear ended last week and I'm kind of hoping my car is "totaled." The shop said it might be. Not totaled as in it doesn't work (it runs fine) but totaled as in the repairs cost more than the car is worth. Then maybe I can get some cash and keep my car....who knows.

Eaden, we believe, left her "blankie" in our car being repaired. She is having a hard time without it. I didn't really realize she was so attached.

 After returning from our nature walk, we made cookies.

 Oh we had also stopped by the library. We have a serious addiction to kids magazines, especially Nat Geo Kids and Zoobooks. We also check out Ranger Rick, Highlights, and American Girl. Zoobooks is the kids and my favorite. Each magazine focuses on one animal in a super kid friendly format.

We killed one of our chickens last weekend because we had too many eggs and really too many chickens for our little space. Also, my husband has been talking about eating the white hen for quite some time lol. He killed it and cooked it in his stew while I was with the kids waiting for my nephew to be born. The kids were upset of course when we told them, but they understand that chicken comes from chickens! They also all ate the stew...after they forgot it might be their beloved friend of course.

After making these turkey crafts at the library, Naia said that one of her candy corn feathers was coming off and I told her I would put some tape on it when we got home.

Naia - "We don't have any tape!"

Taven - "Yes we do. We have duck tape. You have to kill a duck."

Me - "You don't have to kill a duck to get duct tape!"

Taven - "It was a joke."

Me - "Oh. Pretty good one."

 Mid to late Fall and Winter are outside months in Texas! The kids are almost ALWAYS outside. Although we don't have fields to run around in and woods to explore, they have their favorite spots.

The table out back is one.

 They pretend it is a boat and they fish off of it with a bucket tied to a rope.

Now that we do not let the chickens roam and keep them fenced in, little man is also free to run the poop free backyard.

 The garden bed out front is their other favorite spot. I've given up planting anything here and it is totally worth it.

 Here are the kids inside playing dentist. Naia is a great patient...and the dentist is actually quite mean.

 Taven colored on himself and I asked him what he was trying to draw. He said "a beak."

And here is Taven with his new cousin. However, he refuses to call him cousin and will only call him brother.