Happy September, friends! I hope you are all enjoying fall. Virginia hasn't really gotten the memo. It's finally starting to cool down a bit here, as in it's under ninety degrees, but it's still insanely humid. I am ordering pumpkin lattes and making sweet potato chili anyways, hoping my enthusiasm will usher in fall. So, what's going on in the Thorne house this September? Well, for starters, everyone is in school! That's right. There has been a HUGE focus on education in our house lately. We quit home schooling and the girls entered public school this year. Sophia is now in first grade and Zoë started kindergarten. They both really love going to Bethel Manor. It's a public elementary school in our neighborhood - and get this - it's for our neighborhood only. It's a very small school, and I love that we know most everyone there. It has really helped me feel much more connected to our community. Last night, we went to a parent night at the school. We were shown the courtyard with butterfly gardens and geese for the kids and we listened to a presentation from the principal on why he feels that extra recess and extra outdoor time is important for children. (We agree!) We also met with their teachers, who were equally awesome. The girls have picked up concepts in one week that I literally spent all of last year trying to teach them. They come home happy and tired, which is a huge change from last year - they were so irritated and restless by 3 p.m. They weren't getting the mental, physical, or social stimulation that they so desperately needed. And I turned into Cruella de Vil by supper, because, well, I was surrounded by four children all day. Our house just feels so much more peaceful now. And I love being able to spend quality time with Patrick and Emma. I really never had time before to just snuggle them, read to them, or enjoy them. I was too busy trying to teach the girls. Now I get special alone time with the littles, and we put them down extra early so I can spend "big girl time" reading with Sophia and Zoë at night. We make it special with blankets and popcorn. Ironically, now that the kids are in public school, I feel like I am getting to spend more focused time with all of them. Everyone sort of has their special "slot" in the day, as opposed to it feeling like a three-ring circus.
While the girls are in school, I also get time to focus on my education. I have now finished the first course in my
professional copy editing program with Berkeley University. And holy cow, was it hard! I had several hours of homework a night. However, I have already learned so much. I am going to be a much more meticulous editor at the end of this program. I haven't had an opportunity to fill most of you on what I am doing. I am not enrolled in a degree program, but rather, will complete four courses to earn a certificate in professional copy editing. Each course lasts three months. Besides advanced mechanics, grammar, and usage, I will also be learning how to spot copyright and legal issues in a text, how to get the most out of digital editing tools, how to tactfully query authors on issues that arise in their work, and how to organize longer manuscripts (all things I struggled with when I edited my first book). The best part of all this? I finally found an opportunity to train for free. I am using a military source called MyCAA. It allots spouses of active duty military members up to $4,000 for a certification of their choice. Guys, I can't believe I am going to Berkeley University
for free. I feel incredibly blessed. I started my second class last week. It has been really nice to have some mental stimulation again. I decided to see how the first course went before deciding if I wanted to work again this year. I managed to fit in my studies and still go jogging and paint every night. So, I figured it was time to work again, at least part time. I was getting
waaaaaay too restless. I reapplied for my old job with Regent University, and I got it! Now, not only will I have editing homework, but possibly some paid editing projects as well. I will be editing theses and dissertations for
Regent University students again this fall. I'm excited to be able to contribute to our family's income. Working from home helps me do that
plus spend time with the kiddos.
Oh, and speaking of kids...
Don't you just want to pinch those thighs?
Emma is six months old! We seriously could not have made a happier baby. She rolls on her stomach now and is trying so hard to crawl. She is still sleeping in a bassinet in our room since she likes to party every morning at 4 a.m., but soon she will share a room with Patrick. She honestly melts my heart. Her older sisters absolutely adore her, and it's nice having older siblings being able to help out. In the mornings, Sophia likes to feed Emma a bottle while I sip on my coffee. Honestly, having a fourth child hasn't made much of a difference in our daily routines. After two kids, things are already
batshit crazy. After that, you don't really notice a couple extra monkeys in your circus. Sometimes she is so quiet, we look around and go, "Where's Emma?" While baby number four has been moderately easy, thing number three, is most assuredly not.
Making the grass heads that Grandma Charlene mailed us.
That's right, don't let the sweet face fool you. Patrick is two years old and
all boy. I was definitely not prepared for the whirlwind of testosterone that comes with having a boy. The girls are so sweet and docile. Yes, they can be a bit dramatic at times, but at least they are obedient. We have a rule in our house when it comes to obedience. The girls can probably recite it by heart: "Obedience is quick, willing, and joyful."
That means if I ask you do to something, and you do it while scowling, you are not being obedient. If I ask you to do something, and you do it five minutes after I have asked you, you are not being obedient. We are still working on this with Patrick. Happily, he does do what he is told. He even listens quickly. He just stomps his feet and growls while doing it. Yes, he actually growls at me. He never stops talking. Like ever. And he is quite fond of buttons. This week, I took him to Carters to pick up some onesies for Emma. He managed to pull the fire alarm and force half of Jefferson Avenue to evacuate. Turns out, since all the outlets are connected, if the alarm goes off in one store then it subsequently goes off in all of the stores in the strip. Lucky for him, he's cute. And he looks just like his dad, which keeps me from sending him to meet Jesus early. Speaking of Mathew, he has nearly completed his commercial pilot program. He has 200 flying hours! Soon, he will have his commercial license and will begin training to become a certified flight instructor. That means that this fall, as he offers lessons to students, he will both earn extra income
and rack up flight time.
So, that's where we are - Mat flying, me studying, and us just generally trying to survive parenting four kids. It's a wild ride, but man, are they are worth it :)
