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Hello everyone. I’m back. Our family has had a difficult fall. It started with one of our boys having a cough. Gradually more children developed a cough.

The two youngest, Ethan and Jonah, had the worst coughs. We took them to our naturopath. Along with recommendations for boosting their immune systems, she suggested that they needed to see a medical doctor because she suspected they had whooping cough. We took them to three different doctors including a trip to the E.R. and were always sent home. Finally, on our second visit to the E.R. someone said, “That cough sounds like whooping cough.” To make a very long story short Ethan and Jonah were admitted to the hospital for two days. They came home much better, but the rest of the children were very sick by then. It took about two weeks after the hospital visit to get everyone back to reasonable health.

This last week we finally started homeschooling full-time again. Let me just say that routine feels soooo good. So I guess you can understand why I haven’t been writing – I was running an infirmary.

It feels good to be back. I haven’t done a lot of serious reading lately. There just hasn’t been time. Thankfully my children all enjoy reading because at their worst any activity set them off coughing. Reading is a quiet activity. ☺

16-year-old daughter – While We’re Far Apart by Lynn Austin. My daughter has discovered a new author that she enjoys. This book is set in World War II – a current enthusiasm with Eva-Joy. She has given me the book to read with her highest recommendation as soon as I have the time.

14-year-old son – The Prophet of Yonwood by Jeanne Duprau. This is part of the “City of Ember” set. It’s actually a prequel to the trilogy.

12-year-old son – The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne Duprau. This is the last in the “City of Ember” series.

10-year-old daughter – Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

8-year-old daughter – Smuggler Ben by Enid Blyton. Enid Blyton books are a big favourite with us. They are adventure stories written for ages seven to ten. My children have had more than one “adventure” trying to be like the children in these books. When we moved into a century-old farmhouse they were so excited because it was like a setting in an Enid Blyton book. Who knew what forgotten tunnels and secret rooms they might find! Sadly there were none, but they still had fun looking.

6-year-old son – The Huckabuck Family by Carl Sandberg. This is another family favourite. The Huckabuck family lives in Nebraska and grows popcorn until a fire in the barn causes all the popcorn to pop. They go away to live somewhere else until they get a sign to return. There are some tongue twisters that make reading it out loud fun. And two cats – a black one and a white one – in every picture.

3-year-old son – The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

22-month-old son – Peter Rabbit books by Beatrix Potter. I asked my daughter to send some books for the little boys to read while they were in the hospital. She sent some of the Peter Rabbit books, and Jonah read them over and over with great delight. Now that he’s back home he loves to carry a stack around with him. He calls them “ra-ra”. ☺