Things are finally settling down a bit after a busy, crazy week or so.
I look forward to the next five weeks at home!
You probably can't tell, but I'm doing a happy dance right now:)
The college starts back in mid-January and so will our homeschool group.
Until then, I am enjoying every moment at home.

I'm starting things off right-
I've been home for two days straight.
Ah...
sometimes I just crave a little quiet time
around the house
to read,
craft,
cook,
just sit on the porch
or in front of the wood stove...
to do nothing at all if I please,
with no reason to rush out the door,
and
no place that we have to be.

But we've really been at home for two days 
because A. is sick,
and needs time to rest and get better.
I've been doing my research on how to treat her sore throat naturally- 
starting with having her sip hot herbal tea with local honey,
giving her oil of oregano (not her favorite thing...but it works!),
and a blend of essential oils for her throat.
I just massage the lymph nodes in her neck
as well as down her neck with the thieves oil. 
Also, I'm making sure she gets plenty of OJ and some Echinacea.

And since being sick stinks,
we are trying to keep her occupied and happy.
This weekend, she designed Christmas cards for us,
found a coupon for a good deal on printing,
and even addressed the envelopes later (Yay!),
did lots of coloring, doodling, and drawing,
watched How It's Made,
played Scrabble with me,
took care of the books for her egg business,
played the piano,
worked on a Chrsitmas present or two,
and watched the movie Little Women (again...love:)

M. has done her part to be a good sport about staying home too.
She has entertained us by playing the piano and violin,
and has taken care of the rabbits and chickens for her sister,
read interesting facts to us from Sacajewea's biography,
watched every single Tim Hawkins video she can find,
helped us with a Christmas present or two,
managed her budget (she's saving for a bow and arrow set) while trying to earn some more money around the house,
worked on creating a horse stable from a shoe box and popsicle sticks,
and baked all kinds of yummy stuff for us to eat.

I look back on the last couple of
of stay-at-home sick days,
and I see that even as we enjoy
these quiet days at home
"doing nothing"...
we are really always doing something, 
and
truly learning,
all. the. time.