All is good ...

I have picked myself up and decided not to be cranky about the anonymous commenter that hurt my feelings (boo hoo). I seriously need to NOT BE SO SENSITIVE to statements made by others. I am a good kind-hearted person (for real) and I am pretty sure the man upstairs knows that. Except for GOD ... no one is perfect.

Other good stuff going on ...

• Oldest daughter {e} has qualified for the Duke University Talent Search . Basically that means that she is one smart cookie who will be allowed to take either the SAT or the ACT in the 7th grade. {e}'s little sister said that she can't take the test because .... she is too short (LOL!). I guess there are not that many 73 pounders taking the test.
• {k} is doing well with homeschooling. I feel like I am closer to understanding her style of learning and what her key learning problems are. She started Catholic school in the 3rd grade (K-2 were in a public school) and honestly I don't think she has gone much past that in her reading skills. Their program just didn't cater to her which is so disappointing. I now have a 5th grader (a young one at that) who does 6th grade math and probably should be doing 3rd/4th grade reading. The program that I am currently doing (ABEKA) is going too fast for her. I think I need to switch things up a bit.
• {m} is making some strides with learning as well. In some ways she is similar to her sister {k}, but she is better at retaininig info that she reads. I really think it was a smart move for me to take her away from the "School" she was at. One-on-one is really important when you are learning how to read. The old school just did not provide this sort of help.
• {b} is loving her kindergarten class at the Catholic school. The teacher is nice, but I know that I need to start stepping up her learning a little at home. She was reading a little before school, and now she is back to doing cutsie artwork and "a,b,c's". That is all well and good, but I am afraid that {b} will be bored or worse yet ... lose her enthusiasm for wanting/learning more. She is my little sponge ... got to get her while she is still thirsty ;)
• {c} is a mixture of sass, cuteness, smart-ness (way too smart for her teeny little body with the big hair), lovey dovey, and temper. Lots of emotions rolled into one. Can you just imagine what I will be dealing with when she is a teen? I may be wrong, but someone once told me that a 5th child is just like that. UH OH!

I am even happier to report that I have run 10 miles so far this week and lost 3 pounds in the last 2 weeks. I wasn't even looking to lose weight (maybe 5 pounds), but instead I really, REALLY wanted to be firmer and lose the jelly belly. This is certainly motivating. Tomorrow I am getting a haircut and I feel bold ... WATCH OUT!