study, study, study

Playing school is a favorite game around the circus. Reading, coloring, counting, writing letters -- anything that might be interpreted as school gets high marks around here.

For example, here's Madeline, "hard at work" with a coloring book.

Even little Indy has been hitting the books. (Of course, the real accomplishment is the sitting, not that we're bragging about him or anything!)

But one member of our family is actually doing school this weekend. Daddy is taking his comprehensive exam in American politics, an important step to finishing (in a few years!) his PhD. His exam started on Friday afternoon at 3pm and won't finish until Monday morning at 9. He's been holed up in his office at school, writing furiously, coming home late at night and leaving early in the morning. Before we arrived at graduate school, I imagined that studying American politics would entail examining policy and strategy and perhaps current events. I was wrong. From what I can tell, it's largely math. Complicated math. Much more complicated than the calculus that befuddled me in high school. And even worse, they write about the math. But somehow Daddy manages the math (probably why he's in charge of finances and tipping in restaurants) and all the rest of it. We know he can do it, but we know he'd appreciate any prayers for endurance, good health (the kids all have colds - again), and mental acuity...

Good luck, Daddy! We love you!