Here We Go Again

Since starting down this home schooling road, we've never taken a Summer break.  Life has thrown us quite a few curve balls over the last 4 years, requiring me to take breaks from schooling the kids at random times during the years.  Because of those random breaks, I didn't allow myself to take a Summer break.  So we went from one "year" to the next without time to prep or take a mental breather...always feeling behind.  I was again planning to school through this Summer to make up for the break we took when Arrow was a newborn, but I was at my breaking point.  I finally told myself I MUST take a Summer break or I was going to completely fry.  Once I faced that, a huge burden was lifted.  Previous breaks were spent coping or healing, not planning for school.  This Summer break allowed me the time to think about our schooling goals and look for ideas, curriculum, and books to help us meet those goals.  I discovered Ambleside Online and spent the Summer learning their methods and preparing to use their plan.  On September 10th, we started in.  It was the worst week of homeschooling yet.  HA!  I can look back now and laugh but in the moment, ensue freak out!  It wasn't hard because of Ambleside Online.  Partly it was hard because we ALL got sick mid week.  And partly it was hard because of concerns I have that I'm praying about.  So, changes are being made as we enter week 2 and we continue on, thankful for the freedom to have our children home with us, even when its hard. 

 Nap School

 

 Almost 4 years old

Pre School

 

 6 years old

Ambleside Online Year 1

 

8 years old

Ambleside Online Year 1

Not Ready

Well, quite honestly, I'm not ready to start blogging.  I haven't missed it too much because I have not had the time to do it or miss it.  However, I do miss the idea of having memories recorded for the kids.  That being said, we are about to leave on our first real family vacation.  A 3 week road trip up to the Tetons and back that we've been planning for a long time.  I don't know when, where, or how I'll find the time to record our adventures, but I REALLY want to.  So here goes nothing.

In the mean time, here's a few memories from our Summer;

We had a beautiful garden.  Simply beautiful plants.....that produced nothing.  ?!?!?!  SUCH a disappointment.  Actually, we have pumpkins coming out of my ears and its on my to do list to process them all this week and freeze pumpkin puree.  But the tomatoes we wait for all year?.....I have bushes that are as tall as me and twice as wide with beautiful leaves but absolutely NO fruit.  A few plants fruited slowly, so we have had just enough tomatoes to add to sandwiches and pizzas, but we have NEVER had extras.  :(  Also, I'm pretty sure a few have blight so in addition to no fruit, I will not compost the plant.  Any tips on how to clean up my soil after blight is appreciated.

 



Logan took break dancing, and Felicity took ballet this Summer.  They enjoyed their weekly classes a lot.  They also participated in our church's VBS and had a wonderful time.

 



We took a trip up North to visit WONDERFUL friends, and we took a trip down South to visit Zac's family.  The picture above is of Zac and his sister, and all the cousins.

 

Speaking of cousins, remember these twin cousin bellies?  Here are those twin cousins, now almost 1!  They were born just 5 days apart.

 

Arrow started walking!  Well, he will walk all over with this cute walker, but on his own will only cover about 4 feet.  But he's pretty excited about it and I expect him to be fully walking before his first birthday.

 

This beautiful girl turned 6!!!  She was SOOOOO ready to turn 6.  She had a wonderful birthday celebrating with friends and family multiple times.  I'm excited for this year ahead of her.  I have a feeling she will sprout big time this year.

Her 6th year is already meeting her expectations.  She told us she'd FINALLY lose a tooth when she was 6, which she has been waiting YEARS for.  And she was right.  Just days after her 6th birthday, her first one fell out.  And another will shortly.  She thinks 6 is pretty awesome.

 

Speaking of teeth, we have one kid loosing them, and one getting them!  4 to be exact.  The first 4 came in back to back at 9 1/2 months.  Now, at 11 months (!) he's working on another one.

 

And lastly, James joined our family.  A feral cat continues to get pregnant and have babies in my mother in law's garden.  4 days before we arrived for a visit, my mother in law noticed another litter.  Logan was attached to the kittens during our visit and spent every second he could with a special little orange one (the ginger bond is strong, I tell ya).  We decided to let him take this little guy home, thinking he was about 6 weeks old.  Well, we were wrong.  We're not sure how old he is but he couldn't lap up the kitty formula we got him.  We did some research and learned that tiny ones need to be kept super warm so that their energy isn't wasted on doing so themselves.  They also need to be taught how to clean themselves.  In addition, they need their little behinds wiped to help them "go".  Logan has stepped up to care for this little guy in an amazing way.  He feeds him by syringe every few hours, cleans him, wipes him, and carries him around (sometimes in my old sling) to make sure he's warm.  Its been a blessing to see Logan care for James.  And James sure does know who loves him.  He follows Logan everywhere and nestles into all his red hair to sleep at night.  I have a feeling these two will have a special bond that will last for years, and I'm excited to witness it.