It’s the end of the school year – and the end of our home school year.  Some families home school all year round, but we usually take a break during the summer, for several reasons.  First of all, it gives me a break, and a chance to do some planning and research for next year. …

We are taking a “spring break” this week, along with the regular schools.  It’s far too hard to try to interest anyone in math when the neighborhood kids are squirting each other with squirt guns, or playing a high-energy football game in the front yard. It also gives us a chance to do some fun…

  We took a break from homeschool last week.  I’m so glad we did!  My big kids were tired and cranky from camping at the Earthskills gathering with my mom, and Clothilde had her sprained ankle (she is getting better everyday – still not walking, but she can stand up with out help now). In…

This week has been SO busy!  I kept meaning to write, but then not being able to.  Tuesday was Mirin’s Arrow of Light ceremony with cub scouts, and I had offered to bake a cake for it.  And then last Friday Clothilde jumped down from the monkey bars at a park – not even a…

Last week we took advantage of the Medieval Faire’s cheap school-day rates.  I was hesitant, because we almost went with some friends last year, and ended up not going, and then it was in the paper that some 15-year-old girl was attacked and raped by a convict who was working at one of the greasy…

You know how children seem to be attracted to whatever their parents don’t really like?  I thought it couldn’t possibly happen to me – I’m fairly laid-back about most things.  But Mirin has managed to hit on an interest that does indeed make me cringe – guns. I’ve never liked guns.  Even when I was…

Clothilde jammed herself in the orange safety cone we keep for slowing down traffic when the kids are riding bikes in front of our house.   I had two awful shopping adventures with Clothilde this past week.  I must say first – she is the sweetest, most affectionate of any of my children.  When she…

A spontaneous feed-sack race was going on yesterday afternoon.  These things are surprisingly fun to play with.  There’s so much you can do with it.  Stuff like this gets so many more play-miles on it than anything you can buy.   Clothilde realized you can go WAY faster if the sack goes on the other…

  This has been so occupying my waking thoughts and life (and also sometimes my dreams), almost all I have been able to think about since getting home was this fall’s homeschooling.  Second grade, fifth grade, and now turning three, Clothilde will be old enough for something to keep her occupied.  A challenge.  I have…