Summer plans.

So. Our local public schools will be finishing up this week. Many of our homeschooling friends are also wrapping up for the academic year. We, since we're sticking with our 3 weeks on/1 week off sort of schedule, will still be doing schoolwork through the summer. I know you're jealous. ;) 

But. While we continue with our schoolwork through the summer, it's not quite business as usual. :) We'll likely lighten the academic load a bit to accommodate the extras that happen in the summer. Here's a quick run down of what else we'll be up to this summer in addition to our normal homeschool schedule:

• Noah has signed up for swim team at our neighborhood gym. We've not done this before but are excited. It'll mean 3-5 practices weekday mornings and 5-6 meets during June and July. If any of you have tips or tricks, I'd love to hear 'em!
• Asher and Micah will be doing another session of swim lessons. We'd started earlier than summer this year because we were unsure whether we'd be able to do the summer sessions (due to scheduling). As it turns out, we'll be able to do the June session, and they're stoked. It's twice a week in the afternoons.
• All three are signed up for another session of archery. Because they just love it. ;) (Nathan and I actually each got a chance recently to go for an hour with the moms and dads in our homeschool group. Yeah. We get why the boys love it. ;) It was so much fun!) So. This will be another 6 week session...one hour a week.
• Asher and Micah continue to do karate twice a week and love it. During the summer, we'll switch to the morning sessions probably (just cooler in the gym/facility in the mornings).
• All three are also still participating in the Healthy Kids program and are looking forward to the upcoming Fun Runs this summer. We have four more before September.
• We've also signed up for a few local offerings and will be taking advantage of them as we can throughout the summer...things like cheap movies at our local theater, free bowling for the boys, and our local library's summer reading program. Yay for local stuff!

And that's that. Busy.

Also. I'm starting to think about what we'll tackle next year already. (To clarify, we consider each academic year to start the day after Labor Day in September for the sake of having a "start" to each year.) Given that, I thought I'd do some curriculum reviews...tell you what we've used this year and what's worked and what hasn't...because, hey, I love reading stuff like that, myself, and am hoping I might possibly help some of you out there in the process. So, stay tuned...

Quote #21.

Enjoying our first Monday without Options for the summer...meanwhile, here's this week's quote:

One that desires to excel should endeavor in those things that are in themselves most excellent. –Epictetus

As I’m starting to plan our homeschool approach/curriculum for the coming year, I find this quote to be a brilliant reminder. I need to do a better job of embracing and utilizing each boys’ strengths as well as my own. We function better when we do. I know this. 

ETA: I just remembered a book that I read awhile back that touched on this subject. I'm going to re-read it this week as a reminder. If you haven't read it, I seem to remember that it's got some great points. :)

Big news!

So very excited to share that I'm now part of the awesome ORMOLU CREATIVE TEAM! As you well know, my scrapbooking mojo has been a bit absent of late, but I'm so stoked by this new opportunity and am looking forward to being inspired by these lovely ladies. Yay!!

First half of May...

Yes. Behind as usual. ;) Here are some of the many things that have happened thus far in May around here:

1. I finished the 50 circles on my habit tin! I'd originally figured I'd finish around my birthday, but managed to do it in a month less (since I've been averaging 5 times a week instead of 3). Yay, me!

2. We finally turned the outdoor water back on...which led to this:

 
3.  My lovely in-laws came to visit for a week (which started with the gorgeous and warm weather of the water fights). We spent plenty of time that initial weekend outdoors and celebrated Mother's Day casually:

4. The boys had their spring program at Options. All three sang, Noah and Micah had artwork on display and Asher played the chimes. 

5. My in-laws and I took the boys miniature golfing. It's lovely to have the place almost entirely to yourselves...one of the perks of homeschooling and, thus, being able to go at 10:30 in the morning on a Tuesday. :)

6. The boys wrapped up their archery session. They loved it so very much (and weren't alone in this sentiment) that another session was arranged. They'll start back up in a couple weeks for another six week session and are stoked.

7. We all visited the Denver Mint and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (amid a downpour and a definite drop in temperature). It was our first time taking the tour at the Mint, and the boys seemed to love it. They've watched shows about the making of coins and paper money and have been to the money museum in Colorado Springs, and are in awe of the process. At the Denver Museum, we also experienced their temporary Real Pirates exhibit...awesome!

8. Nathan and I managed a day to ourselves while his parents took the boys bowling and did other "grandparenty" stuff. ;)

9. We said farewell to John & Nancy and thanked them for a fabulous week of pinochle, great meals and plenty of "grandparent time."

10. On Monday, the boys had their last day of the Options school year and earned awards aplenty. Micah graduated officially from kindergarten:

Micah's second from the right looking grumpy about it all. ;) He also got a reading award from his first grade reading teacher. Asher got a similar award from his reading teacher (the same teacher) as well as one for science. He also received certificates for chimes and PE. Noah was very proud to have earned a National award in PE. (There are three levels...participant (which Asher earned), National and Presidential. Noah scored in the Presidential levels for all of the events except one so is hoping to improve on that for next year so he can get a Presidential award. Awards are determined by a student's lowest event...events being things like the mile run, curl ups, push ups, sit-and-reach, shuttle run, etc.)

11. Yesterday, the boys and I joined our homeschool group for the annual Water Festival at CSU. Despite the drizzly weather and cold temps, the boys enjoyed acting out the weather in Colorado and seeing the mad scientist. 

12. All three boys had a routine dentist appointment today...no cavities! Hooray! They also finished up this session of swim lessons and are looking forward to the next session. (Thankfully, Micah's initial insistence that he would only put up with the *one* session has changed to enthusiasm overall for swimming!)

And that, in a nutshell, is what's been happening around here (not counting our regular karate and homeschool stuff). We're taking this week to try to get back on track and I'll be starting some curriculum reviews before long as I'm beginning to plan out our next academic year. :)

Whew. 

Small rant.

I'd just like to go on record and say that I really am rather done with spring. It's my least favorite season...always has been. I could list scads of reasons. Mostly, just now, though, I'm sick and tired of the unpredictable weather. It's pouring again today. I'd like to go back to the beautiful sunshine and warmth. I'm sick of my sweaters. Not that I *dislike* them...but I'm just so tired of my cold weather clothes. I want to pull out my summer wardrobe, if only for a change of pace. 

So. Pretty please. I'd like to officially request that we move on to summer weather or that someone buy me a new cold weather wardrobe. ;) 

(That was all. Hopefully, I'll be back soon with what we've been up to and what's coming up...)