Autumn

 

 

 

 

{The last little bits of summer before autumn really kicks off}

We're out in the warm-ish weather while it is still with us as much as possible.

 

 

Soccer practices and games for two separate teams continues to eat up our week.
(But not for much longer!)

 

 

Thank goodness for the crazy thunderstorms that canceled everything we had going on last Saturday.

 

 

I've never been so glad to have a day shut up in the house with little to do but knit and play legos and coo with the baby.

 

 

And she's not so much of a baby any more- we're definitely into "on the move". She's figured out that she can roll consecutively to get places, and she's already up on her knees "revving" up.

 

 

Mercy.

 

 

I thought I'd have another month or two at least based on what the boys did, but it looks like she'll crawl any day now.

 

So we're baby proofing a bit.
 

 

Mostly making sure that legos stay always always ALWAYS in the boys' room so that she won't get her hands on those tiny little bits.

 

 

Ender turned seven.

NO idea how that happened.


Suddenly I'm being asked if he can stay up just 15 more minutes because 15 more minutes might get him to the end of the chapter he's on.


Suddenly he's making up jokes that actually have a punchline.

He asked when he'll get glasses- we've warned him it's inevitable with the extremely poor vision going down both sides of the family- but it's not because he wants to fit in with all the aunts and uncles or even me or Brian... it's because Harry Potter has glasses.

And Ezra? My sweet Ezra is happily hanging out with everyone.

{Ender has been taking so many pictures lately... and Ellie *always* looks like this in his photos!}


He tried soccer this fall, he officially started Kindergarten, and he is *loving* co-op. I wasn't sure about that last one since he has always been the one to hang back with me at bigger gatherings, but the last few months have really seen him grow in a lovely way. He's excited to be out now, but also likes to tuck in at home, and he's the first to jump up and help whenever he's needed.

He *loves* Ellie and still wants to go in to wake her every morning. He finds such joy in finding ways to make her laugh and he is so gentle with her.

*   *   *

I am still getting back to normal myself, but the last month has been so much better thanks to finally finding some creative time again. I'm finally getting my energy back, and I think we have a good system in place now for this stage of life.

 

While I'm a big fan of summer, I'm so looking forward to the next months where we are home and quiet and maybe a little cold- but all the better to snuggle up in warm blankets in front of the fire with some hot chocolate. Right?

Learning All the Time

After getting a bit of a head start on our school year by starting during the hot days of July we've been able to take some time off from the more structured bits of learning. While I think we all enjoy the routine of our typical school mornings (or else we wouldn't school this way!) it is nice to have the option to call a week "off" and pursue life and projects around us.

In the last week we: 

 

Had three soccer practices

 

Had two soccer games

 

Took a trip to the ballpark for September baseball

 

Spent an afternoon at the local art museum to learn about portraits, self-portraits, still life, and landscapes

 

Made a math facts lapbook (Well, Ender did. I mostly just printed it out for him and offered advice when asked.)

 

Picked hundreds of pears (to can later in the week)

 

Went rollerskating

 

Watched Daddy complete his first 10K

And I started back to work last week, hence the "off" week. 

 

 

 

Today we are continuing our spontaneous learning by:

Making bookmarks (now that we have TWO little readers, we needed several more!)

 

Reading together- this is one part of our "regular" school day that isn't often skipped, even on our "off" days.

 

Quizzing math facts with the aid of that new lapbook

 

Prepping for some family art time this evening when I'm finished teaching in the studio.

Watching this video:

 

 

Loving this Monday morning!

One Year

We were supposed to be up early to greet the day... at least I was. I had a 6 AM date with my Kempo DVD followed by a shower and breakfast at 7:15. School beginning promptly at 8 AM.


But today is one year.


One year since Brian's mom passed away.


It's hard to believe it has already been a whole year when it feels like it has been just a few short weeks- maybe months, but definitely not a year. I know in my head that so much time has passed since then and life has changed significantly in that time, but the feeling is still there. It has been barely any time at all...


And we have all felt it the last few days. I don't think we knew it really. I mean, Brian and I knew the date was coming and that awareness hung over us, but even the boys seem to know something isn't quite right.


So today we took advantage of the beautiful homeschooling perk of starting a little bit later and hanging out on the couch instead of around a table. We are cuddling up instead, reading about explorers, working on some memory verses and the order of the U.S. presidents, and Ender is just about bursting as he tolerates "school work" for a short while in order to get to the reading portion of his day. He started Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone on his own and he's been carrying the book around just waiting for opportunities to read a page or two.


A year ago we were stuck in each day, not sure what would come next. Each day seemed to be 100 hours long as we navigated her passing and the following events of flowers and funerals and holding sad little boys.


Today we will be quiet. We will draw and talk and read and play and remember.

Summer Redux

Wow- where did August go?


I always seem to forget that even though it is my month off from the studio that it is our busiest month- a month full of school and vacation and camp, swimming, big projects, and lots of appointments. It is full, but so wonderfully so!


And now we're settling in for our regular schedule. I'll be back to teaching a full schedule this week and while school has been going since July for us with time off here and there, we will settle into our real schooling schedule beginning Tuesday.


This month has also taken some adjustment. We just learned that Ezra has asthma and we're adjusting to that and still figuring out meds for him. He does such a great job dealing with his health issues and it certainly helps that he loves our doctor.


Ellie is 4 months old now and rolling and cooing and already pushing up so high on her hands. It's amazing to me how quickly babies catch on to new skills. She smiles so much and is starting to really play and interact... oh how quickly this time goes!


What are you up to now that the school year is back in swing?

Lately

Summer is a beautiful but busy time...

Saturday saw the end of baseball season for the boys and this week they've been off to camp every day. When they asked me if they could go I didn't think they were old enough, but their excitement about the idea convinced me that maybe it would be alright...

And sure enough, this morning they marched right in like they owned the place. I almost thought they would forget to say goodbye.

I almost haven't known what to do with myself this week. I worked a little, but otherwise it's just me and Ellie hanging out and since she has a bit of a cold she's been sleeping more than usual. So I've been knitting on my Citron shawl for the Ravellenic Games and watching the Olympics.


Exciting and exotic, right?


Today I think the plan is to actually get some photos of the shawl and the baby (who is already too big...) and make some real progress on the shawl.


And maybe I'll continue to enjoy the quiet, since there is little of that around the house these days.