Eli: “Does an S and a P and two big circles spell OOPS?”

An appropriate first word from this little guy on his first day of kindergarten at home.

Hopefully this is a sign that reading will come easy for this one- we’ve had two reading fluently and painlessly, one that still struggles, and one that can read but would much rather be beading or crafting or rope-swinging. Says Isabel, “Why would I read when there’s so much to DO?”

All so different. I wonder what this homeschool year holds for each one of us?

Kids snuggled up reading on the couch (with reasonably clean feet for the photo-op), little guys playing outside with the “boys” (the newest goat-kids on the block) while I teach the older kids, a little test-writing, a painting class with friends, and some poetry copywork with pretty papers…these are a few snapshots of what homeschooling life has looked like this week.

And then there’s the unphotographed moments! Emma & Aaron like to tuck away to get through their math, science & writing during the day…and sometimes their work gets a little too tucked away. This week also included a “pull it-all-out and see where everyone is really at” evening with the big guys. We’re all on the same page again, the math is marked and I think we know what’s left to accomplish this school year. Practicing choir songs, piano repetoire and highschool boot camp workout classes have rounded out the week for the bigs, along with one trip to the library, chiro and naturopath appointments. Oh, and Aaron babysitting for 2 mornings /week during our church’s fitness classes, and Emma working two days at the dance shoppe to help fund their fun!

The little guys have had outings with both sets of grandmas & gramps, and are at this delightful stage where I can send them outside and watch them play from either my kitchen or dining room window. This feels like a huge breakthrough in our homeschool life- where we can create a little more quiet in the mornings for at least a 20 minute stretch at a time. Hey- I’ll take it…for 9 more weeks anyway.

And me? I am barely managing to squeeze in my big sewing projects (recovering deck chairs…a big, slow job…. more to come) into the littlest moments of productive time possible, and knitting a row here & there while someone reads to me or when I flop on the couch in the evening. I’m loving our new bible study on Covenant and am almost keeping up with the homework- it feels like such a foundation to start my day with an infusion of Truth. I also enjoyed my first matcha latte this week, got a couple walks in and love a little stretching before I collapse into bed at night. And am so thankful that Al can be home for almost all of this time- working on the sidelines on his own stuff but very present when we need him!

All round, a good week. Tiring? Yes.. so glad it’s Friday. But I’m even more glad I have snapshots and snippets of words to remember these days with my littles, middles and bigs.

I’m not sure I have this quote by Charlotte Mason correct, but the sentiment remains the same. Oh, this weather has been divine! I’ve just wanted to soak it up and enjoy every outside moment we can before the clouds & rain roll in this fall. We’ve been pushing through the past couple weeks to get our most basic homeschooling done so we can be outside by late morning to play, pick fruit and food, and savour the sun. My kids are, of course, in full agreement with this plan! We started off with tea and a read-aloud down in the field, moved on to blackberry picking (all eaten while there), to a rousing game of soccer with our farm mates, and finished with a followed quick dip for Miles & Emma! I just realize how much I need that slower pace of “being” that comes with being outside. As I look around and see all the needs within the walls of my home: meals, cleanups, desk work, touch ups of painting, and I realize I still have a much harder time being in that abiding place of rest in Him when I am in the midst of my workday. Stepping outside with my little ones brings such a breath of freshness, a reminder to be thankful and slow down and just be. I find over the years of doing this homeschooling life, I am more aware of what my “non-negotiable‘s” are: the elements of my days that simply are necessary for my ability to keep going and be fully alive in each moment. Being out of doors, as much as possible, has really become that for me. And the sun is going to shine again today- yeah!