Summer's End

"Mom, did you know..." Follow that with any fact about birds and that's what I hear almost daily.  Ruth is focusing on science this month.  We've been back at school since August 5th.  I gave her the Apologia science book and just said, "Here, read this cover to cover."  She can't wait to tell me the stuff she's learning.  For instance, why the Dodo bird went extinct, how birds fly, how banding birds came about (something about King Henry IV and his pet Peregrines) and how birds mark their territory.  She is just consuming that book and I couldn't be happier.  She is picking and choosing what experiments interest her and we are doing just those.  After Labor Day, she'll be back to school full time, but right now it's just her science, math, and penmanship.

Jane is focusing on her algebra.  At the co-op this year she'll be taking chemistry, geometry and literature.  At home she will be doing history, typing, sewing, and religion.  She recently checked out a movie from the library called "Ballerina."  It was a documentary on 4 ballerinas and their rising careers.  At the end of the film (mostly subtitled because they all spoke french or russian) Jane tells me she wants to learn all about the famous ballerinas and famous ballets.  She says she's going to research it and write a paper on it.  Awesome!  I was so happy to hear her WANT to do a paper on something!  I so often have doubts about what we are doing, but then, along comes a moment.....and you are reassured, rewarded, re-inspired.

Speaking of doubts....I had many last year.  I had mapped out our lesson plan for my first year homeschooling a freshman and then took a "temporary" part-time job working two days a week!  That really threw the whole schedule off and I wondered if I was doing a good job at anything.  Jane is the one who continually works hard to convince me that it's okay.  In many ways, she is braver and stronger than I am!  This year, I am still working, but at least I get to plan for it.

I've planned to simplify our schedule.  I will still work Mondays and Wednesdays, except I'll have the third week of every month off.  We have co-op on Friday mornings from 9-12noon.  Piano lessons will be on Wednesdays while I'm at work.  That leaves us with Tuesdays and Thursdays completely free.  Jane will be dancing 5 times a week (7 if you count her demonstrating classes) and Ruth twice a week.  Any doctor's appointments, etc. will be scheduled on Thursdays or on Friday afternoons.  I'll also be working at the girls dance center on Saturdays from 9-1p.m.  All in all, I am excited that this year is more planned, organized and simplified.

Marty, Jane, and I are going to put together a list of household chores and a schedule of when they need to be done and by whom.  I have got to get on top of the house cleaning.  Sam has really urged me to have a garage sale this year.  Marty and I cleaned out the garage and already there is stuff on tables, cleaned and ready to go.  We will clean out the basement as well and that will add to the size of the garage sale AND to the cleanliness of our house!  Then I've got some rearranging to do on the main floor and I'll feel like I'm on top of it....finally.  With the money we make at the garage sale, we are going to go to Six Flags in October.  I can't wait!  Ruth has never gone and I hope all 7 of us can go (maybe more with girlfriends) but even if it is 3 of our kids, it will be fun. 

Summer is ending and a new school year is underway.  I love this time of year.  I am re-energized and full of hope and new ideas.  I know it won't all work out and time will come when I will be tired, overwhelmed, discouraged, but right now is a good time.  A time to look forward, a time to make plans, a time to savor summer's end!

P.S.  Here's a picture of our fairy garden.  See Mr. Frog?  And the "bird bath" and some strawberry plants.