Summer Begins.....NOW!

 

Oh how wonderful it was to be back to being a homeschool family! It took us a little bit to find out groove again (as homeschooling high school is a different vibe) but once we did it was as if we never took that two year break from it! The girls had an amazing year and grew so much as learners and as people. We saw their confidence return (especially Emma's) and the color come back to their learning and their days. While Parker definitely served its purpose (and Grace made some incredible friends) on the whole it just was not the right place for either of these sweet souls. It has been such a joy to see them return to being the learners that they were pre-Parker and I cannot wait to see what next year brings (though I am really not ready for it to be Grace's senior year either! Gracious, these years went by fast)! xo  

Summer begins....NOW!

Celebrating the end of another amazing lesson year as we always do- with ice cream! This year we didn't head to New City as we usually do as they weren't able to hand us a cone (they could have packaged up everything separately and we could have DIYed the cones once outside, but we felt it would be more fun and celebratory to go somewhere and get a treat that was assembled after you ordered so we headed to Trombetta's here in town instead. Our tailgating picture just sums up this pandemic perfectly (and really I should have gotten one of them with their masks on prior to this! Let the summer begin! xo

And That's A Wrap!

Another year of morning lessons is now in the books (and what an incredible year it was)! We had a blast diving back into the Revolution (in preparation for our trip to Williamsburg) as well as the  human and animal block that was so enjoyed last year, too. And it was absolutely lovely to get to explore the world of botany together for the first time this year too! With their last pages completed, it was decided (decreed, really)  that waffle cones from New City were needed to honor the end of lessons and to welcome the arrival of summer break!

We'll continue to read each day this summer, and there will be some cooking and baking (and a bit of math, too), but as anyone who knows us knows, summers for us are all about copious amounts of time spent outside and seeing where each day takes us. It's funny to me but each year in early May, without intentionally doing so we seem to begin to slowly shift gears and move into our summer rhythm, It's as if we all just internally know, on the same day, that it's time. Time for the winding down of lessons and activities and time for the slow and lovely days of summer to arrive. xo

Simply Enchanting!

On Friday, Grace said to me: "Mama, I think a bird flew out of the flowers on the porch." I told her that I had noticed that too and asked her which one. She said: "From one of the side ones." I told her that I had seen a bird fly out of the one that faced the street. Curious, I grabbed the step ladder from the kitchen,climbed up to the first of the three hanging plants and peeked in....

 There was a nest, but no eggs.
So, I went on to check the second basket. 

 Once again, a nest was tucked inside but it too was empty.
Off to check the third....

 Another empty nest.

Today, while the girls were working on their final page of this lesson year I went outside to check again. And lo and behold, there, in the third basket was an egg! 

One sweet little wren egg!
We are super cruious if she will lay any more....

So, with a new egg in one of the front porch nests I went off to check the Robin's nest under the back deck. 

Mother Robin was on her nest but when she heard me she flew off, perched on the fence post and loudly announced something for all to hear. 

And when I peeked inside I was treated to the sight of three newly hatched babies!

What a truly enchating ending to a wonderful year of morning lessons! xo 

Last Page Day!

And just like that another year of morning lessons has come to an end! With the last page completed in their main lesson books yesterday we now shift into our summer rhythm. They had such an amazing year of morning lessons. This was a year of growth, of independence and of confidence. It was the year of "I've got this, mama" rather than "I need your help, mama". And I have to admit that while it was lovely to see them grow so very much, and be so independent, it was also a bit bittersweet as well. I had to spend some time finding my way now that I wasn't needed so very much during lessons this year. It ebbs and flows of course, as there were times that my wisdom or assistance was needed, I just wasn't ready for this to happen with both of them simultaneously! We'll continue to read each day during the summer, and perhaps a bit of writing may happen every now and again too, but summer is for adventures, and copious amounts of time spent outdoors, and lots of seeing where the days take us. We're ready for the summer and all that comes with it, and somehow I feel like summer is ready for us too! xo

Happy Last Page Day!

And just like that another year of morning lessons has come to an end and our summer has begun! We finished up the space unit with some constellations, and they wrote what they're most looking forward to this summer on the last page of their journals (as is our "last page day" tradition). We are so proud of how much they've learned and grown over this year of lessons, and we have no doubt that when lessons begin again after the summer it will be more of the same. But first we have sprinklers to run through, camp to attend, the lake to visit and a milestone birthday to celebrate! Let the summer fun begin! xo