Day One Hundred Eighty-Five

This was from the official first day of summer. We've made it a yearly tradition to roast our food over the BBQ in the backyard and camp outside in the tent to celebrate the coming of summer. The boys were really excited to do it again this year. However, since Aidan ended up with a pounding headache (probably from marshmallow overdose), we delayed the campout until the next night.

Tomorrow I'll post the daily photos to catch up to real time. Note to self: daily photo blogs are really hard to keep up.

Day One Hundred Eighty-Three and One Hundred Eighty-Four

This goes back to June 3-4 when I headed to Seattle for a weekend I'll never forget. Three sisters, one mini-van, and lots of energy drinks and caffeine later, we got to see the greatest rock band of all time (in my opinion) live in concert. This was taken right before we left Albany. U2...I love you.

I won't write down the whole story of the weekend here on this little blog, but I have done some writing about this weekend. It proved to be a spark for something new...something good...something beautiful in my life. And,s

Bono, Larry, Adam, and the Edge....keep doing what you do, brothers. Your music has touched me like none other. And what's beautiful is knowing that it has touched so many other souls, in so many different ways.

"Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul."- Plato

Day One Hundred Eighty-One and One Hundred Eighty-Two

Catch up time. As far as schooling goes, things have shifted gears. We're working on math a lot and Dominic continues to enjoy his reading lessons. Hooray! We've been enjoying a lot of free time and I've decided to continue schooling through the summer on a much more relaxed schedule. Ah, the freedoms. Soon, we begin studying the night sky, which excites both of the boys. It just made sense to save that unit until summertime...when we might actually be able to see the stars here.

Here goes. A little bit of life. I have been TAKING daily photos, just not posting them.

This was the first day that we picked a bowl full of strawberries from our little patch.

I took this photo of Simeon that I'm quite fond of. He woke up early and helped me with the bread-baking.

More photos to come...soon...ish.

Day One Hundred and Seventy-Six through One Hundred and Eighty

Here goes...a few more of our days.

Our neighbor, Louise, took us to the Enchanted Forest. Seriously...THE Oregon amusement park combined with some decent theater, living fairy tales, nursery rhyme, and a good dose of mechanical dolls. It's awesome. The boys had so much fun. I screamed my lungs out going on the roller coaster (it's been a while). It was a great outing and we certainly got the value out of the "unlimited rides" bracelets. Aidan went in the haunted house with me...that was a mistake. I didn't know how scary it was. Enough said.

I'm thankful for great neighbors who have no grandkids to spoil yet...because they spoil my kids. We are blessed.

Simeon LOVES to help me in the kitchen. He woke up early one morning and helped me make scrambled eggs and toast. I love to chatter with him when the other boys aren't in the room. He has a lot to say.

Since the tomatoes don't need them yet, the boys decided to use a tomato cage for...something. I just looked out the window and saw this.

Dominic has been making huge leaps and bounds in math. It's fun to see things click in his mind and watch the lightbulb go on over his head when he understands a concept we've been working on. This was taken this morning, as Simeon was instructing him where to write the "2" in the box". Oh, little brothers.

Day One Hundred and Seventy-Five

When your husband calls on his way home from work and says he has a crazy idea, always listen. His crazy idea was to drive to the coast, eat dinner at Mo's, and watch the sunset. It was the perfect end to a Monday. We had such a great time on the way there and back as JJ and I had some time to talk and the younger boys took a nap. Simeon, while eating his chowder at Mo's said, "We need to come here again!"

The laughter and smiles were worth the late bedtime.

Memories to tuck away.

Thanks, husband.

Day One Hundred and Seventy-Four

Sometimes good days land you in the Urgent Care. After a full day of playing in the sunshine, planting flowers, singing "made-up" songs, visiting the Corvallis Zoo (aka Petco), and getting to spend some time playing with cousins, we ended up in the waiting room with a handful of hurting and wounded people from the community.

It happened on the trampoline. The doctor who treated Aidan told us not to even get him started talking about trampolines. He despises them. Yet, accidents happen and as he reminded us, "There's always someone worse off than you." During the time we were within the walls of Urgent Care, one man left in an ambulance, someone lost consciousness due to the laceration on THEIR head, and an old man was complaining of chest pain. It could have been worse. The relief on Aidan's face was apparent when we were told by the doctor that glue would probably be our best bet and we wouldn't have to deal with stitches or shots (spelled out slowly...'s'..'h'..'o'..'t'..'s'). Of course, Aidan quickly blurted out, "shots?" The doctor laughed. He was a great guy.

Some great moments: When asked if we had any questions, Aidan really wanted to know who invented Dermabond, the medical glue. The doctor told us to google it. He was also very curious for someone to explain blood pressure and how they measure oxygen in your blood. We explained what "constricting your blood vessels" meant when they were applying the medicine to his head.... always the curious cat, this boy is.

Another thing: Aidan told us from the very beginning that he didn't want to see the cut. The doctor told him that he could look at his head after the glue was applied, but he said, "No, that's okay. I don't need to."

While we waited in the small exam room, JJ and I shared stories from our childhoods and pointed out the scars that we both have. Everyone has them. You can't remember the physical pain, but you're left with this badge. Scars happen. The wounds hurt and are very apparent for a short time, but after a while, they fade, leaving only a part of your story. I guess that's life, huh?

The night ended with a very hungry boy requesting grilled cheese and tomato soup, and of course, a very tired mom making it for him.

These are the good ol' days.

** As it was pointed out to me, I did fail to mention that we have a wonderful neighbor whom we called on our way to Urgent Care. We dropped off Simeon and Dominic with her and by the time we arrived home, the boys were in bed...soundly sleeping. Louise, we love you. And the boys love you as well. I'm so thankful to have a neighbor that they (and I) feel so comfortable with. You're like the grandma that's right across the street! **

Day One Hundred and Seventy-Three

Things are slowing down a bit in schooling as I'm focusing on some areas we need to spend more time on and getting back to the basics for a while. Dominic is working hard on reading and math skills. Aidan is ever-eager to do anything, but we're really focusing on math and dictation lately.

When we're not around the table working, we're taking in the springtime weather and enjoying our time outside as much as we can. The boys have been helping me plant veggies in the garden and pull weeds...an endless battle those weeds are.

What I love about homeschooling is that this can be part of our schooling. We talk as we garden. We learn as we dig into the soil and hear birdsong. Lots of learning is going on and it's a joy to know that it doesn't have to be a planned lesson or involve paper. Spontaneous learning can be so freeing as a homeschooling mom.

It's sometimes hard to explain the moments like these, but there's no place I'd rather be.

Sure, there are the fights and the arguments over whose stick is bigger or who gets to use the red shovel, but when it's all said and done, I'm just glad that I'm the one who's teaching them about the earth. From earth science to sharing my love of chickadees, there's a lot to be learned outside the schoolroom walls.