Thankful Thursday: Summer

 

 

Today I am thankful for summer. I am thankful for the chance to reset and reconnect with so many things (nature, people, sun, myself).

Wordless Wednesday

Found some!

My Weekly Notebook: Week 25

 

Life this week...

Summer officially arrived (on the calendar) with summer solstice this week. We didn't do anything big or amazing like I wanted. These days just sneak up on me all the time, and I don't get anything planned.

Homeschool this week...

Yes we are schooling through the summer. No we didn't get much done this week. Maybe half a lesson of math, and lots of games.

Mom-school this week...

Not much of that done this week either. I spent a lot of the week helping the boys prep for their camping trip to the dunes.

Places we're going and people we're seeing... 

As I mentioned, the boys went camping at the dunes. They seemed to have a good time. I got some pictures sent my way. This line of tents was one of them.

A few of our favorite things this week... 

I went and built this lotus flower LEGO set by the pond. It was nice and peaceful, definitely a favorite from the week.

Things I'm working on...

I'm working on a quilt, a puzzle (Mandalorian theme), and as always some LEGO building.

Movies/TV we watched... 

I watched Star Wars 2 (Attack of the Clones) with Aric at home. I also went to the theater and saw The Little Mermaid with a friend a different day.

Outdoor time...

I need to plan some more hikes. We have nearly stopped all our hikes as I just haven't been motivated to get out there. Looks like I'll need to make a plan next week!

Games we played...

Reading/literary Jenga. I found this at Goodwill a few years ago and I love it.

 

 

LEGO...

I made a pretty neat looking mosaic. It reminds me of the ocean with a wave coming in.

 

 

I'm cooking/eating...

I made cherry pie filling with cherries from our tree. I wanted to taste it without making a whole pie, so I put them on waffles. Pretty tasty!

 

Other thoughts from the week...

With summer upon us now a lot of things have stopped. Pretty much everything has stopped except for music lessons and our Wild + Free group. This is always hard for me, but I know it's a good thing to take a break. Life feels kinda dead right now though. People go on vacations and we don't have the usual staples of our week to look forward to. I am hoping for a fun summer though, and hoping that we can find some things to do outdoors that will get us moving. Just some thoughts I am having about summer and this time of year. 

I'm grateful for...

I am grateful that Alex had the opportunity to dog sit last weekend.

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Summer Solstice!

Thankful Thursday

 

Today I am thankful for special days to celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, milestones, anything. Today is our 24th anniversary, and I'm excited to celebrate it soon.

My Weekly Notebook: Week 23

 

Life this week...

This was a good week. But, I am starting to feel like every week is just hijacked by lack of time. I always have so much I want to get done, and so much that needs to be done, but all I'm left with is a whole lotta not done. I have discovered that I also lack focus and when I focus on getting just one thing done at a time I actually get stuff done. That doesn't work for my multi-tasking brain though. With all that said, I feel like I got to a few more things this week that have been on my to-do list for a very long time!

Homeschool this week...

Alex is learning about the human body for science, and this week he studied the bones. He worked on a crossword puzzle and a jigsaw puzzle along with the reading.  

We are also getting back into chalk pastel art with new pastels and lesson with "Nana" at You ARE An Artist. This week's project was the night sky, complete with stars and constellations.

Alex's painting

Mom's painting

New pastels! These look so nice

Video lessons on the laptop are so convenient

  

Mom-school this week...

I worked a little on my Mission Driven Mom Academy course. I am currently working on some enrichment reading, a book called The Mastery of Destiny by James Allen. I printed it up to read, but I just learned that there is an audible book available for me to listen, so I'll be doing that this week.

Helpful homeschool tips and advice to share...

Stay connected with other homeschool mom friends. Is there a group near you? Could you start a group? Do you not go because you are too busy? I highly suggest you go. Even if you feel busy. It's really important to make those connections and have those kinds of friendships. Only other homeschool moms can really understand where you are coming from. I am so grateful for my good group of homeschool mom friends. Even my kiddo this week recognized that sometimes I like to hang out at homeschool things to visit with the other moms. He was actually willing to stay at an event a little longer because he thought I'd like to visit more. His friends weren't even really there. It was the sweetest thing.

Places we're going and people we're seeing...

We had to make a day trip to Eugene on Wednesday for Aaron's cybersecurity class end of semester project that he had to do in-person. While we were there we visited with April for dinner at Mod Pizza, and we also visited Grandma and Grandpa at their house for a bit. It was a long day, but I'm definitely thankful for the people we saw while there.

 

A few of our favorite things this week... 

Alex found this old AM/FM radio from Radio Shack at a thrift store this week. He couldn't get over how cool it was to find that. It even works!

Things I'm working on...

I am gathering fabric for a quilt project that I'm starting. I decided to join Confessions of a Homeschooler in a quilt-along of her Liberty Quilt pattern. I think I have most of the fabrics I need except for the big pieces.

I am so excited to see this come together. Also, I must be crazy to think I can get this done by 4th of July. We'll see how it goes.

 

 

Something I accomplished... 

I finally finished up these blocks from a Christmas Quilt I started at Christmas time. I had cut all the pieces and then they just sat by my sewing machine until now. I figured I should at least finish these before I start the Liberty quilt. I will continue this Christmas Quilt after the Liberty Quilt is done. For now I'm excited to have these together!

 

What we're reading...

I read this scripture this week and thought this has to be my favorite right now. I have lots of favorites, but this one spoke to me this week.

 

Movies/TV we watched...

We watched Sweet Home Alabama to go along with our Alabama state study.

   

Games we played...

We played a new game called Kanoodle. We also played Pokemon Labyrinth and a speed stacking cup game. No pictures, but lots of fun.

LEGO... 

I am trying to decide what kind of Jurassic scene I want to make, so I put some of my big guys on the table to see if it sparks any ideas as I go through my day. So far, they just look like they're fighting.

I'm cooking/eating...

I made pizza on Friday night (usually I cook it on Sunday), but I felt like having homemade instead of Costco or store bought. Making pizza is fun, but it's also a lot of work.

Other thoughts from the week... 

I have been doing W-mart pick-up a lot lately because it's convenient and quick, but so many times I just get the few things I need to get us by. I decided to just go in and do my own shopping this week. I was able to get so much that I keep forgetting we need. Sometimes you just gotta do it yourself.

 

I'm grateful for...

Times when I push myself to do things that are scary and possibly hard (like walking a 5K last Saturday)

Thankful Thursday

Picture taken at Mod Pizza in Eugene

 I am thankful for a quick dinner with April while we were down visiting Eugene today.

Wordless Wednesday: a 5K

I walked my 3rd 5K!

My Weekly Notebook: week 22

 

Life this week... 

I was so tired this week. Just mentally and physically exhausted. I wish I could just curl up into a ball and take a nap whenever I want. This kitty sure makes sleeping look good!

 

Homeschool this week...

I found a great studying mushroom/fungi bundle at My Teaching Library to go along with our oyster teepee mushroom growing experiment we started a few months ago. In that bundle is a draw and name packet, and that packet had oyster mushrooms, so I had Alex do that for one of his assignments this week. We also harvested some of the mushrooms. They were left a little too long and started drying out, so they're only good for observation at this point. That's okay because no one in this house eats mushrooms anyway. Growing mushrooms was fun, but not something we will need to do again.

 

Places we're going and people we're seeing... 

We went to the coast one day with some friends. It was just a day trip and it was beautiful. A little chilly at times, but we managed to stay somewhat warm.

A few of our favorite things this week... 

We went bowling on Tuesday. It has been a while, but we both (Alex and I) always enjoy when we go.

Things I'm working on...

I am working on a Mandalorian puzzle that has been sitting on my table for way too long. Now I think it has missing pieces. I want to start working on a Liberty Quilt. I'm trying to decide if I should buy the pattern and do a sew-along with her. I want to so badly. I think I will!

Something I accomplished...

Decorating for memorial day with red, white, and blue. This is just one area, the door step. I also got decorations up inside. I have not felt motivated to decorate like I used to so I was pretty excited about this accomplishment.

 

What we're reading...

I finished the 2nd book in the hunger games series, Catching Fire. This is not my favorite thing to read about, but I read it so I can watch the movie. Also, I was intrigued about how this all goes down.

 

Movies/TV we watched...  

I finally got to start season 16 of Heartland. Since this is a Canadian show it takes forever to get to the states when a new season comes. Now I have to wait patiently each week for a new episode. It's torture, but I would probably just binge the whole thing if they put all the episodes up.

Outdoor time...

We are at 177 hours currently

Games we played...

This Wildcraft game is kinda neat. We played it for the 2nd time ever and I've decided that it's just too easy for my middle schooler. It's definitely more for an elementary aged kiddo. It was still fun to play, but we'll be passing this on soon.

 

The board and setup is bright and colorful.

 

I do love the herb cards. 

 

I had to look up Herb Robert. But, if I had looked closer I guess the scientific name would have told me that it is a Geranium. I have never heard of it refered to as Herb Robert.

 

LEGO...

I made a patriotic mosaic. Making these mosaics out of LEGO is not really as easy as it looks. I think I am getting better.

 

I'm cooking/eating... 

I made a giant wok spicy Yakisoba. It was delicious. I need to do that more.

Other thoughts from the week... 

I guess this could also go in the "things I accomplished" section, but I walked my 2nd 5k today (Saturday). It was fun. I wish I could have walked more than 5k, but I was glad that I didn't today. I was done by the time I got to that finish line.

I'm grateful for...

New school books and quick delivery of said books.

 

Thankful Thursday

 Today I am thankful for a nice walk along the beach.