June

I can't believe June is almost gone!  It goes too fast.  Summer for us means lots of academic work to help balance the rest of the year when we play a lot.  We still make time to play between the work, and sometimes they are the same thing!  At any rate play makes better pictures than us sitting at the table/floor/couch/computer with books. ;)  We're using a new Japanese program that's working well and we enjoy it.  Math is. . . well. . . math.  It's working right now.  The kids did a robot camp at the beginning of summer that they loved!  And science is always a favorite subject around here.  The rest just goes along.  Lots of trips to the library.  Lots of reading.  Lots of experiments. 

 While sis rode with the group we played with 'Butter' the kitten.  She was lethal.  We learned quickly if we didn't want our hands shredded a stick was a good thing.

 Shadow, the perky senior.

 This photo is a pretty good representation of the two!  He's a blur of motion; she's patiently waiting, offering to share a found treasure.

 Adding his name to the lego wall at the art museum.  Bug's been begging me to do this to his room for years. . . kind of hard when you rent.  We have plans for picture frames and flat plates.

An effective mix of the simple 'Do Not Disturb' and the more sinister 'Warning' signs.

 A lego magic show complete with swinging entry gate and the man separating ticket stubs.

 Oh yeah, check out the 'Bag & Coat Check' full of weapons next to the complimentary lobby phone.  Apparently this is a rough crowd.  lol

 The magician and his apprentices in front of their eager audience. 

 Because I never know what I will find when I download the camera. . . maybe 20+ pictures of a siamese twin cheez-it.

The light saber chopsticks went to work as a utilitarian 'desk decoration'. 

May

Once a month update is better than once a year.  Progress.

Life has been the normal crazy.  There have been sleep-overs, and field trips, and classes, and clubs, and beach days, and legos, and drawing, and all sorts of activities.

We ended the month with a huge rain storm and flooded roads.  It's the rainy season, bug season, beginning of hurricane season.  So we've gone through our emergency supplies, made lists, used the expiring, restocked, etc.

We happened to be out running errands and weren't sure we'd make it home.  The roads were bad.  This picture is from a local newspaper- mine won't come out of my phone. 

This time of year also means gearing up for our stint of academics.  With co-ops and classes coming to an end for the summer we'll have more time at home.  I'm looking forward to it.  While I love all the opportunities, friends, field trips, exploration, and experiences the rest of the year brings, it gets hectic and I find myself antsy for the return of routine and structured 'get things done at home' time.  So school year round is a good fit for us- lots of academics in the summer, easy going academics and lots of activities through the winter.  Everybody's happy.

Our group celebrated the 'end of year' with a talent and art show; there is a profound sense of community that's hard to explain.  Of the kids coming together to share what they love and work so hard on.  Cheering for each other.  And being so happy to share it with family and friends.  Of contentment and accomplishment.  Every year I'm blown away by what these kids are capable of, everybody's enthusiasm, the huge volunteer effort that everyone puts into organizing and making it possible, and how beautifully it turns out.  I come away feeling happy, refreshed, hopeful, and inspired.  We feel very lucky.