Fun with Glass

While we were doing our family holiday rompings, we came across an opportunity that most kids never get. We found a place where our youngest could make his own glass icicle. Take a look!

Homeschooling, Socialization, and the Vet

Ask any homeschooling parent, and they will tell you that the one thing people ALWAYS ask about is socialization. Children need intense age-level peer interaction, right?  The idea of homeschooling seems to fly in the face of all that is appropriate for proper socialization.

Or does it?

The Plan

Here I am. I have a plan. It is a good plan, or so I think. It is a plan based on a tried-and-true approach. It is my plan, and I'm comfortable with it.

And then, I read THE book. Not a book that necessarily changes the plan, but one that puts a filter between my eyes and my good plan, and highlights all its flaws. Been there?

{this moment}

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{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

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with Amanda @ SouleMama

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17 July ... eh?

How did it get to be half way through July? My Colorado-programmed body keeps waiting for the 90 degree temperatures, and keeps waiting, and keeps waiting. Then it will feel like summer. Incidentally, our pepper plants are waiting too! I wonder if I will keep waiting, and waiting, and waiting for snow in six months to mark the winter season, only to be drowning in the grey fall-ish (made me think of "small-ish" which made me think of Dr. Seuss - happy thoughts) rain of the pacific northwest. Will be strange come Christmas time. But ... certainly no complaints. The coolness of the days is such a blessing! I'm loving the fact that I'm still wearing sweaters inside the house. Perfect!

Meanwhile, the days pass so quickly. We've enjoyed a week of VBS, filled with exciting science experiments and great music (which we keep listening to day after day on the CD that was a gift at the end). I spent my days toting a puppy and trying to be the VBS photographer. In spite of our Shadow, I was able to get some pretty good shots. A great week.

And Shadow ... well, I didn't realize just how much a puppy can turn your world upside-down. We're beginning to settle now, and I'm getting about 6 hours of sleep at night. A major improvement. It is much like having a newborn. Okay, not really. But the sleeplessness isn't fun, regardless. No sleep makes for a VERY grumpy and unproductive me! Thus ... a rather silent blog, among other things.

Over the weekend, we ventured up into the mountains. It felt very much like home. Rocky. Lots of evergreen trees. No aspens, oh well. The river was much larger as well. We all needed a dose of the mountains.

This week, we've been going through the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills to determine whether or not I've been doing my job as Nathan's primary educator. He's a whiz! No issues with standardized testing here! We'll see in a few weeks when they return the scores just how many things I haven't gotten around to teaching him yet. Boulder Valley School District will be happy to receive the test scores and find that I'm still fulfilling my part of the bargain, since we are registered there until September.

That's the current update. Not exactly the kind of post I'm hoping to write on a regular basis, but an update for those who love us and like knowing what is going on. Happy Summer!

{this moment}

. . . . . . . . . . 

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . . .

with Amanda @ SouleMama

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{this moment}

. . . . . . . . . . 

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . . .

Thanks Amanda @ SouleMama

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Shadow

This is Shadow, Nathan's new puppy!

She's part black lab, part belgian shepherd,

and will be joining our family on July 12th.

We can't wait for you to come home, little Shadow!

{this moment}

. . . . . . . . . . 

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . . .

Thanks Amanda @ SouleMama

. . . . . . . . . .

{this moment}

. . . . . . . . . . 

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

. . . . . . . . . .

Thanks Amanda @ SouleMama

. . . . . . . . . .

Of a boy, running ...

To watch the boy running free across the pasture ... down the street ... up the drive. Climbing. Exploring. Being a boy. I'm sorry, Austin and Jack, that I never made sure that you knew such freedom. At least not as a lifestyle. The transformation  I'm honored to witness as Nathan explores all that makes him a boy ... total awe. He is explorer, hunter, craftsman, thinker, dreamer, and simply in the throws of a joyful childhood experience.  And he's going it alone. It is the peril that faces an only child, although he's not actually one. But with his brothers grown and off at college, here he runs, mostly alone. 

Which brings me to our next thoughts. It is time for a puppy. A puppy. We have been waiting to get settled, and for Nathan to explore and learn from the books we gave him on having, raising and caring for a puppy. And now the time is near, so stay tuned. 

A cutie much like this one is probably in our future. Best friend, fellow explorer, hunting companion, destroyer (don’t think she’ll be much help in the area of crafting), napper and dreamer, and pal who is also in the throws of a joyful childhood experience. We’re almost ready for you!