Remembering Those who Serve

We are home from 3 day practicum of Classical Conversations.  I did complete the tutoring portion as I will be a substitute this year. It is also a part of the plan for me to be a supplies assistant with the fine arts & science portions. I won't go into more about CC right now, or academics for the fall, but I am so  excited about all the amazing things for this coming school year. Practicum was so much more than I hoped for. Amazing parents working together, sharing experiences. Great 3 days.
The boys & I are celebrating the first full day of summer, saying no to the regular question 'can I watch a show?' & eating watermelon. I'd like to say we came home classically wonderful, full of deeply meaningful conversation, but that just wouldn't be real. We are avoiding the big box tho. Ready for a great Memorial Day Weekend. Thankful for those who served and presently serve making our easy & undeserved life possible. May God bless us in our endeavors to press forward to the mark of His high calling. For His purposes, and His glory.

Hitting the Road

We put a hitch on the back of our new-to-us van today. While we waited we visited the car-wash at the Body Shop/Jittery Joes. Along the back of the oilchange maintenance area, the owner has several airstreams in various states of repair/condition. I was just looking at one on-line, an Argossy, in great shape at a reasonable price. So I could explain to the boys the difference between these and other styles. Airstream are so unique, but extremely pricey. We hope to 'hit the road'-- at least making it to the lake a few times this summer. There's nothing like it. Having a little place with a few comforts to relax with by the lake. A place to sleep, and even recover with a/c if you need it. The kids sleep so well. I'm seeing some serious reading time ahead.
Our school year officially ended yesterday. I wish I had a super cute icon like 4/5 pencils (see Thy Hand Hath Provided) to describe our school year. But for now, we're planning our celebrations, & our vacation to Jekyl Island.
There is a turtle sanctuary there we plan to visit.  And as I mentioned before, we've been to Memorial Park in Athens several times, where the boys have been doing their own investigations. I really don't mind them getting their feet wet in the pond, but I really panic watching them near the high grasses. Snakes enjoy those grasses too. Being a boy-mom is just, well, exausting.
I'm blessed tho, in so many ways, empowered able to keep the dust to a minimum, with hardwood floors & leather on the seats in the van.
Our van- new-to us- is the 'we'll drive it till they graduate' car for us. I had a jeep for a while, that could pull a travel trailer, but it was rapidly becoming too small. Enter the van. So glad to have that purchase out of the way. But of course the kids see it differently. My oldest, who would least likely run out and brag, did exactly that to a neighbor kid. I could hear him for a whole block... ('our vay is waaayyy bettter than yours!') really, I heard those words. So I promptly retracted him, with my go-go-gadget mom arm and laid it out. The van was for the purposes of taking us places safely, & being able to tote friends or more kids or family. I then asked him exactly when he thought the friend to whom he was bragging got that van. They have 5 kids, their oldest graduated last night. You can do the math. I then told him just like their van, he would be riding to college in that van, and unless he wanted to look at the same stains he put on the floor today on his way to university, then he better start taking care of it. And showing a little gratitude.
I'm sure he's so much better for that tounge lashing. Because they always hear way more than they see demonstrated..... ha. (what have I been bragging about???)

The deck on our house is about finished. It's amazing. We have grass.  When we have the rail up, I'll post another picture. Now to repair trim & paint the house.

And then there's the garden.

My birthday. The cake was on fire with only 12 candles. I'm half-way home folks. Shootin' for 90. The art is by CapMan. Down in the lower right corner is a bottle cap for IBC rootbeer. He is an artist who has gone completely off the day-job. You see his truck covered in caps around town. His son takes tae kwon do with mine, and that's where I met his wife, Laura also, and their son. They are on the road at artshows now. Pulling a trailer with one of their cap-covered Surburbans.

And a fieldtrip to Stone Mountain.

We've been busy, but we've finished our work & now it's time to play! Nice to be back with some time to blog. Can't wait to share some more books, places, thoughts. I have a new lap-top & new picture file that I'm working with but perhaps now I'll have time to play with it all a little more. Summer's here!

Reading with Henry, we enjoyed 'Time of Wonder' Robert McCloskey. It was peaceful, pleasant, even educational. It's about calm before the storm, nature. Beauty in nature. McCloskey is an  exemplary author. We are about to enjoy 'Homer Price' one of his chapter books for older kids. I can't wait. I've never read it.

We are also enjoying a regular trip to Athens Memorial Park. The boys have been watching turtles, so we've been reading about turtles. A perfect book for our purposes is 'All about Turtles'. by Jim Arnosky. It has perfect simple pictures. Describing details and encouraging further investigation.

We are looking forward to a trip to Jekyl Island where there is a turtle sanctuary. We can't wait!