My blog has taken a back seat lately. I've been capturing lots of memories, but just haven't had time to sit down and share them! (And our wifi is terrible - it kicks me off all the time and, as a result, it takes FOREVER to upload pictures and try to write something on here. I usually just give up.)
Let's see...
I've felt stressed lately about getting All The Stuff done. I emailed an online friend and she was SO encouraging. She reminded me that all will be well if I cut back for awhile. I am in a season - with a baby and young children - and I don't need to try to do everything I think we should be doing. Plus, we all know that education is an atmosphere, and if I try to cram in more than is necessary at this time, causing unnecessary anxiety to myself (and taking it out on everyone around me), what will my children really be learning from me? Nothing worthwhile.
So, we're focusing on getting the basics done before lunch - math, reading instruction, at least one AO reading, copywork at least 3 days per week - plowing through so that we're free the rest of the day, with plenty of outside time and play time and time to enjoy this sweet, little stinker :)
A few weeks ago, on a day in which we got nothing done and I was feeling discouraged, Izzy came out of her room at one point during the day with a book she had written! She had been working on it most of the day, here and there, sounding out words (many of them misspelled and all of the letters 's' are backwards :) ), illustrating it, and taping it all together. It's about her favorite animal - a lion.
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| They're laughing at their favorite part in the book - when Addy faints because she sees the lion. |
She created. She thought. She put forth effort. And then proceeded to read it about 120 times in a row, lol. She was so proud. So, I would say it wasn't a wasted day.
We finally took Izzy's training wheels off of her bike. She hasn't ridden it much lately, so we hadn't really thought about it. But over the weekend I asked her if she wanted us to take them off and she said yes. Jared was the nervous one this time, not me!, but we convinced him, and she did it on the first try! She was definitely ready.
This little booger is getting so big - almost 7 months! She's not crawling yet, just pushing up with her arms, strengthening those baby muscles :) She's so fun and sweet, such a happy baby. <3 Baby love <3
We've been enjoying the beautiful spring weather, as I'm sure you all are as well. We've gone on lots of nature walks and identified different plants and things, but the nature journaling hasn't been very consistent around here. Anyone else need encouragement in this area?
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| Playing Pooh-sticks. |
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| Trying to catch tadpoles. |
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| See all the periwinkles? |
There's a neat bird sanctuary close to where we live with tons of bird - peacocks, guinea fowls, turkeys, and much more.
I don't think I ever realized how ugly the heads of turkeys are.
And other random photos...
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| This girl and her cat. |