The Homeschool Mother's Journal: Summer Edition

In my life this week:
Over the past few weeks, we have finished up all of our extra-curricular activities!  Woohoo! That means we won't have piano, tennis, ballet, speech & debate, or any other regular outside-of-the-house activities for the summer!  The kids and I enjoy these activities and like getting out to see folks, but it's also nice to have days when we can just stay at home too.  


In our homeschool this week:
We are trying year-round homeschooling for the first time!  I've been homeschooling my kiddos for 15 years, and we've always taken summers off.  Because of our outside commitments during the school year and our once-a-week get-together with my sister and her children, it's hard to get everything done in a "traditional" school year.  Instead of trying to squeeze it all in, we decided to just do some school over the summer and see how it goes.  


Helpful homeschooling tips or advice:
I have to say that one of the most important things I've learned in my 15 years of homeschooling is not to stress out over every little thing!  I used to get all upset and worried if we missed a day of school or if our work wasn't done and our schedule got interrupted.  Now I'm much more relaxed about that kind of thing.  I do teach the kids to set and meat goals and to finish their work and so on.  I also teach them, though, that "real life" happens, and sometimes our plans have to change.  


My favorite thing this week was:
This may be a weird "favorite thing," but here it is.  My favorite thing was getting my 9-year-old daughter's room cleaned out and organized!  One thing I want to do this summer is take a day or two each week to clean/organize a room or closet, etc.  This week I did my daughter's room (while she was spending the day with a friend).  I also need to do the same for my son's room, the utility room, my kitchen panty, and all of our closets.  


I'm reading:
I'm reading the 3rd (final) book of the Hunger Games series.  I've been hearing so much about the books lately that I decided I wanted to read them.  Although the subject matter is a bit gruesome at times, I've enjoyed the books.  I'm almost finished with the 3rd book, and I'm not sure what I'll read next.  


I'm cooking:
I'm trying out eMeals now!  I've been wanting to do better about menu planning and being more careful not to spend too much on groceries (which is nearly impossible with today's grocery prices!), so I decided to give them a try.  I love cookbooks, and this is kind of like getting a new mini cook book every week!  :)  I'm also having my 9-year-old daughter cook dinner once a week (with minimal help from me) and my 15-year-old son cook dinner once a week (with no help but I do supervise for safety and instructional purposes).  


I'm grateful for:
I am extremely grateful that my family members all live close by!  My parents live about 20 minutes away from me along with my younger sister and her 2 kids.  My twin sister lives about 20 minutes (in the opposite direction) away from me with her hubby and 4 kids.  My husband's parents live next door (along with 2 dogs, 1 cat, and 4 parakeets).  And my hubby and our 3 kids, 2 cats, 2 parakeets, and 1 fish all live together in the house we built 4 1/2 years ago.  I am blessed!


A photo to share:

Cousins <3  My daughter, Mary Grace, and my sister's daughter, Sarah after their ballet Spring Performance last weekend.  They did a wonderful job and had a great time!