Our homeschool is closed.  We are on a school vacation.  No one is here.  Well, right now we are, but not for long.

This was honestly in my plans since we were starting amidst the summer season.  But, still, after two good weeks of keeping up with the "schedule", it is a bit frustrating to know that we will not be schooling at all this week.  I initially thought that maybe we could keep up .. but no way!

Monday, we traveled about an hour and a half to meet up with two other Sonlight moms.  It was a delightful meeting.  I was a bit unsure of what it would be like to meet two women who were, not necessarily strangers, but really just occasional acquaintances through our discussion boards.  We didn't know much about one another except what could be gained by "just happening" to post on the same threads.  Even though I was hesitant, I was hopeful that we would make a connection.  And I believe we did.  I met one mother who reminds me so much of myself at her age.  She is determined to homeschool but presently has two children under two years of age.  After leaving, I realized that I was her age when I had two children of similar ages and that I too was pretty set on homeschooling.  It was a joy to see her excitement.  The other mother was more experienced.  She has taken one child through homeschool to graduation.  She has two in the midst of the journey and another closer to the beginning.  It was so encouraging to hear her success story plus the wisdom she has gained a long the way, in terms of curriculum and life experiences in general.  Plus, the kids all had a great time together and were really instant friends.  We really had a wonderful time and I look forward to continuing a deeper communication with these women now that we've actually met .. and meeting with them again in the future. 

Yesterday, we traveled about an hour to an amusement park with our extended family.  It was another great day.  (We have many as we usually meet weekly to swim together.)  My mother is one of 8 children so our family is HUGE.  We are very close and grew up being very involved in each others' lives.  Now, the next generation is quickly growing and we are intent on keeping them as close as we all were.  So let's see, we had our matriarch, my 81 year old grandmother, keeping right by our sides .. there were 4 of her daughters present, one of which is my mother .. there were 5 grandchildren or grandchildren-in-law, one of which was me .. and then 9 great-children, 4 of which were mine.  So what does that total .. 19!  Imagine, 19 of us, sticking together through the amusement park.  It was really a fun time.  We, of course, love to be together, but it is great to see the kids loving to be together too.  By fall, we hope to have t-shirts made to more easily identify our "people".  Plus, it would be fun and cute, too.

Today, we are meeting some family at the state park which is thankfully a local stop.  Tomorrow, we will travel about an hour and a half (or more, I really don't know) to spend time with friends on their boat on the lake.  And now Friday, we will probably go the state park again with Grandma and cousins.

Summer is quickly coming to an end and I think we are all feeling that.  Thus, the desire to get in all these fun activities.  It's catching up with us though.  We're tired and run down.  But we'll hopefully keep up until the end of the week and regroup for going back to school next week.

Honestly, though, this is part of the joy of homeschooling, at least for us anyway.  We love having the freedom to do things on a whim and usually during times when the rest of the world is not doing them.