Today we finished up our 180th day of school for the 2006-2007 school year. DS "Graduated" to 3rd grade and DD "Graduated" to 1st grade. I did the ceremonious handshake to congratulate them and they about fell apart with the giggles. We then jumped up and down and screamed, me because I'm so excited to be done for another year, and them because they're so excited to be done for another year!! So much for the mature teacher. Ha! Anyway, we have been finished with NOEO science for about a week and I called it quits with Right Start math about a week ago because we got to a good stopping point. So really, we aren't done, because we still have American Story to finish, but only 3 weeks worth of it, and I know the kids don't mind sitting down and reading, and I like the cuddle time with them. I also told them that we would be taking time to read every day, me to them and them to me, and they're OK with that.

Then we took apart the school room. I didn't realize how much we had hanging on the walls. I kept taking it down and taking it down and there was still more there. So now the walls are blank waiting for more glorious decorations next year. I have plans already for decorating this fall, but will do that the night before we start school so that they will be surprised the first day of school. I'm also thinking that I might put some shelves up in the dining room area for some of the books, etc., so we can do school upstairs if we want to when it gets so cold in the basement during the winter. The little space heater increases the electric bill in the winter.

I've had a lot going on lately. I've decided to work a bit more this summer to help fund the trip out west, as it appears the gas prices are going to be a bit more than we suspected. So I've been working 2 days a week for the past several weeks, although not this weekend. This will be a nice break. Last Monday when I worked, the state inspectors showed up. We knew we were in the window for them to show up, but they showed up earlier than usual and I couldn't believe my bad luck at working the day they showed up. I really prayed about it and had others praying for me too, and it went well. Our facility passed with 100%, so that was a relief to everyone. I absolutely dread going in to work, and that sure didn't help anything!!

Now that school is over, I have quite a bit planned. I would like to get those shelves made, as I mentioned above, I am thinking about painting downstairs above the chair rail, I would like to paint the front porch, of course I have a lot to do with school planning for this fall, and scrapbooking - I'm at least 2 years behind with that. Wow, so if I can get all that done, I will have accomplished something.

The kids would like to go to the pool every day, and I would too, but it is too far to go every day with gas prices as they are. So probably two days a week will do, and then of course we will take the boat out to the lake. We went tonight and DS skiied - he just popped right up, did really well. He doesn't realize how much his sister adores him, she was watching him and just grinning and grinning at him and telling him how great he was doing (he couldn't hear her), and generally just enjoying watching him ski. I wish I could get that across to him. That is another thing I need to work on this summer.

Well, to the shower I go, to wash off the fishy lake smell.