Those are the days of July!  It has been quite a month thus far.  We quietly celebrated the 4th of July, especially since our oldest was off at Wildwood Camp at Hume Lake.  I I really missed her, but I knew and know that she had a fabulous time.  Wildwood is a discipleship camp where the campers are really challenged to examine their walk and hearts with the Lord. 

She returned home in time to see all of her mommy's efforts at the Patriotic Celebration Musical/Drama at church.  I have to say it did go quite well.  I am always so pleasantly surprised to see how all the months of effort come together for the performance.

This is me as Martha Jefferson.

From left to right would be, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and me again, Martha Jefferson.

With the performance behind me, we moved onto a few days of being at home before I headed to the CHEA Long Beach conference. 

 We did sneak down to Corona Del Mar for a day at the beach as a dear friend lent us the use of her family beach house.  It was a great day! We learned how to play our new favorite game: The Settlers of Catan.

My very cute little man digging away in the sand.

It really was a special day in that my best friend and I got to spend the whole day together and those days just don't happen as often as they used to. 

At CHEA, I  once again had the privilege of representing Lamplighter.  IF you dare you can watch the following video that was made by students at the conference.  Warning:  I am a giant dork, at least isn't that what everyone thinks when they watch themselves on video.  Should you follow through I come in at about 7minutes 15ish seconds. 

Right after coming home from the conference, helped my middle child by checking to make sure she had everything she needed to head off to her week of jr high camp in Ojai.  She had a blast.  We missed her, but I really do think she would have stayed longer if they would have let her.  She came home for her bed.  While she was gone, I took on the fun  the necessary job of painting the hallway.  I've been wanting to do this for a year, but put it off until we were off from school.  Part of my hesitancy had to do with the fact that when I knew I wold take it on, it meant that I would take down all the picture frames, pull out the photos and spray paint all the oak frames black.  Now that it is behind me, of course, I love it.  However, the swelling in my hands has just recently gone down (I am falling apart at 38yo.) Oh did I mention that my best friend helped me do all this painting the day before her birthday.  What a bum I am, rather than taking her for lunch and a pedicure like she did for me, I hand her a  paint brush and I feed her leftovers.  Now I ask you, is that a friend or what!

During this week our family came to a decison which I will share with you next week, assuming I am not too tired from the sleepless nights and all the  playing.

The following week, which brings us to this current week, we started our ninth year of homeschooling.  Yes, we are back in school!  It had to be done, like it or not.  Surprisingly it went very, very well.  I have to say though, the days are flying by.  It seems like I wake up...go, go, go...and then drop back into bed.  Our first week is a bit shorter than normal as I am witing this to you from my hotel room in Modesto, CA.  I am here along with my girls, my son is home with daddy, to work the Lamplighter booth here at the Valley Home Educators conference.  We left early this morning and arrived and got right to work!  We finshed getting the lovely booth all set up, and headed to a super yummy dinner at a local Mexican restaurant.  I have to say, JenIg, they have some pretty great chips and salsa.  I think you should have been here working a booth for Rosetta Stone.

I hope you are enjoying your summer days whether they are long and relaxinig or short and busy!