It's here.  The last week of school before summer break.  I was almost tempted to chuck the work and not finish the last four days.  I think the kids would have complained because we are doing some Inuit crafts this week they did not want to miss.  (Had I done away with math or spelling, they probably wouldn't have minded.)

Timed perfectly, our box of school materials for next year is arriving on Thursday.  Tim wants to be there to open it with us this year, so I promised to wait.  After we finish school on the last day, I'm making the kids cupcakes to celebrate.  Hopefully that will keep us busy while we wait for dad.

This is probably our most favorite time of year.  The kids love being able to play all summer, and I love reading through all their new books.  This year I have to pre-read just about everything, because of subject matter.  We are studying China, India, Africa, etc. with a lot to go over about other religions, and possibly some inappropriate matterial that I may have to edit.  I am hoping to enlist Tim to help the kids make some of the recipies for the countries we are going to study. 

We have already started on our movie list with "Bridge on the River Kwai".  I haven't seen it since I was quite young, Tim had never seen it, and the kids found it interesting enough to watch.  They don't care for most older movies as "they just don't look as good as movies now", but this one held their attention surprisingly well.  Both kids like almost any musical, though, and Katie especially likes movies like "My Fair Lady" and "Pride and Prejudice".  We have a lot of movies to watch, so we are getting a head start on next year by watching them this summer.  That's the kind of school the kids won't complain at all about.

So, it's better than Christmas around here.  Warm weather, and waiting to see what's in our box.  What could be better.

Well, it took a few tries, but as you can see I managed to get a picture to post.  I would love to change the avatar picture, but will save that for another day. 

The kids are both excited about school being over soon.... just a couple of more weeks to go.  They should be easy weeks, just math, spelling, grammer, a unit study on Canada, and a couple of really good books we are in the middle of reading.  We'll be spending as much time as possible schooling outside!

I am sure there is a list of "how-to" get your blog started....  I have even read a couple of helpful things in the instructions I have managed to find.  I guess what I want is a: Step 1  Pick your template.  Step 2.  Add your title.  Step 3.  Insert photo.  Step 4.  Write.  You know, with simple easy buttons to click.  Oh well.  Nothing is ever that easy.  I wanted to post a picture of my kids..... here, I'll tell you about it.  It is one of the first warm days of spring, and the kids ask to take their schoolwork outside.  I find them sprawled out on the sidewalks, working away, and had to get my camera.  Their hair is messy, Kate's is hanging in her face, and Josh isn't even facing me, but I love it.  In the middle of broken sidewalk chalk, they are soaking up the sun, enjoying their own little world.  That is one of my favorite joys of homeschooling... getting to peek in at them when they are absorbed in their schoolwork.  I think I'll go try to figure out this picture thing.