I have been waiting for the really hot weather to tell me it is summer but it hasn't come.  I guess in Oregon, anything above 75 is summer weather .  I'm sure that is something I can get used to!!!  So far, our hotest day (and it was just one day) was 94 deg. F.  Where I am from, it is a nice summer day when it is only 94.  Most days were 100+ for at least a portion of the day.  Now I can say "Ahhhh!  The wonders of a northern rainforest.  Thank you God, for bringing me to such a different climate and a beautiful part of the country."

We have been on one camping trip with some new friends and their Lutheran church.  We went to Schwarz Camp near Dorena Lake.  We all had a great time (even with my problem with mosquitoes).  It was lovely to fellowship with the body of believers and get to know others in the area. 

I am planning on taking the boys on my own next week.  Or, I might get that same friend to come with her daughters and leave the dads at home.  It is good for our guys to get a chance to have the house all to themselves sometimes (besides, someone has to keep earning $$$ ).  I think we will go to a campground alongside Cottage Grove Resivour.  That way, Dad can drop by for dinner after work and get in on the "camping" stuff and still go home to sleep in a soft bed.  He likes that!

We are still slowly but surely getting school work done but I am only doing 3 days most weeks.  Once Labor Day rolls around and all the campgrounds close, I will have to discipline myself and get back to the 5 days a week thing and stay on it.  While homeschooling should be a flexible proposition, here in Oregon you have to test in 3rd, 5th, 8th and 10th (I think those are the years).  So, I need to be up to a certain point in their learning so they will test well.

MMMMM.  Doesn't that sound like teaching-to-the-test?  I hate that!  After this year, I won't be so concerned about it.  My youngest will have caught up on reading and be able to test accurately.

Then again, I almost don't want to let the ESD know we exhist.  I haven't filed with them yet.  I guess I should contact Home School Legal Defence Association [www.hslda.com] and get some advice. -- As an aside, we have been members of HSLDA all our homeschooling years and wouldn't "stay home" without it.  Even in a good political climate and an "easy" homeschooling state, things can go bad very quickly with just one disgruntled family member, neighbor, or busy-body church member making a call.  For around $100 a year, we have legal coverage.  HSLDA will step in with their years of expertise and the weight of a large legal firm behind you.  I think it is cheap security and peace of mind.  Besides that, being a member helps our homeschooling brothers and sisters in other not-so-friendly environments.  Okay, off my soap box now! --

I must run on with my day instead of my sentences now.
God be with you and shine on you all.