I decided to give the kids a break from school. My decision was based mostly on my need for extra time to get ds ready for recruit training which starts next week. He had a full-page list of items that needed to be bought so we spent 3 hours in Walmart (my least favorite store) purchasing everything from undershirts and white boxers (12 each) to dressy slacks and shorts for a luau he will be attending during Advanced Training (the week after recruit training). I cringe when I think of how much of my money Walmart now has. Recruit training starts on the 25th and runs to the 8th of July and then advanced training runs from the 13th to the 19th of July. We will begin school the following week probably.

Between now and when we get settled into our new home in South Carolina (which probably won't be until early November) we will do math, writing, grammar, and a science study I found on the NOAA site. We will add TOG 3 into the mix at the end of August (following our new online co-op's schedule) and drop science during the move. I plan to take the advice of many TOG mom's who have moved during the school year. We will have short days, lots of field trips and as much time at the pool (if the hotel has an indoor one) and outdoors as possible.

Please be in prayer for ds during recruit and advanced training. Because of the number of cadets and the kinds of training they will be doing, there is a low to NO tolerance for bad behavior. Ds will be starting a new medication for his ADHD this upcoming Thursday, just 5 days before training starts. We took him off of his medication to see if it was the cause of his irritability and anxiety and he has been off for about 2 months now. He has been bouncing off the walls and his irritability did not decrease so we are eager to get him back on something to help him concentrate. This recruit training is set up very similar to boot camp and most of the kids cry at some point during the first few days as they adjust to the requirements. The cadets will be housed on a barge and will sleep in a long open bay. They will be woken up daily for PT at 5AM and will have lights out every evening at 10PM. Their days will be filled with training and lectures on everything from swim training to hazing. I think this will be a good opportunity for ds to hopefully learn some discipline and respect for others, but he will need God's strength to get him through without a major meltdown. Your prayers will be much appreciated.

Dd and I plan to work through a study from Beautiful Feet on the History of Horses that I picked up at the curriculum sale for $5. She is also doing a horse camp for the next 6 weeks every Monday from 1-5PM. It started two weeks ago and she is having a blast. There are 4 other girls around her age and she is eating up the extra time with her beloved horses. Her instructor, who is the same lady she takes the regular weekly riding from, is wonderful with the kids. She has them learning the different parts on a horse right now. You would be amazed at how many bones and muscles a horse has! This last week the girls learned and practiced the many different kinds of leg wraps. Next week is learning how to clean the saddle. Ds and I use that time to go to our favorite beach right up the road from the equestrian center. He is really enjoying the one-on-one time with me.