Jun. 22, 2008 - Planning, Planning, Planning

(I just typed this entry, closed the wrong tab. and lost it)

Summer is blowing by us.  I cannot believe it is the end of June already.  We have been out of school for a little over a month now.  I have been planning for next year as well as a summer schedule.  We are starting our summer schedule tomorrow.  I have decided to follow Ambleside Online this year.  Lulu and Monkey are going to be doing year 2 together.  I will be reading most of the books to them.  I went back and forth over which level to begin with and whether to put them in the same level or different ones.  By doing year 2 we will be repeating the Middle Ages in history.   I figure since they will be reading different books this year than last it will be okay.  Lulu can read several of the additional books on her own.  I have nature readers for Monkey to read to me.  Once Lil starts "formal" schooling the girls will all be in the same time period in history.

I am excited to see the difference next year.  We have already started reading Peter Pan together.  The girls are really enjoying it so I think they will love all of the literature this year.  Tomorrow when we begin our lite summer schedule.  We will be doing a lot of the readings from year 1.

As far as our summer activities go...we were able to go camping again a few weekends ago.  It was very hot but we had fun anyway.  We hiked in the mornings and went to the pool after lunch.  The girls loved both of those.  We put up a small pool for them this year.  They are loving it, except for the swimmer's ear!  All three of them are doing so much better swimming.  And so far I have only had to rescue Lil twice from a pool.  She has no fear and will bob up and down off the bottom until someone grabs her.  While we were camping the girls were able to observe lots of little creatures.  We had a blue tail lizard that hung around camp for a long time, lots of cicaidas, butterflies, a corn snake, and a chipmunk.  Unfortunately I forgot my camera.

James has been able to camp alot this month.  He led a group of men from church on a backpacking trip this past Friday.  They had a great time and are planning to do it again in the fall.  He will also be camping with his boys in his Royal Rangers class at their annual Pow-Wow.  As for the family campouts...probably not again until fall.  Tent camping has many benefits....but in 90+ degree weather I'd much rather stay in a hotel.  We are hoping to do some day hikes though.

The girls just finished a few days of Ministry Camp at church.  They learned how to use different skills and activities to minister to others.  All three of them participated.  They learned crafts, cake decorating, caring for pets, encouraging, planting flowers, musical instruments, and painting.  James helped some of the kids with constucting bird houses and I helped with the flowers.  It was a good time for the kids.  I still prefer a good 'ole Vacation Bible School though.  Maybe next year...