Sandestin

Our trip to San Destin this year was a bit of a debacle.  Eric got food poisoning on our very first night and was wiped out the entire vacation.

End of Summer School

We are wrapping up our summer semester of homeschool.  For our fall semester we are trying yet another new curriculum b/c we have been struggling with a few gaps in a few subjects and I am wanting to transition Mathias into more independent work.  We will still be in the Classical model with a few extra things thrown in.

Fundraising cycle

Supported my sister/mom today with a charity fundraising event/ spin class.

Art days

This year in keeping with our Good and Beautiful theme, I have decided to schedule in and make time for things that tend to get pushed to the bottom of the To-Do pile.  Things like art, nature journaling, thankful journaling, nature readings, poetry, foreign languages, etc.  Art day has been a huge hit with all three kids.  We purchased special art books, fancy markers, and drawing pens for each person.  I love to see how different each child interprets the same lesson.  Making time for Good and Beautiful things has brought a loveliness into our days.

Typing lessons

All of the kids have officially started typing lessons.  The girls have a Mickey Mouse one.

And Mathias has a Treasure Island Adventure program.

Reader. With time.

Allie- my most reluctant reader.  The girl who cried during every language lesson.  We slowed her reading lessons down for a while, let her listen to advanced audio books, no forced outside of school reading, and filling the book shelves with easy readers to build confidence, and words of encouragement have all produced a wonderful reader now.  She still prefers audio books- which we encourage with gusto- but there are no longer tears of frustration and feelings of inadequacy when it comes to school reading.  Another reason I am grateful for homeschool!

Mango girl

This girl could live off of fruit...tropical fruit!

Buc’s Training Camp

Saturday Mathias and Eric attended a Buc's training camp.  Mathias had a great time and asked me to print off the above picture to "put in his memory box."

How’s Florida...

This picture pretty much sums up our time here in Florida.  It's been a challenge.  We have desperately been trying to settle in and find community but most of those doors have shut.  We are picking up our boot straps again this fall however and I have signed up the kids for several church programs so they can meet more friends and Eric and I are joining a few bible studies in hopes of some kind of connection.  Some days- most days- I don't mind the seclusion.  I enjoy homeschooling and gardening and keeping house, but on those rare occasions we just want to leave and go on an adventure with some kindred spirits there are none to be found.  I keep reminding myself that "He is sufficient" and that if we never find what I want than He will sustain me.  So until then, I keep pressing into the Word, worshipping with my simple acts of obedience and loving those that are around me the best that I can.

Farewell to Mazda.

It's the end of an era... Eric's Mazda was finally picked up for charity (bc we couldn't sell it).  

Eden Legos

Allie made the garden of Eden with Legos.

Yard tidy/fall planting

The kids and I have been ripping up grass, tilling the mulch and making plans for our fall planting and vegetable gardens.  It's been a slow progress but we are chipping away little by little and they are almost as excited as I am about our plans.