The Homeschool Mother's Journal: July 9-14

In My Life This Week

One breezy, sun-dappled afternoon, S and I took a meandering walk together.  Mourning Doves were cooing softly. Blue jays were screeching from the evergreens. We spotted a brilliantly colored Scarlet Tanager sitting near the side of our dirt road. And a lone bull frog was croaking from the duckweed-covered pond. We found several new and old flowers and weeds that we identified, including Black-eyed Susans, Red Clover and Common Milkweed. S collected several different kinds of leaves to check which ones curled in the freezer, an experiment we did last winter to see how shrubs deal with our cold, snowy winters. Nothing like a relaxing walk to have quality time with the kids!

A Ladybug Beetle on Common Milkweed

S Sitting on "S's Rock" Along the Way

In Our Homeschool This Week

Books, books, books! Summer around here means grabbing a book and bringing it with you - to the beach, to the Rec Center, to the state park, in the van. We read under the broadleafs, swaying in the hammock. We read with toes sunk in sand. And we read tucked into our beds with the fans whirring. It's a good thing the library is close-by (and we have our own overflowing shelves)!

S was Inspired by This Book to Make a Leaf Collection

Lovely Pictures with Plant Info

A Fun Book About the States and Geography

S spent hours building a mountain rescue helicopter, a speed boat and an air show bi-plane from a cool new Lego kit.
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S's Bi-Plane

S's Mountain Rescue Helicopter

S's Speed Boat

There was a HUGE clattering commotion outside on Tuesday afternoon. Squirrels? Birds? We went outside after the noise stopped and found 2 Robin fledglings near our garden. Several Robins were flying around as well as a LARGE predator bird of some sort. We think the predator tried to take the fledglings. We spent a hour or so researching on-line and found out that Robin fledglings actually spend time before flight foraging on the ground with their parents nearby. The babies hopped into the woods and we watched Mom feed one. We worried a bit about them, but decided to let nature go its course.

What's Working/Not Working For Us 

Being too busy! I'm one tired Mom today! I'm in need of some "vacation" time for a few hours.

 Places We're Going and People We're Seeing

• J volunteered to work at the Boy Scout yard sale on Saturday
• C visited the pet store and came back with John Smith, a long-haired Teddy Bear hamster (since Mocha died last week)
• S went to Track and Field Camp Monday - Friday and had a GREAT time, and C joined in Tuesday - Friday
• J and A went to a KISS concert
• We went to the Rec Center Monday - Friday for Kids Eat Free and the kids played Dodgeball
• J volunteered at the library on Wednesday
• C and S participated in American Girls Crafts - Yes! S too! LOL - and Drawing at the library on Wednesday
• We went swimming Monday -Thursday

S Running the 1600m (1 Mile)

C Running 1600m (1 Mile)

My Favorite Thing This Week Was

C came home on Monday from her extended visit with my family. She had fun swimming in the cold Atlantic, shopping with my Mom (and coming back with some new clothing), playing with my niece, cooking yummy breakfasts, but she missed home...and we missed her!

Questions/Thoughts I Have

What does Staples have on special THIS week?! And I should probably reorganize the school supply drawer.

A Photo, Video, Link, or Quote to Share

S's Practicing his Reading. Notice the Smiley Face? LOL

I'm linking up to Forever, For Always, No Matter What, The Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers, Science Sunday, Fun Tuesday Hop, No Ordinary Blog Hop, and Hip Homeschool Hop. Head over to read more homeschool happenings!