When I started this blog it was with a commitment to keep it going through thick and thin… There have been a few varations on posting… Once in a while when the kids were wee… daily sharing when the homeschool life was new and fresh… month chunks at the end of the month… and now, a full on battle to chase myself back to current. I have actually found great joy in reflecting on these months long gone. It is amazing to see, now removed, how highly productive and honestly HAPPY we were back in times when I was SURE we had accomplished so very little. 

September was a busy month. We finished up our visit with Jeff that overlapped a day with Sean.

Learning a little TaeKwonDo

Which at the same time had Ken, myself, Shandai and Ravyn at the Renaissance Festival.

Of course since we had Sean down we had to go do fun things… a trip to the Minnesota Historical Society… where we apparently took way too many pictures. But the temporary Hmong exhibit was amazing! 

Plenty of fun times at home (of course with computers included).

The weather was absolutely lovely so plenty of time was spent outside in the pool…

At the park…

We even squeezed in some school time.

Wild Kratta

Art

Ken won beer for a year… FROM OUR CHURCH!We started a new year of schooling… well tried out some new ideas and photographed our one and only stating of a grade level that we do each year!

We even started up in scouts again!

Be sure to check the overflow link… I took so many pictures of the festival and the museum. It is such a waste NOT to share them HERE.

And here is August overflow… What a memorable summer we had in 2015!

Zander doing his best in run club YMCA

I sewed a few times in a few places… are we surprised?

Kwik Trip pop

Jeffrey on the beach

More Wild Kratts. We just LOVE it

In the jeep!

Such a lucky birthday girl

Lakeshore craft!

Journal completion!

SCISSORS!

Ken felted the letters!

Proud crafters

At the library

My girls

…because man do I barely remember the details! August is a special month with Miss Echo’s birthday and the tail end of summer vacation for “others”. As usual we did NOT have a full on summer vacation. I find that when we take a large chunk of time fully off our learning we lose too much without the repetition. So instead I do a lighter schedule with many more days off for fun in the sun.

So, let’s see if I can match some words to the images! Well, first off… beginning of the month means Home Depot craft. I really hope if any of you have kids ages 5-12 you have them going to this… it is free and totally worth it. August was the last month of just the 4 kids going. I wanted to wait until Echo actually WAS 5. Anyway, August was chalkboards.

We had a bit of a harvest in the garden in August… rather humble these beginnings.

Of course we continued swimming. The instructors and lifeguards at out local YMCA are the best. We are so spoiled by Nana and Baba and their continuing gift of the membership. We could live there!

Of course August, sunshine, Minnesota… lakes… so we had to continue our beach trips. We went a couple times and lucked out with Renee and the boys joining us! 

We found plenty of time for Wild Kratts episodes. I don’t know that we will EVER tire of this, though I REALLY need to get a table of contents listing the critters we have covered since we tend to watch them out of order. 

… well you get the idea… I am sure there will be a couple others in the overflow blog entry!

We spent a lot of time in the yard in the sunshine (or in my case in the shade). I don’t know what we would do without an inflatable pool, some toys and my sewing. Together time can be so perfect even on a shoestring budget!

The girls even joined me at Caribou for coffee while Ken had a meet up there. Coffee time means the boys get their computer time (IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY GASP) and the girls get a special occasion… all while covering an appointment for Ken. Win win.

We did still find time for regular school of course, AND adding Miss Echo more and more. It is exciting and a wee bit overwhelming to have a full classroom.

Book Report!

We also helped a poor little bird who was stuck on the trailer in the front yard… the kids and I had to tip it up so the poor thing would hop out the back and join its frantic momma.

We came across a stick insect.

And of course, importantly, celebrated a birthday! HERE Number 5!

Teddy from Aunty Holly and family

Gavin found time to have Aunty Renee teach him how to crochet. Apparently right handed Gavin was frustrated with left handed Mommy.

I managed some time with the bride to be Shandai at her house. Which of course was crafting time and, almost more importantly, KITTY time!

Add to all this… a guest! CANADIAN and everything. Jeff Davey came down for his yearly visit. It is always lovely to have company from home. And doubly so for Ken to have someone who understands him so well!

it was a good month. And, as I got started writing this, surprisingly more memorable than I expected!