May...a favorite month

May was a beautiful month. Spent loving three adorable girls.

Madelyn finished kindergarten and losing six teeth this school year has reminded us how fast she is growing up. We celebrated in her class with special cake and snacks. The class performed some of their songs from kindergarten. Maddie made a special card for Mrs. Kozyra - she created this all by herself and I had to take pictures of it before we gave it to her!

We also finished our year of Monday School with our friends. We completed the second series of Character First, Five in a Row (Volume 2), and many art and baking projects.

This seems like a good time to recap our review of school time at home. September always carries with it so much potential, new ideas and amazing intention. Both Madelyn and I learned much along our way of this first year of school that "counts". Last fall, I posted our plans for the year. Out of those plans, I am happy to report the following:

We finished many great books from our reading list and Maddie has soared off into the world of reading. She loves to disappear inside a story and will tell us all about it at the end. We read out-loud for many hours and I am about convinced this is one of the greatest things you could ever do for your children! Madelyn finished her Horizons Math (Book 1), Zaner-Bloser handwriting, and continuing through First Language Lessons. The Charlotte Mason approaches to our Art and Nature notebooks were a good idea but were extras in our day. And as winter descended, nature studies became harder with snow covering the ground!

I have been pondering many new ideas for the fall (all that September potential is exciting!) and reevaluating my heart and thoughts about education. We're looking at some different curriculums but haven't made any final purchases. It is such a joy to walk this journey alongside my girls.

I'm learning to more and more cherish these girls...watching them run and play and dance in the sunshine. Or rain.

I love summertime. Cotton candy with cousins, homemade pizzas, gazing at animals at the zoo. At this first time to the zoo in awhile, Charlotte was ecstatic to see real giraffes and feed them. They were the highlight of the trip. And what child wouldn't try on all the animal masks in the gift shop?

C.J. Mahaney on Productivity: "Busyness does not mean I am diligent, faithful, or fruitful...my busyness may be procrastination in disguise."