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It's been a month now since Alannah's birthday but we never wrote about it. Since she is in the States this week and I miss her, I decided now would be a good time.  She celebrated with her close friends who spent the day doing very Alannah things.  They baked cupcakes, make an ice cream cake, and sewed sock creatures with Tess from the book  Rebecca sent us. (we love it!)

The evening involved the zip line, eye shadow, a good deal of German candy, and movies.  No complaints here. Couldn't ask for a nicer bunch of girls. 

Alannah wants me to mention the cake was awesome. She makes her own since the making of them is as much fun for her as the eating of them. So I can tell you what I saw. : )  She made two cake layers and froze them.  In the same size pan we froze (I got to do this part!) a layer of mint chocolate chip ice cream.  She added green coloring and mint extract to buttercream frosting. 

Am going to have to have her remind me now because I see powdered sugar in the bowl but I see a tub of frosting on the table later.  We may have made some for the cake and doctored up some for the cupcakes.  It escapes me now. 

We are about to begin formal lessons again and what strikes me most this year is how this last season of mothering little ones looks so very much like the first season (and many in betweens).  We are enrolled with the same program our oldest boys used when they began gradeschool.  For my littlest learners I have dusted off the Hainstock and Gettman books.  I am putting together file folder games like these to replace those played to bits over the years and gathering Montessori tray materials.  I may need to replace my current edition of 100 Easy Lessons because it is now in two sections having broken completely in half from teaching eight children to read.  It looks a lot like home around here and I love that.  

A quick perusing of the internet for preschool printables really amazed me.  It's like the curriculum world has supersized itself in past several years.  I say to my young homeschool mom friends, "Do you realize we literally had these handful of books when we started?  Literally!  Do you realize you could not buy a Catholic reader set? There were none in print. Do you realize that the homeschool 'vendor hall' fit nicely inside the church basement and it took you maybe a half hour to read the title of every single item stacked up there?" It's different now. 

Looking around me though, I realize the old standby's have served us so very well.  Perhaps what has served us even better is that annual determination these past several years to stay off the curricular inspiration merry go round.  Are we missing new and exciting ideas and materials?  Very likely.  Are we actually "missing" them?  Probably not.  Sewing, walking, feeding the dog, and learning to play checkers still trump a brand spankin' new program.  

So what do I have to say this year about Back to School?  Nothing new and nothing you can't live without hearing. : )   That is the big news.  Staying the course has blessed us.  Success – in this area (there are ALWAYS areas for growth and improvement however, and most especially in my life) – has inspired me more than continual change could. Since some other bloggers have been reposting some old links from here this past week I figured I would grab a few myself.

Hope your new school year is full of hope and promise, wherever your children are attending.  

Fwiw:

On Blogging (mine)

Is blogging like porn for women?  thoughtful post to remember before opening your Reader

On homeschool books, internet gurus, and who the real experts are  – the reason why I believe this blog must remain descriptive and not prescriptive

Homeschool Overload - "You see, there IS a very real price for the multitude of  "free" homeschool 

It is the cost of your time, mental energy and focus. 

 YOU ARE PAYING MORE DEARLY FOR THAT RESOURCE THAN YOU REALIZE. "

Perseverance or why we aren't unschoolers and the very important Part 2

Our Binders and here

FAQ's

Reading Ahead - an advantage to using the same material with succesive students

 There is a new print up at the shop along with a big sale.  Images starting as low as $13.  Check it out. : )  With the eventual opening of the Etsy store I am lowering prices at the gallery since those orders are automatically filled and much easier for me. 
Enjoy!

If you travel with us you should have a sense of humor. We do our share of cathedrals and places of awe and majesty.  But kids get a little maxed out with awe and majesty after a while.  And since their mother is a bit of a crack up always trying to insert levity into the day you might find us….

striking a pose….

do you see what I have to work with here, people?

maybe an impromptu game of foosball?  Can't explain this table cemented into the sidewalk. 

We admire the ingenuity of the locals….

and try to mingle with the crowd.  You're supposed to do that you know. 

We try not to pass judgement on things we can't exactly understand.  Like this…

It probably takes half the time to clean anyway. ; D 

We are always, always on our very best behavior.  The height of propriety at all times….

We chuckle at signs….

We make faces back at gargoyles..

We brake for gelato.

(spaghetti style is a fave)

and as the saying goes we…

But be advised that sometimes that is more challenging than others…

For instance, we never did figure out the automated, self-cleaning potty (though I really wish I had one at home!) which resulted in a high speed run to McDonald's where we slowed down long enough to allow for a certain passenger to fly out of the vehicle in the nick of time.  (You should also know that in this country restrooms are sorta optional, and it is a good idea to guard your eyes when passing open fields on the roadsides… Yeah.  Not for us.) 

Anyway, I was laughing may way through editing and thought I'd share. Have a fabulous weekend! 

Please hop over to the Snapshots Around the World blog.  This week's theme is Read. We would love to see you there!

That is this week's theme over at Snapshots Around the World.  Won't you join in the fun?  We would love to see your interpretation.  Not a blogger?  Not a problem.  Link up to a Flickr account or other online albums just as easily.  

The little dogs are as different from one another as can be. This one has issues.  But I will give him this, he is as loyal as the day is long. When Aidan leaves the house, this is where you will find him….

Have a glorious Easter, the ultimate fresh start. Gal 2:20

God bless.

right now…

…I am in need of a haircut

…husband and daughter are sitting at the table studying – separately but together

…some of the spring flowers were frostbitten (I tend to forget I am in charge of them) some are happily rooted in a new/old German crock

…two tiny people are deep asleep after an afternoon at the lake, while another is too tired to sleep 

…protein bars are in the oven, not particularly delicious but meatless and grainfree and will see me through Holy Week

…a newly sewn peasant blouse is hanging in Tess' closet awaiting its headband

…that closet could probably stand to be sorted well (they grow, they grow – sigh!)

…I am loving the candle burning on the cart in the entry 

…we are watching the mail for a letter from Asher

…I am thinking that confidence and courage have less to do with how you feel than what you do

random lately's: