Homeschool

I have been homeschooling Miss M this year. Mr. B also loves to tell everyone that he goes to home school preschool. It warms my heart! We started with Sonlight, and have deterred away from it since we got behind and it felt like we would never catch up unless we did school all summer. On the days that we hadn't done sonlight we had done other things-not just skipping school completely.

I am looking into a few other programs or thinking of just building my own curriculum for next year. Lot's of people ask if I will home school forever. Forever seems like a Very long stretch for me. So far, I like it enough that we will continue next year. And we have finally gotten over her asking every day if she can go to real school so I don't want to throw her in public school to not like it and return to home school again. At least not yet. Maybe some day she can go to public school. It's so hard.  Although I think either way I would feel like it was a hard choice.

I am looking forward to the spring days. We have been on spring break this week along with everyone else here, and the kids have been playing with the neighbors all day every day outside. I am loving the quiet, and have been working on clearing out winter stuff since I haven't had to plan anything.

We are learning about frogs, and rain forests right now. And soon we will learn about gardening and growing things.

If you are a home schooler, how is your year going? If your kids go to public school, what is your favorite thing about it?

I found a new love!

Today I tried paddle board yoga. I was nervous I wouldn't be able to stay on the board, that I would make a fool of myself in front of a bunch of people, and that I would be out of place. I was the only one in class today. We are on vacation, and since it is after Labor Day the vacationers are winding down for the season. Most people have started school, so they are at home doing real life things.

We are however having a ball. So far we have played at the lake, visited some historical places, rented bikes and went for an almost 12 mile bike ride, found a GINORMOUS tree and rented a double kayak. The double kayak wasn't much fun since Marlee was scared the whole time, even though I tried to show her that we were in about 1.5 feet deep of water the whole time. The beach here goes really far out before it gets deep, which is really fun!

I also decided if we lived somewhere like here, I would own a bike. Mike and I were talking about getting bikes for back home, because we had so much fun. We shall see.

We also started school on Monday, while we were here. Since Brekken still takes naps (so has Marlee most of the time since we have been here), we have started getting our feet wet. We didn't bring every single thing we have to do school, but we started some math, language arts, and a new chapter book. Marlee is loving the chapter book, and we will be ahead of schedule by the time we leave. We are reading the boxcar children. Have you read it?

I wish I could post pictures but I can't get them onto this computer, so they will have to wait until we get home. :)

What is your favorite activity to do?

First day of school traditions

Alright friends! School time is right around the corner. What are your favorite first day of school traditions? I am going to homeschool Marlee, but also want to make a big deal about it, and have a lot of fun the first day!

I started looking on pinterest so we could have a yummy special breakfast. There are so many choices. I don't know where to start.

I do know the first week we are going to do things all about her. I want her to paint a picture of our family that I am going to hang up. And some other writing prompts that week.

I also plan to take her picture at the beginning and end of the school year. I love those. :) And I might get something to make home made cherry limeades.

I would love to hear your traditions! Do you do a special breakfast, or a special treat afterwards?

WOW!

Almost 1 year ago, I was getting ready for the Grand Teton Relay. And this year, I am getting ready for it again. Last year was a blast. I had trained, and trained for it!

This year, I have been so busy! I have been running a little bit, but not like I did last year.  It will be fun once I get in the van to go. Until then, it is crazy busy!

I have decided to home school Marlee. I am super excited about it, and so is she! We are going to take things a year at a time. If we both love it, we will do it again next year, if we don't, she will go to public school next year. We are getting our room ready. We have blue and pink-it will be bright down there. But it should be a lot of fun! I am excited to use Sonlight for our main curriculum. We will be adding a few other things in there and taking away a few things to make it fit us a little better.

Brekken is 2. I can't believe it. 2. Where did the time go? Last time I was really blogging, he wasn't born yet. I did blog a little afterwards, but not much.  He's a spunky little guy. He and Marlee are so different. He is way more active and he's not afraid of anything. He's also very loving and has the cutest little grin.

Marlee is 5 and such a big helper! She likes to help me around the house doing little things. She loves to take care of her brother. She also learned how to ride a two wheeler bike this summer. It's pretty fun to watch her grow. I am going to get her practicing to run a mile in September. We have an annual race in my hometown and this year we are going to do it together. I may also run a 10k. They also have a half marathon but I think I am done with those for this summer.

Well, I think that's enough for tonight. I could go on and on.

GTR-Grand Teton Relay

I am so excited, nervous and excited all at the same time! :)

On the 4th I completed my first 1/2 marathon. It was not awesome, fun or even remotely made me want to do another one. I had to walk...a lot. Even though I trained my butt off. The course is a hard course. 6.5 miles up, then 6.5 miles up and down. It took me roughly 2:41..I don't have my official time. I should look it up.

Now, onto the GTR. It's a 180 miles that you do with 12 other people over a 24+ hour period. Or if you are awesome you can do it with 6 people...but you will never see me do that. I will be running a little over 16 miles by the time I am done. I have a 6+ mile down hill, then a 4+ mile up hill (up a mountain), then a 3+ mile at the end. Each of my miles have a little more than that which is why I put the + on there. It should be a lot of fun...I am hoping I don't get too grouchy since I have a harder time without sleep.

This race is in 4 weeks. EEEK! Makes me freak out a little. Although I am now starting to do hills, and 2 a days one day a week.

This race is essentially the reason I have made new friends, became active and more serious in my running and have had a lot of fun this summer. It's been great for me! I needed the team aspect of it to keep me motivated.

date night...

Mike is in love with golf. For him it's probably kids, me then golf...and me and golf are probably trade offs sometimes. :)

So while the kids stayed with Grandma and Grandpa for the evening, we went golfing. I don't play, I just ride in the cart. Maybe someday I will give my hand at it again...

But it was fun none the less. A gorgeous evening.

Sometimes ya gotta do something you don't really want to...to end up having a complete blast. We are working on the smaller things in life...enjoying each other (our whole family), and less computers, phones and other gadgets. :) Less things, more actions. It's been going fabulously so far...even though we have a long ways to go.

rambling

I'm not sure if I ever put this on here...quite frankly, I can't remember what I did yesterday half the time after having Brekken, I think he took the other part of my brain. lol There is a reason they say you get baby brain, but they forget to tell you that it doesn't really go away. :)

Anyhow, I signed up for the teton relay. It's 180 miles, 12 people, and 3 runs for each person, over a 24 hour period. It's crazy! And it's been awesome to train for because I met some really great people! Who have become some of my greatest friends. All in all, when I run in August I will have to run a 6 mile run that is all down hill...losing an elevation of 1000 feet, a 4 mile run up a huge mountain, and then end with a 3 mile run that is supposed to be flat. It's in the middle of August. On some days I go from being super excited to other days where I want to cry and say I'm not going to do it because it seems so daunting to me sometimes.

To prepare for that race we also signed up and have been training for a half marathon on the 4th of July. I am excited. And nervous. Should be fun though. :)

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We have a busy summer planned. Next week we get to see my sisters, and all of the cousins. I am super excited! I haven't seen my oldest sister since before Marlee was 2. She lives far away, so it's hard to see each other.

Soccer starts for Marlee next week. I wouldn't have even put her in, except that she's been talking about it since last summer...and the only reason I woulda skipped it this year is that there are only 6 times, and we will be gone for 3 of them. But it's super important to her, so we are sticking with it. :)

We then have swim lessons. And we are hoping to get some camping done in there also. :)

What are your plans for the summer???