Time FLIES!!!!!

How can it be! On my last post, Leo was turning eleven and now he is twelve. Has been for quite sometime too! And we have another child on the way.

The Daily Gifts keep coming and time flies by and blogs get neglected! Well, I may not be able to stop time or even slow it down but I can begin to blog again.

We have a lot in store for us this coming year. The older boys have started two new academic clubs, one is history based and the other science. The focuses for the first semester are World War II and Marine Biology. It should be lots of fun! The approach is pretty intense and they are excited.

So summer ends, the school activities begin and a new baby is on the way....I'll leave you with a picture of some summer bliss.

Leo is turning ELEVEN!!!!

Leo and Santiago playing a game together.

Leo should always be either 2, 3 or 4. Maybe five. I don't know.... But unfortunately, against the will of his parents; he continues to grow and age.

And on March 22, he turns eleven.

We are going to Sea World. Daddy has taken Friday off. Leo has made all the arrangements for the day. Travel time calculated and show times written down. A map of the park studied carefully. I'm excited. I'm also a little sad.

Leo turning eleven also means Cisco will be turning thirteen. And these are really huge ages! I feel like we are entering a new chapter in our lives together; which isn't so bad except that I hate leaving others behind.

Leo and I in Fredricksburg

Spring Break!!!

This year Spring Break has real meaning! The boys were so excited about sleeping in and not doing schoolwork. I guess we have been pretty serious about our studies or so it would seem! If reactions to time off are any indicator, that is.

So, they started their day with Legos. Helped keep an eye on Santiago while I scrubbed the concrete in the backyard (with soap, water and a scrub brush---on my hands and knees! 'nother story) Took time to jump on the trampoline and have a little nature walk. Made their lunches and sifted through cookie cutters and reminisced. Then went for a bike ride while Santiago drove the Mach 5. Cisco even got a hair and jumped in the pool very briefly.

I think they were rather productive for boys who were so eager to do nothing.

It's Springtime!

Spring fever has hit our household! We have been planting, weeding (should be cleaning) and going to the local gardening centers. The other day we had a delightful trip to the Natural Gardener. And we also worked in our front yard as a family, putting down fresh mulch and annuals. The older guys have even been in the pool a couple of times, the brave souls that they are!

Time for a little Catch Up

Well, I can't believe that March is nearly upon us! Since my last post, we had the holidays. We had the geography club over for a Christmas Around the World extravaganza--delightful. And we took some time off for, well the holidays. In January, we decided it was Language month. We devoted ourselves to reading and writing. We did a little grammar and composition; dabbled in spelling tests and vocabulary. Lots of library time. So, in February it was time to put the language month into action. Make cards, write stories and notes for various things. We studied Morocco for geography club. Lots of reading, still.

And now February is almost over and March is going to be March Math Madness. The guys are pretty excited, really.

Windmill

Yesterday we tried completing this project but it was too windy and ended in injury (Cisco's fingers got in the gears, band aid followed). Today it was a little less windy so the boys were able to finish the testing which involved timing the lifting of the weight. So after a variety of blade positions and removing and adding blades....the most efficient windmill was discovered. And here are the results and some commentary!


The follow up activity was to make a top and use the weight and ratchet system to release the top.

a moment of beauty

today at homeschool, i was distracted by this beautiful moment