Year End Fun!

We all went out for a celebration cone to mark the last day of school.

Friday Field Trip to the National Gallery.

We were able to see some of the favorites we studied this year.

Will stood here for along time. He *loves* this painting. The older women touring the museum got a kick out of the 5 year old boy gawking at The Japanese Footbridge (Monet).

(And today we celebrate me! It's my 35th birthday!)

Last Day of School

We did it! Today is our last day of school!

This week we have been busy planning our big show for Mema, Grandpa and Daddy. It has been so fun to look back over the year and review all we have done while decorating our school room with a sampling of their work. Tonight we are celebrating - out to our favorite Mexican restaurant and for ice cream. The kids are so excited. I am so proud of them!

And I am very ready for summer vacation. : )

Tap, Tap.... Umm, Hello?

Remember when I used to blog?

I just looked at my last post. May 6th? Where did May go?

We are entering our last week of school with lots of fun things planned. I'm trying to finish strong here, but it's been a little hard. We're ready for summer.

For our last week, the kids and I are planning a "finale" of sorts. My parents will be here next week, so we may wait and do it then. Then daddy won't be the only audience member. We're also decorating our school room with this years "progress." I'll post pictures next week.

Some of what I am working on for the Streams Academy Year-in-Review....

For Language Arts.... Hannah will recite all the poems she memorized this year. Will and Peter will introduce her and act as props. Poems include: The Caterpillar (Rossetti), The Cow (Stevenson), The Wind (Stevenson), The Swing (Stevenson), Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening (Frost), There Once Was a Puffin (Florence Page Jaques), The Moon (Stevenson), Bird Talk (Aileen Fisher).

For Art.... We studied four artists this year - Monet, Cassatt, Van Gogh, Seurat. Each of us (the three kids and me) will be a different artist, wear a smock, have a paintbrush in hand pretending to on prints of their actual works. While we talk a little about ourselves, our work, where we live, what we like to paint. I will be giving them simple scripts. Either Will or Peter will be a bandaged ear Van Gogh I am sure (the boys love to mention that detail of his life). This may be a bit much for Peter, but he will not be excluded! He must be a part of it all. : ) Also this week, we are going on a big National Gallery field trip.

I still need to figure out a bit for Music and Ancient History (something Rome themed). We'll see how much energy I have this week.

Other things around here...

• I went to CHAP (Homeschool Convention in PA) a couple weeks ago and settled on a few things for next year. I'm really excited about what we are going to do for History. I'll write more about that later.
• And I'm back on a Mac. After three long years on a PC, I convinced my husband we should got to the Apple Store. I've been setting it all up over this last week. So much fun.
• Our tadpole that we have had all school year grew legs last week. And yesterday... "arms!" The kids are thrilled! We started with 8 tadpoles in September and this little guy has hung with us. This whole experience has showed me that I am not ready for a real pet. Cleaning that container, feeding him... it didn't always happen in a timely manner. It's a miracle he survived. : ) Now, what do I do with this soon-to-be frog?

Boca Grande : Florida, Part 3

We're back. Again. Yes, we have been to Florida three times this year. I am not complaining one bit. This time it was to visit my husband's parents before they came back up North for the summer.

It was a truly. fabulous. vacation.

Now that the kids are a little older, ... no diapers, no baby stuff to pack, no melt-downs if we stay up too late... it was so much more of a vacation.

This place is a bit like la-la land. When we are here, the rest of the world sort of falls away. There are signs everywhere saying things like "No cell phones in pool area. Please make calls in your car." (so much for "Hang up and Drive!" Grin.) I didn't make one call, look at a tv, get in a car, or get on a computer the whole week. So nice.

We feel incredibly blessed to be able to visit Nana and Papa here every spring. A few photos... (I have a gazillion here, but...)

Sunset on the beach.

Sweet treats.Lots of pool time.

We got around the island on this...or this...
Hannah and Nana went on daily adventures,
binoculars and nature journal in hand.