This week

This week dds are at a VBS at this church. Older dd is helping and younger dd is attending. So far they seem to be enjoying the experience... last night we learned that each morning before beginning the day's activities they all recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, the Pledge to the Christian Flag, and the Pledge to the Bible. Now the first one I know (and know about), the second I'm familiar with, but the third is new to me. We discussed this over dinner, of course.

Ds is at a 2-week drama camp where they are putting together a production of Pride and Prejudice. The first few days have been a bit rocky for him, but I am hopeful that it will turn out to be a good experience. (Ds will play Mr. Collins.)

Tonight ds and older dd will go to their regular Bible study at the same Baptist church... this summer they are being taught about the "end times". More fuel for dinnertime discussion! (My children are receiving such an education about different denominations & traditions... completely unlike my & dh's upbringing!)

So, I'm running them to and fro (a minimum of 3 trips to Durham each day) and trying to make some headway on the myriad of projects awaiting my attention. Thankfully yesterday I was able to get my bedroom closet (it's been a mess and completely disorganized and unhelpful for years now) sorted and re-organized so that now it makes sense and will be useful. I also did some re-organizing in our main storage closet upstairs. Last night I pulled everything out of the homeschooling closet in the kitchen (a once-yearly project), removed all the papers & records that go into the kids' individual "school records" bins, threw away trash, moved books & things back to where they go (on general bookshelves or up high in the closet) if they won't be used next year, and put all the new books & materials into place for next year. This helps me see easily what I don't have already and needs to be ordered. I also pull out items that won't be used again to take to the local homeschool re-sale store.

Then I put all the records from this year into each child's box, sorted into folders by class or subject matter.

Today's project involves pulling some of that back out again (oh well, a bit of duplicated work) and finishing up the grading process. This only applies to the two "high-schoolers" in the house for whom I need to update transcripts with specific course names & grades. I began that process last week and will finish up today & tomorrow. (I use Excel to create spreadsheets if I need to -- especially for the math courses that involve daily work.)

After that I will complete a plan for each child's work next year. This involves some careful thought & research, discussion with dh and the children, and putting down on paper what that plan will be. And then finally, placing orders for any books or materials that are needed.

Then I can relax about all that for a few months.