A pre-holiday day

As Thanksgiving approaches, we're finding it very, very difficult to focus on our studies. Warm temperatures lure us outdoors. Holiday menus distract our grumbling tummies. Christmas wish-lists preoccupy little boy thoughts. And visions of a lazy, school-free vacation monopolize my mind. Yes, the holidays are just around the corner... and as far as I'm concerned, they simply cannot get here soon enough!

So, all that being said, our school days have been a bit off these past few days. A little bit here, a lot a bit there. Study, break, work, break, read, break, write, break. We're just struggling, plain & simple. Some how or other, though, we're still managing to get it all done-- "school" time just looks a little different-- perhaps a tad more strained or bit more disjointed-- than it normally does.

Case in point... the other morning, I found this at my kitchen table~

... evidently that new latin lesson was quite a bear,

and then the math and composition sent Bub over the edge.

The brain freeze that followed led to moderately irrational thought...

who'd a thunk to use a flour tortilla for a mask, I ask you?

Fortunately, we had plenty of others on hand to use for our lunch quesadillas :)

In addition to Mexican disguises,

linking cube pistols have popped everywhere.

I can't tell you how many times I've been blasted to smithereens this past week alone.

Surprisingly, I have survived.

And my pistol-toting cowboy hasn't put up even the slightest battle

when I've insisted he sit down for a lesson.

Number sequencing... one of his newest favorites

via dot-to-dots on the family room floor.

(I love this book, and thankfully, he does too!!

This one is next... it's the perfect follow-up)

Yes, we're checking things off our list, as we go...

anxious to put our books away for a week of rest and thanks.

So... the last few lessons in Writing with Ease are well under way,

with the help and camaraderie of a snugly pup,

and our model canal (it's really a series of locks) was a smashing success

(love this resource!)~

I still can't believe it actually worked...

the boys were even impressed, and that says a lot!

Grammar's running smoothly,

Latin's cruising right along (though it's getting tough... really tough),

history continues to amaze me,

and the basics are in the bag.

And all we're gonna do next week is read... I just. can't. wait!

So, as our mornings wrapped up this past week,

we found lots of spare minutes to spend in the great outdoors--

running and riding and scooting

with even a lesson or two for our smallest :)

With a handful of crackers to pass all around...

there was no need to go in for quite a good time :)

And these little green boots... oh, how I'll miss them when he grows.

They made their regular appearance each and every day,

because my gunslinger's very favorite footwear...

the shoes he chooses most every single time==

his frog boots-- there's just no compare!

Oh, how I love these days... this time with my crew.

To play and laugh and dance and sing.

To whistle and read and run and build.

To dream and explore and imagine and create.

To snuggle and cherish and savor and save...

precious moments...

precious memories...

God's most wonderful gifts.