Textbooks are for Tables

  The kids have been getting up early and getting most of their school work done while I'm walking in the morning.

 And that's fine with me.  More than fine.
It gives us time to do the good stuff - like looking for caves and exploring old church ruins. 

Don't Close Your Eyes

  
Isaiah, our 14 year old, had an E.E.G. scheduled for 8:00a.m. yesterday morning and when I pulled out the instructions Thursday night I noticed he was only to have 3 hours sleep that night.  I was a little worried about how he would stay awake because I was sure I wouldn't be helping him out with that!  Luckily he has a bunch of brothers and sisters who were more than willing to pull an all night-er with him - watching movies and playing board games.  By all reports and by gauging their moods (which were NOT good)  - I would guess that the whole gang made it till the early morning hours. 
  His E.E.G. went well.  The technician remarked how well he slept for the test.  Results to follow.

No One's Sleeping Tonight

  
  My daughter lives right (I mean our yards touch and there's a path worn between) next door.  Her five kids and my kids, who are the same ages and best friends (yes that would be their aunts and uncles) want to have sleepovers every single night.  Kirsten and I have valiantly tried to put some sanity into the requests with "one a week" or "not if you act crabby" rules, but it all seems to get out of control.  And because they're soon moving to Florida it gets harder and harder to say no.  Kirsten's kids most often want to sleep here as she feeds them healthy (boring/disgusting) cereal and I buy cereal according to their color.  Fruity Pebbles pleases everyone and Lucky Charms is off the charts pretty.  
  And of course, no one sleeps until the next day when they quietly slip away for a short nap.  
I'm going to miss all this.
  

Shark Boy

  
  If anyone loves the beach, it's Isaiah.  He owns everything that is shark and can quote all the lines from every Jaws movie ever made.  But you have to listen carefully to know any of this about him because he is our quiet guy.  Isaiah doesn't demand or complain and you won't hear him yell - he walks gently through this 10 ring circus.  
  And here at the beach I often find him contentedly enjoying it all.

Can I Freeze Them Right Here?

  These are three of my favorite teens - Eleanor my granddaughter and Emma and Isaiah my twins by other mothers.  They are a delight to homeschool - always wanting to know more about whatever we study and they are kindly enthusiastic about every dumb thing I think of to do.  
  But the thing I love best of all, is their their innocence.  They are thirteen and they don't have phones, dates or attitudes.   A perfect day for them is to learn about the Vikings in school, write a play about them and act it out for the family that night.  
  Being homeschooled means you can be your own kind of cool.  And they are!
  

He Likes It

  Isaiah tried the team sport thing but it wasn't him.  He wouldn't get aggressive on the basketball court - he's just too sweet.  He wanted to learn to play an instrument so he could be in a band with his sister and niece.  He asked for a violin for his birthday and he took exactly two lessons when he announced that it wasn't right for him either.  He lasted a bit longer at fencing lessons and then decided to abandon that as well.  
  Then he found Karate and he soared!  In just a few months he  earned his orange belt and he is happy, happy, happy.  Loves it so much he learned to do a split, which trying for the first time at his age, was risky.
  And sweetest of all is that our neighbors drive him to the lessons with their boys and I don't have to even take a turn.  
  I think we found his niche.