Summer is packing her bags

Summer is packing up and Autumn is making hints now and then.  The leaves are starting to turn, the evenings grow cold and the moon shimmers down! This brings the start up of school and ballet, continued nature walks to learn our trees and bugs, butterfly releases, and end of summer garden harvests.  Excitement mounts as the chickens start laying beautiful little pink/brown eggs!!  The girls sit in the coop cheering the chickens on!  Baby girl continues to grow and has started to coo and smile, to follow with her eyes and engage in the world around her.  We took some photos in smocked dresses because we wanted to capture beautiful sunlight and princesses running through gardens, aged 5 and 6. (I will say 6 as long as possible even though she will turn 7 soon). Now Phoebe is two months old and we continue to thank God for the gift of her life.

This year our school year is full of exciting subjects. Second Grade and Kindergarten with two readers is especially fun! We are doing A Year of Tales which studies Beatrix Potter's books, focusing on geography, nature, character building, narration, poetry and watercolor.  We've moved back in history to Ancient History and the girls are especially enraptured with pyramids and mummies.  Story of the World cds are always playing as we drive to ballet.   Math U See continues to build their concepts of parts and wholes and I love watching two little people love math  (I never did).  French is an exciting addition this year using Speaking French with Miss Mason and the girls are already laughing through french accents. Tea time Friday read a louds, Wind in the Willows, A Long Winter are our current line ups but Emmie has already fallen in love with our first poem of the year Kipling's The Glory of the Garden. Astronomy and plants, science experiments and botany are scheduled, along with Friday field trips and cursive! Here's to a wonderful and gentle learning year together.