Homeschool Mother's Journal: In Which Our Schoolyear is Officially Over

Unbelievable.  Looks like two weeks in a row that I am getting my Journal posted on Friday!

In our homeschool... well, school is officially finished for the year since I've turned in final grades and our evaluation has been completed.  But we'll continue to work on those few subjects that we didn't quite complete (English reviews for Landon and Spencer, Geometry for Spencer) and work on some other things at a relaxed pace through the summer.  We are ending our European History study by looking at some artists, so we watched a couple of the "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists" DVDs this week.  Landon is working on Algebra I already - that's for an upcoming Schoolhouse Crew review, so stay tuned for more on that!  Kennady is working on a Literature study for an upcoming review, and we also have a math drill type program we are reviewing.

And speaking of the Schoolhouse Review Crew (formerly known as the TOS Homeschool Review Crew) - have you checked out the new look on the blog, Facebook page, and Twitter?  Our new Review year has just started, and we have a new name and a new look.  Use the links to check it out, and grab the button below if you'd like and follow the Crew.  We'll be reviewing all kinds of homeschool resources all through the summer, when many of us are on the hunt for curriculum and extras to use.

In other news... The weekend was busy with a CAP activity, worship team practice, shopping for a new freezer (not as fun as it sounds...), and grad parties.

I had my homeschool evaluation done this week, and started working on the evaluations I need to do.

On Wednesday evening, DH and I took Kennady to the Keys game.  We had patio tickets along with a bunch of the guys (and their families) from DH's hockey league.  It was a pretty good game, and the hockey guys managed to get a picture with one of the players from the opposing team, pitcher Brad Lidge.  He even put on their "Old Fat Bald Guys" hockey jersey for the picture!

Kennady's softball practice on Thursday night was rained out, and her playoff game was tonight.  Unfortunately, our team didn't have their best game ever, and were a little rattled by a couple of pretty poor calls by the umpire, so the season is over.  The girls had a great season though, going 10 and 1 against some very good teams, so they have nothing to hang their heads about. Besides, as the saying goes - "there's no crying in baseball softball!" Oddly, we are having the team pictures done on Tuesday - this is the latest we've ever had team pictures done, after the season is over!

Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share... Since Spencer isn't finished his online Geometry course yet (and to be fair, he started it halfway through the school year), but I don't want to pay for another month after the current one, I told him that if he doesn't get it finished by the renewal date, we will get one more month so he can finish... BUT he will have to pay for that month!  A little motivation in the form of a monetary threat goes a long way. ;-)

Questions/thoughts I have... update from last week - I found both the missing books!  And I am wondering how soon I should start lesson planning for the next school year.  I am anxious to get started, because I love lesson planning!

One of my favorite things this week... giggling with Kennady. Love it.

A photo/video/quote or link to share...  one of our cacti was flowering this week, and the flower was so pretty despite being in an overgrown flowerbed that we are planning on overhauling.

On the bookshelf...

• Organized Simplicity by Tsh Oxenreider
• Have a New Teenager by Friday by Dr Kevin Leman
• Brightest Heaven of Invention by Peter J Leithart, with Henry V by William Shakespeare
• Uncommon Grounds by Mark Pendergrast
• The Lion Triumphant by Philippa Carr

Finished The Miracle at St Bruno's by Philippa Carr.  Updated my book blog with a book I finished awhile ago, Madame Tussaud

A parting shot...

This post is linked to (the new home for The Homeschool Mother's Journal) iHomeschool Network - see how many other homeschoolers are celebrating the official end of the school year!