Into Fall we go...

This is so shockingly in the distant past, but alas...

better late than never!

In our house, it is football season.  LSU kicked us off!

Dev surprised dada with some LSU cupcakes!

 

kitty provides amusements each season!

Richard Scary books have provided much entertainment. 

I checked this book out at the library, I still cherish

reading child hood books, these were my favorite.

And now that love has been passed to my daughter. 

Summer is being ushered out, although I hesitate to

decorate for fall until I feel some sense of it in

this Maui heat!  It has been hot!

I love how Dev bakes and then places the cookies on a pretty plate.

 

The kids are really into mixing and making different soap

concoctions on the shower.   

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Trying to clean out the garage, I am always so

sentimental.  Bobo's first bike

We all slept while Drew ran in a 10K race.

 

Bobo taking his first steps at "reading" Biscuit's adventures.

Mostly memorized but fun to hear him take these steps.

We are easing into fall.......

flowers

 

my mom loves flowers.

The days are uncertain.  We are baffled why parts of her have just seemed to crumble before our eyes in the last couple of years.

Its funny how a "new normal" creeps in... but one that doesn't feel very normal.  Parts of my mom we knew even two years ago have changed, yet we are getting used to not expecting certain things.

It doesn't make sense why this would happen when my mom is finally through with the task set before her of her full time career.  She finally could taste that freedom of retirement, more time for us and for our kiddos and pursue new things.

There is a certain cruelty in the very thing my mom struggled with in the past that could have freedom finally tasted in her future is blocked now by a mind that will not work and remember.

Healing takes memory.  Relationships take memory. 

I don't know how to lose a mom.  She is the ear to my stories.  She is the one who ever really sees me as the one at fault.  It feels too soon to switch roles.  But here we are. 

Life is just never what you think it will be.

She says she feels surrounded by Jesus here.  I am so glad.  After all, that is really what matters.

My mom has an appointment on Friday for the neurologist to find out why her short term memory is worsening and her overall functioning is worsening.  Last year after different, tests, Alzheimer's was ruled out.  It is back on the table.  I thought we have evaded that one.

 

A Great day

Drew encouraged me to have no regrets

in this process of homeschooling.

This enabled me to make the final choices in

curriculum. And after talking with my sister, I was

able to come to a place in our schedule that feels

like a good mix of meeting standards,

building skills. making room for creative outlets and

 character development.

Our day begins.

Bobo is checking the surf.

Deveraux had gotten an area ready for her and Bobo for our Bible time.

Recess!

We made stained glass out of wax paper and shaved crayon like

the Phoenician people who were known for their glass blowing.

A beautiful 5 from Bobo!

We started our Orchestra book and heard Vivaldi Spring as we

colored our inspirations.

Dev created an art wall for us.

We then presented our works of art/

Bobo then wanted to do the color wheel.

Quiet times, we all have our spot.

This is my quiet time spot. 

This was a good day!  A great day of

homeschooling where I let it go a bit, we didn't have to

worry about time, creativity flourished, and I felt

freedom of the day and in learning.  I got a taste!