Sooo…. it’s been a little while! I guess that’s what happens when you add a puppy into a life that already includes homeschooling three children plus a toddler! Cooper is in a great place (and has been for months, honestly) and summer is here. Time to catch up in the easiest way possible on five months worth of pictures and happenings.
A birthday!
Ryan turned 11 in early February and, as you’ll see, has been stretching his wings in new ways. We celebrated with a friend party at Sky Zone Trampoline Park first.
Then we enjoyed our family celebration at home with a Jurassic Park theme.
Chips tacos!
I conducted an interview with Ryan shortly after his birthday to capture his thoughts, feelings, and favorites in his own words.
How would you describe yourself? I like to build with my Legos, draw, and play outside.
What do you like about getting older? More responsibilities, like watching Cooper, riding my bike around the neighborhood by myself, being trusted more, understanding more, and being in grown up conversations
What are you most looking forward to this year? Going to summer camp for the first time (with friends!), going to the beach, moving into middle school, and getting my braces off
What job would you like to have as an adult? Engineer who designs skyscrapers; construction worker who drives an excavator
Is there a new skill you would like to learn or one you want to continue learning? Survival skills, riflery, how to create a video game, and continue piano
Name some favorite….
Books: Epic Zero series, Percy Jackson series, Arlo Finch series
TV Shows: Dot, Wild Kratts, Popular Mechanics for Kids, and Carmen Sandiego
Movies: Snowball Express, Incredibles 2, and Mickey Mouse and the House of Villains
Board Games: Stratego, Exploding Kittens, Say Anything, Battleship, Clue: Master Detective, Clue: The Great Museum Caper, and Trouble
Foods: Cinnamon rolls, homemade pancakes, waffles, scones, chips tacos, and egg salad sandwiches
Restaurants: Fuddruckers, Chick-Fil-A, Rocky’s Chicken Shack, Culvers, Ella’s Seafood (at the beach), Stoney Knob Café
Zeus for a day!
Our new Classical Conversations homeschool co-op includes a Faces of History event in April. Students select a person from the time period being studied (in this case, ancient history) and spend weeks researching and writing a paper. Our group reveals their chosen historical figures in full costume to a nearby retirement community and play a Who Am I? game with the audience. Ryan worked so hard on his paper. He is a natural writer and did a great job with the presentation, too!
Paul and Ryan had fun making the lightning bolt together.
Bye, bye braces!
Bye bye, elementary school!
Homeschool Field Day
While there is not as much fanfare between grades when you homeschool, Ryan is keenly aware that he is now considered a middle schooler. Our new co op was a perfect fit for him and really helped this year feel fresh and new for us all. I have seen him come a long way in areas of academic struggle and our end of the year testing confirmed that. With the exception of math (ha!), Ryan approaches his school work with a positive attitude and has been a joy to teach for four years! This is what matters above all, of course, that he is willing to apply himself diligently to whatever is asked of him.
A week at overnight camp!
Ryan has expressed a desire to go away to camp for over a year now. The camps around here (and there are hundreds of them) are generally very expensive. However, another benefit to our new co op was being introduced to an affordable camp one hour away. Two friends from co op joined Ryan in his cabin, and the week was a smashing success!
Move in day! Ryan and I were both equal parts excited and terrified.
Ryan’s cabin mates
Because it’s 2019, daily pictures were posted to the camp’s Flickr page.
I scoured the few pictures of him for evidence of Ryan’s happiness level. That remained unconfirmed, but at least I knew he was alive with all limbs intact!
Reunited! Look at those smiles!
With his counselor, Mark. They swore he was old enough to be in charge.
I am getting old.
Ryan used some of his camp store money to buy matching notebooks for everybody. I mean.
I think we can agree that Ryan’s last few months have been quite memorable! Paul and I are really loving these preteen years and all the new experiences they have brought to us all.
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