Fall is in the air! This is my favorite time of year, where there is a chill in the air (well, maybe not this week), it smells of cinnamon and apples, and there are fires burning outside and blanket-snuggling inside. We have been in full fall mood over here and I refuse to believe it's going to be in the 80's this week.
We have been in full-school-mode at our house. We start our days with a "gathering time" where we truly enjoy learning together. The rest of our days consist of more focused learning and I love that this is their education.
A lot of our education is spent outside of the "school room". Baking/cooking is our math and reading, canning/gardening is our science and art, hiking/playing outside is our P.E. and natural studies. The great thing about homeschooling is that the world is our classroom. In Isla's first-grade-interview, she said her main goal is learning to cook a full meal that she can serve the family. So we are starting little by little as she reads recipes, uses fractions, and practices fine motor skills.
Another huge part of our education is our co-op. In September, we have already been busy with them! Our first week was spent picking aronia berries together. We learned all about the superfood and then spent time in the fields. The second week was a yoga class about a bear hunt (from the book We're Going on a Bear Hunt). The kids then went on a bear hunt and spent time making some art with their findings. I love our co-op and our time with our friends. I am very excited about the year ahead with them!
I wasn't sure we'd really get a trip in every month this year, but we have so far! The trip this month was a quick one to St. Louis. We spent the day at Grant's Farm with Michael's mom, Aunt Cheryl, and Grandma Fred. Grant's Farm is a historic farm and landmark. It was the home of Ulysses S. Grant and then a working farm and home of the Anheuser-Busch family (yes, the beer company you're thinking of). There was beer and goats and tram rides and the famous clydesdales. I really don't know how to explain the place, but trust me it was fun! Isla even got to go on stage and participate in a rat race where a rat ran across her arms and neck. I told her I was proud of her for going on stage in front of people and she said, "I didn't even see the people beacuse I was so excited about the rat!!" haha
We stayed at Aunt Cheryl's house and the next day went to Eckert's Orchard where we enjoyed all things apples, pumpkins, and fried chicken :)
It was a fun weekend and a great way to enjoy the fall weather :) Otherwise, we have been trucking along in our days, finding moments of joy, and enjoying the season.
One more thing, before you go. If you think of Ewan (or us), please say a prayer. We have been dealing with sleep issues for over a year, but within the last 3 or so weeks things have progressively gotten worse. He went from waking a couple times a night to waking 10-15 times a night. Each time he comes downstairs, wakes us up, and cries until we tuck him back in. Sometimes the crying is incosolable and lasts for 30 minutes to an hour. The last few days have continued to worsen, as he refuses to sleep in his room and was showing signs of severe anxiety. So now, he is sleeping in our bed for the time being. We met with an ENT who diagnosed him with obstructive sleep disorder as his adenoids and tonsils are HUGE and his other symptoms are consistent with sleep apnea. We are in the process of deciding what is best for Ewan, but all of this feels big and hard. Nobody is sleeping and his little body, especially, is showing signs of severe sleep deprivation. We need prayers of peace, healing, deep sleep, and patience.
Thank you <3
(This was a moment before we had to leave for his doctor's appointment. He does not do well at doctor's offices and was really nervous. Isla was comforting him and giving him all the love).
Comments
Post a Comment