Lazy Summer

*tap, tap, tap*...Is this thing on?...  Is there anybody out there?... *tap, tap* Testing, Testing...

The lazy days of summer are upon us.  I see little activity from my fellow bloggers and feel relieved that I'm not the only one who has neglected to update my exciting blog.  I have had little inspiration to write between packing to move and the general busyness of life.

Homeschooling seems so far from my mind and yet we only have about another month before it's time to get started.  I have so much planning to do and little motivation!  Last school year really drained me (with one not-so-eager learner) so I'm feeling a slight sense of dread.  Did I just say that out loud?  Where are the homeschool conferences complete with motivational speakers when we need them?  Nevertheless, I press on...and I remind myself to lean on the Lord for strength and guidance as I travel through this dry and thirsty land! :) Kidding. Kind of.  Not about leaning on the Lord.

I'm looking into BJU's Distance Learning/DVD curriculum for 8th grade this year.  This will be something new for us and a little out of my comfort zone as far as my eclectic approach to homeschooling goes. The thing I love about homeschooling is picking and choosing what I like and don't like, but I won't have that liberty with the DVD curriculum.  So far, though, I've been very happy with BJU's curriculum so I'm hoping all goes smoothly and I'm not too disappointed.

For my 6th grade student (I cannot believe he's in 6th grade---that's middle school! I now have two middle school students!) we will be sticking with our usual core:  Sonlight for history and reading, Abeka for math, and Sonlight for language arts (that's new for us).  I still have some planning to do for the other subjects. 

In the meantime, we will be relaxing for the remainder of the summer as best we can.  We are still suspended in mid-air, waiting for a settlement date.  So, it's thrown a bit of a wrench in our summer vacationing and planning.  I love taking a beach trip each year, but the closest I've gotten to the beach this year is my Yankee Candle Sun & Sand spray. Ahhh...I love that scent! It smells just like Coppertone sunscreen. 

Instead of a beach trip we plan to take a quick little trip to NY, NY and then swing by either Hershey Park or Great Wolf Lodge on our way home.  However, we must make it back in time for the Lego contest that Jared has been waiting for.  He has been spending a lot of time looking at Sean Kenney's books and Lego creations and has gained much inspiration.  Here's one cool creation Jared came up with:

And, a giant Lego "mini" figure:

Ms. Jenna, on the other hand, has been spending her time shooting hoops in our backyard.  She is considering trying out for a basketball team in the fall.  She has also been teaching her brother how to play the keyboard and write his own songs, passing along what she's learning.

That's all, folks!