We are still in the process of settling in, but it is now more everyday routines and less of "oh I need to unpack that". I still have some boxes left to unpack. Some will remain packed for an undetermined amount of time. Come on now, you all have been there, haven't you? You pack a box of things that you find in the new house and you don't really have any place for right away, but don't want to get rid of them for sentimental reasons? For the most part we are unpacked. There are still things left to be hung but some I haven't decided about. Frankly, I like our walls sparsely decorated right now. It gives a false sense of "clean room".
Homeschooling is going better than I expected and I haven't regretted for a moment our decision to go to the Charlotte Mason method of teaching. I haven't gotten it all figured out yet, but so far so good. We are wrapping up our study of Pennsylvania with research papers, due before we break for Thanksgiving. We go to a library in the next town over for research days, when needed. We are there every two weeks anyway, returning library books. They are starting up a preschool reading time on Tuesdays next month, but I haven't decided if we will go or not yet. The other children can be working on their research papers for now while Isaac and I enjoy story time. We'll see.
You can see here Josiah is making an ugly face at me. It was because I caught him doing school in an empty box and took opportunity to snap his picture.
Here is a recent picture Josiah drew for an oral report on chipmunks. I think he is rather talented!
Speaking of the ladies, the past weekend some of us got together and went to the big quilt show in Chautauqua NY. It was wonderful! The twins wanted to go, so I counted it as a field trip, and thus they got in a day of school.
Friday nights our teens go to a Teen Bible study at the church around the corner (same one we go to for Sign Language class). They have a Bible study, refreshments, and games like volleyball, basketball, and floor hockey, but not all at once. :) A lot of the teen in the neighborhood that don't go to church anywhere will show up for that, so it is used mostly as an outreach.
The couple that does the teen group, also organized an archery field trip for 3rd grade and up. Our eligible kids got to go, and had a wonderful time! They are now organizing a horse riding field trip, and my kids are hoping to go. They've never actually ridden a horse before, but I was assured that was okay. The couple who are doing all of us only live a few miles from us and mentioned in passing that it would be good to get our kids up there to give them a preliminary experience with horses before the field trip.
These field trips are fantastic, but I am going to have to offer to help chaperon just to get pictures! I realized after the kids went to the archer trip that I had no record of it. Boohooohooo! I still counted it as a day of school. I supposed I could have sent the camera with Elizabeth, who likes to snap pictures, but somehow letting one of my kids take my one and only camera while tromping through the woods didn't sound like a good idea to me.
Church is going well for us. We have started a choir and this is the second week for it. I'm hoping to glean more people for special music from it, too. If they are in the choir I can hear better who is able to sing, or at least who is willing to give it a try. I can hear sundry people who seem to be able to sing from behind me while at the piano, but I haven't been able to pinpoint them yet. I'll get them sooner or later! *evil laugh*
We have several things on our calendar over the next month or so, and I'm finding that life here is a bit busier than it was in NY. So far it is a "good" busy, not an "overwhelming" type of busyness. If we get to "overwhelming" then it is time to start cutting back.
In the midst of all of this, I've been trying to get some sewing projects done. While the older kids were at the archer field trip, I was able to spend some extra one on one time with Jerusha, and we started some hand sewing for her. She made a cute little felt bookmark, and is looking forward to her next project. She enjoys beading, and is able to do that mostly without my help.
Isaac enjoyed making roads on the table with Daddy while Jerusha and I were busy sewing together.
I hate to even mention it, but I have been brainstorming for Christmas too. Due to the apparent lack of time I'm trying to keep it simple as possible.
I still enjoy knitting in the evenings, I just recently finished the Azzu's shawl I started back in February? I can't remember. It got put on hold for a long time, and I decided I wanted it for this fall so I put a hurry on it over the last few weeks. I've started an Oaklet Shawl now, and that seems to go pretty quickly.
Things are busy, but we are settling in, and I'm finding our new life here keeps me hopping. There isn't a whole lot of time for blogging, which you probably already noticed.
There is lots more to write about and pics to share, but for now I am out of time. I hope you all have a blessed evening!
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