Spring is almost here and I the promise of sunshine and warmer days is giving me life right now. I’ll take the pollen, y’all, if I can just have those sunny days and blooming flowers. My daffodils are beginning to wake up so there’s hope!

happenings

Our dear ol’ Daisy Dog turned 12 on Valentine’s Day, followed closely afterward by our birthday boy’s BIG 10. We keep celebrations low-key but stretch it out to a full week. So we had special meals and treats at home, lunch with Daddy, a day of gallivanting and shopping with Kathryn, movie night (his choice was Lilo & Stitch), an art day at a local studio, and more. The kids love having a whole Birthday Week and I like it better as mom because it’s less pressure to do something hugely exciting on just one day.

Of course before all that we had Christmas, which included a visit from my mom! I haven’t successfully brainwashed her into moving here yet but I’m working on it. Ken installed our Little Free Library on Christmas Eve and we officially opened it on Christmas Day. Yay!

My seniors’ fitness class is still fabulous and this year I’ve added a themed class each month to add even more fun. Next month we’ll be celebrating our two-year classiversary! In my own training, I’m working toward a one-arm push-up, which still feels like a big ol’ NEVER but also feels like a great goal to hit before my birthday this year.

homeschool highlights

Hey, homeschool moms! This is your friendly reminder that you can change whatever isn’t working — for your kid or for you. We started my boys’ 4th grade year with Horizons math, but Teaching Textbooks is working much better for us. The online subscription 3.0 version is fabulous. (You can even read my Teaching Textbooks review from WAY back when Kathryn used it.)

We’ve also recently started DanceMat Typing and he feels SO COOL typing without looking at the keys.

Kathryn has been taking a couple of classes at the community college as she works on finishing up what I’ve deemed required to graduate her this year. She hates when people ask what her college plans are, because she’s just not sure what she wants to do yet — and honestly, why do we expect teens to know what they plan to do for the rest of their lives?!? It’s only been a few years since I figured out what I want to be when I grow up!
(See also: College Alternatives for Homeschoolers.)

what we’ve been reading: our faves

I’ve already been on a big reading kick so far this, and while I don’t get super-specific with reading goals, I am making an effort to read more non-fiction in 2019.

My picks:

• Every Breath — Nicholas Sparks (set here on the NC coast)
• Seabiscuit — Laura Hillenbrand (non-fiction)
• Into the Water — Paula Hawkins (A great not-TOO-creepy thriller that sucked me in so much I read the whole thing in a day.)
• Little Fires Everywhere — Celeste Ng (great characters)

One I really WASN’T crazy about, despite the hype, was Lincoln in the Bardo.

Kathryn’s picks (age 18)

• A Game of Thrones — George R.R. Martin
• Between Shades of Gray — Ruth Sepetys
• A Court of Mist and Fury — Sarah J Maas
• Counting by 7’s — Holly Goldberg Sloan

Jem’s picks (age 10)

Nearly every audiobook I’ve chosen for him has been declared his favorite, until the next one, but these are the top of the top for him:

• Peter Pan — J.M. Barrie
• Farmer Boy — Laura Ingalls Wilder
• Trumpet of the Swan — E.B. White

On his own, he’s working his way through reading all of the Magic Treehouse series, which he listened to previously in audiobook version.

on the blog {in case you missed ’em}

• My favorite books of 2018
• Are they yours? Or are the adopted?
• Happy fitiversary to me!
• two years ago: Half marathon: Running for my Dad

Jamie

Wife, mom, J-ma. Introvert who enjoys good books, sunshine, and authentic conversation. Often seen with a steaming mug of tea in hand – unless it’s lost yet again in the microwave. Read more »