“Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”

~Mary Oliver, Sometimes

Hey, look! — It’s my third post already this year. Are y’all still reading?

I miss the days when folks regularly commented. Those were the good old days… then again, I’m from ancient blogland times; I started blogging the year Kathryn started kindergarten so that was nearly 16 years ago!

family life

We have a new neighbor: my mother-in-law! Ken’s mom has moved just a couple of miles down the road. The kids are loving having Nana so nearby and she’s enjoying them, too.

This winter is very wintery. Despite the cold weather, many of my regulars are still attending outdoor fitness classes despite the chilly weather. The kids have been coming with me, partly because it’s one of the few times they get out and socialize right now. I’ve only had to cancel due to chilly weather once, but I am SO READY for spring!

homeschool happenings

We’re changing things up in our homeschool. It’s not the first time I’ve made major changes mid-year but I do usually try to change around at a logical time, like after Christmas holidays. This time, I’ve ignored the calendar and made the decision because it’s what we need, period.

I’m returning to my literature-based Charlotte Mason-esque roots, because it’s what I do best. And it’s what I enjoy most, which carries over into what the kids enjoy because if mama ain’t happy . . . well, you know how it goes.

So we’re switching to Build Your Library. As with most homeschool curricula, each level is flexible regarding ages. I went with Level 5, at the lower end of my kids’ ages, because I wanted to cover U.S. history in more depth than we have before, particularly as I’ve been attempting to explain current events. I was looking for something more multicultural and less whitewashed than what I’ve used in the past, and this seems to fit the bill.

what we’ve been reading: our faves

My picks:

• Outlawed by Anna North
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
• A Wolf Called Romeo by Nick Jans (non-fiction)
• The Opposite of Everyone by Joshilyn Jackson

The kids’ recent faves:

• Front Desk by Kelly Yang
• Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
• How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
• Nate Rocks (series) by Karen Pokras Toz

on the blog (in case you missed ’em)

• 6 years ago: Conversations in a confusing family.
• 4 year ago: How we chose our new town
• Real mom. It’s still not easy.
• 2 year ago: 5 things saving my life this winter. This year, add big warm hoodies to this list! And yes, we still use TeachingTextbooks.

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 »