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AND Summer 2013 Begins

Homeschooling finally has come to an end for the 2012-2013 school year!  My children and I anxiously awaited the arrival of four extra summer children.  My mind got busy planning all sorts of activities and fun things to do as I prepared for them to come.

Memorial Day for me was a day of rest and remembrance.  I knew it'd be my only day of rest before the children came, so I took full advantage!  Actually, the plan was to clean the house spic and span, but I sat on my behind and goofed off all day with my own three children.  It's not very often we get an entire day to spend by ourselves doing whatever whenever we want.  During the week, I'm normally up by the crack of dawn preparing my husband's lunch, my day and activities for the children I keep.  BUT, not on Memorial Day morning.  I slowly dragged my bottom out of bed and actually sat down while drinking my first cup of coffee.  The kids slept as I enjoyed a few precious moments of silence, meditation and prayer.

Tuesday, today... they came!  First it was my precious little, blonde haired, blue eyed, five year old beauty, I'll call "E".  She's been staying with me since she was six weeks old.  For the first three years of her life she called me mama!  She has always arrived promptly at 7:30 am.  I walked onto the porch to greet her and walked her back into the house.  Minutes later it was "J".  An eight year old boy who is spending his second summer with me.  Normally "J" is accompanied by his older brother "D".  But, today "D" spent the day with his father playing a round of golf.  "J" confided in me that he had told a teacher at school, "I've got the best babysitter EVER!".  It obviously made me feel really special to know the children felt that way about me.

After eating our bisquits, drinking our milk and juice the kids lazily played about the living and dining area while waiting for the last two of our crew to arrive.  Later in the morning, around 9:30 am the other two, a brother "A1", (6) and sister "A2",   (5) arrived.  There we were... ready for the first round of outdoor play!
Our NEW found FROG Friend!

Out we went!  Not much activity today... sort a slow day to break our way into summer... we played a little baseball, found a frog and created a terrarium, played chase while some of the other children played with dolls and other outdoor toys.  After about two hours of play, we returned to the house so I could prepare a wonderful chicken pot pie.  While I cooked the kids watched a movie, played play dough, barbies, dress up, blocks, and anything else they could find to do indoors.

This is what we call... hanging on the FORT!

BATTER BATTER SAWWWING!

Better run mama!  I am locked and loaded!

GREAT shot "A1"  Woohoo!
After lunch we returned to the yard with water guns!  When we were all thoroughly soaked, we dried off with a game of basketball, and more fun playing dolls, on the fort and sandbox down in the play area.  Overall ... pretty good start to our 2013 Summer season!  Looking forward to even MORE fun tomorrow!  I can't wait!


New Buddies "A1" and "E"
Better run Miss Samantha... 
WOW!  Show him up GIRL!
Would you like to join us for tea?
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