As soon as the snow cleared this spring Zeke started practicing the wiggling maneuver used to propel himself on his RIPSTIK.  He soon found out that it wasn’t as easy as it looked.  He fell…a lot.  But he kept at it.  And fell a lot more.  His elbows took the brunt of most of his collisions with the sidewalk.  Ouch.  Me?  I would have given up.

But finally – like overnight – Zeke figured it out!  Now he’s cruising all over campus.  I love this picture of him doing a U-turn and the concentration evident in the tongue curl.

Of course, it simply would not do for Zeke to have a skill that Elijah didn’t have, so now Elijah is determined to figure out the RIPSTIK too…

Boys…everything’s a competition.

Now could all three of you look at the camera?  Just once.  And smile…or at least not look weird.  Please?

Not gonna happen.

Yippity Skippity!  Tomorrow is our last day of school!  We’re planning on doing a bit of summer school in July and August - just a half hour to an hour each day of math and language arts review – but for the month of June we will be free spirits.    So happy and proud of us all.   We did it!

And while I’m on the topic of weathering and erosion… I feel weathered. Beaten down.  Tired.  This year has had it’s ups and downs, but it’s been a pretty good experience for the most part, I think.  These days, though, I’ve been feeling, for the first time, like I just want to quit.  Probably a good thing that this is happening with only three weeks left until our summer holidays begin.  Oh boy, I am so ready for summer holidays!  Wahoo!

We’ve recently, though, turned the “comf-jeans” into a sweet pair o’ “comf-shorts” after much diliberation on Zeke’s part.  He finally decided that he’d like to be able to wear them every other day in the summer too. 

P.S.  I love how Zeke marches to the beat of his own drum…notice his Green Bay Packers t-shirt.  He wears it proudly in Vikingsville.

He bought himself a used, but in pretty much perfect condition, iPod Nano.  Isn’t that astounding?  My eight year old had enough birthday money to buy himself a tiny device that can hold thousands of songs…oh, and movies too (not that he’s allowed to watch said movies whenever he wants, of course).  I had some reservations, but really, I was relieved when he switched his focus from begging and pleading to buy a pet gerbil to wanting the Nano.  I guess right now in life I’d much rather have a tiny music player than a smelly rodent in my house. 

Time to start school.  Composition and helping verbs here I come!

Our Sweet P Turned two on June 11th.  We had a delightful little party out on our front lawn with all of our “campus family” for her special day.  Phoebe was so tickled about the whole thing!  It was really adorable.  Dave made a little video encapsulating the whole day…

(It took my sister in Toronto watching this video for me to realize that Phoebe uses her left hand a lot. I’m tentatively excited! I so want to have a “south paw!”)

Another exciting event: Dave and I celebrated our 11th aniversary on the 12th. We even got to get away overnight thanks to Naomi, who bravely stayed overnight with our kids. Thanks Naomi! The kids have been saying they want to see you again soon.

And here’s a little picture riddle for you to figure out.  Friday morning was spent at a table outside playing with some playdough that Phoebe got for her birthday.  Can you guess what these two playdough figures, one made by Elijah, the other by Zeke, were all about? 

Today was the boys’ last day of school.  Unbelievable, isn’t it, that a whole school year has passed?  I’m flabbergasted.

That phrase, “the last day of school,” has a double meaning for our family today.  Not only is today Elijah and Zeke’s last day of school for this year, this is also their last day of public  school for… a while.

Yes, we’ve decided it is time to take a huge leap of faith and start homeschooling our children this coming fall.  I know, crazy eh?  To be honest, the thoughts, emotions and convictions that have lead us to this decision are many and they are turbulent.  I’m still sorting through all of them!  To echo the ladies with whom I met this past Friday night about starting a homeschooling co-op, “We have more questions than we have answers.”  But for now I will just say that I am quite convinced that there really is no other place where I should be channeling my energies right now.

(to be continued…)