Seems like I should celebrate or something. I just dropped off our homeschool portfolios at the local school. Truth is, it wasn't that big of a deal. I'm actually glad to have the portfolios of the kids' school work - samples of their work, artwork, pictures, ect. So much better than that pile of papers and pictures and artwork that I still haven't gone through from their years in public school - I keep meaning to put it in a scrapbook somehow. But they have their second grade scrapbooks now and it will be lots of fun to look back at them in the future.
The principal of the same school K and V went to before homeschooling is the homeschooling superviser of our school district. I placed the kid's portfolios up on the counter, and she glanced at them. "These are cute! Oh - and there's V! (as she pointed to his picture on his notebook) How is V doing? He is so adorable. Did you have a good year?" And so on it went. No nightmares from the school district - didn't even have to ask for proof that I dropped the portfolios off. Mrs. Martin (used to be Ms. Costanza until recently) gave me the receipt, made sure I knew the secretary at the school could notarize next years' affidavit, and chatted about how she keeps forgetting that her name is changed. As I turned to leave, I noticed the 4x6 table set up holding the portfolios already reviewed and waiting for pick-up. I left wondering how I lucked out in having such an easy-going school district to homeschool in compared to others around PA (knock on wood).
So it's over for the year. We can officially start school again on July 1, and I'm actually chomping at the bit to get started again. I kinda doubt the kiddos are going to be as excited though. Maybe I just won't tell them. :-) We'll pick up books here and there to read and they don't have to know that they are actually learning.
Luna Moth (Actias luna) Outside a window of our lodge, my sister discovered this beautiful moth and called us all to see it. After a little googling, we learned that "these beautiful members of the Giant Silk Moth family feed as caterpillars on walnut and other trees and overwinter in a cocoon on the ground. Like other giant silk moths, they do not feed as adults and live only about a week or so. They rest during the day, usually well-hidden in the green vegetation, fly at night, and are quite attracted to lights." This particular one measured about 5" wide with its wings extended. Pretty cool!
We visited Letchworth State Park today where the gorge is described as the "Grand Canyon of the East."
The Genesee River has a Upper, Middle, and Lower Falls in this park. The Upper Falls has a unique railroad bridge above it.
The park also has a memorial to Mary Jemison, "White Woman of the Genesee". On the way to NY I read aloud a biography of Mary Jemison, who had been captured by the American Indians as a teenager and eventually chose to remain with the Seneca Indians whom she had grown to love. It have really enjoyed sharing in K and V's excitement when they know the stories behind the places we are visiting.
K is standing outside the restored cabin Mary Jemison lived in during her later years. It had been moved to this location.
Pete always does such a good job of teaching the kids to honor mom on Mother's Day, but I usually really struggle with ideas on what to do. This year I found an idea on the internet, and the kids really got excited about it. First we went to the store and bought different types of candy with good words for names like snickers, kisses, and treasures. Then the kids thought of sentences using those words and put them together into a giant card for dad. The card was followed by a massive group hug.
I was going through my pictures looking for stuff to add to our homeschooling portfolio and came across these illustrating our use of our backyard for studying science. I'm not sure why V thought he'd like to "know what it was like to kiss a snake", but now he doesn't have to wonder.
Just as I was heading upstairs to make supper, I peeked over at S playing with the other kids in the basement. I immediately knew that I would not be making supper just then, but supervising an emergency bath to remove fabric paint from the little wrinkles of S's fingers and face.
Turned out that Miah had created a design for the window with fabric paints and had failed to put it up high to dry. (For those of you with crafty kids, my kids love to paint designs using fabric paints on ziploc bags. After they dry, they can be peeled off the bags and placed on the windows like a window-cling. I even wash windows right over them with no troubles. When we want to remove them, they peel right off.)