it has been wickedly hot during the past few weeks. makes me want to be lazy!
however, i managed to over come...sort of....and have been teaching the kids how to deep clean. ( I know. that is ssssssssoooooo boring ) but, i feel strongly about teaching my kids how to clean and maintain a home. they have also been doing laundry, dishes and cooking. no. its not really a break for me. because i usually monitor all of these events. They have learned how to clean out a fridge, run a washing machine and dryer, how to clean out kitchen cabinets, clean a bathroom (really well) walls, doors and windows. but,now, i can say to one of my boys, "go put in a load of wash"....and they can wash, dry and fold a load of laundry. I can say to one of my kids, "go make a pitcher of tea" and they can.
and now, there are also some meals, i can tell one of them..."you are in charge of this meal". and pretty soon there is food to eat. I really feel that we have accomplished something this summer.

Besides that they have had some opportunities to earn money working for their dad and working for a friend at church. that has given them a sense of accomplishment...and they are saving most of their money for some youth group activities they want to do.

now, we are getting ready to start school again. ( 9th, 10th, 11th grades)
i love homeschooling. they do, too, most of the time. like this week...when the public school kids are already in class...we can wait til after labor day. We still cover all our material and have a couple extra weeks of summer to enjoy. Last year i had a very ambitious plan and for the most part covered everything i had planned. this year, i may be even more ambitious. All my plans are made....most of my books purchased, pens, pencils, notebooks on the shelf waiting. if all goes well, in four years, we will be finished with homeschooling. wonder what i'll do then?