Learning Curve!

I have been losing track of the places we've visited! This last week was Norway, the week before was Bermuda. I have started a new blog specifically for food/crafting, so I'll update food travels there later this week. My first post can be found here.

It's been busy as always here at home. Sergeant started archery as an extra curricular through the school and he signed up for a couple of tournaments. His first was a week ago and he did well. They focused on sportsmanship, the experience of competing, and helping with scoring. It was certainly cool to watch! He has another one this Saturday, and he's pretty excited for it.

This round of swimming lessons is finishing up this week. Last one for the three bigger children, then maybe a little break and sign them up again. Get at least one more session done before school gets out. It is wonderful to watch the kids' water confidence skyrocket, boys getting more and more confident in the deeper water, Girlie too! Monkey is fearless in the deep end as long as she has a life jacket. I'm so incredibly pleased with how they all are doing. They are taking instruction from their instructors well, and incorporating it quickly. Exactly what a parent hopes to see.

I received a message from one of Smarty's teachers earlier this week. Just to let us know how much she appreciates him and his contributions to the class. That he exhibits respect for everyone, that he's kind and thoughtful, and responsible. It was so nice to hear those words, and to have that communication with the teaching staff.

Girlie is continuing to astound her teacher with reading and vocabulary, just plowing through the site words that they have for each reading level. At the end of the day, we've found it difficult at times to get her to talk openly about her day, simply because she says "I don't know" or "I don't remember" so the first thing I ask her now is "what did you read today?" and then she usually starts going on and on and on. It's so good to hear how she feels about certain story lines or different characters!

Monkey is practicing writing her name more and more. It's not terribly legible, but it's better than it was a few weeks ago. Seeing that improvement, and knowing she wants to keep going shows a really strong determination. I have a feeling that she'll be, much like Sergeant when he first started full time school, disappointed and sad when she doesn't instantly know how to read after the first day!

So Monkey is started Kindergarten in the fall, and I'm staring an online program tomorrow! It's a good shift and change in my focus, and I feel that the timing is right. I'm grateful that I'll be doing this program now, at a place where we have so many wonderful supports, and when Monkey will be starting school. Hooray for learning new things!