Update before the new school year (and wrapping up the past school year)

Wow! I just realized that I haven't posted anything here since May! We finished up our school year at the end of May with a short study on rocks, plants, and animal classification. We also finished our math book (Saxon K) unceremoniously and Caley is making amazing progress on her reading skills. It seriously blows me away that I have a reader! She read her first chapter book this summer and also earned a "Finisher" award from the library in which she got to choose a free book.

Also in May we had a tea party for Mother's Day and went to Lobster Mania at Cost Cutter and played at the park. Caley will also continue her speech therapy into the next school year because she still qualifies. For some reason I thought she'd be tested again in order to qualify, but her test from 2010 guarantees her services until 2012, so it was just our therapist's discretion whether we should continue. Caley enjoys it and we've seen progress so we will continue it and reevaluate at the end of next year.

It was a good first "official" year of homeschooling!
Was it hard? Yes, at times, but I think anyone with three little kids would agree it's a challenging season regardless of their schooling. There were some challenging times because of Wesley dropping his morning nap and then discovering and enduring the first trimester of pregnancy.
What would I change? As far as curricula, I'd change nothing. What I would change (and will this fall) is making school time sacred from other activities (for the most part). I seemed to get more frustrated when I had too much on my plate. So, going into next year, I have to consider my time and commitments outside of the home. We aim to do school 4 times a week instead of 3.
What was the best part? Getting to see my kids learn! And learn to love each other! Sure, they bicker and such, but those "difficult times" are simply more opportunities for my kids to learn sharing, forgiveness, patience, and repentance!

 Wesley's first attempt with playdough, and he didn't eat any! I was impressed!

 We visited Cost Cutter for their annual Lobster Mania event. I'm glad we did, because in July they closed the store. :(

I'm hoping to make these pictures of First and Last Day of School a tradition.

 Here's what the school room looks like! It's fun to put their crafts up on the walls and remember what we've studied.

 We went to Kirkland beach to open the envelope after our ultrasound and found out we're having a baby girl!

Caley picked this book for free from the library summer reading program.

I think I am ready for this next year, and looking forward to getting back into a routine!