This is the eve of our big summer camp. I am the head cook this year, not because I really want to be, but because about 3 weeks ago my mother-in-law broke her arm and a replacement was needed. She has been the head cook for over 20 years, so this is going to be very interesting. I think it’s actually going to be good for me, though. It’s keeping me active, which in the past has been a struggle (for obvious reasons). The last 5 weeks have been fun for me, being a cook at another camp group (although it’s all at the same location, just different people). I’m working with the same woman this week, as well, and we work very well together. It will be good to keep my mind off the impending birth ( which I’m totally looking forward to, btw!) so time should go by faster. Of course, I’m just at 37 weeks, so I have the next 2 weeks or so to get through, but I’m planning on making another quilt (or two!) and those should keep me busy.
It also that time of year to beginning thinking of school. For the last 4 years, I’ve been the one to do all the research and make the decisions of what to use and all. But this year, I’m wanting to have more of a direction from Adam. He has a much more defined idea of the end goal he wants for our children’s education, so I want him to have more say this year. The beauty of home schooling is that you can create your “school” to match your family’s dynamics and your schedule. You are not bound by someone else or group of people telling you what your child needs to learn, when to teach it and how. The options are far more open and grand. So this year we are going to do things a bit differently. The only set curriculum we will be using is for math. For the other ones, reading, language, science, and history, I’m not sure what we’ll do exactly, but it will not be a set curriculum and will include lots of reading. Our children LOVE to read, so we might as well have them read good, solid books instead of fanciful ones that don’t improve their minds. Plus, there is the possability that I may need to work with Adam more in the mornings, so our school will be in the afternoon instead of the morning. The more I think about it, the more I like that idea, for by then the little ones (this baby and Damaris) will be taking their naps and Nathaniel will be having his quiet time. Malachi is 5, so he will continue to “do school” with us.
We are considering doing some remodeling of our house. Not anytime soon, for we need to have a bit more money for it, but it’s something for the near future. We are considering making our washroom ( a 9 x 11 room) a part of our commercial kitchen (the two rooms are separated by a wall and door) and then we will move the washroom to the bedroom that is on the ground floor (it’s a 11 x 12 room). It will include getting new flooring for both rooms, painting all the walls in both rooms, getting plumbing, the drain and new wiring for the new washroom, and putting a door in the doorway from the old washroom into our home kitchen. The business woman in me like this idea, for it would give us more room to work with when we have multiple things going on at the same time. The Mama in me likes the idea because I would get a 11 x 12 washroom! What mother wouldn’t like that idea?! That would leave the possibility open for a 2nd dryer and we would be able to have a “children’s closet” (Adam and I will still keep our clothes in our room). Can you imagine having the washer and dryer in the same room as all of their clothes? That’s this Mama’s dream come true! No more lugging heavy baskets to and fro, up and down the stairs, not keeping up with the laundry … Ahh! 