Summer Planning

Can you believe that summer is only a few weeks away? I think it is harder for me since the weather around here has been cool, hardly feeling much like spring---I am wrapping up the school year and planning excitedly for the summer!

Here are some things we will do this summer:

1. Garden, garden, garden~until flowers and vegetables are growing out of our ears!

2. Teach girls to make bread in the bread maker.

3. Try new recipes and teach the children to make several more different meals.

4. I have the urge for camping---but since I feel this might be a little too soon for our little twins, I think I can settle on picnicking---A LOT--probably at the beach and arboretum and wherever else I can dream of.

5. Sip plenty of lemonade and host many BBQ's.

(Strawberry lemonade from Theres No Place Like Home)

6. We will be crafty and make clothes and accessories for dolls that live in our home.

7. Paint and decorate our homeschool room so it will be ready for next year.

8. Attack the clutter monster in my garage since the weather will be nice enough.

9. Plan and purchase for next school year. I love browsing through homeschool catalogs on the deck watching the children play.

10. Lots of fun, adventure, and exciting get-aways.

11. Plenty of good old-fashioned "garage-sailing"!

This is not exhaustive, but only a glance at what we will do. I also like to do a little school with the children to keep them on their toes--we will be focusing on some character lessons I have planned for them. In the summer, I like to plan in advance some books I would like the girls to read to encourage them and give them a vision for Biblical girlhood and womanhood since they have more time in the summer to read. They are such bookworms and love to devour just about anything I put in front of them. Janai let me know she wanted to go through the book 'Beautiful Girlhood' again this summer--one that had challenged her last year.

We will also pick up some skills this summer. Janai would like spend more time on violin and Spanish and Naomi the recorder, lap harp and typing.

I hope you are as excited as I am. Remember, that us Moms are memory makers for our families. What we plan for them will be some of their best childhood memories-drawing them closer to us and home. Outings and events can be great, but some of our greatest memories are just hanging around the house spending time and loving one another and just truly talking to each other. Time we sacrificially devote to one-on-one time is priceless---so be sure to include this in your summer plans!

Whatever you plan to do, take advantage of this precious time with your family and have a great summer!