May - lots of photos!

May happenings.  This month always feels so very full.  So many things are winding down and this year, it was some HUGE things.  This is Rebecca's last year homeschooling.  I remember starting with her when she was so very young and doing the picture books and acting them out, doing crafts and more.  She was always such a fun student as she is eager to learn - still is.  And as this piece of the journey comes to an end, there are lots of markers along the way.  

We took some photos with her dear friend Hanna.  These beautiful young ladies will be having their graduation together.  Seems fitting as they have done a lot of learning and playing and laughing together over the years too!

May is also the end of another year of school for Christopher.  He finished his third year at NC State.  I can hardly believe that he is a rising senior!  It has gone so quickly.  We were delighted to have some of his friends over for dinner and games.  I don't have a lot of pictures of this, but here are a few.

I am so thankful to be able to have this time with these wonderful young adults!  I hope we will be able to spend time with some of Rebecca's friends in this way too.  :)

We ended our year with our Five in a Row group with field events.  This is a fun tradition.  We played games like the 3-legged race.  

 The sack race.

 Broad jump

Softball throw

50 yard dash

And the egg and spoon race.

While they are competing, there is also a lot of time for laughter and fun.

Ribbons are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each event.  (By age and gender)

We also take time to honor our seniors.  We started this a few years ago when Christopher graduated.  All four of these moms have been in this spot before.  I'm not sure that it makes it any easier.  One of our friends prayed over us and I found myself with tears slipping down my face.  It just catches you off guard sometimes.  I've been doing field trips and events with this precious daughter of mine for over 18 years now.  I'm looking forward to more in the future!

 We also celebrated with cupcakes.  I made the GF strawberry ones and they were so yummy.

 Just a cute photo of my youngest - who has many more years of field trips ahead of her, but I know that those years will go quickly too.

Joshua, Isaiah and Roger went on a Civil War field trip (extended) with Roger's work and had a fabulous time.  We had fun at home while they were away too!

Once Christopher was home from taking exams, it was time to hit the beach!  I'm never sure how much time we will have to vacation together and always want to grab the time while we can.  The beach is such a fun place for all of us!  We had a delightful week there with beautiful weather and not too many people.   We enjoy playing in the sand and the ocean.  

And swimming in the pool.

Really ... all of it.  Well, maybe not the sunburn, but the rest of it.  It was Mother's Day and I wanted a picture with all of my children.  :)  

Here is one with my girls.

A round of putt putt was a fun family night!

Rebecca and some of her friends attending a homeschool dance.  

 So beautiful!  :)

 We also went to see a local theatre performance.  The musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  Rebecca loves musicals and we made this a fun night out with friends.  We went out to dinner and then to the performance.  It was great and a fun evening!

Meeting some of the actors afterwards was a neat experience too.

Also in May is our state homeschool conference.  Rebecca has been attending with me for a number of years now (since I stopped being a vendor).  She really likes going to the workshops and also hanging out with her friends.  This year was no different.  Well, that part wasn't different, but there was something new.

We did not take part in the graduation at the conference, but will be having a celebration in July with family and friends.  I only have one photo of the two of us at the conference.  Its not the best one as it is at the very end and we were both worn out.  Its a photo though that captures this memory.  :)

The last event of the month was our family outing on Memorial Day.  We went to a park to hang out and have fun.  Friends met us and it was a great day.  

 Lots of games were played.  Soccer.

 Football from the Enos.

 Kan Jam

Poleish

Food of course.

 More games.  Ultimate frisbee.

 Volleyball.

 And even some fishing.  Delightful day.  It was planned at the last minute and sometimes those are the best.  :)  Thankful for this time and this day.

 Eliana continued to play soccer this month.

 They learned some basics and mostly just had fun.

 The staff and teens that worked with this program are super!  Eliana enjoyed this and I hope we will be able to do more events like this in the future.

 A month that was full in many ways ... a busy calendar, but not so full that we didn't have time to laugh, play and spend time with friends.  Those are days well spent.

Will hopefully share next about one of my favorite co-ops and a field trip to go with it!  Then it will be on to June.  I'm just about caught up now!  I hope you are having a great summer.

Blessings
Leslie

Beach - Trip 1

There were so many photos that I have delayed going through them all.  Time is slowing down a bit though after a very busy first 3 weeks of June.

When Christopher came home in May, we wanted to take a trip to the beach with him.  Our family is blessed to be able to go to the same spot that I've been going to since I was a teen.  I love being here with my whole family.  (Roger joined us after he had finished up week-end work obligations.)

 It was May so it was still a bit cool here.  Also not crowded at all.

Plenty of room to run and play.

The beach is a spot that everyone enjoys.  I will say that the littlest one just purely delights in the water and sand.  She would stay out all day until she was completely worn out!

 We love walking down to a little "river" that is a place where the ocean makes a gentle waterway.

 Its a great spot to sit and play.

To relax at low tide.

 To look for shells.  This is often where we find the best ones.

To get a helping hand.  I love this picture.  I've always loved seeing them together.  And can you see the huge smile on her face?

Its just such a beautiful place.

Room to explore.

To enjoy family.

To build and create.

Who can identify this one?

Just space to be happy and carefree.

The big holes we dig are fun in the day and also into the evening.

Sweet picture of brothers.

We like to walk down to the pier.

And sometimes go inside to play the arcade games.

Time to enjoy a family putt-putt competition.  (Christopher won!)

And frozen yogurt afterwards.

Beautiful girl.

More digging.  A tunnel.

And everyone (but me) took turns going through.

Tossing water on Daddy is always fun.

I love shots from the back.  So sweet.

Love the way she is looking up to her big brother.

My beautiful girls.

I love having my family all together.

This is becoming a new tradition.  A meal at the Trolley Stop on the way home.

It was just past Mother's Day and I wanted a current picture with my children.  Love it!

Sweet memories with my favorite people.  Thankful for this time.

I hope you are making sweet memories with those that you love too!

Blessings
Leslie