Beauty in February

Harrison is outside with friends, Liz is out, Phoebe is working on a sewing project, Jon is at driver's ed, Phillip is working on the homeschool app, and I'm cozying up to the computer with a cup of hot mint tea beside me. 

It is a beautiful day in February.

February is a hard month for homeschoolers ~ for all teachers, I imagine. The after-holiday let-down has set in. It's cold. Someone is usually sick. And you just have to keep going with school. We do have spring break coming up in two weeks, but the new school term and new projects from co-op and new math concepts just keep bombarding us! February feels like it won't let up.

BUT! We are almost to March. And truly, time is moving all too quickly. Liz will have her graduation party in just a few months, and I haven't really started preparing for it. 

Deep cleansing breath.

It's a beautiful day in February. 

These are some of the books I've been reading. I love the time in the evening. I get ready and get in bed around 9 pm and spend time relaxing and reading. The kids pass in and out to say goodnight, to tell me about the story they just listened to, to have a little conversation. Bedtime is one of the joys of my life right now. 

I'm doing the 20 in 2020 reading challenge. The Susanna Wesley book is my chosen Biography and the top book, The African Triology, is my Non-Western Book.  I meet with a group of homeschool moms and go through selections of The Great Tradition, so that one is an on-going read.

Liz took senior pictures for a friend of hers, and I absolutely loved the creativity in this one. 

I found this blog periodical last night. I'm loving it. It's part of the beauty of this February. Seasonally they present things of truth, beauty and goodness that employ most of your senses. I'm listening to their Winter playlist right now. They have a delightful looking Winter Berry Cobbler recipe. Gorgeous photography. Many articles and resources to read coming from many different minds. The founder loves CS Lewis, Tolkien and George MacDonald, so she is a kindred spirit. 

If you need a winter pick-me-up, go on over to Cultivate. 

Planetarium and Tanglewood Camp

We went to the late night show at Scobee Planetarium last night. The show was a Mission to Mars ~ a very insightful look at the hazards and possibilities that the actual Mars journey could encounter in a few years. It's crazy to think that we could actually go to Mars. But we went to the Moon; that was crazy at the time too. We all decided we definitely are not cut out to be explorers of this kind. But I can't wait to find out what they discover. 

After the show they let us look through the telescope on the observation deck. It was trained on the nebulae in Orion. And the Club on the ground floor let us look through their telescopes, one of which was focused on the moon. They took a picture with my phone, and it is so awesome looking! 

A few weeks ago, the older kids all went to Mid-Winter Camp at Tanglewood. It was just Harrison at home with us for the weekend. He loved it. Although you come to realize how much the older kids entertain him. When they aren't around, he is right there beside you every step of the way. At least at 9 years old, he is. 

Phoebe on the camp swings.

I finished! Now to figure out what to do with it.  What to do, what to do?

Harrison enjoying Calvin and Hobbes. 

He's really loving them ~ makes me happy. I enjoyed them so much as a kid.