End of Summer Checklist

So, the last official week of summer is here in Niagara. The season of fun is winding down with sunflowers, lush fruit and veggies to harvest, bright sunny but not so humid days, faster approaching crisp nights, starry skies, less bugs, crunchy foliage in the gardens, the rush to fit in those activities we MUST do because we promised, and also, there's usually a quite a bit left of the around the house "to do" list...

Here's ours:

Install Basketball net in driveway

Install flagpole

paint small table purple

paint shelf for kitchen and install

replace electrical socket in DS bathroom

Put away camping gear

Clean out the garage (again) and either garage sale or goodwill it

Assess garden cleanup needs

Put away summer toys and decor

Pull out Autumn decor bins

Finish September calendar for Home School

Finishing prepping rooms for international students

Decide on what to can for the preserve pass along party

September is just around the corner, and Labour day marks the end of another great niagara summer!

Hurray for the memories we've had and hurray for the fall fast approaching!

"Moving Days"

I write this hestitantly because I don't want a deluge of invites to come in over the next few weeks, but it must be said.

I Love helping people move.

I realized this truth this weekend helping my sister and her family move. They moved into one of our first homes, and we honestly LOVED that house. It was overflowing with memories, family gatherings, cherished pets, our first baby, my father in law's happy twilight years by the pond, just so many great times. I'm happy for them to be able to create their own memories in such a great house, making it their home. I'm also kind of selfishly happy that my boys will know the house in their own way, as their cousins house. The house had gone through quite alot of abuse since we lived in it - and as we were moving them in, it seemed to sigh a happy sigh of relief J.

To me, there's an incredible sense of community and connection helping people move. All the "stuff" that represents the life they've been building is in boxes. The new house is not just a new place, but representative of a new chapter, a fresh start, new neighbours, new hopes. How could I not love being part of the process of moving people? It's also full of energy, the friends and family that pitch in, the kids running around discovering the nooks and cranies only a child can fully appreciate. The guys using their brawn and brains to get those difficult and heavy items in through the odd shaped doors and stairways (sighJ). The ladies figuring out where things should go (at least until they begin to settle themselves and get a feel for what works/looks/feels best - but to make that transition easier - setting up the rooms, and making finding living and decor items easy to find is such a great thing! (of course the more organized the people moving are, the more pleasant this experience is). Its a day filled with laughter, frustrations, teamwork, creativity, co-operation, eating off paper plates and scrambling to find a place to sit amid the boxes - the sense of community is just so great - and I guess right now, my soul is really appreciating God's design for us to be communities, to demonstrate His life, His love, His son Jesus - and to "partake" together. I look forward to the next time I can help someone move.J

(I remember once we moved during a snowstorm - craziness, but what memories - and what great heroes who helped in spite of it.)

to top it all off, there was a golden sunset last night (supposedly it represents the perfection of all matter on any level, including that of the mind, spirit, and soul).

Here's my attempt at capturing it on the side of the highway driving home (I know, dangerous - but it was glorious) J

Summer of Fun 2011

SUMMER FUN LIST 2011

FIREWORKS

ROCHESTER MUSEUM OF PLAY

FARMERS MARKET

Z O O S CARS 2

PORT DALHOUSIE CAROUSEL & PIER

BBQ WITH FRIENDS

FIRE OUT BACK DRIVE IN

ROAST Lots CLIFF JUMPING

of SMORES ORGANIC FARM

CRAZY MOM’S CAMPING TRIP

ICE CREAM HIKE NIAGARA GORGE

AT THE DAIRY BAR KUNG FU PANDA 2

FISHING BASEBALL

WITH POOL PARTIES

GRANDPA

VISIT A NEW BEACH SOCCER

OVERNIGHT IN THE BACKYARD

BLUE JAYS

GREAT GRANDMA’S COTTAGE

This was my attempt at creativity on the computer - I think I'll stick to text and pics. This took forever and it's nothing like what I had originally done (and liked). This not so much.

Anyways, here's the checklist with only 3 weeks of "summer" left:

☼ Fireworks Nothing Like Fireworks on Canada Day

☼ Rochester Museum of Play Booked for this Weekend

☼ Farmer's Market Many Times especially for Fresh produce

☼ Zoos Still not as often as I would have liked, but enough

☼ CARS 2 Went with Daddy and Mr. Big Dog

☼ Port Dalhousie Pier and Carousel At the beginning of the season before it got busy

☼ BBQ with Friends Many times, and many more still to come

Fire Out Back

☼ DRIVE IN Mommy and Lucas went to see Transformers 2 w/friends

☼ ROAST Lots of Smores Especially at Grandma's

☼ CLIFF JUMPING On the Matawa River with Cousins

☼ ORGANIC FARM Every week, signed up for the Box Program

☼ CRAZY MOM’S CAMPING TRIP Booked for the last week of Summer

☼ ICE CREAM AT THE DAIRY BAR Our first family outing of the season

☼ KUNG FU PANDA 2 Family Outing

HIKE NIAGARA GORGE

☼ FISHING WITH Grandpa Spent a whole week swimming and Fishing

☼ BASEBALL & SOCCER Every week, will be glad when it's over

☼ POOL PARTIES Lots of these especially in HOT HOT July

☼ VISIT A NEW BEACH Long Beach in Wainfleet, ON

OVERNIGHT IN THE BACKYARD

♥ BLUE JAYS Just daddy went with Uncle Eric L

☼ GREAT GRANDMA’S COTTAGE Our full family holiday J so much fun!

My latest read

Loved this one. When I thought I couldn't take much more "revolution"; I got some more.

From Eternity to Here

This was enthralling, like the days long ago when I read a good romance, but better, because it's real...

I've fallen into a deeper love with God and the Bible and the great romance between Christ and his Bride the church.

It's awakened a love for the books of Genesis and Revelation. Truly books I've thought were too "advanced" or "mysterious" for me...

It's made me want to go back through some of the classics from when I was in Bible College. Authors like Watchman Nee, Bonhoffer and E W Kenyon.

It's also made me want to read some of the works for Myles Monroe on the Kingdom. I remember my mom and sister telling me about it, and this seems very similar. Nothing like a recurring theme in revelation.

I love a book that challenges me not to swallow what it's saying, but to dig deeper. So so so good, especially after all the other books I've been reading.

I'm also still reading A New Kind of Christianity by Brian McLaren. I love books that ask questions. I love asking questions and growing through searching for the answers. I love how in God "everything works together".

Finally, as a family we've been reading The Magicians Nephew by CS Lewis. Need I say more? Awesome!

Why we decided to Homeschool and Our Curriculum Choices for 2011-12

I read this post by Edie at lifeingrace and it just sums it all up so simply. Check out her blog too, her style is incomparable and her writing is real. Love it.

Why the Heaslips are Homeschooling...

1. We are WEIRD.

We've never really been "normal" in the eyes of most people. We live in an "upside down" house. We've been married over 13 years and we still tend to act like we're horny 19 year olds. We've had borders/ tenants and extended family live with us since the first year we were married. We've chosen to invest our money into buying assets rather than have everything new and right now. We buy from an organic farm and we have a huge veggie garden I love to be in and can the fruits of, we try to eat meals made from scratch everyday. We research alternative choices from everything like energy consumption, political affiliations and where and how we worship. We're not afraid of the TV, movies or "questionable" books and holidays like Halloween. Our lives are not cluttered with strife and drama... we have great relationships with our extended families and friends despite the ups and downs of life... So choosing a different method of education is our normal.

2. Educational standard.

Most people I talk to (not all) think that the choice to home school is a faith based decision. While almost ALL of our decisions are faith based - our decision to home school was based primarily in wanting our kids to have the fullest, strongest education possible. We are not afraid of putting our kids in public or private schools. I know many people who believe we should send our kids to be a witness. it's not that I disagree with this, it's that I want education to be just that. No other agenda just the best education I can provide.

According to Websters Education in the general sense is any act or experience that has a formative effect on the mind, character, or physical ability of an individual. In its technical sense, education is the process by which society deliberately transmits its accumulated knowledge, skills, and values from one generation to another.

That's alot to expect from a public/ private educator (who are usually underpaid) I like knowing that they will have a much broader education than my public education afforded me. They'll be exposed to classic literature, world history, geography, art, music, etc and that we can focus more of their energy into developing them into naturalists.

We want our boys to grow up to be WEIRD men. Men who understand the world around them and their place in it. Men who have a great respect for community, economics, investing and have a trade they are skilled in. We want them to thirst for knowledge and wisdom and to know how to get it and use it well. Furthermore, I want our kids to be a living witness no matter where they are, or who they are with. The best way I can do that is to BE that witness to them and my world all the time. I also want to say this. I am not dismissing the many gifted educators in the schooling systems. I believe that they are skilled and gifted and trained to teach rooms of many students from many backgrounds and levels of ability. I am grateful that I have the choice and opportunity to school my three boys, and ONLY them. Knowing their specific strengths and weaknesses and knowing that I don't have to divide my time with another 15 plus students.

I also want to say that I NEVER thought I'd be home schooling. I don't have the patience or the discipline and I am lacking in many areas. However, I do know that NO ONE loves my kids like me, and that no one else will be as passionate for their success in life as me, and no one has been given the amount of grace for them as I have.

3. Socialization

I am not worried about them not being socialized. We have a very large network of families, friends, faith communities and local home schooling networks. I am excited that they will be learning how to socialize with all ages, in many many different environments and truly believe it will give them an edge on the rest of their peers as they enter into maturity.

4. TIME

The final area that I want to mention is the area that both scares me and excites me the most. So many moms I talk to look forward to the day their kids start school almost as much if not more than the first day of summer. While part of me shares this sentiment because who doesn't need a break?

However, there's a part deep inside of me that feels like it's going by so fast and I'm missing so much. I want to be "present" for as much of their lives as I can. I like the fact that we can just BE a family in simplicity and grace. That it affords us time, flexibility and the chance to include dad who works so hard to support us. I like that we can use our family times and vacations as part of the whole experience, rather than "squeeze" things in when we can.

I've worked in ministry part time through most of my boys lives so far, and there are things that I know I need to bring correction to in their behaviours (mostly because we were so busy and i felt so guilty that I just let things slide). I know in my heart, that the season of letting things slide is over. I'm really eager to begin to MOTHER my kids wholeheartedly everyday, all the time.

Having said that, I know it's not for everyone and we are just starting. I am committed to this for the near future, but am also open to it not working and seeking another alternative. Right now though, this is it.

I'm linking this post to a few Home School networks and would love your feedback on not only the above, but especially the curriculum listed below. J

Our Curriculum for 2011-12

Carter (JK-SK)

Reading/ Writing

Primary Arts of Language; The Phonetic Farm

Handwriting Without Tears; Before 5 in a Row

Math

Math U See - Primer

Social Studies

A Year of Fun Just for Fives

Science

The Nature Connection; Nature Activities for Early Childhood

Phys. Ed

Family Time Fitness; Gymnastics/karate; Skating & Swimming

Bible

Promiseland; Awana

Art

Draw Write Now

Maxwell (grade 1)

Reading/ Writing

Primary Arts of Language; The Phonetic Farm; Five in a Row

Math

Math U See - Primer

Social Studies

A Pioneer Story; Canada, My Country

Science

The Nature Connection; Super Science Concoctions; Abeka 1

Phys. Ed

Family Time Fitness; Gymnastics/ Karate; Skating & Swimming

Bible

Promiseland; Awana

Art

Draw Write Now

Lucas (grade 2)

Reading/ Writing

Primary Arts of Language; Handwriting Without Tears

All About Spelling

Math

Math U See - Alpha

Social Studies

A Pioneer Story; Canada, My Country

Science

The Nature Connection; Super Science Concoctions; Abeka

Health

Abeka

Phys. Ed

Family Time Fitness; Gymnastics/Karate; Skating & Swimming

Bible

Promiseland; Awana

Art

Draw Write Now