Summertime So Far

Summer is officially here - all the schools are out.  As a homeschooling family, the 'official' last day of school is lost on us.  We sort of start tapering off in mid-March and by the beginning of May, kids tiptoe into the school room to finish up the last few pages of this workbook or that workbook.

That last sentence makes it sound like all sunshine and lollipops around here.  In actuality, they slip into the schoolroom when I start handing out extra chores because somebody said the magic phrase..."Mama, I don't know what to do."

I'm thankful my kids don't moan, "I'm bored."  Their version sounds less whiny, but the truth is, it means the same thing.  And when I hear it, I come up with all manner of things they could do with their energy and time.

Anyway, Summer is here.  We purchased a pool membership this year and I had high hopes of spending lots of time hiding my delicate red-headed complexion in the shade whilst my kiddos were expending lots of energy in the water.  However, it's been kind of rainy lately.  As in it-rains-every-single-day-and-there-is-no-way-i'm-going-to-dress-and-sunscreen-my-people-just-to-swim-for-the-eighty-seven-seconds-between-rain-showers-or-thunder-storms.

So there hasn't been much time at the pool and this is how we are all feeling about it:

These rainy days have given us ample opportunity to try out some of the fun ideas I've found on Pinterest, though. 

This little game didn't work as well as it probably should have, but it kept all five kids entertained for half an hour and the younger two entertained for most of an afternoon.  So, you know, win!

Another benefit of converting to almost solely indoor activities is that Thomas finished up a project he's been working on.  He frequently rides the neighborhood and brings home roadside finds, usually in the form of wood.  His latest find spoke the idea into his head of building a surprise for his youngest sister.  His finished product was unveiled today, much to Anna's pleasure.

It's hard to get a good pic of the lovely little table he built her, but she was enchanted and the girls have already put it to good use for a full blown ladies tea party (which both their brothers crashed when they realized there was pepperoni to be had!) and a tea party for their favorite dolls.  When the sun comes out, I'll get a good photograph (you know, iPhone good) of his miniature farm table masterpiece.

Actually, the sun did come out for a bit today and Thomas bee-lined outside to start the mower.  We negotiated a monthly contract with him for keeping the lawn mowed for the 'mowing season' and he is keen to keep up his end.

This development provides him with a paying job that puts some jingle in his pocket and frees up quite a bit of time for Joshua.  If left on his shoulders, it would take him two evenings worth of work to maintain the yard each week.  With Thomas doing the mowing, he takes only a couple hours one evening as needed to weed-eat, deal with shrub trimming, and other much smaller jobs.

Today, however, Thomas only got most of the backyard mowed before the rains set in again.  But at least our neighbors know we're trying to not bring down all the property values!!

One day?  One day we're hoping to get back to the pool and resume the energy expending. 

Sooo, any suggestions or ideas for more inside activities?  We still have quite a few rainy days forecasted over the next week or so...