There are so many fun perks to homeschooling. Several places give discounts during the school day for homeschooling families. We tried ice skating for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Emma was with us for her spring break and I am glad she was. I was scheduled to run a half marathon a few days later and I did not want to twist an ankle trying to help my girls stand up. Plus, I probably would have just fallen more often than they!

Chloe and Autumn were able to "teach" Emma how to ice a cake while she was here.

Easter, we went to BG after worship at Woodland Hills. When I was a kid, I remember hunting eggs several years at Grandma and Grandpa's house and that is a wonderful memory for me.  The photo below, with the bird house, is really funny :) I had to give them so many hints to find that egg. I snapped that photo just as Chloe found it. We didn't get a traditional Easter dress photo, but sometimes comfortable clothes are just better.

Last week, Autumn, Adam and I went to a Home Free concert at the Ryman. It was grand! I don't think I had been to the Ryman for music before and it was really nice. (Don't worry, Chloe is not the black sheep. She simply didn't want to go. She had an equally exciting (to her) slumber party with a friend.) 

# 342 of things I never thought I would enjoy...curling my little girl's hair.

 Chloe's love is still babies and she is truly old enough to be a help to my mom friends of littles. We babysat the other day and Chloe was thrilled to be able to give this one a bottle! She was also invited along to the dentist to care for a friend's babe while the mom had her teeth cleaned. Afterwards, she told me how she got him to stop crying and that she had to take him back to his mom, but she was extremely proud of herself. 

Both girls are reading now. Chloe has really taken off and can read lots of things on her own. She still doesn't choose to sit down and read, but doesn't argue when told to do so. Right now, she is reading Betsy-Tacy during the school day and Ramona the Pest before bed. I had never heard of Betsy-Tacy, but it's a really sweet book about young friends.          Autumn is doing well, and I was thrilled that she wanted to read a book to her friends!

We finally chose to put Autumn in gymnastics classes. I have taught her the things I know how to teach. She and I also watched some YouTube videos to figure out some things. This was after several attempts on my part to SHOW her how to do something. A 35 year old body does not move the way a 7 years old's does! 

The gym we went to has a homeschool class. It is a big gym and they have all. the. things. She got to attempt all kinds of things. They had stations and were never really standing in line or being still. So much so that I began to think she wouldn't make it through the entire hour.  She tried flips and jumps and even a beginner's vault. They asked her what gym she had been to before, so apparantly we did okay learning a few things at home :) 

Our last nature day, we had to dress for winter, and Chloe spotted a turtle hunting for spring too.

However, this week, spring has finally (maybe) arrived! It was shorts weather yesterday and all 3 of us are excited. We need some people to start joining us at the park :)