My dad is driving out from WI next week, and he will be here on & off until the beginning of July. My mom is coming out twice during that time as well -- she & my dad are leaving from here for a trip to Hawaii in early May and then she'll come back again mid-June when my brother & his wife come for a visit.

In late June, the boys will attend our parish's week-long Vacation Bible School. I haven't checked, but the last 2 years they have used a fully Catholic curriculum, and I hope they have decided to stick with that again this year.

I just signed the boys up for 2 classes in July. One is a cooking class that meets once a week for 4 weeks. The other is a cartooning class that meets 4 days in one week. They are excited about both and especially excited about the cartooning class. They have been creating comic books for a few months now and can't wait to learn some new techniques.

The boys are hankering to attend Zoo Camp again this year, but I haven't enrolled them yet. The cost hasn't increased in the last few years, but $306 is a big chunk from our budget at this time. I'm holding off for a little bit and hoping (praying) some money comes available so they can attend again this year. It's a week-long camp that they both enjoy. If they go this summer, it'll be one of the early weeks in June.

I went through the boys' workbooks and figured out how much they had to do in each to finish them by mid-May.

We got word 3 weeks ago that my MIL was terribly ill. We scrambled, made a trip to NC so she could meet her grandkids for the first time, returned. She died the day after we returned and my husband flew back to NC.

While we haven't completely given up schooling, we've missed a few days and my earlier plan is shot.

And I FINALLY realized -- so what?? Life happens. We work around it. There is absolutely NO reason that I needed to finish this academic year by a certain date. There is really no reason that we have to finish those workbooks at all this academic year.

Both boys can read. Perform mathematical calculations. Write. Draw. Learn new things wherever we are and whatever we're doing. They'll be fine.

I'm not saying that I should completely give up, or that I shouldn't make plans. But I can't be rigid either. While sitting in the car while traveling last week, suddenly C says "So, when I'm borrowing while doing math, I can only borrow tens, right?" And I looked at my husband and said "He's just sitting back there thinking about math. How awesome is that??"

We're still doing plenty of read alouds (currently reading Hardy Boys #1 and Wizard of Oz). Colin reads at least one book a day on his own (currently loving Geronomino Stilton). Nate is trying to figure out how to dig a trench in the backyard and is completely enthralled in the construction work going on next door. We had an impromptu spelling bee in the car today while dropping off our van for repairs. Both boys independently write and/or draw in their journals. They became Junior Rangers at Carl Sandburg's home in Hendersonville, NC.

Every day is a learning experience for my kids. Workbooks may reinforce the things they learn, but they aren't the main focus. They are smart. They are polite. They are right where they need to be.

I admit, though, that I won't be able to let the workbooks fall by the wayside. I have just adjusted and realized we'll be working into June. And that's OKAY!