Spring is when the benefits of homeschool come into full play. Honestly, by the end of February or March, when it's been cold and dreary for so long, and we've been cooped up inside together for months, public school starts to look awfully appealing. Just in time, spring blooms and the joy of homeschool is restored and renewed!
The last few weeks we've been getting together regularly with other homeschool friends to enjoy the beautiful weather and let our kids play outside. We've visited a variety of parks, including the newly renovated playground at our local park.
Another week we tried out a new park, but before we let the kids loose to play we took them on a hike.
"Hike" might be a generous term. It was more of a walk along a flat, paved trail, but there was nature around us so I'm counting it as a hike. The kids raced to the end and this is the sight that met us as we came around the last corner.
Once we let them free to play, they had a long, glorious afternoon roaming the park, kicking the soccer ball, and climbing trees.
Aubree spent the first 15 minutes finishing her book, then joined in the adventures.
For almost 13 years we have been beholden to the almighty afternoon nap. I don't regret adhering to sleep schedules, but we are on the cusp of a new era. Nellie, at 2 1/2, still takes a short nap most afternoons, but if she misses a day here and there it's no big deal. This has made our park days even more fun because we can stay and stay and stay.
One beautiful morning Aubree and Bryce were stuck inside doing their annual assessment, but Thane, Graham, Nellie, and I were able to hit a favorite playground for a few hours. Not surprisingly, they quickly found themselves a few friends.
One unseasonably warm afternoon our friends texted to let us know they were at the lake. We only had a few minutes before we needed to pick Aubree up from co-op, but we'd finished our work early, so we stopped by planning to spend just a brief time with them.
Of course, a few minutes was more than enough time for Graham and Nellie to get themselves thoroughly soaked.
Our friends offered to watch Bryce and Thane while I ran carpool. Nellie and Graham didn't love leaving, but Bryce and Thane loved getting to spend extra time with their friends.
Most of our park adventures have been at a great park in a nearby city as part of a homeschool open play invitation.
This park is extra great because the play structure is impressive, there's a basketball hoop, and (best of all) it has an enclosed soccer field.
Bryce's friend Jordan brought a couple of his rip sticks the first week at this park. Bryce was immediately captivated and spent the whole time we were there teaching himself how to ride.
By the end of the first day, after lots and lots of falling, he made major improvement. It was impressive to watch him perservere.
As we've returned in subsequent weeks, Bryce heads right back out to skate with Jordan. The second week they ventured over to the skate park. Bryce got a little over-confident and ended up on his head. Good thing for helmets, because even with a helmet he hit hard enough to immediately feel nauseous and had a head ache the rest of the day. As we left the park that day he commented, "I think I might be done with the rip stick."
The next week, however, he was right back at it, and he wants me to make sure to write that now he's much better than in the video I posted above.
One Friday the local school district had the day off of school so even our non-homeschooling friends were able to join us for the afternoon!
Aubree always appreciates having an older girl with whom to play.
One park day the kids just couldn't get enough of their friends, so after playing we spent another few hours together at their home. Aubree and Kenzie decided to make and decorate sugar cookies.
Bryce and Jordan worked on robots, while Thane and Colman played Monopoly. Those boys will play Monopoly every chance they get (crazies)!
And if all of that wasn't enough, one warm afternoon a friend invited us over to play on her inflatable water slides. How genius is it to get one of these?!
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