{This and That} :: Happy July!

So, I'll get to the big news first... I realized I never shared here that Baby #10 is due just after the new year!

I felt awful for a few months but am slowly regaining energy and health. Hoping to feel all the way back to normal just in time for our new school year to begin in early August!

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Last week I was in Philadelphia for the CMEC Summer Retreat. I really enjoyed getting out of town for a few days -- the change of pace was such a nice break from the difficult first trimester I had had, and I started to feel better just in time to enjoy the trip. I was so relieved everything came together in time.

I will be posting a big wrap-up of my trip there -- the retreat, the Mason chat, and our trip to the Philadelphia Art Museum -- in the next week. It has taken me a week to recover (ha!) and now I just need to sort through photos!

I have two more speaking engagments planned this year and then I'm taking a break until after baby...

CM West :: Retreat at Puget Sound is coming up in September! It's filling up but there are still a few spots left -- and they're hoping to offer some commuter spots once it fills completely. Now that I have the CMEC Retreat behind me, I will begin prepping for my talks there. My focus will be on the third tool of education, the presentation of living ideas, as well as how all three tools work together. The retreat is filling up very quickly!

In October, I'm planning to present a half-day fall retreat for CMEC members. We'll be considering the role of the lesson, teacher, and student and trying to get to the heart of the Mason philosophy through how those interactions work out in daily work. That will include some immersion lessons too, as well as lots of discussion and some personal reflection tools to take home. :)

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Birthdays! I had three birthday boys this late spring / early summer...

The milestone birthday was for our first teen in the house! Vincent turned thirteen and headed to an A's game with Gianna and Daddy to celebrate.

Drew turned five. He'll be a kindergartener next year!

And my current littlest, Damien, turned two earlier this month!

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This summer hasn't gone quite like I expected. Being in the first trimester, my energy for plans and projects went WAY down. But one thing that has been a nice blessing is the chance to just spend lots and lots of free time at home. The children have had so much fun playing board games, listening to audiobooks, reading, drawing, sewing, and playing outside. It has been very unhurried and refreshing for them (if not for me!) and I have such a good feeling that they will come to the new school year with enthusiasm and renewed spirits.

In his free time, Xavier sewed up another handmade project: this felt dagger, which he designed and made all by himself! My favorite part is the embroidered hilt.

He thought about sewing a sword belt, but then realized he could sling one of his (many) knitted chains around his waist. Perfect!

This fall we'll be embarking on clay modeling, I think, for our handicraft time together. Anyone have favorite resources to share?

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Speaking of fall: I still have quite a bit of planning to do but am really looking forward to this coming school year... Or at least the first half of it, until we add a newborn to our roster. :) We are hoping to start either the first or second week of August. I have the bookshelves filled and ready to go, but I have to get our timetables and the hands-on subjects prepped.

I'm adding a non-reading Year 1 student this year, which is always a bit of a challenge to coordinate around the other grades I'm managing. But she is so excited to begin "the serious business of education" as Mason calls it that I know it will be a year full of joy.

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I'll be back later this week with a Retreat Recap! See you then.