Back to Normal

A week without Scott simply made for a very interesting week here at home. Last night, our final night before his return home, found Shelby, Dawson, Tucker, & I heating up marshmallows in the microwave to watch them blow up, painting the final parts of our projects, and watching the Eagles game -- all until 10:45 pm. We have definitely not been keeping Rutherford hours. Even so, I didn't make it awake long enough to know the Eagles were beaten. And by those dratted Cowboys, too. Just salt in the wound.

Our goals for this week are definitely simple. Doctors appointments (in a family this size, someone always has an appointment!), school work (including Physics and Astronomy), daily chores, and catching up on reading/resting since we did little of either while Scott was gone. Simple plans, but I know they will encompass a lot of hours.

It is difficult, occasionally, to see where all of the effort goes when there is so little to physically see after a week. I mean, I can look at the log to see how much school the kids actually did, but it isn't as obvious as, say, painting a step-stool. I can see the finished stool every time I go into the kitchen as a very visable reminder of a goal set and accomplished. I think the struggle that comes with raising kids and homeschooling is that you don't really see the progress for days , weeks, or sometimes even months. You know they are being taught since you're the one doing it, but you aren't always sure how much they "got it." And the confirmation of learning always comes at times you least expect it. Such as hearing the six-year-old announce: "I feel quite aggravated that the velocity of this car is so held back by friction." Double-take huh? I thought you were just coloring while we studied!

And, so, we will begin a more normal week. Back to bedtime around 8 pm for everyone, back to daily naps for Abigail, back to finding the joy in the small accomplishments that make up our days and weeks.