Moving On.....

This decision has been over a year in the making but I think that it is finally time.  I have decided to stop writing my two different blogs and plan to move over to my Magic School House Blog permanently.  This not been an easy decision (a bit teary really), Raising Z has been a part of me since 2008!  I have published over 850 posts in this space and it is really hard to let that go.  But there is a lot on my plate right now and I am unable to continue to keep up with both blogs.  With both kids now school aged, I feel like Magic School House is the right blog for the next season of life.

Raising Z began with a New Years resolution.  I told Scott that I wanted to journal about my time at home with Z (cheap therapy) and he suggested I blog.  I had no idea what a blog was in January 2008 when I signed on with Blogger.  This blog was a great outlet for me and so much has happened since its inception.  I have so enjoyed my time in this space and I have "met" some great online friends because of it.  It will always hold a special place in my heart but I feel it is time to move on.

Thanks to all of you who have hung out in this space over the years.  I'd love for you to come with me if you'd like....I will be hanging out at my Magic School House Blog (Click Here).  There is a subscribe tab on the top of the blog so you don't have to remember the blog address.  If you subscribe the blog posts will be sent to your email box, you don't even have to click through to read my posts.

Thanks again everybody, I will be posting the same posts on both blogs for awhile to help make an easier transition and will not be taking RaisingZ down for awhile......you never know I might just come back.

Making Memories....

We've been busy with birthday parties, our new homeschool co-op, Z's nature class, our mini vacation trip to the lake, a family birthday party for Z and my niece and Scott ran a 5K while I volunteered.  Here are some highlights...

A Pokemon Party in the Park

homeschool co-op-tracking class

Birthday Party Number 2--Batman Party at a Bouncy House 

Homeschool Nature Class

90 degree September Day

Trip to the Loon Center with Neene

Birthday Party Time

My Big Job at the Race

A fun race for a GREAT cause!

Perks of Homeschooling

This week New England was blessed with some unseasonably warm weather.  Wednesday's temperatures were in the 90's and when I saw the forecast there was only one place I wanted to be....the Lake!  I postponed all of our plans for the week and we headed to the lake Wednesday after Z's nature class.  Z and I couldn't wait to jump in the lake and have that last warm day of summer.

It was a much needed break after a rocky Tuesday of homeschooling.  We enjoyed the sun, swimming, jumping off the raft and even went for a a kayak trip with Chi Chi.  This blessing of a day was just what we needed to recharge and have fun together.  Tomorrow we will "hit the books" again but today was a gift, a gift that I know we will both remember forever!

When at the lake....

This post was a group effort.  I want to thank my sisters Kristen and Laura, my mom and the youngest kids for their contributions.

When at the lake....it is perfectly acceptable, and expected, to forget what day of the week it is.

When at the lake....the kids know that when mommy has her wine glass it must be 5pm, which means time for their daily show.

When at the lake...going to the country store for a pickle and some candy can pass for "grocery shopping". 

When at the lake...."where I build fairy houses, ride on Uncle Marc's boat and make friends....mom what's their names?"

When at the lake...when someone asks you what time it is, you look up at the sun and guess.

When at the lake.....getting dressed for the day means putting on clothes that you just might wear to bed that night.

When at the lake.....the only thing on the to-do list is swim and maybe make meals for the kids.

When at the lake....."where I go fishing with my dad and jump into water"

When at the lake...if someone says they are going to wash up, that means they are going to go for a swim. (ahem)

When at the lake...going for morning coffee means walking to the next cottage that actually has coffee.  

When at the lake....where it is perfectly suitable for a grown adult to act 16 again, or age 5 in the case of our crazy Old School Memory Games.

When at the lake...going out for breakfast means checking out which of the neighbors is making pancakes that morning.  

When at the lake...where bed head or wearing a hat is the fashionable way to go.

Back to Reality...Oh the Laundry!

Last night we got home from our wonderful time at the lake.  25 days of relaxing, swimming, playing, reading and spending time with daddy on weekends.  There were moments of stress, sadness and frustration but overall it was an amazing time spent with family and friends in a beautiful place.

Today is a day of laundry (oh so much laundry), organizing, catch up, Open House at Lil'C's school and prepping for Homeschooling which begins tomorrow.  So much to do before our very busy day tomorrow.  I am working on a post about our time at the lake and hope to get it out by the end of the week.  We will have to see, I also have a book club book to read!

I hope all your kiddos are enjoying school and the transition from vacation to school was smooth. Time to head back to folding laundry :)

Oh What Fun Camp Mama Was!!

All summer over on my other blog, Magic School House, I have been documenting our Camp Mama experience.  We had 8 themes over 9 weeks and we had so much fun learning so many things.  I tried to organize our summer adventures around the summer themes and for the most part they aligned nicely.  We did go to the Ocean during Sports week and to a baseball game during Ocean Week but that was okay. This was such a fun way to spend the summer and we are already chatting about next years themes!

Here are a few of the collages from our Camp Mama weeks.  To check out the rest, head over to the Magic School House blog.