The Transition of Spring

Late spring is a time of transitions . . . of weather, of school curriculum, and of extracurricular activities.

I find it invigorating to be ending activities that perhaps have become overly familiar and starting some new ventures.

Concluding . . . 

John's Boys' Club ended a couple of weeks ago, his and Mary's chess club ended today, and their swim class ends next Friday with their first swim meet. Margaret and Joseph's Younger Art Class ended a couple of weeks ago.

Continuing . . .

Music continues ever onward:  piano for the older three, theory for John and Mary, and violin for Mary.

New . . . 

This summer, Mary and John will be in Latin Choir for the third year in a row. Margaret will be in a Younger Children's choir. John will be in a painting art class while Mary will be taking a drawing art class.

(Sadly, no Shakespeare play for us this summer! We will satisfy ourselves with continuing to read Edith Nesbit's "Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare" [1907] at bedtime. The children and I highly recommend it, as evidenced by the fact that I overhear them starting to incorporate Shakespeare's drama into their imaginative backyard play.)

If all goes according to plan, John will be doing an 8-week soccer clinic this summer, and he will continue his altar serving, of course.

None of this would be possible without Chris planning to give many rides to these events, as Mama has on her calendar to have a baby smack in the middle of all these summer activities.

We will continue schooling mornings through summer, as it's easier to maintain routine and go year-round with many short breaks. Despite these classes, which represent an hour here and there throughout the week, I think many afternoons will be spent simply playing in the backyard, something they don't seem to tire of!