Typical Late Summer School Days: Or Why We Can't Get Any Schoolwork Done

I hate these hot-hot days of summer. I personally HATE the heat, and my red-head daughter who should already be careful in the sun has decided to get a reaction to any sunscreen used on her skin. Sooooo...we're not outside as often as usual these days. It is a good thing, then, that we begin school during the first week of August. It gives us productive schoolwork to do during the day...at least in theory.  But as is typical, the transition back into a full class-load is met with some resistance.  All three of us seem to be trying to shake off a touch of attention-deficit disorder.

For instance, this is what happens when I am distracted, and the girls aren't being closely monitored:

My aspiring ornithologists sneak away and video the local wildlife.  Back to work, hoodlums!!

Belle hides away and fiddles with an Etch-A-Sketch while I'm busy canning.

Speaking of canning, I'm busy canning all sorts of stuff (the salsa on the right is my own, my mom gave us the pickles last night).  Oh wait...I think I'm supposed to be teaching something.  What was it...?

Moo hides away in her room creating the "Fayth Library".  Really, if you want to make her day, call and request a library card...and follow through by checking something out.  My girls love libraries, and Moo was ecstatic to discover that there is a degree offered in library science.  We shall see...now, don't you have to make your vocabulary flash cards, young lady???

Awww!  But the local wildlife is so cute!  Wait, if Mom stands on the table and waits a ridiculous amount of time (say, around the amount of time needed for a solid history lesson), maybe our hummingbird will allow a short video to be taken...

Poor Charlie has been sleeping all day with a toilet paper bandage wrapped around and around his head and neck.  Apparently when I wasn't looking, one of the girls decided to play veterinarian.  Yeah, how about doing your spelling work like I told you to do?!?  Then you will learn how to spell veterinarian!!!

 

 

 

 

Who can focus on teaching and overseeing seatwork when I've got an ever decreasing amount of counterspace in my kitchen?! 

These are the remains of the veggies after a morning of serious boiling, peeling, preparing and canning.  I've also done a fair amount of dehydrating this year, but that is really kind of disappointing.  I think I sliced up about 5 zucchinis, only to have them equal--no exaggeration--1 cup of dehydrated zucchini.  Although I love the idea of storing lots of food this way, I would need a MUCH bigger garden and a industrial size dehydrator in order to feel like my garden-cup overfloweth.  I just don't have that in me. 

And, by the way...contrary to what the picture suggests, we do NOT have a banana tree in the backyard.  Yet.