What you doing in... MAY?

It's May!?!

Well, I can't believe it but its true... The winter is OVER!   It's May and that means it's busy time.  So let me run through somethings we are working on here in May....

May Madness Includes:

1. Wrap up school- even though we school through the summer on, what I like to call quarter days (a time to work on something specific you are struggling with or just review things we have already learned) we do have to wrap up and officially end this year.   
2. In Ohio we have to either portfolio review with a teacher (show them what you studied and progress made) OR test (with a state approved standard test)... so figuring out who is doing what (I like to test to see some scores but I don't test each kid, each year).
3. It's time to really spend some serious time in prayer and discussion about what next year is going to look like for each kid.  We have a firm policy that states "Each kid individually what they need"... educational needs change, as my kids change.  So it's time for us to really sit this one down and look at each child and figure out what worked, what didn't, why or why not.. what to do next year... 
4. Summer stuff- after review is when I normally come up with my summer list... it's saying what I want you to continue to work on.  I really strive for independent work and things that are non-time consuming for this time of year.  Example:  Maybe a spelling workbook and then a math review book along with a book a week of reading.  
5. Next year curriculum... what are you thinking regarding that?!?  Answer: no idea not thinking about that at all yet!
6. Birthday/birthday/celebrations- we have a lot of May celebrations taking place this year.  My own kids and families kids have birthdays, Mother's days, cook out season starts... This year there is a HUGE surprise thing taking place at the end of May for my girls (more about that AFTER it happens- can't risk the surprise).
7. We are ALMOST done! Yes, I know it's crazy! After 4 years (we moved states and had to start ALL OVER) of paperwork, training, training and MORE training, we are almost completed with our foster/adoption license... Just a quick idea of what this includes (but not limited to)... phone calls, LOTS of them. To doctors for EVERY member of family to have physicals, calls and more calls to the state fire marshal for inspection of home, dogs to vets (this is X3) for all shots and wellness appointments, well water test, home safety audit, interviews/interviews/and more interviews, copies of everything from your driver's license to your phone bills, lots more training and paperwork (did I mention that enough?), rearranging of the home (almost 3 times) to figure out the best set up for bedrooms (following strict guidelines of who can be in which room with whom and how old, gender, ect..) BUT THERE IS LIGHT!  There is light at the end of this tunnel! It's bright!  It's like eating an elephant- one bite at a time (a HORRIBLE metaphor but you get my point)!
8. Vitamin D... exist outside.  All winter we planned outside things to do (while longingly staring out the  window)... field trips we wanted to take, walks that need walked, bikes that need bike rides, fairy gardens need planted, vegetable and flowers that need grown...