Monastery Visits

On Thursday, April 11th, our family took a "field trip" to Vashon Island.  It wasn't a field trip for school, it's just fun calling it that. But well, we did sight see a bit.  The purpose of the trip was to visit All-Merciful Savior Monastery and visit with Abbot Tryphon. 
Continuing to count...not in order today.
 150. Our whole family taking a day trip to Vashon Island & monastery.

Kelsey Anna, Charissa, Nicholas and Joseph by the Bike in the Tree on Vashon Island.

 We stopped off at cute little country store and explored a little bit.  They had all sorts of neat gardening things and trinkets.
Then we went to find the famous Bike in the Tree.  It was really neat. 
 

When we arrived at the monastery we pulled into the parking space and right in front of us was another family visiting the monastery.  It was a family of deer!

Look closely and you'll see the mama deer.

The monastery beehives. They were pretty active.

 I love taking pictures of my children. Here are some sweet faces.

148. Reluctant young daughter smiling & at ease after talking with Fr. Tryphon unexpectedly.
149. Peace, peace in my mind & heart! Giving all to God & the Theotokos.

 After a morning full of clouds and rain, we were blessed to have the clouds break up and a very sunny afternoon as we visited with Fr. Tryphon.  There were 3 of us who have chosen Fr. Tryphon as our father confessor and we were there for our Lenten confessions and guidance.
 151. Confessions, forgiveness, new starts.
152. Sweet faces framed in scarves.  

Kelsey Anna waiting.

Nicholas was the one of the protesters of this trip. He did not want to go! But as were hanging out in the courtyard he explained...
147. Nicholas exclaiming, "I love this place. It makes me so happy." 
He talked all day about how he wished he could stay or he couldn't want to come back. 

Nicholas in front of the beautiful Church doors.

Joseph having cuddle time.  He was cold.

 We got to visit our chickens that we took to the monastery a couple years ago.

It was such a lovely visit to the monastery.  We thank God for this opportunity to be together as a family. 
Thank you, Abbot Tryphon for seeing us and visiting with us.
146. A beautiful visit to the monastery.  

School Starts

I've been busy planning my year; changing this, doing that. I have finally finished all the decisions that needed to be made including co-ops, curriculum, extra-curricular activities and purchases. We started school on September 2nd, kind of. We are slowly, easing our way into a full schedule. Over the past 2 years of trying this and doing that, changing things and eliminating others, we've developed some bad habits. So our very first goal of this year is to focus on "habit". Developing good habits and discipline. As books arrive and new schedules are worked in we will tweak what is going to work or not. This is the first time we'll have everyone in extra-curricular activities. That alone is going to be very challenging, I don't really like it, but the children need to learn to swim.
The other very big change is that we joined a Homeschool Co-op. This co-op is through a school district. It is called Olympic Peninsula HomeConnections, the excursion group. Once a week we take a field trip with a group of other children and parents. Because it is with the school district and this school district apparently is very pro-homeschooling and are very generous, they give their families a stipend to use towards curriculum (NON-religious) and lessons of any kind. On top of that all field trips are included and we even (just started this year) get a gas stipend. We have a teacher on each field trip, she oversees the group and we are required to have this contact with her and each trimester we are required to turn in Student Learning Plan. It isn't like they tell us what to do while we school at home and she doesn't even really ask many questions but there is that accountability to someone who is going to ask you "what are going to study this year?" What kind of field trips? Here are some I know of so far.....
At least 12 trips are planned throughout the year to the Dungeness River Audubon Center.
This week we will go to the Puyallup Fair.
In February we will be going to see the Lion King at the Paramount Theatre.
I'll keep you posted throughout the year on what other adventures we go on.

In my next post I'll share the curriculum we'll use.