big changes

It is official... all 3 Carmona kids will be going to school this year. The girls started talking about their desire to give it a try last spring. I thought that maybe the idea would just fade away during the summer, but I was wrong. They became more sure and their stated reasons for why they would want to attend school became more difficult to argue. So they went on a tour of the local schools and we registered soon after. Today we went to meet the teachers and they will have their first day on Thursday. They are so excited and just a little nervous. We have been in a bustle of making sure we have the supplies from their lists, along with socks and undies and good shoes. Gita will be going to Black Mountain Primary (she always says "Blackberry Primary." cute name) and her 1st grade teacher is Mrs Wells. Nimuae will be going to Black Mountain Elementary and her 5th grade teacher is Mr. O'Shea. Noah will be attending Owen High School as a freshman. They will all ride the bus to and from school ~

I knew I had to face my collection of homeschool curriculum. And I knew that packing it up would not be easy. I spent a day sorting through everything, what to keep and what to pass on, until I had everything filed away, nice and neat, ready just in case any girls decide they would rather be back at home. It was a highly emotional day ~ I felt like I was boxing up forgotten dreams. But the idea of school is growing on me. I will re-arrange my work schedule to make sure I am home everyday to meet them at the bus and eat a snack together and talk about our days. I will be there for homework and I will make sure everyone gets as many hugs and kisses as they need. It is just a really big change ~ I have been homeschooling for 10 years and I was ready to go another 10. But, on Thursday, I will be sending the girls off to another teacher, with lots of kids their own ages, to learn. Big big changes.

a summery week

The summer groove really has a hold on us. How is it possible that we are less than two weeks away from the first day of school? The heat has been intense, but with that heat comes afternoons spent at the pool, very welcome afternoon rain showers, and lots of popsicles eaten. 

and this amazing double rainbow stretching across the sky:

We've had a great week of kid camps and classes:

And we finally got around to visiting our dear friends Carmen & Galen who recently started a chicken farming operation, Which Came First Farms (isn't that a sweet name?). They are raising meat birds and selling their product at the local tailgate markets and to some restaurants. They're also raising hens for eggs. We discovered a week or so ago that 5 of our hens are not actually hens. Bummer. We decided to keep one rooster and send the rest over to Carmen & Galen. And there is nothing like taking care of a chore and getting to visit/share a meal with friends all in one go.

a day at camp through Nimuae's eyes...

Nim and Gita had a week at a day camp in Montreat. The theme was Art in Nature which is right up the girls' alley. They had a blast and our house is now full of fairy houses made of sticks, leaf pressings, and sand art. Not only did the girls really enjoy themselves, but apparently they were so very helpful with the younger children and teachers that the director invited them back this week ~ as helpers. They are taking their job very seriously. The week the theme is Cooking. Again, right up their alley. 


Today Nimuae took the camera with her to document the day. She came back with so many awesome photos ~ I chose a few that I thought were especially lovely. If she was not asleep already, I would ask her to describe each one. Instead, the pictures will need to speak for themselves.


The important thing here is, folks, that Nimuae, 10-year old Nimuae, took all these pictures. Aren't they wonderful?!

Chicago trip ~ post 5, two nights at the theater

Beauty and the Beast

at the most amazing Oriental Theater

Peter Pan

at a round stage, 360* seating, tent

Chicago trip ~ post 4, in the Windy City

the five carmonas in the bean at millennium park

and at the buckingham fountain

view of the city from the field museum

gita having a moment with a monkey at the lincoln park zoo

very happy spectators at the zoo

girls crashed out at the hotel

the amazing lobby of our amazing hotel

girls in the fancy hotel lobby

shoulder rides in the city

nim and gramps on the bus to the zoo

girls on the carousel 

Chicago trip ~ post 3

Highlights from our last day with the whole family in the suburbs...

our effort to balance out all the pizza and junk food ~ hotel room smoothie

David and cousin Bryan lounging poolside

my view of a pool full of McDermands

great whiffle ball game ~ the winning team

great whiffle ball game ~ the not-winning team

Nene with husband Randy and her three boys ~ David, Alex, and Micheal

Chicago trip ~ post 2

A wonderful dinner and memorial was planned for Nana in Elmhurst. I heard there were over 100 people there ~ family, friends, neighbors ~ After a delicious dinner, family members and close friends came up front to share their stories. David's uncle prepared a wonderful slideshow of Nana throughout her years. The highlight of the night for me (other than all the photos of David's uncles and their mustaches in the 70's) was a video that showed Nana (and David's late grandpa) laughing, really cracking up, at a video on TV that featured a televangelist praising the lord, with flatulent sounds dubbed into the background. Hilarious! What a contagious laugh she had. 

fancy Gita in the fancy mirror

cousin Lilikoi paying close attention to Nimmy

David and his brothers (along with Noah and NeNe) connecting with his old cross country coach from high shool

Nim and Noah with David's cousins Matthew and Daniel

David at the podium delivering his tear-jerking speech about his Nana. Seriously, not a dry eye.