Something to look forward to...

We have successfully scheduled and reserved space for our first official family backpacking trip this June! M and I have not gone backpacking since I was about 2 months pregnant with the Elf, so it has been a while. We picked a "backcountry" campground with a relatively short (1.4 miles) and fairly level hike from the trailhead to camp to make it easier for everyone. Thus far, the kids have been camping a number of times (starting when the Elf was about 6 weeks old), but only "car" camping, so they aren't used to having access only to what we can trek in. Naturally, M and I will be shouldering the bulk of our camping supplies, but the kids will be using backpacks to carry some snacks, a few clothing items, and their own (very lightweight and efficient) sleeping bags. All of us are very excited about it! In the meantime, we'll content ourselves with weekend hikes at the local state park.

Except for some light world culture studies and a story the Elf is writing, we are taking off this week, and probably next week. The charter school is closed for those two weeks, so it seemed a good time to take a spring break. We hope to reorganize our family room in order to add two big bookcases - my dad has finished selecting the books he wants to keep from his old home, so we are allowed to choose from what's left. I have found all sorts of great books, like several volumes of this series from the (now defunct) Nature Company, and much of this set on science (60 volumes, thankfully they are thin!). I also got books on history, including the Who's Who in British/European history series, and one of my favorite sets: A History of Private Life (covers Rome to the Great War). Plus numerous Disney movies on VHS, and a plethora of other books. So much stuff he is willing to let go! He loves his new home and life though, so I am confident the right decision was made.