Yesterday I made up a big batch of tomato sauce.  I used the tomatoes from my parent’s garden and stewed them down most the day then ran the sauce through the food mill.  The resulting sauce is really lovely.  Last week I put up some peaches and this week I hope to get the pesto up.   Saturday we will be going down to the cabin for a couple days.  This is something I look forward to every year.

I suppose most homeschooling parents have had this sort of thing happen to them, they will meet someone and the homeschooling thing will come up and the new person will say “Oh, I couldn’t do that — I am just so happy when school starts at the end of summer.”    One of those smile and nod moments.

A while back I was at the grocery store and the four younger ones were helping unload the cart and a woman in the next line turned to her son, who was about my Christopher’s age, and said “Why aren’t you helpful like those kids?”   She said this loud enough for us to hear and the children all looked at me not quite sure if they should say “thank you” for the compliment or what they should do.  I felt sorry for her son.  My children certainly aren’t perfect angels and they have had more than their fair share of “moments” while shopping – but still.
Not sure why I am thinking about this. I tend to over think things quite often.

So I have been away from blogging for a few weeks.

No crisis, no big revelations, no long vacation.  Just a break.  It is all good.

Of course I have no idea what to write at this point.

We went to the coast this weekend.  This was the typical clan thomason trip – meaning we failed to plan this out at all, sort of did it by the seat of our pants, but still had a good time.

(( my computer absence sort of started with my system being infected with a nasty trojan (rootkit) that caused me endless greif))

Saturday’s trip reminded me yet again that I need check lists.  ((an ipod touch looks sort of neat – really a shuffle would be fine and a nano more than I need))   We didn’t do horrible with the coast trip.  At least we remembered to bring a change of clothing for the children… lunch would have been good to bring to though and a change of clothing for us – swimsuits even better.  The Oregon coast isn’t the nicest place to swim, but there is something about the water that is irresistible.   Just standing hip deep in the water and letting the waves hit you is fun.

(( the children are very excited about going to the pool today))  We love going on our hikes and day trips.  Just need to be sure we plan slightly better.