The good news is that we have met the legal requirements for completing a full year of homeschooling. The bad news is that Jeremy still has a couple of days left of work. (Jackson is finished.) Since my brain has already left for summer vacation, we’re taking Jeremy’s last few days of work less seriously. He knows he needs to finish, I know he needs to finish, but whether he finishes today, tomorrow or Friday is irrelevant to me. I’ll turn in attendance and grades in a week and we’ll officially be done. Thank goodness.
We’re still going to study conversational French this summer but we’re taking a break from anything useful until mid-June.
However, on Saturday I started talking to the boys in a little basic French, teaching them how to say, “Excuse me. Hello! My name is so-and-so. And you?” We were sitting under a magnolia tree on the campus of Maryville College at the annual Highland Games. Chuck was in the dining hall for a whisky tasting so the boys and I chatted in French while we waited. They got a kick out of hearing me and one another speak another language. Jeremy did quite well and Jackson giggled through all of it. I was so amused.
The Highland Games were extraordinary! We missed them last year because of Chuck’s travel schedule so we were sure to go this weekend. This area is rich with Scottish heritage, so we were wide-eyed at all the kilts and bagpipes. When Jeremy asked why the men wore skirts, we were able to ask a real Scotsman about it – his name was also Jeremy, so that was a little bonus.
Out of all the activities, I wanted to see men in kilts throwing heavy things, like logs.
My little men looked quite handsome for the games.
By the end of the day were were sun-kissed and worn out. We’d perused the tents, watched sheep herding, and enjoyed traditional Celtic music. From any standpoint you could look beyond the tree line and see the Smoky Mountains. It was yet another day when I took a moment be thankful for living in such a wonderful place.