I love so many parts of putting an event like this together.  I love making it authentic.  I love it being an educational tool.  I love it being one part social gathering and another part an organized program.  My girls’ ideas in the planning process have been brilliant and, in the end, we hoped to plan something that would be a treasured and enlightening experience for children and their families.

Johanna and I have had the basic details planned for some time but most of the costuming, decoration, and finished program came together in one week.  One week.  

When the evening came upon us, as I predicted, I was running around costuming my kids and pharaoh at the last minute.  Thankfully we had a few planned activities for guests as they arrived.

{the pharaoh’s scarab pectoral}

{his throne’s embellishments, identical to his son’s thr

{you don’t even want to ask }

I’m tired.  There is, of course, more to do today and happily the excitement in the air makes these last moments preparing so worth it. How I really wish I could grab all of you readers by the hand, throw a wig on your head, a linen dress/loin cloth over you, and enjoy your company and friendship this evening.  Thanks for all of your enthusiasm.  Always, your kind enthusiasm.   Thank you.

I’ll be back on Monday with a full report.  Happy weekend to you!

the sleepy time gal  (queen nefertiti in a matter of hours)

How do children learn two very difficult skills, walking and talking, 
without anyone's making a self-conscious
 effort to teach them? Could children learn other things, 
even "school" subjects like reading and math, 
in the same way, by imitating other people's behavior, 
making mistakes, correcting them on their own, 
and asking for help when they need it? 


--Larry and Susan Kaseman, in Taking Charge Through Homeschooling

Yesterday my calendar read, “Go explore somewhere new!”

So we did.

Thank you so much for your enthusiasm yesterday over Caroline’s bake sale.  It sounds like many of you have been inspired to hold a lemonade stand this summer–hooray!  I have some tips and lessons learned (in no particular order) from our whole experience that hopefully will help guide you in organizing something similar.