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As another homeschool year comes to a close, I eagerly anticipate the unhurried rhythms of summer, a season reserved for the activities that often elude us during the school year. Yet, somehow, June swept by in a whirlwind much like May. Serving as a taxi to my children, who were living their best summer days, became my unexpected role. Now, with July upon us, this week has begun with a much-welcomed calm.

We've spent time restoring order in our home, beginning with a serene morning that allowed us to linger in pajamas and delve into meaningful moments with the Bible. Currently, I’m involved in a Bible study alongside sweet church friends, I find myself challenged by Jen Wilkin's study on Hebrews titled "Better. A Study of Hebrews," a ten-week journey diving deep into this book of the Bible.

*“Better. A Study of Hebrews” by Jen Wikin*

Today unfolded with a spontaneous adventure in the kitchen, starting with a batch of sourdough dinner rolls and evolving into a joyous cooking session. Cooking has always held a special place for me, and it's even more delightful when my children join in. Witnessing their culinary skills bloom, now at ages 15 and 11, fills me with joy and pride. Together, we made an entire dinner from scratch: sourdough fettuccini noodles, creamy Alfredo sauce, and those delicious sourdough dinner rolls.

While I tackled the dinner rolls, I also found time to prepare a loaf of sandwich bread for the week ahead. My journey into the world of sourdough has been one of learning and growth, where each attempt builds my confidence.

Yesterday's impulse purchase, a pasta maker attachment for my KitchenAid Stand Mixer, arrived this morning, prompting us to test it out with fresh pasta for dinner. My daughter joined me in mixing the dough, rolling it out, and sending it through the pasta maker, a process that turned out to be surprisingly straightforward and enjoyable. Our kitchen soon filled with strands of drying fettuccini.

Meanwhile, my son took charge of grilling the chicken on our trusty Blackstone Grill, skillfully using the Ulu knife we acquired during our vacation in Alaska. His meticulous seasoning and cooking produced perfectly grilled chicken breasts.

With the pasta drying and the chicken grilling, my daughter and I turned our attention to making Alfredo sauce, mincing the garlic we proudly grew in our garden over the winter.

While the resulting dinner was undeniably delicious, it's the shared moments in the kitchen that mean the most to me. We even had a blast tackling the cleanup together, taking turns selecting upbeat tunes on our Echo Show to accompany our impromptu kitchen dance party. We often have dance parties in our home.

These unhurried summer days, where we can indulge in the activities we love most, are what I yearn for amidst the usual hustle of school and schedules. The best part of all of this is, that it ties into our homeschool mindset. Homeschool is not about creating a classroom at home, but creating an atmosphere where every day is an opportunity to learn, grow, and spend time together. Learning doesn’t only happen when we have a textbook open. Learning and bonding happen while kneading the dough and firing up the grill. Bonding happens when we have a belly laugh over the fact we had to eat this delicious home-cooked meal on TV trays because mom got ambitious and dumped the pantry out onto the dining room table to organize, but instead of tackling the pantry project made rolls and pasta.

What are your cherished family traditions during the leisurely days of summer?

Links to items I used!

Hebrews. A Study of Hebrews

Pasta Maker Attachment for Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer

Blackstone Grill

Ulu

Garlic Mincer