This past weekend we had our first porch campfire of the year. For us, this is essentially the ushering in of summer (even though we actually enjoy our porch-fires anytime of year we can).

Neve in particular has been waiting enthusiastically for this.  It’s among her favorite traditions to sit out around the fire, roast marshmallows, play mad libs, and wait for the bats, stars, and frogs to come out.

Even reclusive Emily likes to join us, and Paul, who is generally outdoors-averse.  We’ve been doing this regularly for several years now and it has become a wonderful way for us to bond as a family, and laugh together at our silly Mad Libs creations.

I do have a rule for Mad Libs, however: no simple answers. If you’re going to give me a noun, make it creative. Don’t give me “dog”. Give me “mangy dog”, or “flea-bitten dog”.  If I ask for an adjective? Better not give me “stupid”. Give me something like “horribly distasteful” or “terribly awkward”.

This is what happens when you play word games with a homeschooling family.

We’ve added extra-nerdy fun this year by getting our hands on “Doctor Who” Mad Libs.

Neve enjoys being the game master.

The dogs enjoy hanging out with us, also, and trying to steal the occasional marshmallow.

Since it was a full moon, we also spent a great deal of time looking at the sky and talking about the different planets, stars, and constellations.  We identified Jupiter and Venus (with the help of an app on my ipad called “Star Walk” that allows you to point at the sky and it reveals what you are seeing), along with Ursa Minor, Gemini, and several others.  Neve and Oona were lucky enough to spot a shooting star.

Before we went in for the night, Neve took a flashlight and wandered out where the noise of the frogs and toads was loudest and found herself quite a few of each to observe and talk to to round out a lovely early-summer evening.

We went to sleep full of contentment and excitement for the summer to come, and many, many more night like this.