Hee Hee

Can You Believe This Kid?

Evan is not the most enthusiastic learner. He's convinced himself that schoolwork is hard and he shouldn't be subjected to it. It's not really difficult academically but he sure makes it difficult to get through a lesson!! He started addition with three addends this week. He acts like it's impossible and there's no way he'll ever be able to add three numbers together. He whines. He cries. It's all very sad.

Which brings us to dinner tonight. I fixed fish sticks for Evan b/c he doesn't like regular fish and I didn't want to fight with him (see above). He loves fish sticks and kept asking for more. Finally he asked how many he'd eaten. I said, "I don't know... you started with five and then you got two more and then another two more."

Instantly, he said, "That's nine!"

Aaaaiiiiiii! Should we just move all math to the dinner table?

Switcheroo

I got so much done today! Some of it was even school related! Adam and Ryan did Bible, Science, and Spelling. Ryan and Evan did Math. We all went to band and stopped for a couple errands on the way home. I caught up most of the laundry, made bread, fixed dinner, cleaned the kitchen... oh yeah, and I got the bedroom totally primed and awaiting paint.

We're in the midst of a little switcheroo. Our house has six occupants (not counting the dog) and only three bedrooms. It's seems like pretty simple math to determine that equals two people per bedroom. But it's never been that way. Matthew spent his first year sleeping with Mommy and Daddy. Then we moved his crib into the boys' room that had the most extra space at the time. That was Ryan and Evan's room, making three kids in one bedroom and only one kid in the other bedroom. But Matthew is ready for a big boy bed and bunk beds do not go up to three levels!!!

The new plan is to put Evan and Matthew in the room Adam is currently using and put Ryan and Adam in the bedroom being shared by the other three. It's slightly bigger. But for now, they're all four in the same room! We've got to paint and set up the new bunk bed before Evan and Matthew can move into their new space. That's right... two sets of bunk beds. We did not learn the lesson of the broken arm. LOL I hope Evan did! But really, I think bunk beds are the best choice for the limited space. I hoping to have it ready for them by the weekend. But for now, I think they're enjoying some time together and I know they're enjoying the mattress on the floor. I hope it's still in one piece when we're ready to move it to the new bed!

Splat!

I never saw it coming. And now I've been run down by a bus load of sixth grade math. Actually, I did see it coming but I had no idea it was traveling so fast! I thought I had until 8th grade Algebra before my kids became smarter than me.

It's 6th grade percentages and mils that have me so befuddled. Which led to confusing Adam so much yesterday that he finally explained it to me! I've been cruising along without the teacher's manuals for the past couple of years but now it's clearly time to invest in that scripted curriculum! I don't want to flunk out of the sixth grade!

Big Loop with a Little Loop Tail

Adam: Mommy, how do you make a J?

Mommy: You know, big loop with a little loop tail.

I've got to get off my butt and go teach some actual school. Teaching from the computer chair is not going very well. I can't wait to see how that J looks!

Cast Free!

School was called off on Thursday due to a doctor's appointment. Evan got his cast off!! I knew it was going to be a long day when we stepped off the elevator into a VERY large and crowded waiting room. We waited and waited and my kids were remarkedly well behaved (although no one actually remarked on it, LOL). Finally, after an hour, I asked the receptionist how much longer. She had list of excuses ready but when I asked if we should reschedule, she admitted this doctor is always behind and no, we couldn't reschedule with another doctor. So, we waited... and waited ... another 45 minutes. And my wonderful children were still remarkedly well behaved (again, I'm the only one remarking on it). I was actually starting to be the sullen, annoyed, snappy brat! But when they finally called us back, things started moving. They took us immediately to X-ray, confirmed his bone was healed, and cut off the cast. When I say they, I mean the nurses and X-ray techs. We only saw the actual doctor for a few minutes. What a gig he has!!

I decided we deserved lunch out after that morning. Besides, it was WAY past lunch time. Evan picked CiCi's pizza . We really got our money's worth even though they charged my 11 year old as an adult. Since when is over 10 an adult? But I admit he eats like an adult... as did Ryan and Evan! They can really put away the pizza and it's an all you can eat buffet. I really don't see how they make any money. LOL

Friday was a boring day at home. I caught up all the laundry and we did every single subject. :) Just a little, I mean HUGE problem getting Evan to use his right hand. He's right handed but is convinced he can't use it b/c of the cast. He complained every time I pulled out a book and whined his way through every subject. I finally grounded him from video games all weekend and made him take a nap. He said he didn't care but he sure changed that tune when Adam and Ryan were playing Playstation this weekend. I am such an evil Mommy. I guess we'll find out if it worked when we start school again tomorrow. Bwaaa Haaa Haaa.

Snow Day

We woke up to snow this morning!! It's not that much snow but the temperature is so very cold!! The boys didn't last long outside. It took quite a while to find all their snow gear and get them bundled up. Then I took them outside and got their sleds out for them. I took a couple pictures and then went back inside. I put some water on the stove for hot chocolate and then sat down to grade language tests. The water hadn't even gotten warm before Evan was at the door crying. Ugghh! I told him (and meant it) that he would not be playing in the snow next time! It wasn't that much longer before the other two were back inside (Matthew was napping). It really is very, very cold out there!

But prior to all the fun in the snow, we started back to school. The public schools may be closed but home schoolers aren't scared of a little snow. It does help that we don't have to drive the icy roads or even venture outside if we don't want to!

While Evan ate breakfast, we started a new astronomy chapter. His food kept him occupied so he managed to sit through most of the two pages that we read. Adam and Ryan also participated and I was truly amazed at how much they remembered from the previous chapter on Jupiter. Saturn and Jupiter are often referred to as twins b/c they're so similar. Evan wandered off towards the end of Science but Adam and Ryan and I continued on with History. We read a chapter on Abraham from Mystery of History.

Then I let the big boys have a break while Evan did his math. He didn't want to do it but once we got started, he was fine. He's still wearing the cast so I did all the writing for him. Adam and Ryan did Math after Evan. Then Evan did several pages in his language book while the older two finished their math. Again, I did all the writing. The cast comes off tomorrow!

After lunch, Adam and Ryan did spelling, followed closely by language. They took language tests today and both landed solid B's. But Adam did the bonus sentence and brought his grade up to a 100%. They're both doing really well with Winston Grammar. We're about 3/4 of the way through the book and will start some composition when we're done with grammar.

All three big boys were begging to play outside by the time we finished all that so that's what we, I mean, they did. I don't do cold or wet. Brrr! And you already read how that turned out!