Back To The Books

It's been a busy summer. We've been swimming and hiking and boating and playing and eating lots and lots of popsicles. We've been to the lake, to the zoo, to the amusement park and to (almost) every pool within driving distance. But now the craziness of summer is giving way to the craziness of fall. it's time for co-op and field trips and soccer and football... and schoolwork.

I just ordered the last of the books we need for 3rd, 6th, and 8th grades. We started a few subjects in August. The boys are still excited with the novelty of book work after a summer of no pencils and books. Well, they're mostly still excited. Evan is rebelling at the feel of a pencil in his little 3rd grade fingers. It's amazing that he will take a 25 word spelling test with no complaint but whine and cry for an hour (not exaggerating) about writing a five word sentence.

We were happy with last year's curriculum and have just continued on to the next grade level in all subjects. I've updated the side bar with our current curriculum if anyone is interested.

A Conversation

HIM: What's that beeping?

HER(with amazement): It's the dryer. The clothes are dry.

HIM: Hmmm, I guess it starts folding now.

HER: Yes. Then you'd better stay out of the way as the clothes float their way into our drawers.

Meet Jack

Jack

Jack Jack

Jack Cat

Jackson A. Cat

Jumpin' Jack Cat

He doesn't answer to any of them.

Chaser of String

Chewer of Toes

Climber of Legs

Loved by All... except maybe the dog, but he's coming around

I Know Japan

Go ahead. Ask me anything.

Take It Like A Man

I love it when the boys take up for each other, except when taking up for one brother means punching another one in the groin. It's pretty ironic though that the punchee is the hardest laugher of all groin kicks, hits, or falls when we're watching America's Funniest Home Videos. It's only funny when your own groin is not involved, I guess.

Popcorn on the Cob

March Madness

March Madness has passed. We did our brackets again this year. Adam and Jeff both pick North Carolina as the champion. But Adam had more points, so he was the official winner and he's ready to go shopping. His prize is a $20 Wal-Mart gift card and the child can not hold onto money (or gift cards) for any length of time. He wants to buy a basketball game for the Playstation, despite the fact that we already own multiple basketball games.

But Adam wasn't the only winner. Evan, whiner-extraordinaire, has been writing. He refused to fill out the brackets because it involved picking up a pencil and making marks on paper. Pencil and paper are his enemies. And then one day, I saw it. He was making his own brackets with his own made-up teams! I grabbed my camera because I knew no one would believe me. He was writing without being forced and without whining. I guess basketball is good for something.