Crystal Garden

As part of Quinn’s Scientist requirements (one of the few things he has left to complete before he can cross-over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts), he needed to grow a “crystal garden.”

I was really surprised to see the quick results, since Jason and the boys set up the tray just yesterday.

This method is far [...]

Meredith

Meredith
Originally uploaded by deannajo

Meredith decided that once she turned seven she would read chapter books. Doesn’t matter that she was only on lesson 80 of 100EZ lessons and that she was still sounding out words letter-by-letter. Once she turned 7 in late Sept, that meant chapter books. By Dec she was frustrated that it didn’t [...]

A Cook in the Making?

Last night, Quinn took this book to bed with him.

He woke up determined to make pancakes for breakfast (even though he is, without fail, the last person up).

I’m not a big fan of big-production breakfasts, but he learned a lot doing this. Hopefully it won’t be long before I have to have zero involvement (I [...]

New Year’s resolutions

Okay, Deanna. NOW I am ready to talk resolutions. I have three. I guess. Maybe it’s 12. Anyway.
1. I am not going to eat out all year. This is a big and daunting resolution, but I am designing a challenge to make it fun. That can be found here: A Year Without Eating Out.
2. To [...]

why are my epiphanies cloudy?

I feel as though I am on the brink of an epiphany but I can’t quite see it… All I know is that its related to the attitude in which we approach homeschooling around my house…..but I can’t quite make it out. Something about feeling as though we have to do something versus doing something [...]

Next week’s plan…

While my “beastly rash of work” ended a couple of days before Deanna’s, I had two births in 12 hours and am in the midst of their subsequent postpartum visits this week. That being said, I am feeling motivated to do something school-wise this week.
As much as I like to get organized once in awhile, [...]

quote of the day

“Knowledge without love will not stick. But if love comes first, knowledge is sure to follow.” – John Burroughs, 1919

computer programming

Look what Allison did. She programmed this game all by herself! Its simple, hit the green flag at the top to start it, and then use your mouse to control the mouse..Try to eat the cheese without hitting the cat or the black walls. Only one level and nothing cool happens when you eat the [...]

Meet Pox

Well, Pox joined our family probably 10 or 11 days ago, but I was just recently able to capture his elegance on “film.” (Snort, film…)

Our adorable friends brought Pox all the way to our home (out in the middle of nowhere) since they decided hamsters are good and geckos are bad. They thought Pox [...]

A Day at the Theatah

We have tickets to our local arts center’s children’s playhouse series. Today was a local production (with kids) of Robinson Crusoe.
There was some art for thoughtful dissection available in the lobby.

We took our seats soon.

Waiting is not easy for five squirrelly boys.

Alexander spent the time with some light reading.

He schmoozed in the aisles a bit.

It’s [...]