Well we're finishing chapter 9 tomorrow in volume 2.  I'm very excited about doing chapter 10, but first, we will work on election studies and government until after the election.  I'm looking forward to that, too.  It will involve lapbooks and just a fun way of doing this topic.  I remember being in school as a child and hating every minute of anything to do with government.  It was all bookwork and nothing fun.  Textbooks and worksheets, how dull.  These lapbooks look like fun and I hope the boys will enjoy them.

SWR is going well.  Last weeks spelling tests were'nt that great since we were off for two days.  So we repeated this week and all seems much better.  The interesting thing is that the boys seem to like spelling, especially Aaron.  Last year was such a chore for all involved and this year is so different.  Maybe it's the teacher's attitude towards it, hmmm?

Writeshop is a bit of a sore spot for us.  Aaron doesn't enjoy this very much, but I think it's more that it's a new thing for us.  Once he understands the direction, he can usually pull it off.  I'm taking the slow track through it, so we spend two weeks on each lesson.  The first 3 days of a new lesson are the hardest since there's so much to get done in those days to stay on schedule.  He struggles with the brainstorming activities.  I suppose it will get easier as time goes along.  It's painful for me too, since this is an easy area for me adn I find I get frustrated which I shouldn't do.  So to eliminate frustration, I remove myself from the area while he works, but that's not what I'm suppose to do with this.  I'm suppose to be guiding him along the whole way and not leave him to his own devices.  I need work on this myself.

The computer course is going along fine.  I have found you have to read the directions very carefully and that there are no typos otherwise things won't work.  I do have to think about things a bit to understand adn I think things are implied although I can't put my finger on what that is exactly.  Ben is loving this though and I'm glad.  Aaron does too, but I think he can take it or leave it.  He needs a typing course.  Any suggestions?

Farm News

Our calves came home on Saturday.  Blossom is totally adorable and tame as a dog.  Stella, the beef calf is wild!  But she seems to not mind being lead around a bit on a lead.  The boys are working on halterbreaking both of them for easy handling.

Peaches is wonderful and such a delight.  I'm anxious to breed her, but not until December.  She, too, is tame as can be although she is following Flower around, she's the queen, and tends to bolt if Flower bolts.  But Peaches is a lover and adores being scratched on under the chin and tummy. We sold Pepper on Sunday and I think Flower is a bit miffed at us.  She wont' let us touch her much, not that she ever has.  She was coming around with Pepper in the scene, but now that he's gone, she's gone back to her old ways of being untouchable.  We need to build a stantion so we don't have to manhandle her everytime we need to handle her for something.  I know that sets her back.  If I have some veggies to give them then she may allow me the privelege of touching her a little bit. 

I've kicked the ducklings out of the tank and they are now running around the farm.  Boy do they get stinky in confinement.  Yuck!  Otherwise, I do enjoy the ducks we have.  I love watching them splash in the little tub we have for them.  They can empty it out right quick with all their splashing.

Well it's bedtime for everyone so Good Night!