This morning the car had an appointment.  I decided to pack up our school stuff and take it with us.  We were there for an hour and we got lots of things done.  This worked out well because I ended up being out of the house three days this week.  We "redeemed the day" and made the waiting time productive.

Here's the waiting room with a handy dandy table.

Teddy came along for the ride.  I don't know if I mentioned it before, but Teddy has lost an eye.  The closest I can figure to what happened is that his faced was banged one time too many into a hard surface.  Teddy has adjusted to his handicap admirably.  He did not miss the irony that he now has a reason to wear the pirate patch.  For now, though, Teddy is rigorously executing the role of monitor. 

It's July.  Summer is attempting to make itself felt here.  We've had rain, rain and more rain, but Friday we had sun.  Glorious sun.  The temperature actually got into the 80s and we all know what that means...

POOL TIME!

Our youngins are not swimmers, yet, but they ARE First-Class Wading Pool Aficionados.  These two know how to make good use of buckets, plastic toys, a hose, and...

An umbrella.

Yes, an innocent umbrella.  Lurking behind this symbol of sun and happiness is mayhem, pure and simple.  We'll take a look, but you don't really see anything, do you?

Caught!

Evidently the formations at Ausable Chasm that J enjoyed during our last trip made more of an impression than I realized!

During J's "Resting and Reading Time" (see below for explanation) he decided to create images for the formations he recalled from our trip.  They're a little more involved than I remember seeing:

After seeing these renditions of the formations, I bet you're ready to make a trip yourself, aren't you?

(Definition of J's "Resting and Reading Time:"  J is a morning person.  He gets up around 5:00.  Since his father and I do NOT want to get up at 5:00, he has a quiet time in his room for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.  He finds great inspiration during his solitude.)

Note to us:  Always charge your camera batteries before heading out to an event or activity.  Always.

We got just a few shots before the camera conked out on us.  One of the shots would have been really great.  Sadly, however, our usually photogenic Miss Girl...blinked.  I know Aunt T probably has much better photos of the two cousins together, but I'll put my lone, cropped photo of J here.   It's really all I have.

We did recharge the batteries for the fireworks show that our neighbor puts on every year.  Here are two that I thought were interesting.  I include these because I'm sure you haven't seen enough pictures of fireworks just yet.

I call this one "Squiggles." 

This one reminded me of a Weeping Willow.  So, I named it...

Herman. 

(What?  "Willow" would have been too predictable!)

We JUST returned from this trip.  We really did stay home for a month between excursions.

For this outing we decided to go to Lake Placid and Ausable Chasm.  Since it rained the first day we thought it best to go somewhere INside.

We went way up into the mountains to the place where the 1932 and the 1980 Winter Olympics were held.  One of the famous names in 1932 was Sonja Henie.  Here are her PINK (yes!) skates:

She was so popular they even had song sheets with her picture:

The rink where Sonja skated her way into the history books is open for everyone to use.   It isn't the actual ice of course (77 year old ice--yuck), but it is the very place.  Next to that rink was a building that housed the 1980 Games.  The museum was in this building:

Each Winter Olympics has a mascot.  The Lake Placid 1980 Olympics had "Roni the Racoon."  This is the actual costume worn at the games:

From the front of the building you can see the national flags and the oval speedskating rink where Eric Heiden won FOUR of the five gold medals for the United States that year.  (For those who remember Eric, let me just point out that he is now 51 years old.  I'm sorry to do that to you.)

The fifth gold medal was won by the "Miracle on Ice" guys.  A hockey team made up of college boys who took the world by surprise.  Here are the doors...

...Leading to the rink...

...where the US gold medal was won by THESE guys:

We emerged from Memory Lane, did a little shopping and headed back to the campground.  The next day was 72 degrees, and lightly overcast, so we decided to see another gorge.  We like big holes in the ground.  This time it was called a chasm. Ausable Chasm.  It was, of course, amazing:

J's favorite formation was "Elephant Head."  If you'd like to see more of the formations, click on the link above.

Now, I was very much enjoying the hike.  We descended 80 feet to the river and were able to walk along with a lovely light breeze keeping us comfortable.  Comfort.  I like comfort.  There was a gentle smile on my mosquito bitten face.  Life was good.  Then, I was informed that we would be rafting on said river.  Oh.

Here are the strangers in the front of our raft.  Notice the thick life vests.  Evidently it was also 80 feet DEEP in some places.  And, I was told, there would be a small rapid.  Oh, again. 

Our confident 20-year-old guide assured me that all would be well.  He also gave me instructions on what to do should we capsize.  I was not amused.  The picture below is how our faces looked as the rapid (small) appeared in front of us.

  (NOTE:  That is a picture of me.  Yes, it is.  It counts.  Yes, it does.)

I have to say that it was fun, even the (small) rapid.  At the end of the ride J announced he wanted to go again.  I agreed.  My gentle smile returned.  I scratched my itchy bites and decided that, indeed, life is good.

This will look like all we do is travel, but it's an optical illusion.  This post is about a trip we took in MAY.  Just wanted you to know that we stay home, too.

Everything in New England is close.  Within five hours or less you can be in another state, near the ocean, or clean up to Canada.  For this trip we decided to go to an area in Vermont right on the New Hampshire border. 

Our first stop was at the birthplace of President Calvin Coolidge.  His hometown is frozen in time to the 1920s.  This first picture is the front parlor of his father's house.  In this room Vice-president Coolidge received a phone call telling him that the president had died suddenly.  Coolidge's father (who was a notary public) swore him in as president at 2:47am as the kerosene lamp shone.  

The guide told us that Coolidge's favorite drink was Moxie.  I've had it.  I don't like it but L does.  There's no accounting for taste, I suppose, but L IS drinking the elixir of a world leader.  I guess that counts for something.

The next day we wanted to find a particular covered bridge.  In the Which Way, U.S.A.? book we studied for New Hampshire, it mentioned the "Cornish-Windsor" bridge.  Since we would be nearby, we made sure to go and see it.  Here's a sign about it:

Here's the view of the river the bridge crosses (rain was on its way):

 Here's the bridge itself:

A picture of some tourists in front of the bridge:

Studley McGuire in his frog boots:

But wait, what's this?  I was making my way back to the truck thinking that Studley and his father would be along shortly.  Evidently Studley wanted to look over the edge into the water.  Studley's father apparently encouraged this behavior, recording it for me to view later when I would be home.  Near a doctor if I needed resuscitation.

And it was a LONG way down, about 30 feet.  This picture does not do the vertigo justice:

When they returned to the truck (keeping me in the dark as to their shenanigans), we began to drive back to the campground and discovered that Windsor was the place where Vermont became a republic for about 14 years.  The only other state to have been a republic was Texas. 

On the wall was the ACTUAL signed land grant from King George III himself:

On the last day of our trip we made it to Montshire Museum (which was fantastic!).  It is a science museum with three floors of hands-on activities as well as a "Planet Walk."  You start at the sun and walk to the planets, all distanced and sized comparatively.  We decided to stop at Neptune as Pluto was WAY too far away.  Besides, it's not a planet any more.  Yeah.  That's why we didn't go.

On the way back home we decided to stop at the Quechee Gorge.  You'll find that we're really into gorges and chasms and stuff.  Since the next post will be about the Ausable Chasm, I leave you with just one picture from Quechee:

Just kidding.  We finally GOT a summer as of today (90 degrees and humid!), so I  believe we'll take full advantage of it!

What I mean by my title is that I'm changing up how I plan to schedule our school year.  You need to understand that I have planned to homeschool my child(ren) ever since I first read about homeschooling back in 1984.  If you do the math (never mind, I'll do it for you), that was EIGHTEEN years before J was born. 

If you know me at all you know that I like to plan ahead.  Well, eighteen years gave me plenty of time for that.  I had it ALL figured out.  Then I had a child.  Well, actually, then I had J.  All my plans and ideas and intentions keep getting turned around as I walk through the journey of homeschooling THIS child. 

One of the things I "vowed" that I would do was homeschool from Labor Day to Memorial Day and flat out take the summer off.  Yep, that was my plan.  Of course, now that we're here, it's just not going to work for J.  He needs the daily challenge, so I've settled on a NEW plan that (I hope) will accommodate and work for him.

I found the plan in a book called, "The Well-Trained Mind" by Susan Wise Bauer.  I've been avoiding that book for quite a while now.  I found that the methods I was using with J were working very well, so I saw no need to look into their suggestions.  Well, I decided to include Latin for the next school year and thought it might be helpful to read the book and see what all the fuss was about.

After I read through the first chapter, I discovered that I was already using those very same methods with J!  The only thing I hadn't done was go through history in chronological order.  L and I discussed it and decided to follow the recommendation for history that the book gave and continue doing what I've been doing--which just happened to match up with this type of education.  We decided that "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Below is my intended schedule to provide enough intellectual stimulation for J throughout the year.  I have found that if he has too much time on his hands he goes from being creative to behavior issues.  So, I'll just challenge the boy!

School Year Schedule for 2009-2010

Summer 2009: 

Continue a light load of school 3 days a week concentrating on:

• Reading through the Bible, 1 chapter a day
• Going through the Susie and Richie Hunt books again
• Memorizing Bible verses
• Readings from Ancient History (we are currently reading The Iliad for Boys and Girls as well as story book versions of the ancient myths from the library
• Cursive writing practice through copywork and dictation
• Math using workbooks and continuing with Verbal Math Lessons
• Lapbooks on topics of interest (we just finished studying about robots)
• Any extra reading we can tote home from the library, just for fun!

The full-time schedule will be to school in:

• September - mid-October
• One week off
• Late October - Thanksgiving
• One week off
• Early December
• Three weeks off
• Mid-January - Late February
• Two weeks off
• March and April
• Two weeks off
• Late April and May and on into Summer
• Three weeks off scattered throughout the summer as we take trips, etc.

This schedule follows what actually happened this past school year.  I found that I ended up naturally taking the breaks pretty much where they are listed.  It's still 12 weeks off, but I believe that this will work MUCH better for J.  And for me.

You know the adage: "The best laid plans..."

I wasn't worried, but I didn't want to plan too much until I got the "okay" from our state to prepare for the next school year.

I just got the letter today and all is approved.  Here is what I sent in as our Course of Study:

Basic Communication Skills:

Language Arts:

Continued proficiency in:

• Reading comprehension
• Grammar (parts of speech, punctuation, etc.)
• Writing skills (spelling, vocabulary, sentence structure)
• Use of reference materials
• Narration
• Poetry
• Classic literature
• Oral reading fluency

Introduction to:

• Cursive
• Copywork
• Dictation

Math:

Continued proficiency in:

• Addition
• Subtraction
• Time
• Place Values
• Money
• Measuring

Introduction to:

• Multiplication
• Fractions
• Word problems

Citizenship, History & Government

• Major US holidays
• Police Station visit
• Ancient Civilizations (Sumer, Egypt, Greece, Rome, etc.)

Physical Education and Health

• Playground
• Biking, swimming, ball activities
• Nutrition
• First Aid

English, American & Other Literature

• Ancient writings from 5000 BC to AD 400 using poetry, biographies, and stories such as Aesop's Fables

The Natural Sciences

• Oceanography
• Astronomy

The Fine Arts

• Drum and/or piano lessons
• "Discovering Great Artists" by MaryAnn F. Kohl (remaining artists--begun in First Grade)

That's what I gave to the state.  I wanted to be vague enough to give myself plenty of room to flesh out what I intend to cover.  I also didn't want to be too specific and get tied to something that just didn't work for this year.  It's all about flexibility!

I will do as I did last school year and post my detailed monthly overview to show how I will put this plan into action.  As it is, I plan to do a "Homeschool Lite" throughout the summer.  I'll post about that separately.

I have been VERY lax in posting lately.  Sorry about that.  I promise to do my best to catch up, starting with this post. 

"Bird Day" happened on May 4th.  We spent a couple of weeks (and actually, we're continuing with the subject) learning some of the more common birds.  I planned a "field trip" to a museum we have nearby and we invited Miss Girl and Aunt T to join us. 

The man who started this museum is now nearly 90.  His mother was a teacher in a one-room school house in New England and her son was her student for six years.  He drew and painted as a child and learned taxidermy at age 12.  At age 18, he carved his first birds modeled after a stray parakeet that flew into their shed.  The museum now has over 400 bird carvings and they were absolutely stunning.

There was an area set up with a giant window looking out at a variety of bird feeders.  Binoculars were available and we spent a few minutes watching.  

A basket next to the window was filled with beanbags labeled with the name of a bird and it's weight.  The filler matched the weight so it was like picking up the particular bird.  That would be a great project to do.  Hmmmm...

The next room we entered showed a diorama of water birds floating on "water."  J and Miss Girl were smiling for Aunt T's camera. 

In the "Exotic Bird" room J immediately saw a Quetzel.  The bird is nearly extinct.  When we were studying Central America we discovered that its image was incorporated into many of their arts and crafts.

Here it is close up.  It's tail can grow as long as 36 inches. 

The carvings were so amazing.  In a video we saw the techniques used to create the birds so that they were accurate in their size and coloring.  I chose three to post about.  The lighting was dim to protect the carvings, so these aren't the best pictures.  The first is one of our favorites--the Red Winged Blackbird.  They are plentiful near our church building, and it's fun to see the bright red shoulders as they fly by. 

When we looked up we saw a Bald Eagle.

In its own case was a big ol' Tom Turkey.  This took 1300 hours. 

When we finished looking around inside the museum, we took a nature trail to a pond.  At the beginning of May the trees were mostly leafless or budding.  If I were to take another picture now (3 weeks later), it would look VERY different.

The pond has a name.

Observing the pond brought out their contemplative sides.  They were quiet for a second.  Then J wanted to know if there was a rock he could throw into the pond.  Evidently it was too still for his taste.

We've been homeschooling, spring cleaning, decluttering, and generally getting things ready for "The Season." 

What is "The Season" you ask?  Here "Up North" we get a limited amount of time to spend enjoying easy, breezy weather.  Everything (I mean everything) closes down and rolls up its sidewalks about mid-October.  They don't open up until mid-May.  If we want to enjoy things we have to get a move on!  Hustle, hustle! 

Now that I've explained my dearth of posts, I wanted to post about a project that J insisted on doing.  Our region has a grocery chain called Hannaford.  They are having a contest in the New England states and New York in honor of Earth Day for children in grades 1 through 8 in which they are to design a picture to be printed on a reusable grocery bag.  Their rules said:

Local food is fresher, and supporting farmers and producers Close to Home helps strengthen local economies and communities. We want you to learn about the agriculture in the state where you live. Find out what makes your state great and design us a bag to fit!

J saw the poster about the contest a few weeks ago.  He began to talk non-stop about doing a picture.  I explained to him that it had to be something that had to do with healthy food and the agricultural production of our state.  I gave him a grocery ad to show him what Hannaford liked. 

He wanted to draw pirates.

I didn't say anything for a few days and figured he had forgotten about it.  He saw the poster again and was worried that he had missed the deadline.  He seemed determined to enter this contest, so I got the form and he sat down and drew this: 

He's convinced he's going to win.  I reminded him that there were LOTS of kids participating and the contest is open to kids up to 8th grade.  He was unphased.  He insists he's going to win.

Do you think we need to work on his self-confidence?

I'm aware (even though he isn't) that we've got a potential lesson on dealing with disappointment coming.  I'm not too concerned.  That's part of life.  I am very pleased, however, that he was determined to follow this thing through.

My favorite vegetable is the celery playing the drums.  The "hair" fits the part, don't you think?

We decided to get one last picture of our six-year-old.  He's snooze-city here with his favorite stuffed animals...er..characters, Mater and McQueen.  (Humor us.  We're old and he's our only child.  We do things like this.)

The next day, our 7-year-old and his cousin were all dressed up for church.  J was all spiffy and Miss Girl and her bunny were wearing matching dresses.  A definite photo op.

After church, we returned for our combination holiday.  The birthday theme was Cars.  (As in the movie from Pixar.)  I covered the dining table with a new plastic shower curtain.  We put a picture of racing flags in the center and then J placed stickers of the Cars characters around and we wrote quotations from the movie for each.  (The green print in the middle has "Mater" saying, "Let's go tractor tippin'!") 

We set the table and laid out the feast.  Only two individuals came prepared with bunny ears. 

After dinner J chatted with his Aunt E while the daddies were outside hiding eggs. 

It was 37 degrees.  There was no snow, so we decided to go for it, even though Easter Egg Hunts in 37 degree weather is not what ANY of us grew up doing.  We bundled everyone up.  Miss Girl didn't want to change out of her Easter dress, so we got a pair of J's sweatpants and stuffed her dress into it.  Either that or she had a little too much of the Easter dinner. 

J, look over there.  Over THERE! 

See, right there.   

We came inside to chip the ice off of the plastic eggs.  To warm things up, we brought out the piñata.  Originally it was just a generic police cruiser bought from the store. 

That just wasn't good enough for Daddy.  His creative side could not abide the inaccuracies.  He spent a bit of time transforming the mundane police car into the Sheriff from the movie, complete with mustache grille. 

After many whacks by both short people, it FINALLY broke and spilled out the candy.

It was time to eat cake.  Aunt T has volunteered to be the Dessert Chef for all birthday occasions.  J put in his request with written instructions and illustrations.  Here is his spec form.

And here is the actual cake.  Aunt T did a splendid job.  I put in the request for cream cheese frosting.  The cake was delicious. 

Our homeschooling last week involved learning about Easter and Passover and birthday traditions from around the world.  In Ireland (according to the worksheet):

"Children receive birthday "bumps" on their birthday.  While being held upside down, they are gently bumped on the floor once for each year of age, and then one extra "bump" to grow on."

I jokingly suggested it.  Daddy and Uncle were all for it.  I couldn't believe J actually let them do it!

Breithlá shona duit

(That's "Happy Birthday" in Gaelic!)

Tomorrow is Easter.  It's also J's birthday.  His seventh. 

Unbelievable.

He's very excited about tomorrow.  He's been very excited for the past two weeks.  He's been so excited that he was trying to micro-manage and dictate all the plans!  He's about to burst, in other words.

Tonight, I got him ready for bed and was reading his bedtime story to him.  He could NOT stop wiggling.  He's just too excited.  I told him he would be officially seven years old in 8 hours from his bedtime.  (He was born at 2:19am.)  He hooted a little and then tossed his "Mater" (Pixar Cars character) up in the air. 

The boy is excited.

Finally, I said good night.  I did the usual "Love you" and "Have a good sleep."  Then I added, "I'll see you when you're seven."  I think he lifted his entire body a foot off of the bed--horizontally--in one leap.

The boy is excited.

I'll post pictures of the party soon.

Good-bye my little six-year-old.  I'll see you when you're seven.

If you can't see the pictures, click HERE to go to the website.