Random Adventuring

In our years BC, Mark and I on the weekends used to get in the car and just drive. We explored much of North Georgia, Tennessee, and some of the Carolinas. We would stop at any antique stores that piqued our interest; beautiful state parks often beckoned to us; other unique and interesting attractions generally caught our eyes as well. Today we decided to do a little family adventuring.

Our first and only planned stop was to drop in on Dana and Papa to say hello. Then we decided to head to Helen. The last time we visited Helen was one spontaneous day back in May. On the way into the charming, European-style town, the kids spied a miniature-golf course. I promised them we would play next time we visited. They didn't miss a beat in reminding me of my promise, so we stopped and enjoyed a friendly mini-golf game. After the game, we started toward downtown Helen; however, the early Oktoberfest traffic had collected in the masses during the short time we were playing, so we made a U-turn and headed away in search of a different adventure.

Taking a very circuitous route back towards home, we happened upon Dahlonega and were able to scope out a perfect site for a future field trip. I had no idea that Dahlonega's big Gold Rush preceded California's. This town has a fascinating history and quite a few choices for an outstanding homeschool outing! (Now to put my US History plans on the racetrack so we can get to the 1800s sooner.)

There's nothing more enjoyable than hanging out with your family, drinking up the beauty of God's creation, and finding joy in a game or two...all in a day with no agenda whatsoever. As for our day of random adventures? Well, it finally culminated at our favorite pizza hang-out...of course!

A Remedy for the Big S

Everyone knows that Socialization is the question of the day when it comes to homeschooling. I for one have never been the least bit worried about this issue because I know my children are adequately--if not overly--socialized. Today we did a little socialization...just in case I'm wrong--we had a playdate with the kids' very special friends Grace and Jack. And I must say that I enjoy the comraderie between Grace and Jack's mom and me as much as the kids enjoy each other.

So it was with much regret that we watched the family begin to get ready to go. There was much begging and much cajoling: "PLEASE let them stay forever." "Could they at least spend the night?" Caught up in the moment of sadness, Michael devised the perfect plan: Pointing at our large front yard, he said to his friends' mom, "You should have your builder knock down your house and build it again over there."

I'm not sure I would want my friend's house...um, in my front yard, but you know what? It sure would be nice to have a loved family so close. And with two best friends right in...your front yard...what better way to address the Socialization issue?

The World Wide Webkinz

It seems wherever we go, the kids can find someone with whom they can share a conversation about Webkinz. Apparently, we have indulged in a craze, a craze which generates perpetual enthusiasm and excitement: There is always a new game to play, a new gift, a new item to "buy", a new Webkinz friend to visit...or a new Webkinz plush toy to buy. Of course buying a new plush toy is most exciting of all because the secret code that comes with the toy is the key to unlocking the World of Webkinz.

As mentioned earlier, the kids have been saving for new Webkinz. Well, Grandmas are for spoiling, and these children's Dana didn't waste any time. A check came in the mail today, enough for each of them to get a new Webkinz. And we didn't waste any time heading to the Hallmark store to make our very important purchase.

The Webkinz craze in this house all began in July when the kids' cousins came to visit. To provide a common link, we got the kids their first Webkinz so they could spend some computer time with their cousins. Since then, the requests for computer time have not diminished, nor has the children's delight in playing with their little critters. Michael's Webkinz, Sparkly, is especially well-loved and has, in fact, had a haircut (one that subsequently resulted in a little love-wound on his back--we try to keep his stuffing in as best we can). Sparkly is carried everywhere, including to Show and Tell at Co-op, and has been known to sport clothespins on his ears, fanciful yarn around his neck and waist, and many a Lego or penny taped to an appendage. Hopefully, Sparkly will in no way feel threatened by the arrival of Sonic, Michael's new Webkinz.

I have mixed opinions about the benefits of the Webkinz. On the one hand, the kids learn a little about money and responsibility as they must complete certain tasks--like play a game--to earn money to feed, clothe, and house the virtual version of their pet. On the other hand, they are sometimes of the notion that when you want something, you just buy it. Of course, this notion is typical with kids and not necessarily a by-product of their time in Webkinz World. I suppose it doesn't help at all that Mom often spends evenings playing her favorite Webkinz games, thus earning "free" money for them to spend at will.

At any rate, the Webkinz do serve as a source of imagination. In addition, with the craze comes the almost-guarantee that the kids will have something to talk about with just about every child they encounter. It does trump conversations about the very-often, very-strange video games of the present age--don't you miss the good ol' days of "Frogger," "Pac-Man," "Pitfall," and "Donkey Kong?" Maybe the Wide World of Webkinz will one day enter the halls of fame to reside alongside those wonderful ol' quality games!

Dear Dana, Thank you for giving us enough for a Webkinz. My Webkinz is a Google - half platypus, half duck. I think he's cute. I also have another Webkinz. I love you, Michael

Dear Dana, Thank you for giving us enough money to buy a Webkinz. My Webkinz is a tiger, and my other Webkinz is a chihuahua. I love you, Jacob

Dear Dana, Thank you for the money for us to buy a Webkinz. I got a unicorn, and I named her Eunice. She has sparkles in her hair and on her tail, and her hooves are shiny pink. I love you, Alex

BB&T (Boys Bank & Trust)

Well, it happened. On Friday, my Baby Boy lost his first tooth. I have to face it--he's growing up. Jacob was indeed quite proud of the big gap in his mouth and eagerly anticipated the Tooth Fairy's visit. His big financial goal of the moment is to save enough to buy another Webkin, a goal which he was, on Friday, still $7 short of attaining. He was thus convinced that his loss of a tooth must be some sort of divine event and that the Tooth Fairy would leave enough for him to reach his lofty goal. I tried to explain to him before bed that most kids only get a quarter for a lost tooth, so he should not be disappointed in the morning if the Tooth Fairy did not leave $7.

Inevitably, the morning came. And as I greeted him, I asked him if the Tooth Fairy paid a visit. "Yes," he said, "but she only left me $2." I once again reminded him how lucky he was to have received $2 when most kids only get a quarter. But he was convinced that there still must be a lost dollar or two hiding somewhere in his bed or in the mess beneath his bed. When his search turned up nothing, he added his $2 to his bank and asked us to count it up to see how much more he needed to save.

This morning the boys are back to counting their money and getting some wheeling and dealing going. They actually have come up with a pretty good and generous plan: This Saturday, Jacob will give Michael his allowance so that Michael will then have enough to purchase another Webkin. Then Michael will give Jacob his allowance for the next two weeks so that Jacob will have enough within that time.

The Bible says money is the root of all evil. Not that Webkinz are evil. Or allowances. Or even counting money. Or wheeling and dealing. But this constant discourse over money: "Do I have enough yet, Mommy?" "Do we get allowance today?" (Since you just got it yesterday, what do you think the answer to that question is??)? At least they're saving for something, right?!

The Big Log

(Alex stole authorship, which I don't mind...although I did point it out to her!)

The Big Log

Soon it will be time to go on the big boat. The rules say if a baby is not potty trained, she cannot go in the pool on the big boat.

Mommy said, "It is time to potty train the baby." So Mommy took the baby's pants off and showed her the potty.

Illustration by Michael

Mommy forgot about Baby. Mommy went to take a shower. Soon Michael yelled, "Mommy, will you come? She smells!"

Mommy said, "In a moment." Mommy did not come fast. Mommy began to dry her hair. Then Mommy stopped. Hmmm. Baby had no pants on. Uh oh!

Mommy found Baby in the boys' room. On the rug, Baby had left a big log of poop.

Illustration by Alex

Mommy had to smile. It was funny. The boys smiled. Alex smiled. Daddy smiled. It was funny. Mommy cleaned up the mess.

Illustration by Jacob

Then Mommy had class in the room with tile. The baby sat on the potty then got up and peed on the tile. Jacob said, "Baby, you must not pee on the tile. You must stay here. If you are not here, you can hold it until you get to your pot."

It was not yet lunchtime. Baby had peed on the tile six times. Mommy did not like to mop the tile. It was not funny now.

Mommy put Baby's pants back on. Mommy said maybe Baby will not swim on the big boat.

Special Sounds (Clue Words): oo (tooth), e (me), o (go), y (baby), -ed (played), ow (bowl), er (verse), th (this), sh (ship), ow (owl), sm (smile), st (stop), dr (drum) air (hair), -ed (looked), ou (out), oy (boy), cl (clock), th (thick), ay (pray), ch (church), u (push), ck (duck)

Sight Words: to, the, a, is, said, you, come, uh oh, was, here, are, your

Destination: The Final Frontier

When we picked Audrey up after Awana last night, she had a fever (my sincere apologies to anyone who had children in the nursery with the Princess), so even last night I had pretty much written off today as far as academics go. However, yesterday I re-discovered www.learningpage.com, a treasure I had forgotten about until I began my quest to find cursive practice for Alex. Learning Pages offers thematic units...and some wonderful resources on Space. Since we have been studying the Solar System, I made an executive decision this morning to have a day without the 3R's and just participate in whatever academics the Princess would allow us to do.

One of the resources LP offers are murals to go along with each unit. I decided that would be our project this morning, so I put up a black wall using construction paper. I did sneak in a little 'Rithmetic with Alex when I challenged her to figure out how many pieces of paper we'd need if we had 4 rows of 10 across. As I was putting up the black paper, I explained to the kids that I was putting Space on the wall. After it was done, Michael said, "We have the coolest house ever!"

After creating Space on the wall, I began to get the cut-outs prepared for coloring. During my prep time, my little teacher gathered a hallway classroom with the boys, Audrey, and several stuffed animals. I caught the beginning of her lecture: "There is more in space than just the earth and the sun..." She went on to explain all about other heavenly bodies, the planets (and how they got their names from gods and goddesses). Finally, when I told them it was time to color Alex declared, "Workshop!"

The Solar System mural turned out well, and the kids have asked if we can keep it forever. And seeing as how we've only studied Mercury and Venus yet Alex taught the kids and their stuffed animals so much, I may just put her in charge of homeschooling from here on out!

Classical Music of the Middle Ages?

I'm itching to get to some composer study, but I'm also incredibly obsessed with keeping my electives tied to our History studies. Obviously, there weren't too many Beethovens or Mozarts tromping through the lands of the Byzantine Empire or across the deserts of Muhammed's neck of the woods. So I have settled...for an armenian composer from the 700s named Stepanos Sunetsy.

Sunetsy's hits include Psalm No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3, which I downloaded from www.classicalarchives.com (someday I'll take the time to learn how to put an actual link on here!). Here are the kids comments:

Michael: I liked it because it sounded like pretty music.

Jacob: I thought it was sweet music and pretty music.

(I think "pretty" may have been prompted because I let them watch the swirly things on Windows Media Player as they listened.)

Alex: I felt like I was in sort of a big, dark room with that music playing. And it was really warm in the room and smelled good too. I thought it was from either India or Russia. Then I felt there were people dancing around in white clothes with little cloths wrapped around their head, and they wanted me to join them.

(As a side note, I have to say that she actually said, "...smelled good too, like wine." I omittted "wine" because I don't want to offend anyone, but then that's a funny part of her description I want to archive!)

I have a feeling I may stray from my timeline in order to get some good music in the mix, especially since I have some free gifts and two composer CDs and books in the mail. Yes, I'm one of those suckers that sends in the tear off sheet that says, "Yes! Please rush my two books for only $1.99 (+ S & H) along with my free gifts..." And, yes, I'm always excited that I get the gold sticker that allows me to claim the maximum number of gifts...even though I'm completely aware that there really aren't any silver stickers out there (and pity the poor person who would get a silver sticker!). Until we get my CDs, composer books, and all of my free gold sticker gifts, however, we'll continue studying some very obscure composers from the Middle Ages!