Gabe: "Hey, Mom, did you ever see the movie, "Night on Elmer Street?"
Stacie, giggling: "You mean, 'Nightmare on Elm Street,' Gabe?"
Gabe: "Um, yeah. With that creepy guy "Fred McGruger?"
Stacie, laughing a bit harder: "You mean Freddie Krueger?"
Gabe: "Oh, yeah. How about the movie Friday the 13th?"
Ethan: "Tom Cruise played Jason."
Stacie, laughing hysterically at this point while I grab the wheel to keep her from wrecking the car.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Homeschool End-Of-Year Declaration
Stacie and I ambled out to the mailbox this evening as the sun was setting and after soaking our vegetable garden for a good 30-minutes. We had been running around all day completing a number of tasks and had almost forgotten to check the post. We took the mail from the box and discovered that the results had come back from the final test we gave our two oldest, Gabe and Ethan, on the homeschool year.
As the duly appointed administrator of our homeschool I get excited to receive the final report on end-of-grade testing. Each year we test them utilizing the California Achievement Test so that we can get a good measurement of how much they have learned throughout the year. (And so that I can determine if I need to fire their teacher, er, Mommy.) They are measured on things such as Reading Comprehension, Mathematics - Computation, Concepts & Problems, and Language Usage and Structure, among other things.
I always enjoy parents who will tell you how their 6-year old is doing college freshman level algebra, and their 2-year old is on an 11th grade reading level. I wholeheartedly celebrate with them, then always make-up something about how our boys are being held back in their grade for the third year in a row, but their juvenile probation officer is working with them. The reactions I often get are priceless.
With that in mind I will just say that Stacie and I danced a step or two as we headed back up the driveway. And, as the homeschool chief administrator, I hereby declare the 2009 - 2010 homeschool year a success! The boys performed very well and we were excited to see their results. We're looking forward to another year providing them with a superior educational experience, and Mommy gets to keep her job for another year! (Yes, she is pretty amazing at educating our children, once again!) Congratulations, Gabe and Ethan!
As the duly appointed administrator of our homeschool I get excited to receive the final report on end-of-grade testing. Each year we test them utilizing the California Achievement Test so that we can get a good measurement of how much they have learned throughout the year. (And so that I can determine if I need to fire their teacher, er, Mommy.) They are measured on things such as Reading Comprehension, Mathematics - Computation, Concepts & Problems, and Language Usage and Structure, among other things.
I always enjoy parents who will tell you how their 6-year old is doing college freshman level algebra, and their 2-year old is on an 11th grade reading level. I wholeheartedly celebrate with them, then always make-up something about how our boys are being held back in their grade for the third year in a row, but their juvenile probation officer is working with them. The reactions I often get are priceless.
With that in mind I will just say that Stacie and I danced a step or two as we headed back up the driveway. And, as the homeschool chief administrator, I hereby declare the 2009 - 2010 homeschool year a success! The boys performed very well and we were excited to see their results. We're looking forward to another year providing them with a superior educational experience, and Mommy gets to keep her job for another year! (Yes, she is pretty amazing at educating our children, once again!) Congratulations, Gabe and Ethan!
A Medal for Caden
Caden had his final Tee Ball game today and was very proud of his first ever sports related award. He hit one about 20-feet out into the outfield today and stopped 5 balls from going under his legs. He might be a natural shortstop/power hitter. He is the man!
Troop 942 Has Returned Entact
Gabe made it back from his first ever week of camp this morning, no worse for wear. (That's him centered on the tree.) He said he had a great time and already looks forward to going back next year. We're just glad to have him back home. He is really looking forward to sleeping in the air conditioning tonight.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
"What Are They Going to Do to Him Mommy?"
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Ethan's Cacti
Ethan has plenty of cacti spread around inside and outside our home. One of them had a double bloom of beautiful yellow flowers this morning. So he took a picture of it and sent it to me for my Flickr page. He's our resident Botanist.
Photo complete with his toes and his friend's toes.
Photo complete with his toes and his friend's toes.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Family Walks
We take lots of neighborhood walks as a family. On most of them Caden is whirling around, full of energy. Tonight he chased lightning bugs the whole way home, as a 4-year old should.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
First Veggie
We planted a garden this spring with corn, zucchini, cantaloupe, squash, watermelon, okra, eggplant, Roma tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. We have seen a few things popping up here and there but were quite surprised to discover this 10" cucumber today. I hate cucumbers, but hopefully Stacie will enjoy it.
This is our very first attempt at a true garden, so we hope to learn a lot from it this year and come back next year armed with a great deal of zeal and knowledge. We also plan to double the size of it.
Veggie Report:
Corn Stalks: One stalk growing well, one iffy, and six failing. (I blame the hail storm from a couple of weeks ago).
Eggplant: Two sprouted so far with several more possible.
Zucchini: Nada so far. Worried.
Okra: Waiting.
Tomatoes: Several budding. Hopeful.
Peppers: A couple growing and thinking they'll be several more. Hopeful.
Cantaloupe: I don't think we were supposed to plant it beside the cucumbers? Nada so far.
Watermelon: Five golf ball sized little melons and potentially 4-5 more so far. Hopeful.
Squash: Three good sized so far with several buds showing.
This is our very first attempt at a true garden, so we hope to learn a lot from it this year and come back next year armed with a great deal of zeal and knowledge. We also plan to double the size of it.
Veggie Report:
Corn Stalks: One stalk growing well, one iffy, and six failing. (I blame the hail storm from a couple of weeks ago).
Eggplant: Two sprouted so far with several more possible.
Zucchini: Nada so far. Worried.
Okra: Waiting.
Tomatoes: Several budding. Hopeful.
Peppers: A couple growing and thinking they'll be several more. Hopeful.
Cantaloupe: I don't think we were supposed to plant it beside the cucumbers? Nada so far.
Watermelon: Five golf ball sized little melons and potentially 4-5 more so far. Hopeful.
Squash: Three good sized so far with several buds showing.
Good Grub Today
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Taking More Pics
You may have noticed the Flickr badge over to the left side of the blog page (below the Twitter badge). Flickr is where I am hosting pictures and have done so off and on (mostly off) for a good while now. Check it often as I am going to make an effort to keep a camera close by for hopefully a good long while. My goal with the blog is to include a picture with every post (though I don't think I will on this one). But I'll add more on the Flickr page.
One project I am working on is the "365 Days" set on Flickr. I am going to take a picture of myself and post it daily for a year. I have 8-days up so far. Why, you ask? Two reasons: First, I want to overcome my own camera shyness. I'm just not the camera ham my boys are. Secondly, it gives me a reason to carry one or two cameras around with me to take pictures of far better looking things, such as my wife. And kids. Or pretty much anything else. So, eight days and counting. I hope I make it past thirty days!
One project I am working on is the "365 Days" set on Flickr. I am going to take a picture of myself and post it daily for a year. I have 8-days up so far. Why, you ask? Two reasons: First, I want to overcome my own camera shyness. I'm just not the camera ham my boys are. Secondly, it gives me a reason to carry one or two cameras around with me to take pictures of far better looking things, such as my wife. And kids. Or pretty much anything else. So, eight days and counting. I hope I make it past thirty days!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Caden's First T-Ball Game Movie
Caden's First T-Ball Game Movie
Originally uploaded by Joe Jon!
Caden's First Tee Ball Game
He hit the ball well and chased after it every time it came near him. It was an awesome feeling watching him get in to the game and for him to be so excited to be out there. As always, click the pic for larger images.
Ethan is Now a Webelo!
Congrats to Ethan for working hard and becoming a Webelo I at Scouts last night during the crossover dinner. He is doing a great job and we're proud of him!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Flashback Friday: Caden Loves Tractors
From the old blog. This was at the Broadway Festival a couple of years ago. I submitted it to the local paper and they were kind enough to publish it on page 2.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)