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July 31, 2007
It's that time of year ...
... when I would normally be up to my eyeballs in planning the school year.
I love to plan. Planning is calming. It is so nice to see everything laid out and lined up so neatly on paper, like little blocks of perfection. Thankfully, years ago I learned that although I love to plan, it ends there; I do not love actually making the plan a reality. And that's fine. I can indulge my love of planning, and then feel free to toss the plan aside and do something else. Just because I love to plan does not mean that a highly-structured plan works for our homeschooling.
This year, I don't even have the urge to plan. Nope, that urge is just not there. Nor is the urge to actually start school. This is the first year we've ever taken a summer break, and now that we're into it I really have no desire to stop it.
Well, mostly no desire.
Although what we do in our homeschool works well, we did get into a rut there by the end of last year. I believe in what we're doing. What we're doing works. And yet ... it was a rut and I was bored. A bored Mama teacher is never a good thing. Frankly, any time you are bored with your homeschool, that should be a huge signal, in flashing neon lights, with sirens and the Hallelujah chorus, that you should Do. Something. Else.
If you are bored, imagine how your kids feel.
And yet ... I don't want to change anything. Like I said, what we're going works. So.
So we're easing back into school, although the "s" word hasn't been mentioned in earnest yet. It's not "school," it's reading on the deck. And it's science. Yes, folks, we are doing formal science this year: Singapore's Interactive Science for Connor and Aidan, and R.E.A.L. Science Project Life for the little kids. (Interactive Science is meant for 7th graders. I gave Aidan the option of doing that with Connor, or doing the R.E.A.L. science with the little kids. He opted for the more challenging science. Gotta love that kid.)
I figure we'll do science solidly for a few weeks, and slowly ease into math, Latin, etc. I find myself most reluctant to jump back into Classical Writing, which is odd because I love that program passionately. However, it is a lot of work, and I'm not really interested in work right now. No ... the sun is out, the sky is blue, it's beautiful, and since there's no one around here named Prudence, I'll just say that Michigan summers are not conducive to "work."
We picked berries today. It was hot.
Posted by lynx at 10:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
It's that time of year ...
... when I would normally be up to my eyeballs in planning the school year.
I love to plan. Planning is calming. It is so nice to see everything laid out and lined up so neatly on paper, like little blocks of perfection. Thankfully, years ago I learned that although I love to plan, it ends there; I do not love actually making the plan a reality. And that's fine. I can indulge my love of planning, and then feel free to toss the plan aside and do something else. Just because I love to plan does not mean that a highly-structured plan works for our homeschooling.
This year, I don't even have the urge to plan. Nope, that urge is just not there. Nor is the urge to actually start school. This is the first year we've ever taken a summer break, and now that we're into it I really have no desire to stop it.
Well, mostly no desire.
Although what we do in our homeschool works well, we did get into a rut there by the end of last year. I believe in what we're doing. What we're doing works. And yet ... it was a rut and I was bored. A bored Mama teacher is never a good thing. Frankly, any time you are bored with your homeschool, that should be a huge signal, in flashing neon lights, with sirens and the Hallelujah chorus, that you should Do. Something. Else.
If you are bored, imagine how your kids feel.
And yet ... I don't want to change anything. Like I said, what we're going works. So.
So we're easing back into school, although the "s" word hasn't been mentioned in earnest yet. It's not "school," it's reading on the deck. And it's science. Yes, folks, we are doing formal science this year: Singapore's Interactive Science for Connor and Aidan, and R.E.A.L. Science Project Life for the little kids. (Interactive Science is meant for 7th graders. I gave Aidan the option of doing that with Connor, or doing the R.E.A.L. science with the little kids. He opted for the more challenging science. Gotta love that kid.)
I figure we'll do science solidly for a few weeks, and slowly ease into math, Latin, etc. I find myself most reluctant to jump back into Classical Writing, which is odd because I love that program passionately. However, it is a lot of work, and I'm not really interested in work right now. No ... the sun is out, the sky is blue, it's beautiful, and since there's no one around here named Prudence, I'll just say that Michigan summers are not conducive to "work."
We picked berries today. It was hot.
Posted by lynx at 10:38 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
July 27, 2007
Testing
We did our first-ever standardized testing in May. I got the scores today.
Connor took the IOWA test for 5th grade; Aidan took the IOWA for 3rd grade. This was their first standardized test of any type, and was certainly their first experience taking a test outside the home, given by someone who was not me.
The results? Connor's Composite National Percentile Rank was 92, Grade Equivalent 9.9, 8th stanine.
Aidan's Composite National Percentile Rank was 95, Grade Equivalent 6.4, 8th stanine.
I think this homeschooling thing is going pretty well. Don't you? These tests didn't tell me anything I don't already know, but it is nice to have the numbers.
Posted by lynx at 11:56 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Chore Wars
My kids are fighting to do chores. All of my kids.
Check out this nifty little site: Chore Wars. This is a blast, especially if you have gamer/geek kids! At this site your kids will get to make up a character. Then they go on adventures (chores) to gain experience points. Along the way they might, or might not, get gold, magical items, or run into a wandering monster. The more experience points you get, the higher level your character becomes.
It's brilliant. My living room has never been so clean (at least, not by the hands of children).
(As I post this, their server is not responding. Hopefully it will be back up soon.)
Posted by lynx at 8:34 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 26, 2007
Rowling Gives More Details After the Epilogue
Spoilers, in case you couldn't figure it out. Rowling gives us a few more details.
Posted by lynx at 3:13 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
One More
Look - Jeff is there in the lower right. He's the guy with the glasses on.
Posted by lynx at 2:20 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 25, 2007
My ears are still ringing!
Now, that was a show! We've seen Def Leppard many times, and that was a great show!
I went the scalper route for good seats, and my goodness, they couldn't have been better. For this tour the band has a catwalk that extends out of the stage into the audience, ending in a "T" 11 rows out. Our seats were in that 11th row. If I sat in my seat, my shoulder touched the T of the catwalk. I could have reached out and touched anyone I pleased.
Styx opened, and were wonderful. Lawrence Gowan is a fine replacement for Dennis DeYoung, down to the flair for showmanship. The band did "Miss America," "Lorelei," "Crystal Ball," "Blue Collar Man," "Renegade," "Foolin' Yourself (Angry Young Man)," "Grand Illusion" ... but the highlight was a cover of "I Am The Walrus." How many bands would try that? It was fantastic!
Def Leppard's set list has been somewhat lacking the last couple of times we've seen them, but last night was much better: "Exciteable," "Foolin'," "Mirror Mirror," and "Another Hit and Run," all right in a row. They did their cover of "Rock On," which is nice on the album, but totally kills live. They did an acoustic bit right down on that "T" bit of the catwalk ... if I'd had my hands out, Phil Collen could have stepped on them. "Bringing on the Heartbreak" started off acoustic, and with the audience singing the choruses, then kicked back into electric and finished off with "Switch 625," the way it should be done. They did not do "Let's Get Rocked," for which we are eternally grateful. (And of course, they did the typical things - "Rocket," "Photograph," "Sugar," "Rock of Ages.")
Somewhere in there Vivian Campbell handed me his guitar pick. He didn't have to toss it, like they usually have to do - he was right there. At the end, Rick Savage came over and slapped my hand (swoon).
Click if you want to see the pictures ...
First, Styx - Tommy Shaw, Chuck Panozzo and JY:
Joe Elliott:
Phil Collen - no zoom on this one:
Vivian Campbell:
Rick Savage:
And finally, Rick Allen:
Posted by lynx at 11:04 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
July 24, 2007
Wedding Meme
Look! Here I am!
I know. It's been so long that I couldn't remember my MT password. That's bad. And now that I'm here, all I'm going to do is give you a meme:
Today is our fifteenth wedding anniversary, so here’s the wedding meme that everyone else has already done.
1. Where/How did you meet? At school. Score one for public education.
2. How long have you known each other? Er ... wow. Twenty-three years.
3. How long after you met did you start dating? Two years.
4. How long did you date before you were engaged? That would be easier to answer if I knew when we got engaged.
5. How long was your engagement? See above.
6. How long have you been married? Fifteen years.
7. What is your anniversary? Today, July 24.
8. How many people came to your wedding reception? Er ... not a lot? I think we invited only 40 or 50 people to the wedding.
9. What kind of cake did you serve? A white cake with raspberry filling, and a flourless chocolate cake.
10. Where was your wedding? In my parents' back yard.
11. What did you serve for your meal? I have no idea, as we didn't actually get to eat any of it.
12. How many people were in your wedding party? Two bridesmaids, two groomsmen, and two flower girls.
13. Are you still friends with them all? I think we're about half and half.
14. Did your spouse cry during the ceremony? I don't think so.
15. Most special moment of your wedding day? Getting married was kind of the high point.
16. Any funny moments? Well, let's see ... there was the part where the minister got his notes mixed up, and said "You may kiss the bride" at the wrong time.
... There was the part where the minister asked for the wrong ring first, which went on the wrong finger first. I wasn't wearing my glasses for the ceremony, so I didn't know about the mixup until I looked at my finger. It had Jeff's ring on it. I realized that meant that the minister was going to put my ring on Jeff's finger, and lost it. I was laughing too hard to say my vows. They had to stop and wait for me. Rumor has it that my mother thought I had changed my mind and was attempting to back out. Or perhaps she was just holding on to her last shred of hope. ...
... There was the part where the intrepid videographers set up the video camera in the master bedroom of the house, which had a window overlooking the ceremony. And after they got the camera set, they opened the window ... you know, to get the sound. And didn't check the camera again to see if the sash was blocking the camera. Which is why, in my wedding video, no one has heads.
17. Any big disasters? Just small ones, like how the limo the best man hired never showed, and we were whisked off to the reception in a tiny little Honda. Let me add that my dress required two sets of petticoats. You try getting into a little Honda in two sets of petticoats.
And like how everyone in the place got champagne with which to toast us. Except for us. We got sparkling apple cider. That's a cruel joke, considering we probably needed the alcohol far more than the rest of you people did.
18. Where did you go on your honeymoon? Vegas! Where they did give us champagne!
19. How long were you gone? A long weekend.
20. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change? Are you kidding? It was all very fitting.
21. What side of the bed do you sleep on? I never know how to answer this question. Is that standing at the foot of the bed facing it, or is that in bed?
22. What size is your bed? King.
23. Greatest strength as a couple? We’re best friends, and we’re really willing to work at it. (I copied that from KathyJo's answer.) Plus we have great senses of humor.
24. Greatest challenge as a couple? Golly, I guess that's where I have to admit that as a team, we're totally impulsive and financially undisciplined.
25. Who literally pays the bills? Me.
26. What is your song? The Cure, "Friday I'm in Love"
27. What did you dance your first dance to? ... ??
28. Describe your wedding dress: It was gorgeous. Linen/cotton, none of that shiny stuff. Simple, very Southern. And two sets of petticoats.
29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding? I wanted gardenia, but they wouldn't hold up in the heat. Roses, carnations, stephanotis, etc.
30. Are your wedding bands engraved? Yup.
31. How old were you when you got married? 22 and 23.
Y'all ask a lot of questions.
We're celebrating by going to see Def Leppard, which is exactly what we did on our last anniversary. If they play here on July 24 next year, I'm contacting their tour manager to demand that they dedicate a song to us. Now ... which one would be appropriate?
Happy Anniversary, Dear.
Posted by lynx at 12:43 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack