Summer Break?

In an effort to study about oceanography and the ocean habitat, we've listened to or read many books about the ocean. I'm now listening to "Moby Dick," all 17 hours of it. I am at chapter 20 and haven't met Ahab yet.

It is good to have a pool pass when it is not raining, so that I can listen to or read while my angels wear themselves out. But, we also have time to visit a friend's VBS program and participate next week in our own church summer "camp."

We are doing only a little reading about colonial America and then reading about the Revolutionary War and watching "Liberty's Kids." We will also get ready for Lewis and Clark in our history timeline before August. These are fun ideas for summer reading. But, I'm vexed by our grammar choice for 4th grade. I've read reviews of First Language Lessons 4 and am not enticed to continue into it.  I'm anxious for a solution and will consider Rod and Staff 5 when I visit with those folks at the Homeschool Expo on August 6th.

Rainy Thursday

Vivaldi, Phil Collins Big Band in French, and now Bagdad Kemper on the mp3 player just to keep the morning filled with variety. We've all got new library books to read and our checklists to complete for the day, but music makes it go smoother. I'm reading Mr. Wiker's The Mystery of the Periodic Table. I need a good primer on chemistry to lead these three along in their science study too. I'm keeping the last 2 installments of the Roman Mysteries that I received from Amazon for the long Labor Day weekend drive.

Rain and the soccer practice for tonite is canceled. But, a comfy weekend of activity promises plenty of outside time and maybe another trip to the lake for sailing before the season ends and we rig the boat to the ceiling of the garage (somehow?).

Easter with family in Iowa

We began the 29th week of our classical studies for 1st and 2nd grades in the 'burbs, but drove to Iowa for Easter adventures near the farm. We read and completed a few lessons on birds in zoology I. But, then went fishing at my uncle's pond. There was four hours of fishing in the warm sunshine. The goal for using our fishing poles at least once a year is complete. Now, any other fishing is over and above the goal!

On the return trip to the 'burbs, once some of the Easter egg hunts candy was done, we found the Macbride Raptor center at Coralville Lake on Monday in the cold and rain. We identified what the large variety of birds ate from droppings and remnants laying around the containers and we saw the fresh dinner being prepared by the University of Iowa caretakers involved in the program. There were also reasons that brought each bird to the center. Some were obvious like the saw wet owl with one eye. And one bird missing a wing. The osprey's nest was the connection that G#1 made with the Burgess Bird Book story about how it was made and where it was located above the lake for easier reach once a fish was caught from the water. Each of my three Gs made wonderful connections with the flying things Apologia study and I'm pleased to have a sister-in-law who did the research to find us this wonderful site to visit. We can't wait to take her back next month when we find this place again on a warmer, greener day.

Fun insights

I just got some insight from a fun survey I took about where I prefer to live. Try is and let me know what you think... http://www.blogthings.com/whereshouldyoulivequiz/

Also, one from Jessica of Savannah, GA, a survey about a personality preference towards the South or the North is found at http://www.blogthings.com/areyouayankeeordixiequiz/.

Lots of fun. My results were as follows:

70/30 Yankee from Iowa farmgirl "You're so Yankee, it's possible you've never even been to the South!" This is fun! It's true too b/c I've avoided East Texas, most of Georgia and Florida, all of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. I might also add that I do prefer to live in the central time zone over most definitely the East and West. The only other place to try on the North American continent is the mountain time zone for all kinds of majesty and personality.

"You are definitely an urban person, but not any old city will do. Live in a small city: You want a city that matches you well. For you, big cities lack individuality.You prefer a smaller city with lots of personality, local culture, and history." Small is good and I agree that the best stuff has happened in my life in Omaha and Johnson County Kansas, but all kinds of good stuff awaits in Chicagoland.

LAST DAY...

Can you believe it? I'm kinda shell shocked. I've finished the shrinky dink medals for completion of kindergarten and 1st grade. These are placed in frames to be handed out when Daddy gets home after lunch. Little girl is finishing her math chapter test and the boys are playing crazy 8s card game peacefully. The boys have vacuumed and cleaned off their desks. I'm putting away my stuff for August 4th.

Daddy is taking them to see Prince Caspian movie and maybe a baseball game (in the rain) for fireworks after. I'm going to do something else. I need a break.

Afternoon with Daddy

The work picnic was Thursday in Palatine where we met people from 2 areas of Daddy's work. We played games and I spoke a little Turkish with a couple of people there. The twins played some more time with Daddy while I went to get the 1st grader from school. EXCEPT that once at school/church, a tornado warning forced the principal to retain the children for a practice/real drill and provide shelter for the parents from their cars. The power went out at school and I gathered the 1st grader from the dark after the danger passed. We went home to wait for the twins and Daddy because the picnic was rained out too. What a mess in this new area we call home.