Ezra's addition

I’m at Grandma and Grandpa’s house today and I’m going to reminisce about the past four days. It feels like we’ve only been stopping at gas stations to get gas and sometimes Dad got an energy drink. We stayed the night at a park and parking lots. The parking lots were usually at grocery stores.  When we slept we put up curtains so people can’t see in.  When we got to Florida we stayed the night at “Florida’s visitor welcome center”; at least that’s what I think it’s called. We went to Big Shoals State Park to have lunch and saw a Bald Eagle!  It was amazing to see.  At one of the last gas stations they were selling real crocodile heads! The teeth were really sharp! They were really cool, I wanted one but they cost $43.99. 

The past two days we went to the pool, the water temperatures were cold. The first day was 68 deg and the second day was 72 degrees. I still enjoyed it. 

 We went to see skydivers today too.  I really want to skydive but I’m too young. I have to wait until I’m 18.  When I see them falling it makes me want to go grab a parachute and jump into the next plane!

                                                                                                                                                              Ezra

Time for a review

Ezra has been playing massive amounts of Over the hedge computer game. He is very dedicated and rarely asks for my help. I am glad to see such a commitment and dedication to something. He has also been more and more willing to sound out/read words. It is coming along. I have noticed multiplication creeping into his thoughts. I did introduce it last year so it maybe time to go over it again.

Terje is been coloring A LOT! He used to hate and refuse to color. He found some superhero coloring books and now he is a fiend. He is still enjoying coloring Manga characters. I hope this develops into a desire to learn to draw. He has been practicing letters on his own and with me. I try not to interrupt his letter learning because then he stops. He is also completing rhyming and non rhyming sentences in books we are reading. He signed his name on his Kings Island pass with no trouble! Last year it was a struggle to get 3 letters out of him.

They unloaded the washer/dryer yesterday. I know they can do more chores than i have them do and I believe we will get back to kids helping out more.

Dad took them to the Raptors (birds of prey) show at the library. they were high strung and only slightly interested in the birds. mostly they wanted to be the center of attention.

Also while watching Justice league this week they have been getting more into the plots and characters. They are learning their names, powers, and weaknesses.

Learn to Read

I was laying on the couch reading and I took a break; rolled over and asked Terje if he was ready to learn the ABC's like other kids his age (in Kindergarten). He said he knew his ABC's. Yes that is true but only to sing them. He can't id them all on paper, let alone write them down.
I said he needed to be able to do that so he can learn to read someday.
Ezra pipes in with Mom you said one day it will all just "POP" and I will be able to read. That's how it happened for you.

True again, however, I had people offering basic information to me along the way.
Ezra "Well why hasn't anyone given me that information?"
I have tried but you didn't want it.


Anyway the conversation continued and we went off to the library with the intention of getting hooked on phonics again(it was out). but perhaps the I will try to read bug is back in his pants. Terje let it all go. He might be the one to get it by watching.

Thursday May 10, 2007

Our garden is growing so well. we have eaten spinach and 1 strawberry.
The pole beans and teepee are set to go. So are the sunflowers and the raspberries!
lots of herbs too. Now it is time for momma to weed and mulch.

The tadpoles are getting active. they are swimming all over the tank. we can see little leg sprouts forming!

Ezra read Brown Bear, Brown Bear today! Little to no problems!

Terje is starting to really recognize beginning sounds. He continues to rhyme words. I can hear Ezra trying to join in on the rhyming. Progress!!!

Terje finally stopped and listened to directions today! Can this please continue. a lot of our differences are over his in ability to listen to the WHOLE directions 1st.

Ezra and I set up a rope in the tree. Then we used the ascenders to climb a little way up. E flew up no problem. Terje had problems until he listened to the full directions.

They found all sorts of snails, slugs, and bugs in the neighbor's wood pile.

Ezra and I started to build, actually formulate a plan for a container water feature. We will get Dad's help with the logistics:) I think we may already own many of the parts. That's always good!

Attic Pulley

So Ezra and I did a project/adventure in our attic. We put a pulley in the rafters so we can pull heavy items up into the attic with-out having to carry them up the ladder. Ezra has always been fascinated by pulleys and attaching things to ropes, and stuff like that. So I figure this was a great way to build on his desire to use this kind of a resource. The funny thing is we didn't have to really use it for anything that heavy on this day, but everything still had to be hooked-up and pulled up into the attic on this day. Gotta love the little guy and all his passion! :o)

flew by

this week has flown by! it was beautiful weather that was warm. it called us outside. the nature center, building stories in Abner's Cabin, staying the night at Jacob's house, playing, investigating, and exploring the creek, the woods, and our yard. digging in the dirt, seeing flowers spring up, digging up bulbs just to see what they look like, snakes, dirt bikes, building a raft.

Last night we had our water tested. Terje lay in the bedroom "reading" cat woman. Ezra joined the adults for the experiments. a few drops of this and that in our water and her purified water...what water would you want to bath in? drink? our water is horrid but it's not great. Ezra finished the evening by creating his own samples and experiments using healthy liver tonic, soap, and water. he actively participated in the conversation. the sales woman was amazed by his ability to communicate with her. I use the word communicate because that is one of Ezra's favorite words right now!

Today we got 2 guinea pigs. after considering and reading about hamsters, turtles, chinchillas, ferrets, lizards, and hedgehogs we went with the guineas. although i plan on getting a hedgehog. Their names are Linny and Ming Ming! The wonder pets!

We finished reading Stuart little. Terje was only half interested. Ezra listened intently until the last chapter. i think, I'll ask tomorrow, he was slightly disappointed by the ending. It had no closure. Now we must make something fun to show that we read and understood Stuart little. a discussion for tomorrow.

Make time for 1 on 1 conversations with each boy.

Also the boys were making music on multiple instuments this afternoon. Ezra wrote down the music, in his own way. He also had Austin draw pictures of the instruments he used.

A few days back the boys were doing yoga and Ezra drew poses and had me write down the names. I have got to can those. they were cool.