3.27.11
This was spring break week. We had ten days all together. Everyday we fed the cows, chickens and pigs in the morning (and again at night), did 2-3 pages of math and reading or vocab work and then read. It was rainy so there was little protest to these activities. It was good to access where my children are and what things they need help in. Each has a different area of 'needs more practice' and 'wow you sure do great.' Anna has beautiful cursive handwriting. I was surprised as neither her dad or mom do. However, she hasn't seen much of our writing so hopefully she will keep up the good work. Aliza is a great motivator and task manager- making sure everyone is doing what they are supposed to and correcting and telling if they aren't. Harold is very bright. He just gets things. As a result it is hard to hold his attention. Yet because he is so quick he gets the work done very fast and is able to move on to his projects. Although we spent much time on the sequencing of those processes. One thing I really like about teaching my children is I learn too and I am challenged. I know I need to review letter sounds long and short vowels and math rules or memorization tips. And just keep going over and over it. I keep hoping it will sink in. I also need to become more conversational about earth science.
Anna also got her first beauty shop hair cut. It was a great experience. Same beautician I have been going to since I was 9 years old. I love the cut and Anna likes it too. Aliza has been the only one to give her a really hard time.
One great moment this week was when our book orders came. I love buying books. I love books. I want a good quality children's and adult library of books in my home. Because it is so hard to know where to find or what books are worth the time to read. And in this day and age of science fiction and garbage there is way too much out there. I really want my kids and me to read stuff that is truthful and correct- did you know they whoever they are have even gone so far as to corrupt our "understanding" used very lightly here, of the animal kingdom? Just finished a book by naturalist in the early pre- WWII part of the 20th century and their observations and insights into animal life are very different from the national geographic views taught now. Do I really think wild animals in their natural habitat have become enlightened and feminized in the last hundred years? No. So back to the story- the books arrived along with our current net flix movie. Five mile creek. The kids let the movie fall to the floor and spent the rest of the morning looking at/reading the books. The movie went unmentioned until the next day. YEAH! that is a major event. I think kids are plugged in way too much. It really bugs me when mine are. There is so much to learn and I prefer to make my own analysis not have it handed to me with commentary and mood music, thank you.
Saturday we spent in most of the day in Baker City oregon. A city about 80 miles from here up the road in Oregon. We don't travel much in Oregon which is a shame as it is the state we fund with our taxes and because it is truly beautiful with mountains, pine trees, rivers, oceans, etc.
But we did today. We went to see the Oregon trail interpretive center( OTIC) and the Baker City historical museum. The OTIC is interesting in that is has stuffed life size oxen and mules and covered wagons that have motion sensor narrative to teach you about the trail. I am always impressed with the difference in outlook of the Oregon pioneers and the mormon pioneers. As one group was faith base outcasts and the other were adventure, land/ independence seekers. Their optimism was very different. The kids enjoyed the animals and loved most the life size wagon with replica (think boxing bag or foam filled actual kid sized shapes) labeled as cast iron stove or books and medicine and the like. They tee-heed that they packed whiskey for the trip. Knowing we don't drink. We informed them it was for medicinal uses as well. It was fun to teach them and the museum had a couple of pages to prep them for the visit. I taught them about the ability of cows, sheep, and goats as ruminant (4 stomach) animals to better survive on poor quality food stuffs vs. horses and mules, people and pigs who are simple stomach and require more complete and perfect nutrition from what they eat. So I used my ag ed degree today!
The Baker city museum showcased a fantastic rock collection. This is a big mining town. Aliza loves loves loves rocks. She always has them in her pocket, purse under or on or by her bed. It drives me nuts to vacuum her room. But I knew she would love seeing the rocks especially the ones that glowed in the dark. Well it was a hit with all the kids. They also had a great butterfly and moth collection from all over the world. Truly beautiful. Mostly trying to keep the kids from touching or getting into or on or talking to loud was the biggest challenge. But I really think we deserve a little credit for trying to expand their thinking and world view. We don't travel far and wide but I love museums and feel there is a lot of worth in seeing and observing things as they were, are or might be.
The best part of the day for Greg though was Burger Bob's. This is a local burger jiont which is home to the 1/2 gallon milkshake. Served in a 1/2 gallon size cup!!! My plan was to divide it amongst all 9 of us. But the owner upon hearing we were recommended by a mutual friend, and feeling Greg's pain at his wife monitoring and limiting his milkshake intake. Who needs a 1/2 gallon really? He gave us 4 cups for the kids filled and 3 empty cups for the ones missing out so Greg wouldn't have to share so much! Well the burgers were great, and of course the milkshake was awesome. Greg finished it with a smile on his face and compliments on finally getting enough. But the crowning moment was the owners ability to recall a story that happened prior to his birth with his parents and greg's grandfather Harold Saunders. It never ceases to amaze me at the honor and respect people have for that man. I did not know him, but am impressed and continually re-dedicated to passing on an honorable name and character for my children to work from.
Last thought- I've been wondering why I don't have deep thoughts like so many in the blogosphere? So what I have come up with to let my mind rest tonight is I am very busy trying to live a full life. I think I do even if it's just feeding my family. My deep thoughts, well they are somewhere just not at the top of the current important things in life. I did have a great, although exhausting week teaching my children. I love to learn. Which is why I have such a rejection of idle movie watching- and why I try to do other things. Like vacuum. Which I might report I did every other day this week. What a motivator the new vac is. Best to you all.
Anna also got her first beauty shop hair cut. It was a great experience. Same beautician I have been going to since I was 9 years old. I love the cut and Anna likes it too. Aliza has been the only one to give her a really hard time.
One great moment this week was when our book orders came. I love buying books. I love books. I want a good quality children's and adult library of books in my home. Because it is so hard to know where to find or what books are worth the time to read. And in this day and age of science fiction and garbage there is way too much out there. I really want my kids and me to read stuff that is truthful and correct- did you know they whoever they are have even gone so far as to corrupt our "understanding" used very lightly here, of the animal kingdom? Just finished a book by naturalist in the early pre- WWII part of the 20th century and their observations and insights into animal life are very different from the national geographic views taught now. Do I really think wild animals in their natural habitat have become enlightened and feminized in the last hundred years? No. So back to the story- the books arrived along with our current net flix movie. Five mile creek. The kids let the movie fall to the floor and spent the rest of the morning looking at/reading the books. The movie went unmentioned until the next day. YEAH! that is a major event. I think kids are plugged in way too much. It really bugs me when mine are. There is so much to learn and I prefer to make my own analysis not have it handed to me with commentary and mood music, thank you.
Saturday we spent in most of the day in Baker City oregon. A city about 80 miles from here up the road in Oregon. We don't travel much in Oregon which is a shame as it is the state we fund with our taxes and because it is truly beautiful with mountains, pine trees, rivers, oceans, etc.
But we did today. We went to see the Oregon trail interpretive center( OTIC) and the Baker City historical museum. The OTIC is interesting in that is has stuffed life size oxen and mules and covered wagons that have motion sensor narrative to teach you about the trail. I am always impressed with the difference in outlook of the Oregon pioneers and the mormon pioneers. As one group was faith base outcasts and the other were adventure, land/ independence seekers. Their optimism was very different. The kids enjoyed the animals and loved most the life size wagon with replica (think boxing bag or foam filled actual kid sized shapes) labeled as cast iron stove or books and medicine and the like. They tee-heed that they packed whiskey for the trip. Knowing we don't drink. We informed them it was for medicinal uses as well. It was fun to teach them and the museum had a couple of pages to prep them for the visit. I taught them about the ability of cows, sheep, and goats as ruminant (4 stomach) animals to better survive on poor quality food stuffs vs. horses and mules, people and pigs who are simple stomach and require more complete and perfect nutrition from what they eat. So I used my ag ed degree today!
The Baker city museum showcased a fantastic rock collection. This is a big mining town. Aliza loves loves loves rocks. She always has them in her pocket, purse under or on or by her bed. It drives me nuts to vacuum her room. But I knew she would love seeing the rocks especially the ones that glowed in the dark. Well it was a hit with all the kids. They also had a great butterfly and moth collection from all over the world. Truly beautiful. Mostly trying to keep the kids from touching or getting into or on or talking to loud was the biggest challenge. But I really think we deserve a little credit for trying to expand their thinking and world view. We don't travel far and wide but I love museums and feel there is a lot of worth in seeing and observing things as they were, are or might be.
The best part of the day for Greg though was Burger Bob's. This is a local burger jiont which is home to the 1/2 gallon milkshake. Served in a 1/2 gallon size cup!!! My plan was to divide it amongst all 9 of us. But the owner upon hearing we were recommended by a mutual friend, and feeling Greg's pain at his wife monitoring and limiting his milkshake intake. Who needs a 1/2 gallon really? He gave us 4 cups for the kids filled and 3 empty cups for the ones missing out so Greg wouldn't have to share so much! Well the burgers were great, and of course the milkshake was awesome. Greg finished it with a smile on his face and compliments on finally getting enough. But the crowning moment was the owners ability to recall a story that happened prior to his birth with his parents and greg's grandfather Harold Saunders. It never ceases to amaze me at the honor and respect people have for that man. I did not know him, but am impressed and continually re-dedicated to passing on an honorable name and character for my children to work from.
Last thought- I've been wondering why I don't have deep thoughts like so many in the blogosphere? So what I have come up with to let my mind rest tonight is I am very busy trying to live a full life. I think I do even if it's just feeding my family. My deep thoughts, well they are somewhere just not at the top of the current important things in life. I did have a great, although exhausting week teaching my children. I love to learn. Which is why I have such a rejection of idle movie watching- and why I try to do other things. Like vacuum. Which I might report I did every other day this week. What a motivator the new vac is. Best to you all.
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