Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Let's see... C and I have finally found a way to make division work for him. *lol* Man, that was just weird. He is able to just look at the numbers and come up with an answer. Yeah, but he has to be able to show work at some point, so we had to work on that. Started with the "partial quotients" method (new to me, but I thought it was great!), then went to standard long division and he just wasn't "getting it" (mainly because he didn't need to). Anyway, Monday morning I said, "Okay, we're going to try something new..." and I showed him the linear version (where you carry across). Oh my gosh--the look of pure relief that moved across his face was priceless. He said, "Oh thank goodness, mom--THAT makes sense!" *lol*

Mr. Ben is working on mental math tricks for 7's, 8's, and 9's. So far, so good (we're moving nice and slow). In guitar, he was assigned his first "fun song"--Sunshine of Your Love. He now loves Cream/Eric Clapton (they like classical music so much that I sometimes forget to dig out the other stuff...but they do also enjoy Queen, Simon and Garfunkle, Springsteen and others). Even more, he loves that his guitar looks exactly like Clapton's in the video we watched on YouTube.

We've nearly finished the Gilgamesh book and next we're going to do a short story version of Beowulf (our library only has one of the longer versions for kids and I'm #9 in the hold line...it's going to be a while). We're also working our way through random story collections--Japanese children's tales, Celtic tales, Medieval stories, and Native American stories. No rhyme or reason, just thought they looked interesting and I don't know how much longer Connor will want to read through those sorts of things so I thought I'd squeeze them in while I still can. I'm still trying to stretch out this year's history because I really don't think either of the boys are emotionally ready for the next volume (much more war, mass destruction). Been comtemplating using one of the history encyclopedias to repeat the Ancients and Middle Ages, then moving on next fall. One of the benefits of doing this would be that now I am aware of how many awesome little kits there are for the Ancients if you just poke around...and I think I could do a much better job of going through Egypt, China, India, etc. I wonder if C would still like "Lift the Lid on Mummies" in two years, when he's going on 11 (and we start our history cycle over at the Ancients)...?

So today we're just having a small dinner with my folks here at our house...Saturday is our "big" meal at my parent's house with my sister and her family. Still have much cleaning to do, though, so I'm going to get on that. Happy Thanksgiving!

Our new motto:
Choose your studies or I'll choose them for you.

Connor chose to study more Greek and Norse mythology.  He's sort of hit a ceiling there, I think; until he's ready for the more mature books, the younger versions basically are more and more of the same.  That's okay, though--each one has their own way of describing events and it's been quite interesting...especially for me, as I had very little exposure to mythology until homeschooling the boys.

Today I pre-read a retelling of the story of Gilgamesh and it was fantastic!  Can't wait to read it with the kids.  I also pre-read a retelling of three of Edgar Allen Poe's "spookiest stories" and...um...yeah.  There is absolutely no way either of the boys are ready for that.  (A level one book, indeed!)  I can only imagine how many nightmares we'd have to deal with should either of the kids get their hands on that!  As I'm typing this, I suddenly realize where much of my time goes lately...pre-reading things for the kids.  Ah well.

For his studies, Ben chose manners, insects, and a few random stories.  He's been finding interesting books at Westfield each week, so I'm not too worried. :)

Connor is nearly caught up on math, but we just hit long division and it's been interesting.  He can look at the problem and tell the answer without having to write it out...so the process is meaningless to him at this point.  I gave him more difficult problems in an attempt to *make* him work through it, but he manages to come up with the answers every single time.  I think this was meant to be an introduction, so I don't think I'm going to press it at this point.  *shrugs*  He'll need to know it next year at this time (I've looked ahead), so we'll do more when we get there if he doesn't pick it up before then.  He's going to be thrilled with next semester's math; we're skipping a good deal of it.  He can read time to the minute and add/subtract hours and mins, so that chapter is out.  So is the one on making change within $1000.  So is the one on yards, feet, inches and cm/m/km.  He's been working through his supplemental book which just got him interested in oz/lbs and conversions between the two, so we can skip that one as well.  We may or may not touch on g/kg and ml/l.  We use g and ml quite a bit in science, so I think he has a pretty good handle on it.  We'll just do enough problems to make sure he understands the conversions and move right along...wonder what his reaction will be when I pull out the next book. :P

Today we had music lessons and Ben's teacher came out to talk to me after his lesson.  I usually dread the "talks" because...well, I don't need to know every detail of the lesson.  He's 6, I know he's young and smallish for the guitar, and I don't really need to hear about it every week (quite frankly, it takes me back to the Mrs. P drama back in C's kindergarten year *shudders*).  But today, he came out while Ben was putting away his guitar and boy, was I ever caught off guard!  He said that he has never had a child under 8 memorize things so easily and he's never had a child under 8 be able to sing along while they play so easily...and - get this! - he said that Ben matches the pitch as he sings, and if the note isn't in his range, he sings an octave up or down naturally (he doesn't ask kids to sing...but if they start to on their own, he certainly doesn't tell them not to).  RIGHT ON!  He also blew the teacher away today when, while the teacher was making up a simple chord progression to complement the song Ben was playing, Ben said, "Hey!  Was that a G7?  That sounds great!"  So I sat there, thrilled, and then he said, "You know, in two more years at the rate he's going, he could be pretty phenomenal.  He's got the voice, he has the rhythm, and he has a natural feel for it...some good, raw talent.  His hands just need to catch up to his brain a little and then he's going to take off fast."

Right or wrong, I have always hoped that one of the boys would take an interest in music.  It gave me some of the best times of my life.  I am absolutely thrilled that both boys are taking interest (though I don't think Connor's found an instrument he's passionate about yet), and the fact that Ben may have some raw talent?  More than I dared hope for!  Oh...and the teacher said, "I know you have a lot to do with it because you sit there with him and help him while he practices..."  I waited for him to finish and said, "Actually, I did that for a while, but now he practices all on his own.  I don't sit with him to help him because he doesn't want my help."  The look of surprise on his face was priceless. :)  I am so, SO happy for Ben!

After lessons we met some friends at a park to enjoy the warm weather.  Tomorrow it's supposed to rain and Wednesday looks like it'll be nice again.  Have to take advantage while we can! :)
 

--Connor has officially hit a talking-back phase.  It is not out of control, but it is quite irritating.  I am attempting to diffuse the situations without causing more rebellion.

--It occurred to me today that I thought newborn through 3 years were the "hard years".  I think they tell you that so you don't put them in a basket with a For Sale sign.  Because by the time they are 4, they can identify you and probably tell police your name; in other words, they can
track
you
down.

--Ben has now decided that he is the policeman of the world.  Connor previously held that title, but I believe he's been dethroned after today's tattling session at the library.  Good times.

--Today I held a 5-month old little boy and happily handed him back.  If foster parenting is in the future, older kids are fine by me.

--Today I actually told my children they were acting ungrateful.  Family out west will know why I immediately wanted to wash my own mouth out with soap after uttering those words.

--I am finding that in order to help my patience grow when the boys are at their most trying moments (which are more and more frequent lately), I must keep the following words rattling around in my brain:  I love them, I love them, I love them...and they will one day be grown and gone.

--Connor and I spent the better part of an hour in a discussion that ultimately ended in him calling to apologize to a friend for his behavior today.  It is amazing, given the day we had, that I managed to help him get to that point without raising my voice or flat-out telling him to do it.  He did a nice job of it, too, without any help from me beforehand or otherwise in choosing his words.  This gives me great hope that maybe I'm doing an okay job.

--The genius that thought up daylight savings is on my shit list: 
I know!--Let's screw with their internal clocks the very same weekend that we give them 3 tons of sugar!  Yes, Ray, that's a FABULOUS idea!  That'll really shake things up right as cabin fever hits!
Morons.
 
--The boys want to celebrate Guy Hawkes Day next year, preferably in England.  (We stumbled on info about him while reading through a book about how various things work...we happened to read a chapter on fireworks.  Really...what are the odds of doing that today, of all days?!)

--Final thought:  I got through today without crying or yelling (in front of or at the kids, anyway) and for that, I deserve an award.

This was actually really light-hearted; it wasn't a mean/rude tone at all...

At the library--Connor to me:  You know what would be really great? If you would keep standing there, talking to your friend while my arms fall off from holding all of your books.  I mean, it's not like I have anything better to do...it's not like I'd enjoy picking out a few more books for myself or anything.
My reply:  I'm a huge fan of sarcasm, Connor, so keep it up. 
His rebuttal:  No, really?  I hadn't noticed.  I mean, you never use it yourself.  I don't know where I might have picked it up.

I'm so proud--he's no longer Sheldon (Big Bang Theory).  I think he's graduated to Leonard. :)

Thankfully, tomorrow looks like it's going to be nice and we might have a play date lined up.  Woo hoo!  Will have to get up and get school done early, though, so we won't have to worry about it on Thursday (park day + Bill's Halloween party at work) or Friday (HCHS Halloween party--an all day event).

 

I'm sick of everything we normally eat.  The kids are in for quite a ride the next week or two (usually about how long I last before I unintentionally cave and start making the "usuals" again), thanks to a couple new food forums I've been reading... we'll see :)

Connor is driving me absolutely batty about not having seen his friends "in forever" (he kept saying "friends", but he really meant "Harper").  Attempting to attend every single park day since April has come back to bite me in the rear in a big, big way.  The worst is yet to come, too; very few people get together regularly between Halloween and Valentine's Day.  I'm going to make a serious effort to schedule playdates, but you know how it is with all those holidays (and colds).  I am telling you, I must've heard Harper's name a thousand times today, complete with tears and drama about how they will never get to invent anything together if they can't SEE each other.  *rolls eyes*  I get it, I do--but there are only so many ways to say, "We were on vacation and then we were all sick, Connor!"--and believe me, I came up with about a dozen ways before getting frustrated.  He wants me to promise him that there will be a park day this week, but I don't know the weather (and half the time, neither do the people who get paid to know it).  Gah!  Here, apparently, is the downside to homeschooling.  When they DO get together with their friends, it's usually for several hours; but that can't happen every single day.  Even when you're young and in love...uh, "like"...as Connor and Harper obviously are.  Geez, I don't even want to THINK about how over-the-top he's going to be once hormones come into play.  *cringes*  No, thank you! :)
 
Oh, yes...and at about 3:30 this afternoon, he came to me and asked if we could invite some friends to the park.  If he had asked earlier in the day that would not have been a problem.  I told him it was too late, however, because TKD was quickly approaching and most friends have to be home by 5 so they can see their dads.  He sobbed.  Oh, how I hope park day doesn't get rained out this week!

It's scary when Ben is the rational, calm one.  And just think--I'm saying that knowing that Ben started the day off sobbing for two hours because Bill had to work today (which happens to be his 40th birthday!).  Wowza.

Liquor-filled chocolates.  That's what I need. ;)