Labor Day Weekend

I hope you all are enjoying your labor day weekend. We dont have any big plans for this weekend. We were going to try and go out of town but the van is in dire need of tires, oil change, the works so we're getting that done instead. There's a big fest going on in town this weekend so we'll probably walk over there to join in the festivites.

The weather here is certainly turning very fall-like lately, and I'm not complaining at all! I love this overcast, cool, rainy weather - as I've said many times before. I love the sun shining too but weather, like we're having today just makes me want to curl up with a cup-a tea and relax. The leaves havent started to change here where we're at yet but I'm expecting it soon... I LOVE FALL!!

Sean has been busy making up his birthday wish-list. So far, 2 pages long of a list completely of Lego sets. HAHA!! Both he and Ryan have been completely caught up in the Lego world. They have the Lego video games. One of their favorite ones is Lego Indiana Jones - partly because they have a friend that also has the game and all three talk non-stop about it together. Anyway, the subject of Halloween came up - I think because they already have all the candy out at the PX and commissary, UGH! We told them that we will probably doing what we did last year and just going to the church and having a fun night but that they could dress up if they wanted to. Sean says right away, "I'm going to be Indiana Jones" HAHA!!!!! Funny boys!!

School has been going really well. Everyday gets better. Sean and I have our headbutting moments but all-in-all everything has been great! The positives out-weigh the negatives by FAR. Sean and I are reading a really great book called Kingdom's Dawn. It's about good knights fighting evil for the King. It has some wonderful character lessons about "owning up", "being a man" sort of things. Also, like the way the Chronicals of Narnia parallel the Bible, these books (it's a series) do the same. I'm really impressed with them, honestly, it's hard to put it down. We have to read them together because some of the words are a bit challenging for Sean but he really does a great job!! And at the back of the book, there are questions for each chapter to discuss and it points out the symbolism in the story. Really, fantastic books!!

I'm really excited about this History program that I'm waiting for now. Right now, for history, we're just basically reading from a History book, much like you'd see in school. Even I admit, it's pretty boring. I found this one program called "Time Travellers" and you learn the history by "doing". For instance, we're studying about the explorers and discovery of America. We'll learn how to make the knots they used on the ships and make maps and ship logs and time lines. I'm so excited about doing these things. Click on the link I have on the word "Time Travellers" above to see all the pictures of all the stuff you can do. It's really meant for 4-8th graders but I think Ryan will be able to do it too, the boys working together.

Hopefully that will get here next week. The mail has been HORRIBLE lately. It's been taking forever for things to get here. I ordered some skirts in the mail, they shipped Aug 3rd and they arrived on Thursday - a month later. I dont remember mail being this bad when we were in England.

In science we're learning about insects (the boys' choice)... gross!!! I think we're supposed to catch an insect next week and get a "closer look", I'm not looking forward to that. haha!

All the other subjects are pretty much standard. Sean is doing much better on his multiplication tables so we're going to work on division next week. For Language Arts, he's going to start some creative writing. Ryan is working on adding plus 1 and plus zero. Ryan is also starting to read his first stories. He's doing really well!

That's basically it for here. We've been doing well, just been very busy getting into our routine. Now I just need to get a better balance on the housework and schoolwork together, haha!! Thank you for all the encouraging comments. I really appreciate them! You all are great!! :)