Logan and Brynne have been working really hard on their math. Brynne is pretty self-sufficient. She does her work and then asks me to check it. I have a new math program for her and I think she really likes it. It is actually an old math textbook from the 1800s. The way they learned math then is a little different than the way it is taught now. Kids are taught to be very comfortable with numbers (counting by 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s and using varying starting numbers when they do it - try counting by 4s, starting on number 3). Things are also taught in smaller chunks and the children should completely master each section before they move on. Brynne has enjoyed it.
Logan is very good at math. His fine motor skills for writing, like many boys', lags behind his mental ability. So, we do a lot of mental math and some basic number-writing practice. Today he added up 10+10+5 to see if Brynne was going to get 25 cents from the three coins I had. He did it pretty quickly in his head. I'm using Cuisinaire manipulatives to give him an even better concept of math and numbers. He begs to do school! In fact, he's trying to boost me out of my chair now so that we can do school! We're going to start working on his reading a little more, too. He could learn to read if he had the patience to sit still and sound out words. Another boy thing!
The kids have been helping me with yard work. I think I posted pictures of our front yard. We are now working on the side yard and then will spend time winterizing our back yard. We will be digging up many plants in back and either putting in grass...or different plants that will do better. Right now our yard looks miserable. I might try a different kind of grass, too. We live in an area where people can't afford to water their lawns during the summer so they all die. In the front yard I am going to try xeriscaping and will probably incorporate those principles in our back yard, too.
Hannah has been really busy at school. She is in the choir and loves it. She loves her teacher. She seems to have a lot of friends in her class and enjoys all the social time. One of their recent school projects was designing their own country. Hannah brought hers home and Josh and I both loved it! I could see our fantasy book influence in her drawing. It looked like a map out of a Robert Jordan book or Tolkien! Just that a 10-year old drew it. It was nice! We're slowly adjusting to having her gone all day. Boy, do I miss her! I'm glad she's having so much fun, though.
Kelly on the soccer field...doing my best to coach our goalie. I lost my voice by the end of the second game! Our poor girls got creamed in both games, but they tried so hard and had really positive attitudes. The other teams not only have more players than us (we're not sure why they have all these extra subs and we had to fight with the soccer president to get one extra girl on our team), but they have loaded several of the teams with a lot of good players. It just kind of works out that way. Parents can request which team their child is on - and often times kids who have been playing soccer forever, and are quite good, want to play on the same team. But...it was really fun, and the weather was gorgeous that day. I'm sure we'll be hating it by the end when it's foggy, windy, and drizzly!
As always, a busy week! I had to include some photos of Kenna's new hobby: getting into things. We have received a lot of wonderful produce from a cousin of Josh's. Too much to keep on my counters, so I had to pile the boxes on the floor. Kenna found and ate an entire tomato (I was watching her carefully).
I also let her play on the deck for the first time. There are lots of leaves there and she found and tasted as many as possible. She's been following me around the house as I work...which is fine...except that not every room is childproofed for her yet. We spend a lot of time dragging her back to the living room and making her start all over.
Logan has been such a busy, busy helper for me lately. This week he came up to me and very seriously said, "Mom, I promise. I totally promise that I will wash all the toys very clean outside. I totally promise." It took me a minute to figure out what he wanted. OH! He wanted the toy tub filled with water (in return for which, he would wash the toys). I thought it was a funny way to ask if he could play with water outside.
I had to include this photo of Brynne reading in the tree. She has been gobbling up books in her spare time. So cute!
Josh spent part of Saturday door-knocking in support of Proposition 8. Our Church asks us to participate in very few political causes, but this is one in which we have been asked to give of our time and means. A similar proposition was passed in 2000, but was overturned by a panel of judges. This time they are seeking a constitutional amendment that will not be able to be overturned. I have more information on Prop 8 HERE.
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