The Sinister Scribe

We’re a month into the school year already. I can hardly believe how fast time is flying. This week was very much a week of fun with friends. Not that we don’t see our friends weekly, just this week we saw more of them and did more activities with them. Seems like these things come in waves… which is why I try to say “yes” when someone calls and asks if we want to join them.

This week Sam showed a lot of independence in his work either asking to get started before it was time or asking to work on the next subject if he finished early. He also mentioned how good it felt to be able to do these things on his own.

Math: This week was speed division, a more difficult subject if only because he’s had less practice. Monday he was working on sleep deprivation (a friend spent the night Saturday) so things were a bit harder than usual. By Thursday he was over three quarters of the way through this subject. Friday I have him a day off math… sort of. He didn’t do worksheets, but we had a great discussion on budgeting while I checked the back account to see how much money I could spend on groceries this week. Showed him how I figured things out and what things I regularly put money aside for. He seemed impressed that I put so much work into it.

Next week we’re going to go back to using Math Mammoth. I think a break from “speed work” will be good. Then maybe pick up MathScore.com again at the beginning of next month.

Science: So we tried to do some stargazing and even see the Perseid meteor shower but unfortunately the weather got in the way. I just keep forwarding the stargazing assignment to the next day. Hopefully this week we’ll get to do it.

Art: To tie in with Science I had him illustrate his favorite constellation on black construction paper with white chalk. Belatedly I had the idea of using GITD (glow in the dark) fabric paint on the star locations but we never got around to getting any. Maybe next week we can pick that up. For the Narnia Newspaper, I had him draw himself as the editor of the paper. He chose a fox with a tree stump for a chair and the desk had “twig” legs. It wasn’t what I had pictured in my mind (mug shot type of thing) but I liked his forethought into the furnishings.

History: Our studies this week touched on the Muslim faith. Sam was rather perplexed over some of the differences in regards to treatment of women. Made for some great discussion about being aware of different faiths… not being condescending of them even if you don’t agree… and how this awareness can make it easier to communicate with others.

Vocabulary: Not much to say. He still keeps saying how much he likes it and spontaneous bouts of neologism continue. As does “a-ha” moments of… so that’s why they call it {insert name}. Ok, so many of those names are of various Pokemon. Sigh. But the connections are there so I am not complaining (out loud).

Literature/Dictation: I forgot to do the pre reading review this time. (shame on me) So we did a post review of this week’s and last week’s readings. He was able to recall with no problem. Dictation wasn’t as good as usual but it wasn’t awful. I purposefully chose one with more punctuation and I could tell he just wasn’t paying as close attention as usual.

Music Appreciation: alternated with the classical Persian and Scottish since I didn’t have anything new for this week. I’m sure that I’ll have weeks in the future where I just don’t have any music to tie in with history so I’ll continue to replay past week’s music then. I think it will be a good review.

Latin: We started the digital timeline for Roman Emperors this week. So far so good. He seems to be enjoying it and… it is getting done.

Penny whistle: He’s really doing well. I’m finding it increasingly difficult to tell the difference between his playing and the recordings we have.

Nature Study: Not sure I can really qualify this as nature “study”….   this week most of our pupas became either moth or butterfly, except one. It looked like a swallowtail butterfly pupa but what came out was a wasp… red body with black wings. Even more than that, something was wrong with its head that (I think) was the reason it fell off. Kinda freaky to have a headless wasp wandering around on the deck table.  I suppose I could have done more with this lesson but we were all sufficiently creeped out as it was.

Things we didn’t get to this week (I really will get to these things eventually!): Nature Study, Shakespeare, Librivox, Pres. Phys Fitness test & program, Sewing.

4 miles run this morning plus two hours in the sun this afternoon equals one tired momma tonight!

But it was all good. Both Sam and Jessie had some great play time with their friends. Now if only a Guinness would magically appear…

I can’t do it. I’m going off wheat again today. I can’t keep this up until the 19th. I’m tired of feeling like crap…. fatigued, itchy, headachy and my stomach constantly hurts and is bloated. I can’t get up in the morning to run and I’m too tired by the evening to run then.

What’s up with the stomach thing? Don’t remember that happening before.

Which brings me to the 19th… a visit with an allergist. Should I really even go? If this isn’t an allergy, why go to an allergist? If staying away from wheat/gluten solves the problem, what’s the point of going?

Yes, I’m a wimp and really don’t like to go to the doctor.

supposed to be “a charm” right?

Well, on the first working day of the new school year for us, I am nervous and not as prepared as I’d hoped I would be. And maybe that is the reason. *shrug*

I’m going to post the days assignments/activities/chores on the wall in the toy room. (that’s where the computer is) and we’ll go over it each morning for a while. Eventually I will also put up pictures and information on our artist and composer of the week (which will correspond to history studies).

Sam got himself up this morning. So that is good. Gotta go get Jess up now.

We did it! The three of us ran our first races. More pictures start here.

Jessie had a bit of trouble at the start, but she finished in the end. Sam finished with a smile. I started out too fast (as Bob said would happen) and I even slowed down. When I got to the first mile mark and the lady called out nine-oh-five I thought “Uh-oh!” The end of this is going to be ugly. It was uphill too. I kept telling myself “I’m not gonna walk, I’m not gonna walk.” I didn’t but it mighta been faster if I did. LOL! Anyhoo. As the pictures can attest, I finished with a smile. How could I not with such a great support crew. Can’t wait to do this again!

It was hot but we had fun! I want to get the kids medals framed with this picture or something like that and hang it somewhere so they can see how proud I am of them.

Tomorrow morning, bright and (kinda) early, I run my first 5K; Sam runs the 1 mile fun run and Jessie is doing the 150 yard tot trot. Squeeee!

We’ve all got our clothes set out. Waffle mix is all ready to go. My victory dance is keeping cool in the fridge (a Guiness… for afterwards ).

I am more excited that I really want to admit. Can ya tell?

After this, I promise to get back to posting more.

A snipped of conversation with my 4yo whilst she bathed:

J: Mom, do you know what it means to be grown up?

M: ummm, no… what does it mean?

J: It means that you can go places by yourself. Just you… mom and dad… and no brother.

LOL! Perhaps some J time with mom and dad is in order.

As of Thursday last week, Bob and I have been married (very happily) for 16 years. Squeeeeeeeeee! Bob wrote the most wonderful post about our celebration, which was on Saturday. Is he the greatest or what!?! Thank you honey! I can’t wait until our next run!

After our run, we stumbled upon an Asian bistro for lunch. A better time could not be had… running outside with my best friend and true love and………. SUUUUUUUUSHIIIIIIIIII!

Love you honey! Safe trip! We miss you!

Finally made an appointment to see a doctor about this food allergy I seem to have.

The visit went well, the (oh-my-gosh when did they get so young) doctor was attentive and asked lots of questions. She ordered a blood test for food allergies and the “Missouri allergen panel…” since we were there. I am not sure what type of blood test it was… RAST… MAST… forgot to ask, dernit. Anyway, it will take a couple of weeks to get it back. Until then she said… “keep doing what you’re doing.” Sigh.

I’m really not sure what I hope to see from the blood test. I’ve read (yes, hon, I know) they’re not always conclusive but I’ll worry about that when I get there. Depending upon the results she’ll mail me or call me in.

Oh, I did come away with one thing… a mamogram appt. :\ Oh. Yip E.

Off to breakfast… tapioca waffles.

Between working with Bob on the remodeling, getting ready for end of the year tests with Sam and knitting for Sock Wars III and discovering an old allergy… I just haven’t had the energy to blog. Oh, and I’m trying to knit a pair of socks for Sock Wars III AND get back to running. Being sick kinda knocked me off my groove. Sigh.

If you weed through the recent photo album, you’ll see how the dining room/kitchen is coming. It is going to look so great. Now, I just gotta keep the kids, cat and dog from leaving permanent marks on the hardwood floor!

The allergy thing is kind of a surprising turn. On a whim (and after talking with a dietician) I decided to give a wheat-free diet a try. What the heck, can’t really cook right now anyhoo. Whaddaya know… the semi permanent rash on my face cleared in about 36 hours. And all this time I was sure it was yeast that was causing it. Problem was, avoiding yeast never really cleared things up.

I’m going to continue the WF diet until Saturday. Then add wheat back in to the diet and see what happens. Should be interesting!