Mommio: Our Week

We have had so much fun lately that I have totally forgotten about updating what our plans our for the week.  This week we are trying out a new school schedule, starting a new unit study about deserts in preparation for our trip to Death Valley, the kids are starting their novels they have been planning and we are going to a zoo in Waco that we have never been to.  It should be a great week!
M- Joan's Academy, library
T- school, Desert Unit Study, yoga class, Connor-Mason-Ava Game Night
W- school, Desert Unit Study, house chores, cooking
T- school, Desert Unit Study, homeschool parkday
F- field trip with Nana and Weaver's to Waco Zoo
S- yard chores, chemistry with Daddio, RPG night
S- family day- trying out geocahing

Gabe:Museum

Yesterday we went to a museum. My favorite part was the gems. I loved the museum. Here are some pics.

This is my favorite crystal.

This is a eagle, it is cool.

 

This is geode, it is a rock with a crystal.

 Here are the rest.

Kiki: Blog

dogs went to a house and destroy the house

Daddio: Halloween Toes Through The Years

We went back through our pictures and tried to find all the costume themes we've done through the years, and with the exception of one year (the mysterious 1998 when Connor and Mason went as Eeyore and Winnie the pooh), we were able to find pictures of every Halloween the Toes have had.  So join me, won't you?

We start our journey in 1996.  It was a magical year when Connor was just a tiny baby, and still dreamed of being an only child!  He went as a pumpkin:

In 1997, Connor still suffered from delusions that he would always be the only focus of his parent's attention.  He went as a dinosaur:

In 1999, Connor and Mason went as a spider and a chicken, both happy in the knowledge that it was only the two of them and they would reap so much candy from every house they visited:

In 2000, we were still trying to get the hang of this whole "Halloween" thing.  We were so young and naive, and merely asked the kids what they wanted to be.  There was no coordination.  No planning.  Connor wanted to be a toucan and Mason wanted to be a lizard.  It was as easy as that:

In 2001, the boys suddenly had to make room for their little sister.  The boys chose to be pirates.  And in a first for our family, we made most of their costumes ourselves.  Avery, of course, chose to be a cow:

2002 was a hallmark year for the Jones Brood.  This is the year we proposed to the kids that they go as a theme.  They fell for it.  So here's the cast of the Wizard of Oz.  Gabe enjoyed his first Halloween as the Scarecrow.

In 2003 we let the kids decide their theme.  We debated doing football players and cheerleaders, but then they decided they wanted to be the Justice League.  So they went as Flash, Green Lantern, Superman, Wonderwoman and, in her debut year, Marney was Batman.

2005 was another interesting year for the Jones Brood.  They chose to go as the Scooby Gang.  We had Scooby, Shaggy, Daphne, Velma, Fred and Scrappy, played by Kiki in her first Halloween.

2005 was great.  The kids chose The Circus as the theme.  We had a ringmaster, strongman, clown, elephant, lion and lion-tamer.

We went old school in 2006, going as classic movie monsters.  We had Dracula, Frankenstein, the Bride of Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein, Mummy and the Werewolf.

2007 we let our nerd-flags fly.  It was the year of Star Wars!  Luke, Darth, Boba Fett, a Stormtrooper, Princess Padme, Obi Wan and Max went as Yoda in his first Halloween.

In 2008 we went as Greek Gods, and for the first time the entire family dressed up, including me and Mommio.  I can't even remember who everyone was.  I know I was Zeus and Mommio was Hera.  Marney was Athena and Ava was Aphrodite.  Connor was Poseidon and Mason was Hades.  I think Jack was Hercules and Max was Eros (Cupid). Gabe was Apollo and I think Kiki was Io.

And here's the Brood last year for the Christmas-for-Halloween theme.  We had an elf, a nutcracker, a gingerbread man, a Christmas tree, a candycane, Rudolph, Santa and... Connor, who decided he was too old to dress up for Halloween anymore (gasp!).

So that's the tour!  Hope you enjoyed it and that you'll enjoy Zombie Prom this year.

Daddio: More Costume Tests

Gabe as the Prom King and Mommio as a victim:

Daddio: Costume and Makeup Test

We tested out the makeup and full costume effect with Kiki this morning.  Zombie Prom is going to be the best theme ever!

Avery: Bonus Blog Of The Day

The poem is about how her life was scary, strange and sad. At the end it also tell you about how people in her family have died recently. I think that after the poem ends it makes her feel sad, depressed and a little lonely. After reading this poem it makes me kind of feel sad too.

Avery: Blog Of The Day

AHHHHH!

By Avery

One day there a t-rex named Jack. Jack was nice, strange and shy. So he decided to meet someone. He went up to a man and poked him. The man turned around and sighed. He looked up at the t-rex and freaked out. He ran to the nearby park and hid in a tree. T- rex fallowed him. T-rex grabbed the man out of the tree and put him in a cage. The man was even more scared!

     " You are my new friend FOREVER!", Yelled T-rex.

     The man looked up at the dinosaur and opened his mouth wide. He looked down and cried. T- rex crouched down and looked at the man. He started crying too! Because they were both crying the man started crying harder. The T- rex cried harder. Soon the lock came undone because the T-rex's tears were to strong. The man stopped crying and got out of the cage. T- rex stopped crying and looked at the man standing up in front of him.

     " HAHA... I mean... I can't be your friend because I have a family to see.", said the man as he walked away. T-rex went to his bedroom and fell asleep.

Marney: Bonus Blog Of The Day

What I think happened at the end was she died and it was a bad life.  She was really sad that she did'nt do things at all.   It makes me feel sad a bunch .  It means that she had a bad life and that she was sad all the time of her life.

Mason: Bonus Blog Of The Day

I think that the poem is a about the narrator's terrible life.  I think it means that she is sad because one of her family members died. I think that in the end the narrator dies in a fire. I think that after the poem is over the narrator is scared and does nothing. The poem makes me feel sad.

Gabe: Bonus Blog Of The Day

I think she is talking about her very terrible life.  I think at the end one of her family members died and she got really sad.  I think she gets really sad after the poem ends. It make me feel sad.

Daddio: Bonus Blog of the Day

For today's bonus blog of the day, I want you to read the following poem and post up about what you think the poem is about.  What does it mean?  What happens to the narrator in the end?  What do you think happens after the poem is over? How does the poem make you feel?

The Witch
By Mary Elizabeth Coleridge   I HAVE walked a great while over the snow,
And I am not tall nor strong.
My clothes are wet, and my teeth are set,
And the way was hard and long.
I have wandered over the fruitful earth,
But I never came here before.
Oh, lift me over the threshold, and let me in at the door!

The cutting wind is a cruel foe.
I dare not stand in the blast.
My hands are stone, and my voice a groan,
And the worst of death is past.
I am but a little maiden still,
My little white feet are sore.
Oh, lift me over the threshold, and let me in at the door!

Her voice was the voice that women have,
Who plead for their heart's desire.
She came--she came--and the quivering flame
Sunk and died in the fire.
It never was lit again on my hearth
Since I hurried across the floor,
To lift her over the threshold, and let her in at the door.

Marney: Blog Of The Day

T Rex Attack

By Marney

One day there was a guy that owned a T Rex and so the T Rex kept on trying to bite the guy.  Then the guy said "Stop! Stop right now! Get, get, get, stop!" Then the T Rex got a cage and he made him get in it. Then the T Rex went to get the lock.  Then he locked him in the cage.    Then the T Rex went to get a stool and then he held him up.  He shook him.   Then the guy unlocked the cage and put the dinosaur in the trash and saw that it was just a toy.   So the guy got in his house and said he was never going to buy a toy dinosaur. So he got a pet dog instead.  Then they lived happily every after.

Gabe: Blog Of The Day

The Cave Explorer

By Gabe

One day there was a man who was a cave  explorer and fighter in the Himalayas.  So he figured out that there are monsters on the earth and prehistoric animals on earth.  So he was in a cave and he sees these green things  running in the shadows.  So he pulls out his sword and goblins start jumping out at him with machetes. So then he stabbed all of them but one didn't die so he gets up and cuts the guys thumb off then the man kills the goblin. So then a dinosaur kidnaps and puts him in a cage and takes his weapons except his multi tool. Then the man uses his multi tool to break the cage then he jumps out of the cage and stabs the dinosaur in the heart.

 The End

Gabe: My New Disease

Last week on Wednesday I went to the doctor. At the doctor I figured out I have juvenile arthritis. That means I just have to do what I feel like doing except lots of running, jumping  and lots of  stairs.  They might give me shots in my feet to get rid of pain. We think mom might have something like I have. I think it is good that we figured out what I have because we didn't know what I had before.

Mason: Blog Of The Day

One day in Marble Falls at Nana's house Connor, Mason, Avery, Kiki, Gabe and Marney were playing at Nana's house when a dinosaur jumped out of the attic and captured Connor in a cage.  Mason, Marney, Avery and Gabe found a key and freed Connor.

Daddio: 10/28/10 Blog of the Day

Write a story about the following story.  IF you include dialogue in the story, it must be less than ten percent of what you write.  Thus, if you write 10 sentences, then only one of them can be dialogue.

Avery: Bowling

Today Connor, Mason, Gabe, Grandma, Grandpa and I all went bowling! Grandpa won both rounds. Between us kids Connor was in first both rounds. The first one I came in last. :( The second time I came in second! :) After bowling... We went to Mcdonalds. I had a cheese burger!

Kiki: Letterboxing In Llano

Today we went to Llano and letterboxed in four places.  The first one was the one with the eagle nest. It was near the eagle nest.

The next one was the one at the park that we couldn't find because it was gone.  I was the one that tried finding it.

Then the third one was the cemetery.  Gabe found that one.  And it was right next to a grave.

The last one was the jail and I got to find that one because I didn't find the second one.  It was right next to the jail.

Daddio: Goose Attack in Llano!

We went letterboxing in Llano today and had a picnic lunch at one of Llano's nice parks on the Llano River.  Just as the kids got done eating, however, we were invaded by giant geese!  Here they are coming out of the river to steal our food:

Fortunately the kids were done eating, so I fed them the sandwich crusts and uneaten chips:

Here's a closer shot of these ugly, knob-billed dudes:

Gabe: Seaworld

Yesterday we went to Seaworld with Grandma and Grandpa. We went to a lot of shows yesterday. We went to a seal and otter show. Here is a picture of Max with a fake otter.

Kiki: Blog

The cat and the dog ran over dogs

Kiki: Blog

The cat and the dog the cat jumps on the dog the dog runs so the dog is safe

Gabe: Work With Dad

I went to work with dad today. It was really really really boring. But I got a lot of free coke and candy out of it. here is a pic of me being bord.

Daddio: BAD IDEA! BAD IDEA!

Daddio: Gabe in the Office

So even though Gabe's doctor appointment was cancelled, he decided he wanted to come to work with me anyways.  So now he has: (1) blogged; (2) done his english homework; (3) identified rocks he brought with him using his mineral identification guide; (4) played Monkey KickOff on my phone; (5) played Alchemy on my phone; and (6) read his new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book.  Then he ran out of stuff to do and complained he was bored.  I think I'm going to let him try stapling Post-It notes to his forehead and see if that makes him happy.

Although at one point he did get to hear me cussing at another lawyer on the phone.  That was pretty exciting.

Marney: How I love Jack and Max

I love Jack so much that I love Max but I love a bunch of people and I love Max. I also love Jack. It was so so so so so so good to have Jack and Max.

Marney: Blog Of The Day

Sadness 

By Marney 

One day there were 2 girls and they were living together  and they lived in Marble Falls, TX and they loved it there.  So one day they went to the park with there friends  and they had fun. Then they had a sleepover and it was funny.    So one day there was this dog and puppy and they kept on barking at them. Then the dog and puppy run in.   So then they went to a show and they had fun. When the dog went in there was a big dog that jumped over the fence and then landed on one of the girls.  And then they had to go to the hospital.

The End

Mason: Blog Of The Day

One day in Marble Falls I went to a spooky play. It was about zombies taking over the world. It was so spooky that I was speechless.

Avery: Blog Of The Day

One day a girl named Lisa got in her mom's car and drove to her friends house. When she got there no one was there. Suddenly the door opened. It made a horrible creaking sound. It sounded like someone scratching a chalkboard. She walked inside looking around. Everything was dusty, old, and gross. Lisa looked to her left and saw a book in the air. It was just floating there... all by it's self.  When she looked away the book fell to the ground hard. Lisa panicked and ran up stairs. When she got up there she saw a woman just sitting down. She looked dead. Lisa walked up to her and grabbed the lady's cane. She poked her and nothing happened. She was dead! Lisa walked back a few steps and hit the wall. She felt something push her to the ground. She stood up and ran into her friends bedroom. She locked the door and hid under the bed. Suddenly... a rat came up to her. It tried to bite her face. He missed. She ran out of the house and stood outside. She saw her mom walking down the street. She ran up to her and started crying. Her mom stood and tried to cheer her up. Lisa turned around and looked at the house a second time. When she looked she saw a sign that said  that said... "Welcome to our house of horror and HAPPY HALLOWEEN (everything is fake)"

The End

Gabe: Blog Of The Day

Sad Day

One day there was a girl who had a big black lab. It was a really cute puppy because of its spot. Then she lost the puppy in the park while she was playing. Then she went crying to her mom. Then her mascara started running.

 The End

Daddio: 10/21/10 Blog of the Day

Write a story about the following picture:

In your story, don't use any dialogue (this also means that you can't describe people writing notes to each other either).

Gabe: Blog Of The Day

They figured out that the bees had a virus. The virus was working with a parasite and killing off bees. Some people think the weather was killing off the bees. That's why they don't have the full answer. Here is my haiku.

 Bees

 Bees are really small

Bees have a giant stinger 

 Bees are really cool.

Mason: Blog Of The Day

Scientists think that they figured out the reason that the bees are dying is because of a parasite and a unknown virus is the reason that the bees are dying. But people think that the change of weather is what is killing the bees.

Bee's are important

Because they can spread pollen

They can make honey

Avery: Blog Of The Day

Scientists said that the cause of the honey bee colony collapse is parasites and a virus. They found the virus and parasites in the stomach of the bee. They said that they only get infected when away from the hive. How they discovered the colony collapse is when they started to disappear. One day they examined one of the bees and found out what happened. It infected them in the stomach. They are trying to find a cure for it. But it might take a while. They also said that because they aren't spreading much pollen a lot of fruits and veggies are going to be more expensive.

 BEES

Bees make some honey

They use a lot of pollen

The honey tastes good

Marney: Blog Of The Day

Ok so scientists think that it was weather first and now they think that it is  a disease. They have been looking in bee hives and they do not see bees.  That is why they think it is a disease. A bunch of  bees are already died they cant go back home because they die before they get home.  It is bad.

Yellow stripes and black 

Bees are dying so much too

They suck on flowers.

Daddio: 10/20/10 Blog of the Day

 
We've talked before about how honeybees were mysteriously disappearing across the globe. It's called Colony Collapse Disorder.  Here's what wikipedia says about it:


"Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) or sometimes honey bee depopulation syndrome (HBDS) is a phenomenon in which worker bees from a beehive or European honey bee colony abruptly disappear. While such disappearances have occurred throughout the history of apiculture, the term colony collapse disorder was first applied to a drastic rise in the number of disappearances of Western honey bee colonies in North America.  Colony collapse is economically significant because many agricultural crops worldwide are pollinated by bees. in late 2006."

Now scientists think they have figured out what was caused Colony Collapse Disorder.  The discovery is discussed indepth in this article on Scholastic News for Kids.

For today's blog of the day, I want you to read the article at Scholastic News and then post up about the discovery, what they figured out, and what questions are still left unanswered.  Then, just for fun, write a haiku about bees since we don't have a poetry post this week. 

Marney: Meeting Minutes

1  clean the yard when you are done
2  start working good on laundry
3  grandma and grandpa are going to be here on friday
4  the weavers are BACK and we will see them this week
5 think about market day
6  do not make fun of people
7do not use peer pressure
8 the week you know
9 good job on the blog
10  stop using middle bathroom

Kiki: Blog

The cat and the dog run and jump the dog pop a bubble
   

Marney: Apple Orchard

Yesterday we went to the apple orchard  and we got to pick our own apples. 

It was awesome and we got to make apple juice with two types of apples. The first one was called Goldrush  and the other one was Cameo and it was good.  

We went to a park and it was awesome. We played on the park and we had lunch at the park. 

 Then we went letterboxing and we did not forget to put their stamp on our book.