Connor: Science

Today we started our first day of the science unit on not affecting our environment.  We had more trash than usual like 8 diapers, many bits of food  and food containers and paper.  Yeah so basically we did not reduce our trash today.  Today you kids made dish soap and laundry detergent.  Mason and I had not helped.  I really can't wait to start tomorrow's activity.

Connor: My New Bedroom

Yo, Toes today I am moving into my new bedroom.  Marney is playing with her flip video camera.  Tonight is going to be the first time I sleep in my new bedroom.  Mommio is moving my bed into my bedroom.  Dadddio is sorting his tools.  When we're done the kids are going over to Nana's house. Here's me in my new room!

Connor: D&D

Tonight we completed a whole book of adventures in D and D.  As Aust Sianodel, an elven duskblade, me and the rest of the team took down someone who worships the evil goddess of disease.  I knocked her down with one hit.  Then after we killed her she turned into some undead person. We took her down, but it wasn't easy. She just wouldn't die.  Before we fought her we fought a vampire who was doing experiments on some dude.  This kind of vampire was the kind you see in a really old movie.  This type of vampire called a Nosferatu which looked like something out of the movie of the same name.

Connor: Our Week So Far

Okay toes this past week has been a lot of fun.  Just to recap on the week I will tell you what we did and how much fun I had doing it.  First off we went on a three day camping trip.  When we got home Daddio and the oldest four toes watched Phantasm 2.  Now today we put up some ornaments from Grandma and Grandpa, thanks by the way.  Tonight we are playing D&D and it is Marney's first time as a pixie.

Mason: My Birthday

On my birthday I am going to a hotel in Austin with Nana because on the 12th birthday you get to go someplace special with Nana. These are the things I am planning to do with Nana: I am going to watch movies, have breakfast in bed, swimming in the pool and in the hot tub, and play games. I am also going to go downtown and have lunch with Popo. I am going to the bookstore and I am getting books for Gabe, Avery, Connor, Marney, Kiki, Max, Jack and me. I think it is going to be the best day ever.

Mason: Birds

What I learned about birds: 1. I learned to find owls you look for bird poop, owl pellets and bones.
2. Owls live in high dark places and holes.
3. I learned that owls eat rodents and it helps farmers.
4. Owls don't eat bones so they barf it in to a pellet.
5. Birds use wind to glide.
6. Baby birds eat yolk, there is something in the yolk that allows it to eat yolk.
7. There is a bald eagle that has no white head.
8. Birds are related to dinosaurs.
9. Ducks run and flap their wings.
10. Birds open their wings to get them cold and close their wings to get warm.

Mason: D&D Night

Last night me, Connor, Avery, Gabe, Marney played D&D. Marney rolled Gabe's dice. We went in to a sunken ship and fought eels. Then we went through a hole and fought a shark. The shark knocked on a door then we fought a sea hag. It was a fun game and I think Marney will be a good player for D&D.

Connor: Happy All Hallows Eve

Hey there toes today is Halloween. I can't wait for tonight because I have come up with a great ghost story. I can't tell any of you yet because I am saving it for tonight. Enjoy this post and beware the ghosts and ghouls. Halloween is a great holiday. Mason is going as the red nosed reindeer. Avery is going as an elf. Gabe is a nutcracker. Marney is a Christmas tree. Kennedy is a candy cane and I think she will look sweet. Max is Santa Claus and Jack is a gingerbread man.

Mason: A Book Review

Runaway Ralph
By Beverly Cleary

I read the sequel of Ralph and the Motorcycle, it is a awesome book. Most of the book is filled with action and excitement. At the beginning Ralph is mad at his family and decides to go to Happy Ace Academy. And at the end of the book Ralph gets back to the Mountain View Inn and gets his motorcycle back. I think that people should read this book.

Connor: Sleepover Night

Tonight is sleepover night. We are having a lot of fun. I enjoy it because I have played wii with Gabe and stayed up late. I love sleepover night. Right now the kids are making popcorn. Jack, by the time you read this for the first time you won't remember this day. Jack, you were very cute tonight. Good night toes.

Mason: A visit

Tomorrow grandma and grandpa are coming to Marble falls to visit us. And they are sleeping in a hotel we are going to try to do these things go to sea world, yoga, adventure club, and cooking. It is going to be fun while they are here for a week.

Mason: A Book Review

The Mouse And The Motorcycle
By Beverly Cleary

I read The Mouse And The Motorcycle. It has lots of hard words. But it is a fun book. It is about Ralph and Keith. My favorite part is chapter 6, the title is funny. It is called "A Peanut Butter Sandwich". Ralph lives in the Mountain View Inn. A boy named Keith comes to the Inn. Keith brings his toy cars with him. Keith goes to help unpack. Ralph gets on the toy motorcycle and rides around the Inn. At the end of the book Keith gives Ralph his toy motorcycle. I think that people should read this book.

Mason: What I Did Today

Today was a fun day we went to the Nature Center, we saw lots of animals. And we went to the dino ditch, we found dino bones. Then we went to Zilker Park. We had lunch then we played in the park. Then we got on a train. It was fun when the train went in the tunnel. Then we went swimming. The water was cold but we still went swimming. Zilker Park is a fun park.

Daddio: I've Neglected My Duties

There's a million excuses that we can use everyday for why we don't do the things we're supposed to: I was busy; I was traveling; I was sick; important things came up unexpectedly. But really those are all meaningless. I made a commitment to post on this blog for you little toes, and I've been neglecting those duties. In essence, all my excuses are merely that -- excuses. There's no good reason why I can't spend a few minutes on a couple of occasions during the week to post up my thoughts for you kids.

That being said, I apologize. I will begin posting up more and explaining my wonderfully complex observations on life to you on a more regular basis.

For example, I went bowling last week and forgot to report that my hook technique has gotten better with more scores in the 70s and 80s.

Another example, Mason was up sick last night and I stayed up with him until he fell asleep on the couch. Then Connor told me to go to bed and promised to watch over him for me. I thought that was a really mature and cool thing for Connor to do, and I really appreciated that.

A final example, we finally got to watch football this weekend when the Houston Texans hosted the season opener against the New York Jets. Gabe watched the first half before he had to leave to go watch Ponyo with Nana and the other kids in the theater. Even though Houston got their butt kicked and it wasn't even a close game, it was fun to watch football again, and even more fun to see Gabe enjoying it.

That's enough for now. There will be more of this posted regularly in the future.

Mommio: We're Not Learning Much

Last week I had a chance to ride in the car with Mason alone for a few hours and we had a really interesting talk about homeschooling. He was telling me that since we have not done much "school" lately (with people being sick) that "we are not learning much right now". It reminded me that from the kids perspective our homeschooling is so normal and so much a part of our daily lives that they don't see that we are learning all the time, even when we are not doing the sit down work that they consider "school". So, just for Mason, here is a list of what YOU are learning right now:

• all about Maine
• how to measure by cooking and chemistry
  
• geography through labeling maps and learning words like "cape"
• Spanish (wow- Mason you are doing so great with Spanish!)
• multiplication
• sequencing
• math comparisons
• how to navigate the internet
• how to take pictures
• public speaking (by running for house president)
• lots of problem solving skills through games like D&D
  
• spelling and phonics skills
• reading and sounding out difficult words
• all about religions
• reading comprehension
  
• all about reptiles- especially sea turtles
  
• how to use Powerpoint
• how to grow a garden and all the natural education that goes along with it: composting, mulch, mushrooms, bugs, watering, harvesting, etc.
• how to eat healthier
  
• all about acids and bases and how to safely use a chemistry set
• all about midwives and medieval village life
• how to make dioramas
• how to use clay to make pots, sculptures and reliefs
• how to play the recorder: including reading notes, keeping time and playing a duet
• yoga
• and so many more....
  

Daily Girl #54: The Zoo

Mason: Our Play

We are making a play called Zelda Twilight Princess. In the play Avery is going to be Medna. I am going to be Link. Gabe is going to be Ganendorf. Connor is going to be wolf Link. Marney is going to be Zelda. Max is going to be a monkey and one of the kids. Kiki is going to be the other kid. I think it is going to be a really funny and exciting play!

Mason: Being Sick

Yesterday Max was sick and today Gabe is sick. We all know that they are sick because they have a high fever, a bad cough and they have a sore throat. Mama is giving them medicine and giving Gabe cough pills so that they will get better. And Gabe is having tea because it can help your throat. Maybe someday they will get better, I hope.

Daily Girl #53: The Zoo

Mason: When I Grow Up

When I grow up I want to be a game inventor and an actor. I want to be an actor because I want to be in an action movie. I would be a bad guy at first. It would be fun to be a bad guy because I get to pretend to be someone else that I am not. And I also want to be a game designer because I want to make games for the Wii and some games for the DS, I would like to make a Zelda RPG game. It is a secret about what will be in my game.