Kiki: Blog Of The Day

I learned that when Connor has kids that they won't have this disease.  Also it makes him have birthmarks on the back of his body.  I think it is a bad thing that he has McCune Albright Syndrome because he has to go to the doctors a lot.

Avery: Blog Of The Day

McCune Albright is a genetic disease that affects the bones and the color of the skin. It is caused by a mutation to the D.N.A in the womb while the baby is developing.  The disease is not passed on from anyone. For some people that have McCune Albright the worst things that could happen would- become blind, deaf, have repeated broken bones and have tumors of bone (which is very rare). There is no specific treatment really. But, there is a drug called testolactone that has been tried with only some success. There is a famous poet named Mauricio Saravia, who has McCune Albright also.

Daddio: 5/5/11 Blog of the Day

For today's blog of the day, I want you to learn about the syndrome that Connor has that requires so many surgeries for his legs. It's called McCune Albright Syndrome. You can research it by googling it (click here), reading the National Institute of Health's information page about it (click here), or reading the wikipedia page about it (click here). I want you to read more than one source.  Which means, don't just read the wikipedia page on McCune Albright Syndrome-- read another page that talks about it as well.

After you've learned about McCune Albright Syndrome, post up and answer the following questions:

1) What is McCune Albright Syndrome?

2) How do you get it?

3) What are the symptoms or effects that occur to people that have McCune Albright Syndrome?

4) What are the ways that they treat McCune Albright Syndrome?

I want you to answer these questions based on the research that you do-- not just on what you know about Connor.  Remember that this is a syndrome that affects different people in different ways, and I want you to discuss aspects of the syndrome that Connor doesn't necessarily have.

Connor: Trials Of Witchcraft

Trials Of Witchcraft

By: Connor M. Jones

In Salem, Massachusetts, 1765, a woman was accused of witchcraft.  This woman grew up in London, England.  Her parents were atheists, executed when she was twelve.  Her mother had owned a broom and book.  The book was bound in leather, yet looked like it was bound of human flesh.  The broom, on the other hand, looked absolutely ordinary in every respect.  The woman's father was an alchemist who, before his death, taught her everything he knew.  Her name was Jessica and she was, as it seemed, an ordinary woman.  She lived just on the edge of the town.  Jessica met the natives, who she had helped a few times and learned from.  She was, by all means, the best doctor in the city.  Although she helped everyone in the town, a few people hated her.  Once, she had attempted to help an injured man.  She would use "special words" to heal people, but despite her help the man died.  He died the exact instant that she completed a verse.  There were a few people who had no hatred for her and kind of liked being near her.  One of these people was a handsome rich man with the name of  George.  George was a kind fellow and had a crush on Jessica, although he would never admit it.  After three years had passed, in 1763, they had become married.  When they had invited the governor, his wife had pointed out a resemblance between the book and a bock belonging to a famous witch.  The witch she was talking about was a woman named Linda Stevenson.  As it turns out Jessica's last name was Stevenson and the witch had died the exact same day as Jessica's mother.  Realizing this Jessica had forced the governor and his wife to leave.  In October 1764 Jessica decided to check the broom.  Before checking the broom, a note fell out of the spell book, a note from Linda Stevenson.  It said that she left the book and broom to Jessica and told her that the broom had strong magic powers.  The day was All Hallows Eve, today Halloween, It was a dark night when Jessica took off.  As she flew past the moon and toward the village she cackled and grinned.  She would recite magic words, for their strength increased on All Hallows Eve, these words caused houses to burn and people to die.  In the June of the following year Jessica was burned at the stake and George was hanged.  The price of wedding a witch was as bad as the price of being one.  In the underworld the day Jessica died, she met Satan himself.  Satan said "Your family has served me since the beginning of all that is.  Your mother, her mother, her mother and so on and so forth had carried a book with spells for centuries.  I had asked your great, great grandmother to keep a book of spells and write down the names of those who joined the group, in their own blood.  You were the last in the bloodline, although you inspired a new generation of witches.  Christ is in Heaven and so to is god and your husband.  You got the wrong end of the stick.  He's in Heaven, your in Hell.  It is just that simple.  Oh, so you know, god damned you because of that broom ride in October, 1764, not because of your family.  Welcome to Hell.  Now may I see that book.  I need to write a title on it.  I've got it in the 1800s an author will call this The Necronomicon.  Allow me to repeat, Welcome to Hell, Jessica Stevenson!"

Jack: Blog Of The Day

use the potty- I am ready to start trying!  I have a little potty at my house and at Nana's house.  Mommio and Nana have M&M's to give me when I use the potty.  I tried to sit on my potty for the first time yesterday.  I sat there a LONG time, but I didn't get any M&M's yet.

Max: Blog Of The Day

stop wearing pullups at night- I am doing good with this.  I can't wear pullups at night anymore.  Sometimes I have accidents and sometimes I don't.
write my name- I can write my name all by myself now.  I am learning how to write my middle name and my last name.
write my ABC's- I am doing good.  I can write the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L.  I will learn how to write the rest soon.

Avery: My Nature Pics! :D

 This is a picture of a flower on the prickly pear cactus.

 This is a really  close up pic of one of the flowers on the lillies. I cropped this one.

 This flower also is on the lily plants. For some reason that thing in the middle is all blurry.

 This is a bud on our magnolia tree! It is very cool to me because of the colors and the shapes.

This is a picture of a yellow dandelion from our back yard.

In all of my pictures I used the macro setting so that I can get really close up pictures.

Mason: Blog Of The Day

I achieved my goal because I finished The Lightning Thief and I have posted about it on the blog. Now I have a new goal, it is to read the entire Lightning Thief series. Right now I am on the second book in the series. There are five books in The Lightning Thief and that is my new goal. I really like reading The Lightning Thief a lot. After I finish my phonics I am also going to start reading Harry Potter with my mom.

Connor: Blog Of The Day

1. The last few months I have been near the rest of the family constantly.  I will continue this until June eighth 2014 when I move out of the house.  If not until June eighth 2014 then the end of the year is when I complete this goal, which if you look at what I said on new years is already complete.  I have played with Max and Jack. I tolerated the kids on the Grand Canyon trip.  I watched a few shows with the family.  Shows that I don't even like, mind you.  The last few months that is everything I did for the goal.  I consider this goal complete for that exact reason.

2.  I can't drive yet at all.  In three months I can start learning to drive.  I think it would be best for me to add to that goal.  By the end of the year I want to be able to drive without crashing into things.  I really don't like the idea of driving because I fear crashing in to things.  As we all know, I couldn't drive a golf cart if I wanted to.  I suck at driving the boat even.  So I really don't want to think about the dang idea of driving a car!  I dislike the idea and even wish I could walk or use the wheelchair to get around.  I hate the idea of crashing and would prefer not to drive ever.  So I say I would like to be able to drive without crashing into any thing.

Marney:Blog Of The Day

1 Reading harder books 
I have been doing great on much harder books. I finished one of my hard books and it was called Secret Zoo. I just started one that is called The Time Travels. This month I am going to read some at night and some in my free time.  I am going to let Mom pick a harder book for me when I am done with Time Travels.
2 being nicer to people
I have been much nicer to people now.  I have been playing more with Gabe, Max, Ava and Kiki.  I have been saying nice things. Sometimes when I get mad I walk away.  I swim in the pool with people now when nobody else will. I am going to start playing with people much, much more and be nicer to Mom and Dad.

Mommio: Blog Of The Day

Well, I have to report that I have done awful on both of my resolutions over the last two months but I am ready to start working on them again.  I tried to walk in the mornings but that didn't work because it hurt my ankles so now I am getting up early every morning and riding the bike in my room, followed by yoga.  I really enjoy doing it and it makes me feel better so I am going to keep trying.  I am also going stop eating at night after dinner and drink more water throughout the day.  As for helping the family stay healthy- I am thinking about that.  Does taking Connor to the hospital a lot count?

Avery: Blog Of The Day

Photography- I have been doing really good at practicing my photography. I am doing a photo project today! I am taking macro (really close up) pictures of nature. I am thinking about doing pics of cactus and flowers, maybe even bugs. Later today I will post up some pics I took of nature. Can't wait to see what I learn next!

Kiki: Blog Of The Day

learning to sing- I haven't done anything but I still know how to sing.  I am going to sing songs off my ipod more in May.
painting more- I have been painting more at Nana's house.  We have also been painting in art class.  I am going to start painting portraits this month.  I am going to paint every Monday night.
growing my hair out- I am still growing my hair out but I am going to get a haircut now.  I reached my goal because I want to stop growing my hair out now and I am going to get it cut short to all one length like Marney.

Gabe: Blog Of The Day

1 I can type better because I type more so I can type much much faster.
2 I have improved my hand writing a lot because I am writing more and I am going to start a book that I will write on paper.
3 I am not doing good at controlling my temper but I am getting a list to control my  temper so I can control my temper better.
4 I can do full lotus I do it a lot I do it when I watch tv.
5 I have worn my shoes every day so far!
I am doing really good

Daddio: 5/4/11 Blog of the Day

IT'S MAY!  We were in the Grand Canyon last month, so we didn't get a chance to update our resolutions last month.  But don't worry, we can cover both March and April in the updates that you're going to post today!  As a reminder, here's what everyone's new year's resolutions were:

Jack- use the potty
Max- stop wearing pullups at night, write name, write the ABC's
Kiki- learn to sing, paint more, grow out hair
Marney- read harder books, be nicer to people
Gabe- type better, improve handwriting, control temper, do the full lotus yoga pose, wear shoes everyday
Avery- practice photography
Mason- read The Lightening Thief
Connor- spend time with the younger kids, learn to drive
Mommio- be healthier, help the family be healthier
Daddio- track food on Livestrong everyday until July 1st

So post up your progress on your resolutions for the last two months, and then post about what you're going to do in the month of May to work towards your goals.

As for me, I resolved to track everything I ate on Livestrong for six months.  I succeeded doing that in March, but then when we left for the Grand Canyon trip (and had no internet access), I didn't write down anything I ate and completely failed my goal.  But I've decided that I'm going to start up again on May 1 and that I'm going to add another month to my goal to make up for not doing it in April.

Marney: Blog Of The Day

1  Connor likes to cook and he likes he computer.
2 Marney likes to make a lot of makeup.
3 Kiki can kick canalop coolly.
4 Nana likes newspaper to panted her nail.
5Dadio digs the patio a lot dude.

Avery: Blog Of The Day

1- Justin Bieber just ate jello.
2- Selena Gomez was sleepy and slept on a soft bed.
3- Taylor Swift talked to Taylor Laughtner.
4- Hannah Montana has hair.
5- Uncle Mike moos at the moon at midnight.

Gabe: Blog Of The Day

 1 Larry likes lobsters a lot.

 2 Connor can can coconuts.

3 Nana nods with narwhals.

4 Avery ate eight  acorns.

 5 Mason moos more than moo moos.

Kiki: Blog Of The Day

1.My Mommio makes me M and M cookies.
2. Kiki can fly a cool kite.
3. Nana has newspaper.

Daddio: 5/3/11 Blog of the Day

For today's blog of the day, I want you to practice using alliteration, which is a technique often used in poetry.  Alliteration is where you have many words in a single sentence that start with similar sounds.

If you read the end of the last sentence carefully, you'll see that I used alliteration by using several words that started with the "s" sound.

So for today's blog post, I want you to write 5 sentences that use alliteration to describe people that you know.  The sound that you will use repeatedly should be the first sound in the person's name.  For instance, if I wanted to use alliteration to write a sentence about me, you could write:

Daddio does double dishes on days there's a lot that are dirty.