Trampoline Board: Another Homeschooling Experience

This is what my kids do because they have too much, unstructured time.

Xander built a homemade trampoline board of sorts... he cut the wood out of the scrap pile, and screwed in the wire to hold his winter boots so her could practice jumps and tricks. He definately has extra time on his hands. He is now working on his second prototype, a board for Niko. Maybe I should give him more chores?

The Day After Halloween

 As I entered the boys room the day after halloween I was distraught with the "mess". Upon further inquiry and observation, I discovered that Niko, in all his curiosity, had catagorized his Halloween candy.... Hmmm, I thought, how can I make the best of this and help "learning time" be a fantastic experience, (knowing it was a long shot to get the candy out of hand & mind soooo soon)?

 So here is the final result...... catagorizing, counting, and graphing at its best. Our learning time was mathmatics and statistics fun this day. I truly feel that math has to be relevant for children to really understand it, and learn it! So today homeschooling was a success.

Niko catagorized the candy by type, name, shape, size... then graphed it mostly by name, including some miscellaneous candy clumped together at the end. Niko chose to make a bar chart.

During trick or treating, Niko was dtermined to ge the most candy... so he could sell it to me and make more money. He is a real entreprenuer.

 Xander chose to make a line chart.

Anna made two charts in one graph.

Brothers United

Ever been removed from someone with whom you usually spend all your time?

Xander and Niko recently experienced this.

Niko was on a "short" one week trip to Grandma's house that turned into nearly three weeks. Niko desperately wanted to go to Grandma Smith's when she was headed home after a weekend visit, much to my shugrin. I really didn't want him to go. But he insisted it would only be a week and Grandma would be back at our house, so I relented.

After being at Grandmas for only a few days he caught a cold from cousins and was quarantined at her house until he was deemed healthy enough not to pass the cold and cough to us.

Since returning home, he and Xander are like busy little girls, chatting and chatting until all hours of the night. They are inseperable brothers; a bond I am sure will never be lost.

Building a Chicken Box with Grandma

Grandmas can do lots of things... at least our Grandmas can...

This week, top priority was to make a chicken box. Somewhere the chickens can stay dry and warm when it rains. Which in Las Vegas is not very often. But the box also protects them from the wind, and it does get really windy.

Most of the wood we found at the side of the road. The frame is made from left over crates.

Xander used this project to pass of some cub scouting requirements.

Maniacle Ax-swinging Zombie Woodsman

You won't believe the costume Xander designed this year, - all on his own. First he designed it on paper, drew up the ax, cut it out of plywood and painted it.

Next, he drafted what his costume would look like. Then he found some fabric in my closet, used a patern from a jedi costume Grandma Olson made for him a few Christmasses ago, and came up with what he wanted his evil robe to look like.

We cut the robe out, and Xander pinned and sewed the edges together. He even sewed a stiched around the entire robe sow it would fray just right. The fabric was a darling green (perfect for baby blankets and aprons) so it badly needed dying, which Xander also learned how to do.

His undershirt was designed down to the detail, tearing and staining just how he wanted it. His face paint, he also planned on paper first, designed and applied all by himself.

Another educational experience, all because he had the time and incentive to be creative. As a doting mother, I hope Xander is proud of his blossoming skills as a seamstress.

Charlie didn't make it!

Well sad news this week. We found Charie (the red mama hen) in her favorite bush, dead. We are not at all sure why or how, but she certainly was stiff and not breathing. I imagine, if she were a cat, that she exhausted her nine lives. We are sad to see her go. She was an extremely intelligent hen, always came when we called, very social and constantly escaped the confines of the pen by flying over. She enjoyed the larger spaces of the yard. We will certainly miss Charlie.

Haiku, anyone?

I am always amazed at the teaching opportunities that don't seem to have an impact, only to discover that they did. The reward was just delayed.

This week the girls checked out a book about Hello Kitty, to my dismay. However I was pleasently suprised to find that the book was written in haikus. We read the book, discussed haikus and I challenged the children to attempt to write a haiku. No one took me up on the challenge.

Until today.
Xander started counting syllables and revving his creative juices to write two complete haikus, all on his own.

Often the reward comes, after the wait.

Missing Dog!

I'm not sure how much Yorkies  cost, I just know I don't want to replace a missing one.

For 10 days now, Bebe (a mini-Yorkie) has become a part of our family. We haven't permenately adopted a dog (although I would consider it), we are just taking care of Bebe for two weeks.

Bebe has adopted Stan and I, Xander and Niko; she follows us around, underfoot at all times. She is not quite so sure of the girls. She runs from them, who constantly carry her around the house, dress her up, drag her on her leash, and squeeze her with the biggest hugs you have ever seen. (Note: Please see the baby chick story from a few weeks ago.)

Well today was like no other, Bebe was carried to and fro, babied, and adored. After making and early dinner, I asked, "Where's Bebe?" and no one knew. Frightened, I was sure that Bebe had finally escaped the girls, walked through the gate into the front yard and wandered to a neighbors. Even more frightening was that an unusual storm had just come through the vegas valley, rain pounding the pavement and flooding the streets; a sure sign that Bebe probably wasn't just out in the street.

After searching the house, we set out to the street. The girl's and I walked the neighborhood calling and the boys rode bikes around the outside of the neighborhood, squeeking her favorite toy and calling as well. With not encouragement and no sign of Bebe, we expanded the search to the next neighborhood over. And still no sign of the dog.

Anna was of course in tears, and was telling me all  about her last moments with Bebe, " Mom, I had her in the laundry basket and then she got out and went in the front yard. I went and got her and brought her back inside..." As we walked inside, I thought we should look in the laundry basket again. On our way to the said basket, Ella popped up, "Oh, she's ober here." And Ella ran to the black furniture which usually holds some workout equipment, opened the door. There was Bebe. Awoken from a silent nap.

Of course I was thrilled at the prospect of NOT having to report the loss to Bebe's owner (a sad occurance, for sure), and even more thrilled at saving the cost of attempting to replace an adorable little creature.

Daredevil Xanda Manda!

Cliff jummping, anyone?

In all truth, Niko was the first to brave the cliffs. And then we all followed his courageous lead.

Cliff jumping is probably top on the list of things to do in St. George, UT this summer. The boys took to cliff jumping like fish to water.

Sleeping in the Closet

For posterity's sake, this is a picture of Roman in his bed. Yes, his bed. (I know that many of you are thinking he is in a play pen - and you are right - but this is also his bed.)

I believe since Anna was a baby, we put her in our closet (which is a walk-in and almost the size of a bedroom anyway). And ever since then it has been extremely convenient to put our babies in the closet play pen until they are old enough to sleep in a regular bed.

For Niko, I believe he slept in a twin size bed at nine months. Anna was a little older and actually started sharing a bed with Grandma, who at the time lived with us to run our small business. Ella moved in to a bed at about a year. And Roman... well, we'll see when he moved into a bed.

Xander and Niko are thrilled to have Roman "move-in" with them. They even have new, matching bed spreads for the occasion. And Roman will get the party started

The boys & their toys

Just another day at school, right?

Of course. These boys are constructing, following instructions, improvising and being creative when a piece is missing, focussing, displaying, I could go on and on. Aren't legos just a classic toy. You can create and recreate. Come up with something different every time.

The Gov't Works on a Ship?

So while at dinner on Saturday Night at Bucca Di Beppo, we (Stan, Xander, Niko, and I) were discussing where our allegiences lie/ who we are responsible to, how we should sacrifice for our God, country, marriages, family, self... you know, kind of like the Boy Scout moto. We talked about being self reliant so we have the means to sacrifice for others, and of course we discussed being reliant on the Go'vt doesn't help our country and how the gov't is going overboard giving out welfare and "free" everything.

To which Xander responded, "I didn't know our gov't works on a ship." Witty boy, witty boy, much like his Grandpa Terrance Olson.

Brother Against Brother

This summer the boys took a trip back east to visit with Grandma Betty Yandell, Aunt Bonnie and cousin Cody. The visited American Civil War historical sites and experienced reenactments.

Xander and Niko visited the grounds of the Battle of Shilo. Niko dons the Yankee uniform and Xander, the Confederate uniform. Brother against brother.

A Frightening Tale by Xander Olson

As a homeshooling mom, I worry about "keeping up with the Jones" in an academic sense, even though leadership education is my long term goal and my educational philosophy with my children... nevertheless it's too easy to compare myself (and my children) to others anyway.

So here is a writting Xander put together as a first draft, for a scouting writting assignment. I thought he did pretty well. And he even enjoyed himself.

While I am sure we are not "keeping up" I am proud of his effort and accomplishment.

The Egg Drop Experiment

Xander (9 years old) had a Cub Scout Day Camp last week which culminated in Friday night's Egg Drop event / family picnic / Ella's B-day dinner. Basically each Cub Scout gets to "protect" an egg within certain criteria and then it is dropped from an 80' crane to see if it cracks. Xander was successful in protecting his egg last year, but his egg didn't survive this year. This year he put his egg inside a balloon and then stuffed newspaper around the egg inside the balloon. Then he saran wrapped the egg, stuffed it into a "Mr. Potato Head" toy, attached a parachute and voila... a protected egg. Or not so much (as it turned out)!!! At least it was fun seeing Mr. Potato Head parachuting from 80'!!!

Discipline, Education or Both?

Choosing to homeschool our children is always an adventure. Stan and I especially feel the need to allow our children to be children and then expect that as young adults they will act the part; responsible, interested, and engaged (and not like most "teen-agers" we know)... because our children will have truly had a childhood and be ready for the responsibilites young adulthood.

With that brief philisophical introduction, we don't compel daily practice writing, the children write as needed and it may not be comparable to children their age at this point. Having said this...

Xander and Niko got into trouble this week by climbing into the neighbors yard. This neighbor is extremely kind...but they have 3 pitbuls in the back yard... needless to say, even though the dogs LOVE the kids... at any point they could become frightened and harm the kids... and then the dogs would need to be put down (killed). Both consequences would of course be detrimental.

Knowing that they were in BIG trouble, the boys offered many options of punishment, banishment to their room, cleaning all the bathrooms in the house, mopping the whole house (about 2000 sf of marble flooring)... you get the idea. But I thought they should have an opportunity to practice writing. A punishment they gladly accepted with no complaint. Xander wrote, "I will not go into the neighbors backyard" twenty-five times, Niko, ten times, and then the finale was writing a letter to the neighbor apologizing for the trespass and delivering it in person. After nearly 2.5 hours of writing, gigling and more writing, the task was complete... or so we thought.

Stan, in his infinite wisdom, confirmed with the boys that they personally delivered the letter, and mentioned that he would speak with our neighbor the next day.... suddenly Xander paused, "had to get something from the garage" and left the room quick as lightening. We of course knew that the letter had been detoured on the way to the neighbors.

In the end, the letter was hand delivered, the apology was given and the childrens' handwriting is much improved. (You wouldn't believe how much improved... all in one sitting. Now that's what I call home education.)

A Violent Christmas and a Bloody New Year to You Too!!!!!!!!

As you can see Santa brought havoc and destruction to our household this Christmas. But, with proper use of the "force", we'll hopefully manage without too much bloodshed.

Xander and Niko were given a lazer tag game - so, they can hone their battle skills without actually killing each other. They have their fists, rocks, and stones to perform the the actual killings.

Boys will most definitely be boys!!!!!!!!




And what would lazer tag be without Jedi Knight robes (thanks to G-Ma Olson) and light sabers (not savers)? As you can see from the pic, Niko is a very wise and well-trained Padowan. Let's just hope he doesn't turn out to be a Sith Lord. I wouldn't put it past him though - as he's a devil disquised as an angel.

December 17th! A day to remember!

I know I should be posting cute pictures of my children playing in the snow... but that happened the next day and I wasn't sure the snow would last that long in Las Vegas!

For the record it took us two hours to get from Dream Dinners to our house...normally an 11-15 minute adventure.

We go a solid 10+inches in our yard on December 17th! This is the back yard (obviously). The kids played all day on the 18th. Happy Birthday Xander!

To Party or Not to Party...

This is really a question at our house.

This year Xander turns 7. And he really wanted a birthday party with his friends. I attempted to dissuade him from the party... or maybe it could be a party but that each friend would bring a gift which we would donate to a needy family or orphanage, or that he could invite one or two friends to go golfing or something.

So after many, many, many conversations... Xander convinced us that he could have a friends party, and that he would plan it.

His first iteration was a list of twenty some-odd friends (pretty good for a homeschooler)... and some amazing (and very expensive) activities... race car driving, bowling, golfing, soccer game, basketball game, egg relay race, pie eating contest, treasure hunt... and a few more I am sure I have forgotten...

When reality struck (after a conversation with me, mom) we paired the list down to 13 kids and some low-budget indoor & outdoor games.

When the day of the party arrived (the morning after the ward Christmas dinner party we were in charge of, where we fed 230 people, without any help except one person on our committee, ... it was basically like catering a huge party, except we didn't get paid... kind of like working at Dream Dinners... Wait a minute... It was just like working at Dream Dinners... we never get paid... at least at the ward party we get reimbursed... Okay back to Xander's Party), all 13 came bounding in with the energy of 13 tornadoes in the small space of our first floor. (Of course the day was 40 degrees and windy, so any hope of outdoor activities was crushed.)

Stan, Grandma Smith and I, entertained these wound up kids with several party games like Balloon Popping Challenge, Simon Says, Whip Cream Eating Contest, Snowman Making Contest, Snow Fights, and a Rock'n Dance Off! What a day!

The only consolation of the morning was that Anna was entertained by Grandpa Smith over breakfast at Uncle Chris's house.

When we asked Xander about the success of his party, compared to several of his friends' recent parties he said, "I think they had fun because there was a lot of screaming & yelling, which they don't do at other people's houses."

Why can't I have a quite party like that?

All I want for Christmas is my TWO FRONT TEETH!

Recently Xander has lost his two front teeth... which brings many challanges as he is learning to read & spell.

Xander is trying to say his "th" sounds but it never quite works.

On another relevant topic: The tooth fairy at our house never quite has it together. I am not sure that he/she has ever been ontime and Xander usually has to wait a day or two before the prize is given. But better late than never, as the saying goes.