A Few Highlights Of The Week

Looking toward the end of the school year or summer school as the case may be...

This is the time of year that I read other blogs that talk about "ending school" for the year. We have never had that type of schedule. I envy it, but I know it will not work for us. First, because we take too many "fun days". Yes, many are educational, but reading, 'riting, and 'rithmatic still need to happen. It is also better for my son to not take large chunks of time away from book learning. So, while many of you are looking toward the end of this year and planning for next year, we will be plugging along! Happily though... really.

On to this week...

These boots are made for working!

Paul, almost 14yo, is working regularly with his dad's construction company for 12 hours a week. What a blessing it has been! I am not sure Paul loves it, but he does not complain at all. And, I know it is good for him. Before this, he would be awake until midnight many nights. Now, his head hits the pillow and he is out. It is just exactly the activity he needed in his week. Plus the paycheck, modest as it may be, gives him a sense of independence that he enjoys!

The younger boys and I had a nice lunch out on Monday. 

We were running late from horse lessons and needed to get to the orthodontist, so we swung by here instead of home to grab a bite to eat. With Paul working, it is just the three of us a lot more. We are a quiet little group!

Some tech-free moments!

As Patty pointed out in comments (last post), it is not a completely uncommon occurrence around here to cut back on screen time of all sorts to regain balance. The boys have been "tech free" all week except for doing XtraMath on the computer. I know it always makes a difference, but I don't remember it being this dramatic. Maybe we reached a much higher level of screen time. Honestly, I would toss it all right now. My husband thinks, perhaps, that would be acting a bit rashly! ;)

About Dyslexia


Thanks to comments left on my blog and answers to other inquiries, I have found many hopeful resources. I am left astounded that after years of talking to our pediatrician, thorough testing years back (we were directed toward a speech therapist), and other brushes with the experts, that "dyslexia" is a term that was rarely mentioned. When it was, it was usually to dismiss it. If dyslexia does not exist (according to some), someone has a hidden camera in my house and is using the exact description of my son to make up this diagnosis. Or not diagnosis.  I plan to post all of those resources that I have found most helpful.

Tortoise Time

We are surprised that the tortoises are still so small (the oldest of the three is 1yo). We look forward to them getting bigger yet sort of dread it- we will have a big job to make a suitable habitat for them when they are full grown. In the meantime, we try to take them out as often as possible for some strictly supervised outdoor time. 

Mark Can Cook!

Mark has had these cookies on his "to make" list for while. He had asked his dad to purchase mint extract because he wanted to make mint chocolate chip cookies even though he had no recipe in hand. I am not one to make it up as I go, so I insisted we find one. After browsing the internet, we found a recipe for Chocolate Mint Brownie Cookies from Nestle Toll House. Amazing. The texture was rich and creamy, and the taste was yummy! Mark already has plans to try it again without the mint but with the addition of some peanut butter chips!

Favorite moment of my week. 

Holding these two little guys (grand-babies) is just pure joy!! Finding this picture on *my* camera phone made my day (somehow I did not know it was being taken).