homeschool

a few samples of the boys' schoolwork for May
Leo had to come up with an idea for a food truck.

This is a service he would provide his family.  He liked learning about goods and services.

In studying about early America, Leo had to design a poster of why George Washington should be voted the greatest president ever.

Harrison had to make a weather tool.  That's a rain gauge.

He had to show what he learned about clouds.

 writing nonfiction text with pictures about a subject he knew a lot about

Harrison had to create a weather related scene.  His teacher loved it!

After learning about factories, Leo had to draw one.

Leo had to determine what he wanted, how much it cost and how to get the money (in his spending, saving and earning section).

Here's the best part of that lesson for me.  We went to the store and found out that the store brand was cheaper so he would have money left over.  When we got home he declared that the store brand was better than real Oreos!

In math, Harrison had to teach a family member least to greatest and greatest to least.  I'm not sure Grace quite grasped that concept but it was cute watching him try to teach her.

A couple of funny things the boys have said while doing school work:

(While learning about rainforests) Harrison, what do you know about the Amazon?  It's where we do shopping.
(While learning about the colonists wanting to form their own country) Leo, do you know anything about taxes?  I only know about Texas.

ONE MORE WEEK AND WE ARE DONE WITH SCHOOL!!!!

bubbles

Look who learned how to blow bubbles!

Grace loves bubbles!  I thought it would be fun for the boys to blow bubble snakes.

She really seems to have the hang of it.

Leo wanted me to take action shots of him on the trampoline and I finally got a great one.

Memorial Day

We tried to bring a little more meaning to Memorial Day this year.  We took the kids to the Victory Arch, a place where millions of soldiers passed through on their way to and from war.
"GREETING WITH LOVE TO THOSE WHO RETURN
A TRIUMPH WITH TEARS TO THOSE WHO SLEEP"

There were four big plaques on the arch with the names of men and women from this area that died in combat.

Then we walked around the park, which is on the water where all the troop ships came and went.  Army cargo ships are there now.

The boys found a great climbing tree.

 I don't know if any of this made an impression on the kids but it meant something to me.  On these days I cant' help but feel grateful.  Two soldiers that Jeff served with in Iraq were killed in combat and so many others before and after them.  I hope we never forget that freedom isn't free.

more Aunt Becky adventures

My sister took the kids to the park several times.

 another nature walk

 I think this picture is funny.  Harrison was laying down because he was tired of walking.  Leo jumped on Harrison and Grace wanted in on it.

Even though the local farm wasn't 100% open, the kids still enjoyed seeing the animals and playing.

Grace wasn't afraid of any of the animals.  She touched two cows, a sheep and a donkey.

Grace watching the boys jump from bench to bench.  Leo looked like he had ninja moves.

The kids got lots of Aunt Becky snuggles.

 She also cut all the boys' hair, which was desperately needed!

 It was a great visit.  The kids had a lot of fun with her and she was a lot of help to me.

critters

What are little boys made of

snips and snails and puppy-dog tails

I would add turtles and frogs and crabs and fish.

 Leo caught this cute little baby turtle and brought him home.  He escaped and we haven't been able to find him.

 This cute little frog was caught and released the same day.

 Leo ended up catching five little crabs and a bunch of minnows with my sister.

Thankfully, they were all released into an oddly green stream at the park.