Tuesday: windows, parent-teacher conferences

After school we drove home with the windows open and the boys were thrilled.  Joshua was excited to finally be able to reach the buttons.  Then he was excited to stick his hand out the window.

(I had pictures of this, but blogger is being dumb and not grabbing the pictures.)

(I had more pictures but blogger is having issues and I was lucky to get even one tonight.)

We had parent-teacher conferences with Isaac's teacher this evening.  Like last time, Isaac does what he's supposed to be doing and, while quiet, participates appropriately.  (Apparently it's a loud class so she was wondering if he's overwhelmed a bit.  We don't see it, but I'll ask leading questions.)  His math testing score is still very high and he's doing well in reading too.  Writing on the other hand...he takes his time.  This seems to be a common theme with stuff he doesn't really enjoy, both at school and at home.  Sometimes it's excessive, sometimes it's just long.  We're not sure why, since at school he is working the whole time.  Is he thinking?  Is he daydreaming?  Is he distracted by the loud kids?  Is he bored?

Tuesday: pictures

Isaac brought this home as part of the character building curriculum they have..."I showed courage by getting up to a yellow belt."

There is a rule: no toys in the kitchen.  Well, a few toys had gotten on the stove (I know).  So it became a joke.  Then suddenly there were a ton of toys in the kitchen.  Joshua was so proud of himself.

Horizon didn't want to get out of the dryer.

Joshua likes taking pictures of the decorations at karate.

Tornado voluntarily slept on my lap for a while.  It was perfect...one cat for me, one for Ben.

Sunday: winner

The driveway and I faced off this week.  Three days ago the driveway took a lead as the plow came through and made a gigantic pile at the end of the driveway.

But I persevered in the fight (by not doing anything) and won!  The rain has melted all the snow away. 

I suppose that really I've only won the battle.  I'm in the war for the long-haul.

Saturday: home day

Today was a pretty normal Saturday for us, but apparently we've spoiled the boys the last few weekends because Isaac commented on the fact that we didn't go anywhere.

We did get a lot done on our to-do list though, including making a computer for Snap Circuits that is controlled by the Magic wands.

Isaac has been super excited about building the computers that control components for the wands.  He got a show and tell pass for school so that he can bring it in and show everyone.

Thursday: yellow stripe

Tonight Isaac and I officially moved up to yellow stripe in karate.  There was a ...ceremony?...for everyone as they were moving up.  The first 15 minutes were rather interesting as the black belts performed some of their forms and weapons.  After that it was rather boring...as expected.  Isaac did ok, but it was a lot of people to get through.

Wednesday: doctor, occupation, Ash Wednesday

I took Joshua to his "big" doctor's appointment for going to the bathroom all the time.  I'll admit, it has gotten much better.  There are still times he goes to the bathroom a lot, but it is reduced.

Anyway, we went to the appointment because it took us a month and a half to get in.  The doctor was really nice and said that this is pretty normal.  It lasts a few weeks and then goes away.  If it comes back, which it may, we can get an ultrasound done but unless that happens we can continue as normal (and make sure he eats enough fiber).

On the way home from school Isaac told me that currently, when he grows up, he wants to be a scientist.  I asked him a few more questions...he wants to mix liquids that are "very movey" and "medium movey".  We talked about viscosity after that, but I'm not sure he understood it.

Isaac and I went to the Ash Wednesday service at church.  It is not what Isaac was expected, but they gave us a chunk of clay at the beginning as part of the message.  So he was content because he could play with the clay.  (I started by making a marshmellow out of my clay.  I was actually quite proud of it.  Then we had to squeeze and destroy our creation in our hands (i.e., sin).  God can remake us, either very differently or about the same but with some new cracks.)

Tuesday: Snow day 5618

Isaac had a snow day today.  I had mixed feelings...it messed up my morning, but he only had a half day anyway and that would have messed up my morning quite a bit too.  Parent teacher conferences were also canceled...I wanted to do the conference, but it did make the day more manageable.  I even cooked an actual dinner. (Cashew chicken)

Isaac and I went to karate in the evening.  We ended up testing for the next level up, yellow stripe.  We weren't really ready for it, but they wanted to move us into the next group because a lot of the moves are very similar.  Anyway, I think we did a really good job for only having been yellow belts for a few weeks.  Our basic actions were pretty good because we've had quite a bit of practice with those, and our form was ok.  The instructor said our turns were good, and they're rather confusing.