He Even Smells Like School

Could it be the bubbles he spilled on the deck just before coming inside?

Maybe it was the batch of salt dough we used to shape letters and numbers.

Could it have been the Spagettio's he loves to eat for lunch?

Or maybe just the nostalgic smell of Crayola Crayons?

Whatever it was, I almost cried. Almost.

Did You Know? The Olympia Version

Did you know that the legislative building of the Washington State capitol has the 4th largest masonry dome (meaning there is no internal support- it holds itself) in the world, trumped only by a few basilicas and churches?

Did you know that there are 42 steps leading up to this building because Washington was the 42nd state admitted into the union?

Did you know that the foyer of this building has a time capsule that will be opened in 2076, the tricentennial of our nation, and that I will probably be dead and my son will be old?

Did you know that The rug in the State Reception Room was the largest single loom rug ever made at the time. Or that the curtains were each made by one of six seamstresses from Fredric and Nelson's Department store? Or that if you see our governor on TV, he/she is probably addressing the state from this room.

Did you know that the capitol is made out of Alaskan marble because ships can't sail empty? The ships arriving from Alaska needed ballast to make the journey so they would be loaded down with marble and brought down. The marble would be sold cheaply, the ships loaded with goods and people, and they would sail back to Alaska.

Did you know that every county's flag is displayed in the Rotunda and they are grouped geographically with the northwest counties in the northwest corner and so forth?

Did you know that in ancient times the Greeks used to light huge torches to signify when and where the senate would be meeting? That is why there are 4 huge lamp in the corners of the Rotunda.

Did you know that the chandelier hanging in the Rotunda is 6 1/2 tons (13000 lbs)?

Did you know that they never turn this light off?

Did you know it runs on DC current?

Did you know that they replace all the bulbs every eight to ten years?

Did you know that I didn't see a single energy saving CFL in the capitol?

Did you know that all the chandeliers were made by Tiffany's?

Did you know that the carpet in the House of Representatives chamber has trilliums because they grow on the forest floor, and that the Senate chamber carpet has Dogwoods because they grow on the trees, and that this represents the lower and upper houses?

Did you know that both chambers have all the names of the counties stenciled near the ceiling and that they are grouped east with west to symbolize unity between the two very distinct areas of our state?

Did you know that Washington was originally going to be named Columbia for the river that forms a natural border between Washington and Oregon, but DC called "dibs" on that name.

Did you know that we are both Washington instead?

Did you know that Washington is the only state named after a president?

Did you know that the George Washington statue has a shiny nose because people rub it for good luck, and that keeps the patina from forming?

I did know some of that- because I have a 7th grader who studied Washington State history this year. And now you know it too!

Freaky-Smart Children Scare Me

Jonah's changing table was the top of his dresser. Since he was born there has been a plaque above his dresser with his name in wooden letters that are painted bright colors. After a diaper change I would hold him so he could touch the letters, or when he got bigger, he would stand on the dresser and touch them. As he would touch them I would guide his hand along them and tell him the name of each letter.

We haven't changed diapers in a long time.

This year he has been begging me for "work" since Jesse is always being told to focus on his work. I drug out the preschool books I have. I have used these with each of my kids to some degree. I really like them. There is another series that comes after these that is a little more complex- but I loaned them out and they didn't come back- so I guess I will have to buy them again.

Anyway the books that Jonah is working on are written by an old order Amish author. They are SO cute. They tell stories about obedient Amish children who hang their coats and shine their boots, help Mother with the dishes, and help Father with the animals on the farm. I love fiction.

You can get these here.

They have great activities in them. Like this:

(All the better if you color them with one of your sister's multicolor crayola maker crayons)

The bottom page cracked me up because even though I do own all of these items, some of mine take batteries or plug in. And I guess he's never seen me hand stitch before, because he couldn't tell me what a thimble is for.

Except Jonah is burning through them.

Fast.

And then, yesterday, he got out his Leapfrog magnetic alphabet toy. And found all the letters to spell his name. And put them on the fridge. In order.

So today I handed him a pencil and asked him if he could write his name.

Apparently, he can.

Tantrum? Really?

So, my 11 year old is feeling a little whiny today.

And he wants me to do his work.

And he keeps coming to me.

And snipping and mumbling when I don't give him the answer he wants.

Particularly about this one handout that called for drawings.

Which I admit- He sucks at drawing.

I was on the computer and he wanted it to do some school work.

When I asked him what he was working on he said, "I'm still working on the one I threw a fit over."

*SNORT!*

Did he just admit that he was throwing a fit?!

Here's the thing, though;

There are many times when I find myself being snippy and irrational.  I know when I'm doing it and I just can't stop.  Why is it all to easy to throw a fit?

He didn't get in trouble.

What $70 Will Buy You

Around here we like to reward greatness. Yes, we do EXPECT our kids to do their best at everything they try, but when they actually knock one out of the park, well, that gets rewarded.

Around here $70 will buy you 7 A's in 7th grade!

Way to go, Jesse! Way to go, Jesse's teacher! Oh wait, that's me... and don't you think for a minute that I went easy on him. I probably gave him more work in the first quarter than he would have gotten in public school.

Whew!

That was me sighing in relief.
Why?
The 11 year old just started his second week of homeschooling, and guess what?
Week one was fabulous!

On the first day we set up his space the way he wanted it. Next we drew up a contract. I Love that thing. We brainstormed all the good and bad behaviours we could think of, and all the consequences and rewards that we thought should go with them, and we wrote it all out and signed it. He has a copy hanging on his school wall and I have a copy in my lesson planning binder. No excuses.
I wrote out his lesson plan and he just went to work. He was at it at 9 am everyday last week. With out being told.
The best part? He's happy. When he's done with school, he's done. No homework hanging over his head, no raging because he has had an awful day. Just my happy, funny, charming boy!