We are starting The Wind in the Willows today. The book is a little young, so we should go through it quickly. Both JT & I remember the story from our childhood and wanted the kids to know it as well.

We keep a running list of books at Goodreads.com.

We use a lot of concepts of Charlotte Mason. I love the literature based learning that she emphasizes. The shorter lesson times have also really helped the materials connect with Brent and Callie. We still consider it a work in progress and we make slight changes and tweaks to our plans every week. Most of the changes aren't necessarily curriculum based, but schedule issues.

Brent and Callie both wanted a printed weekly plan for themselves. The CM planner is mainly a record keeping/planning resource. It allows you to select the actual resource that was used for that subject. Brent and Callie wanted a time schedule; when would be doing history, science, etc. This has changed weekly as they give me feedback on what worked and didn't work for them. It helps us all to keep track of time we are working together and time when they are working independently. Callie prefers things in a time block format. Brent prefers a checklist set-up with minimum time/assignment requirements. I have a master schedule that helps me know what the kids should be doing. Their schedules are a combination of both styles.

We do love our ducks around here. Even though I'm pretty sure there are no native ducks in this area. The kids had a great time. The mass balloon ascension was a disappointment; the morning was just too windy. They filled one of the balloons as a sort of consolation prize. Despite this, we had fun. We got up at 6am, got donuts and burritos and hung out in the back of the truck and people watched. Almost as good.

Brent and I set up at the parade alone, JT had a softball game and Callie was in the parade this year for Gymnastics. She thought it was way better than when the Girl Scouts had been in a parade and walked. Brent hung out in the back of the car to avoid the sun.

Callie and Brent were still excited to get their ducks and race on the wet track.

The ducks thwarted their plans for victory by being the first two to get near the finish line and then turn around.

I found him like this in Brent's room. He is completely out. So cute.

We went to Barnes and Noble. My kids have serious book issues. After we enter the building, they are gone. Then we find them sitting around reading books! The little monsters.

OK, so as predicted, Brent and Callie lost the willpower necessary to complete 10 large planets using paper mache. This turn of events is fine with me. The remaining balloons became an art project.

This toad cracks me up. He likes to lay upside down in his pond. First he has to fill it with mud, then it is time to lay back and relax.

I never thought this day would come. Callie is a little small and doesn't exactly convince little kids she has any authority over them. Rebecca bravely decided that she would be the first. Callie watched Sebastian & Isabella. It went really well, it was nap time. She did have to put Sebastian down, but he is a pretty good kid and after a couple of books he was out. Isabella never woke up from her nap.

Here is Callie relaxing with her kitty before we left for the job.

We decided another update was needed since they are changing daily. If the kids didn't have such constant contact with them, I'm pretty sure we wouldn't know who half of them were.

White Meat

Cleopatra

Dark Meat

Artemis

Aphrodite

Goldie

Wintergreen

Spearmint

Athena

Venus

Callie got to the process in her Manga writing where she has begun her storyboard. She is really enjoying this and spent extra time today working on it. Brent made some upgrades to his Kitty Condo. The cats love it. There are "suites" inside and the cats will actually go and nap in one. Bitty thinks she owns the place and has decided to sleep in the entry.

Brent and Callie began their paper mache solar system today. We did lots of research and both Callie and Brent want to include Pluto in the solar system. In fact, Callie wants to get a T-shirt that says "When I was your age Pluto was a planet". The other T-shirt, "Size doesn't matter ~Pluto".

There are 10 bodies in all that we will make, plus I am making a young earth colliding with her twin, Theia, and forming the moon (one theory). The kids chose their planets like kids pick a team. Brent is creating the Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. Yes they are in order, Brent is an orderly little guy. This suited Callie fine, she wanted the Gas Giants and Pluto. She is doing Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune & Pluto.

Friday Night we listened to music at the Winery with Rebecca and her family. Brent and the boys found some toads and Ichiro got some roommates. There are two larger ones and two smaller ones.

This is Ichiro

One of the larger new toads.

Ichiro and an unnamed new friend.

White Meat

Goldie

Athena

Wintergreen

Dark Meat

Venus

Cleopatra

Spearmint

Artemis

Aphrodite

The Nuggets have grown so much and even have tail feathers. They are spending their days outside now and nights warm in our garage. They still get lots of cuddles.