Snow, Super Bowl, & Computer Programming

After the boys slept in, from breathing all that cold night air in and watching Shakespeare on PBS on Friday, they woke at 9:15 and 10 AM.  Then it was off to the movie with our friends.

Since Pumpkin did read the series, we're following up on some of the movies.

It's hard to see, but shortly after we arrived home, it started to SNOW!!!! :-)

 ( The white slash/blob at the pine tree is snow. )

Pumpkin came back in to change into a winter coat & I sent one out for Fireball Coyote, while they play with the kids next door.  After being out there for a few hours they came in.  I noticed that Much Ado About Nothing was on, so Pumpkin & I watched it after his computer time, and while Fireball Coyote was on the computer.  Then I tried to put in Huck Finn, but it wouldn't play, gunk on the back.  So we watched Disney's Treasure Island.  I heard that Crest toothpaste will remove gunk, may try it.  

Sunday ~ Go Ravens! (Since the Steelers couldn't make it :-(  )

Finally got my clean table and candles! :-) 

We watched the Pens beat the Caps. WOOHOO!

Prepping the garlic for the wings.

The Feast is served!

Candle light and all :-) 

Monday

More valentines, to send out and for a Valentines day Pizza Party on the 14th.

A walk in the woods at the rec center, trying to lead to the park, but it was a no-go.

Pumpkin noticed woodpecker holes.

The whole park to ourselves.

Time for computer programming.

Tonight they learned about shadow-box and  text-box.

Changing it from red to blue.

Adding the shadow and playing with its size.

Adding more colors and rotation for shadowing.

Verses Inset style .

Adding the rotation. 

Blends some of the colors.

Fireball Coyote playing Gameboy. 

Adding text and shadows.

Pumpkin's work. 

With rotation.

If you are interested in following along the site we get our homework off is CoderDojo Web Programming.

S.O.S., A Storm, Pokemon & ?!?!~Shakespeare~?!?!

Our homeschooling group that we are associated with is called School's Out Support.  They are located a nice 3 hour dive away. :-/  Every month or so they have a Mom's Night Out (MNO) for mom's to chat, stay focused, get new ideas, make friends and such.  Someone in the Upstate said they wanted to be part of that, but didn't want to drive 3 hours there and then 3 hours back.  A few others and myself expressed the same feelings.  It was posted that we could meet in the Upstate and do the same thing.  No one really wanted to take the lead, so I did.  I set our first get together at a "local" park.  (everyone drove/ will drive about 45 min. or less to get there.)

 There were a total of  seven families that replied and three showed up.  Two I knew wouldn't make it ~ out of town or a really sick child.  One I never heard from again and one at the last minute something happened.

 So, it was decided between the 3 of us to have monthly playdates and monthly MNO.

 Our next playdate is the day before Valentine's day & MNO is the last Wednesday of the month.  

 I decided that I'm not going to do field trips for the kids, since the one's I met are in a group or two that does that and I'm not going to be competition and really don't want the pressure of planning all that.  It's hard/easy enough to look at my calendar, pick a day to play and keep the last Wednesday open for dinners.















We had some errands to do before all the rain and warnings, so off the bank, library, play at the park (get some of that penned-up storm energy out) and what do they play??? Pokemon. (sigh) At least they were all over the park for an hour.  Then a walk around the yard to secure everything.

When I was talking with one of the mom's (who is from Surrey, England) she said that they watch something called Horrible History, for some history things.  So I checked it out the next day.  I watched

1. HORRIBLE HISTORIES - Wife Swap: Spartans and Athenians

   
   

   
   

   
   

It was interesting.  First of all, you need to see the history in it. Second, not mind the British humor.  I showed it to Pumpkin, because of all his Latin lessons, he liked it and thought it was funny.  I pointed out the facts ( which there are) and asked if what he learned was similar, he concurred.  So, now if I could get them to visit it more often, that would be good.  I proceeded to watch this one and this one and Fireball Coyote sat on the couch watching over my shoulder.  He said the last one was weird and funny.

Next to check out Drive Through History.

Time to

Batten down the hatches

.

In previous posts I mentioned how the boys are into Pokemon. (ugh)  

 Pumpkin saw at the library he could get a "How to draw book" and was excited when it came.

 Before the rains came I cut some daffodils since they are blooming all around the yard. 

Fireball Coyote was ready for the tornado warnings!

Does it look like this at your house?

 If you missed these shows on PBS make sure to check them out ~ Nature & Life of Fire were AWESOME!

Some postcard valentines, I made, for an exchange for the boys. (Fireball Coyote backed out :-/ )

Loving how the light came through.

Making lunch for brother & himself.

Dad has gone out of town for a bit and I had visions of the boys and I sitting down to nice candle lit dinners, talking, and having fun.  Well, ...

It's not happening. (sigh)

It is, on my part,  I've "let go" more and am letting them play outside longer (the cold night air is helping them sleep better and faster). ;-)  There is still time for maybe one nice dinner.
They did just come in and talk about a cool science lesson they all discovered.  They were on the neighbors trampoline and found they were making static electricity sparks in the dark.  They just figured it out and enjoying it so much they ignored my first calling. :-/  Lucky for them they came on my second calling. :-)
Even after the dinner sadness (on my part) we do enjoy our evenings by cuddling on the couch and watching tv. Tonight ~ Undercover Boss, and (a request! :-) by Pumpkin ) to watch PBS Shakespeare Uncover, Richard II With Derek Jacobi and Henry IV & Henry V With Jeremy Irons, back to back shows.  All stemming from a trip to the library one Saturday back in JULY!  (WOOPWOOP! GO MOM! ;-)  )
(Sidenote: Pumpkin was pretty much asleep by 10:22 pm ;-)   )

Coming up this week, we have a movie at the library, computer class, more PBS, time with "aunt & uncle" friends,  Second Saturday ~ Engineer-It! and 'getting to know' Benedict Arnold.  I am so looking forward to next week!

A Little Fire & Ice

The rest of the week was just daily things kids do ~ computer time, Gameboy (Pokemon), PS2, playing outside, trying to figure out computer homework, and TV.

Wednesday they boys, as always, enjoyed PBS Nature, Nova, and Life of Fire.

On Thursday,

  the boys hung out with dad and built a fire in the pit.

Friday

 we had a dusting of ice and sleet.  

The boys made the most of it by sliding on a rubber mat out by the garden.

 Love those cold rosy cheeks!

Gameboying it.

Pumpkin's coral reef

Attempting computer homework

Natural Learning, Chinlerest, Unschooling, Relaxed Learning, Lifelong Learning

Well ... this is one of those weeks where things are scarce, you wonder where time went and what went on.

 The boys have been having a great time with the neighbor kid ~ biking, his trampoline, in the woods, and just walking around the yards.

Monday

  was Pumpkin's computer class. While we were there, poor Fireball Coyote was drilled with three sheets of multiplication, double digit times a single digit,  by dad.  Fireball Coyote broke down and cried, twice.   I was told all this by dad, after I had just told him the other day he wasn't ready for that kind of stuff and prefers it all mentally.  (errrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Tuesday, we had a playdate at the park again with our new homeschooling friend and then on to Latin.  On the way home I asked Fireball Coyote how much was in two dozen.  He had asked "Max" to bring him two dozen of something, they were playing Pokemon at the park.  So, I was curious, after yesterdays evening 'disaster', how he'd respond to verbal math questions.  Fireball Coyote said that it would be 24 since there is 12 in a dozen and he asked for two.  I asked what other ways can we get 24?  He responded quickly with, "We could have 4 sets of 6."  "What else?" I ask.  He thought a moment and suggested eight, four times. I asked him if it worked and he realized it would be eight, three times to be 24.  I said, "You just did multiplication".  "Oh. Cool", was his reply.  There were no tears, no fighting, just talking and thinking. I have found the boys respond better and are more open to things/thoughts, if it is done casually, without pressure, out-of-the-blue, or if it is their idea that I build on.

This reminds me of one of my favorite sayings/quotes about gaps.

Do you worry about "gaps"?!

Things your children will miss? 

 All children have "gaps". 

 You have them too.

There is simply too much to learn; on one can master it all.

But if you love to learn and if you know how to

do research, you will want to fill those gaps when they 

come up - and you will know how to do so. 

You will be a lifelong learner.

I'm not sure where it came from or who said it, but I LOVE it! and have it on my frig.

This can be said of anyone.  The person who is changing jobs, not sure what to do with their life and tries everything, the person just laid-off and ready to move on and try something new, and the person who is just curious about anything and everything.  They love to learn and do so with many means; computer, friends, classes, experimenting and just "falling into it".  They are filling their "gaps" and making new ones, just like the "wrinkles" in our brain.

Everyone says, "Never stop learning".  For some this may be easier said than done, for multiple reasons: $$$, resources, self-esteem, pride, lack of information, transportation, etc.  However, if the desire and will are strong enough they will find away, at any age.

When you are learning a new skill would you prefer to do it at your pace, to take your time and mull thing over in your head?  Be able to experiment with the new information?  Repeat it several times until you are comfortable with it?  OR be told, "That's wrong. Do it this way."  "If you can't keep up we are moving on without you."  "You're falling behind."  "You're not smart enough."  "Try harder."  "You're not working up to you potential." and so on.

When you hear those negative things, you feel frustrated, belittled, you may feel 'dumb' and incompetent, you feel like you are trying, but need a bit more time/help. Are you more apt to move on and keep going or give up?

I had a American Sign Language teacher once say to the class, " If you are here to learn this because of a co-work is Deaf, a family member is Deaf, or need to for some for other reason, you will have a hard time. Because, you are putting pressure on yourself to learn it.  If you are here for the fun of it.  You will pick it up quickly, because you are relaxed."

When you are learning something on your own and you get frustrated, confused, or don't succeed, what do you do?  Do you quit and move on or try again?

If you went to school and failed at something were you willing to get back up and try again or walk away and never look back?  Ever go back and try again?  Did you fail or succeed?

When you tried something on your own, because you wanted to, and it failed. Did you try again, walk away and never look back OR walk away, have it roll around in your head, go back and try again?  Did you succeed or try & try & try again until you were satisfied or successful?

Henry Ford said, "Failure is the opportunity to begin again more intelligently".

It is said that "quitters never win".  I saw somewhere (& believe) that quitters quit to step back, reevaluate the situation and make a new plan to succeed.

Many of us who were in school and failed, never tried again or looked back.  Many of us who tried things on our own and failed, have gone back and tried again at one time or another.  We are working to fill those gaps.  We have a desire to know and grow, because we want to.

Natural Learning = Chinlerest = Unschooling = Relaxed Learning = A Lifelong Learner  

You are free from stress, pressure to preform, and you remember it better from the great experience and fun you had learning it.  You are learning it because YOU want to, not because "it's what we are doing now" & "I say so".

What new information was the last thing you learned naturally?  A recipe by experimenting?  How something worked?  Something from a TV show?  A great conversation?  Tell me about it.

Rain, Computers, Rain, PBS, Rain, & Cooking

Sunday, the kids played and played and played outside ALL afternoon :-)  It was Great!!!!

Monday,  we were bums most of the day.  It was rainy, drab, and blah.  In the late afternoon we went to the chiropractor, then on to a computer programming class. It is 6 weeks of FREE, hour and a half long every Monday, hands on, programming!!! (YEAH BABY!!!)  That night, we got off to a rough start, Pumpkins computer wouldn't connect to the web, but it would connect to the server they had.  Not sure why, but we're goin' in early Monday to work the kinks out, we hope!  Meanwhile, Fireball Coyote used the teachers computer and was getting the hang of  it, till he was overwhelmed.  So, Pumpkin took over and got a 30 minute "crash course" from a helper there. Now, if we can only get the programs to run at home, we'll be fine.

Tuesday, was more drenching rains, more blah, and Pumpkin's Latin.

Wednesday, rain, blah, blah, blah, aaagain ( I HaTe the winter Jan. & Feb. in the south!!! GIVE ME MY SNOW!!!)  So, as with the boys daily computer time (AJ, blogging, and other computer games), the usual morning PBS kid shows as the past two days,  we add the movie The Lorax in to the mix.  Ending the evening PBS line-up ~ we normally watch Nature, but there was a State Address from the governor on  & we watched Newsline - NHK World TV, and since  Nova was a repeat we decided to watch TinTin and switch to Life of Fire at 10pm. ( each has their own link)
The boys have also been more apt to do chores around the house, since dad said they need to do them to get more computer time.  It's been not too bad, I get things done without asking and begging, they get extra time to use now or later.  There is a bit of whining, but they find something to get time with.

Thursday, rain, rain, rain, changing to snow flurries later ( :-) YEAH! ~ we'll see!)  So the day was filled with tickle bugs, computer time, PBS Kids, more computer time, more PBS Kids, and talking about the Valentines to work on for a Valentine exchange via mail with 30 kids.

Friday, no snow :0(    BUT it was a cool, sunny day!  Perfect for a homeschool field trip to Earth Fare with a store tour, mini- smoothie cooking class, playdate at Cleveland Park, and star gazing at Walhalla, SC at an up an coming observatory.  What a great way to end the day! 


Saturday, the kids did some "dad assigned chores" then went to a neighbors house and played for 3 hours there with his daughter.  Fireball Coyote was in the mood to watch the Lorax again.  Then he noticed Market Warriors was on and we watched that after the Lorax and History Detectives.  Pumpkin and I watched while Fireball Coyote and dad searched for parts on the internet and watched YouTube videos. 

Since the breaks on the car are "ruined" the week will be limited ~ We have pre-planned the computer class Monday, a picnic playdate & Latin on Tuesday, and for me a night out with my friend on Friday.  Time for me to play with clay! It will be fun to see what things we get into here.

Have a Great week!