CAT Test

Part of homeschooling, we have to show "evidence of progress" at the end of each school year. This can be done by either have an evaluation done (basically an interview with someone, usually a former homeschooling mom, who has a masters degree or higher, who writes a report stating whether or not the student shows evidence of progress for their age) or you can do an accepted standardized test (Calif Achievement Test, Iowa State test, etc). Most of these standardized test are the same ones kids in public school take also, they just typically take them beginning in the third grade, then very so often after that. We choose to try the CAT test. Punkin is the only one who has to take the test, because she is the only one "officially" in school. So at the beginning of the week we did a practice test so she would be familiar with the format of the test. We were also able to talk about the test and questions after she finished and work through any she may have had difficulties with. She did great. 

So yesterday, I asked her if she wanted to do part of her test. She grinned and said yes. Great!! We sat at the table and Button watched a show on the iPad. We want through 3 of the 5 tests - the language, reading, comprehension and vocabulary sections - like a breeze. She was awesome. We took a break after that and she played with Button for a while. Then Button went to take a nap. I asked her if she wanted to move on to the Math sections or wait until the next morning. She was game. So we started the math tests which included addition, subtraction and various math applications (shapes, money, calendars, word problems).  I'm telling you she did great. I'm biased, I get that. But she really did great. There were a few that she didn't get to in the time allowed, and that was fine. But to watch her think through the problems and figure them out as I sat quietly reading the instructions as the administrator. And for her to be confident in what she was doing. It was rewarding as her homeschooling mom to see her excited about taking the test and confident in displaying her knowledge. 

She understands that she had to take the test to show the school system that she is learning while she is at home so we can continue homeschooling. She gets it. She also gets that she is a smart girl. I am proud of her. We are taking her to a celebration dinner tonight for her awesomeness. She originally said she wanted sushi, but has now said Mexican. We shall see. 

It's been a great first "official" year of homeschooling. Both girls have progressed more than I could have expected. Blessings. They are blessings. It has been a blessing to homeschool them also. 

Tree Frogs and Terrapins

We have lots of critters at our house. Deer that eat in the field across the street from us, deer that eat in our yard, frogs, cranes, turtles, swans, ducks, bald eagles, ravens, fish, bunnies, sacadas, dragon flies.... A lot of critters. We have recently seen the deer in our flower beds whose tracks we have seen for several weeks. We watch frogs on our windows. We watch them eat in abundance when we turn on the outside lights and the bugs fly towards the light. We even saw a turtle a few weeks ago in our back yard.

On Tuesday, we decided to go to the $1 summer movies. When we got in our car at home, Button got in on Punkin's side of the car. But at the theatre, she got out through her door. When she did, she exclaimed "A froggy, mom there's a froggy!"  I asked where, thinking on the ground, maybe on the tree we were parked next too. She says "on my door". She was right!  On the inside of the door where there door curves over the wheels, was tucked a little green tree frog. I took a napkin and encouraged him off of the door - after taking a picture of course - and he jumped to the parking lot. He was not there when we returned, so we were positive he had found a new home in the trees at the movie theater. We now look at the doors before getting in, just to be sure we don't have any hitch hikers tagging along.

Hunny also had one on his truck the day before on the inside of his door too. Apparently it's easier for them to get in than we thought.

Then, last night, as Hunny was taking the dogs out, he was looking at the hoove prints by some flowers and noticed what looked like petals on the ground. The problem was that we didn't have any petals of that shape near that area. Further inspecting the white "petals" he realized that they were eggs. Eggs!!!  Something had hatched in three separate places in our flower beds. We looked up eggs for a few creatures that we thought it could be ....  Terrapins. We had baby terrapins hatch in our yard. I just wish when I saw the wholes in the ground previously I would have been brave enough to peak in to see the eggs. I would have liked to watch the process and to be able to share that experience with the girls. But knowing we were a good incubator for little turtle eggs is pretty cool.

Tree frogs and Terrapins - baby terrapins at that. That's our critter funny something for today.

Flubber

Flubber - a putty type substance made from a combination of glue, water, borax and if you'd like, food coloring.

[Note:There is also a movie from the 90s with Robin Williams named Flubber. It didn't appear to get good reviews in my google search. I have never seen the movie. I only know bout the putty type substance.]

At THINK we made flubber. It really is a lot of fun to play with. It is super simple to make. And it's a cool science experiment for the kiddos. Having said that, it is important to note that flubber should not come into contact with fabric of any sort. It sticks to it and does not come off. We play with our flubber at a table that has a plastic table cover on it and we try really hard :-) not to let any drop on the floor.

So after making flubber, it has been a fun activity throughout the week molding it into different shapes, popping air bubbles that come up or squeezing it into a cup and hearing the "toot" noises it makes. After, dance the other day, we came home and the girls were playing with flubber at the table while I was making lunch. I was almost finished when I heard a very calm "I have some goo in my hair". Ok, I thought.  Then Punkin says "oh you do have some in there". Nothing alarming, I thought.

Then I turned around.

There was a glob of flubber in the front of Buttons hair that stretched about 6-7 inches down and about 2 inches thick - a huge glob of pink flubber hung from the front of her head. Not the "I have some" amount that I was expecting. I took a deep breath, put my hands on my knees and took a moment. My first thoughts honestly, were this is made of glue and we are going to have to cut her hair - and she has a recital in a week. I know, very dance mom of me. Sorry. After my moment of silence and breathing, I evaluated the flubber to hair issue. I let her know that I was going to try my best to get it all out, that it may hurt, and that if I couldn't get it out we would try to wash it out. But that there was a chance mommy would have to cut it out. It really was a lot in there. To my surprise, it came out pretty easily. Much easier than I first thought. I really thought she was gonna have to have bangs to try to get it out.  But, piece my piece, strand by strand, the flubber came out, without too much pulling and no scissors needed.

I'm still not sure why the flubber got put on her hair. I asked, but nothing was really offered. I was thinking when I was getting the flubber out that I remember getting gum in my hair as a child - falling asleep with it in my mouth - and having to freeze it to get it out or cut it out. And I'm sure that happened more than once. But I don't recall ever deliberately putting something like that in my hair.

Lesson(s) learned - 1) flubber is fun. 2)flubber does not come out of fabric 3) flubber does come out of hair.

I have included the recipe for flubber below. May you have a funny something kind of time with your own flubber. :-).  If you add a small amount of cornstarch you can roll it into a ball that as it hardens becomes a bouncy ball. Feel free to search for he specific recipe for that one. We preferred the flubber of the two.

1 1/2 cups warm water
2 cups elmer white glue
food coloring
1 1/3 cups warm water
3 teaspoons borax
Directions:

1) In one container mix 1 1/2 cups warm water, white glue and a few drops of food coloring.
2)In a second container mix 1 1/3 cups of warm water and Borax.
3)Mix the Borax mixture into the glue mixture until combined. (may be some liquid in bottom of container).
4)Place Flubber on a tray and let stand for a few minutes before playing with it!
5)Store in air tight container.

From a Minnow to a Fish 3!!

Scooter Button was busy scooting along in the pool tonight. She is now a Fish 3!!

She was a Minnow 5 (the last level of Minnows at her swim school). After certain skills have been mastered according to their coach, a deck manager tests each child to double check and either pass them to the next level or give them further instructions on what to do. So, to move from a Minnow to a Fish, you have to swim forward, face in the water, holding a streamline (hand together stretched out in front of you), and kicking for 10 feet. Plus doing the same basic thing on your back (obviously your face isn't in the water or this one), again for 10 feet. She did both like a pro!!  They also had her tread water, and while she was doing her front swim, she demonstrated that she could take a breath and keep going, holding her streamline and kicking. So - she bypassed Fish 1 & 2 and is a Fish 3!!  Little rockstar swimmer. So proud!!

After she rocked out her test....  Her coach said "let's just see how far you can go" in preparation for the next testing. For that one, you do both the front and back kicks holding your streamline and breathing, but instead of 10 feet, it's about 30ish. In just "seeing what she could do", she swam the whole way. The deck managers were all watching her. She's 4.... And rocked it out!!

She got a bit tired after that. Her coach had her do it several times.... But by the 4th or 5th, she was done. I don't blame her though. I would be after the first - if I made it the first time.

Punkin is rocking it out also. She's a Shark and is learning all the various strokes - breast, butterfly, freestyle and backstroke - for 25yards. Endurance is a big thing at her level.

It's so cool watching them do all of this. We just wanted them to be comfortable and safe in the water. And to see them rock it and enjoy it is amazing!!

Awesomeness!!!

It's good to have good girls

I've had a little cough/congestion, and was just tired. We still had activities to attend - birthday cupcakes with friends, dance, swim - normal weekly activities. I felt fine to do, I just had to take some rests.  I didn't have anything contagious, either.  But by Thursday, I just wanted to sleep. So, I did. This is where I get to brag on the awesomeness of my girls. They were great!!!  They played together, brought me water and just let me sleep and rest. It was nice to know ... and allowed me to rest easier ... knowing that they were ok playing together, watching a few shows or playing their games on the iPad. They even got Spanish flash card and practiced espanol.

Nothing funny, I just wanted to express that it's good to have good girls. :-).

Archive Story - Punkin's Future

I thought since we just celebrated Buttons bday, this would be a good time to post this so we have it on the blog. As you read this, keep in mind that the girls are only 2 years 8 months apart. So, at this time, Punkin was three.

I thought you would enjoy this...

So Button had a dr appointment today, but we got there a few minutes early and she had fallen asleep. In letting her take a quick nap before going in to get shots, Punkin and I were talking. She was sitting on the consile between the front seats and said, "Mom, when I get to be a grown up", you could tell she was thinking, "I am going to live in North Carolina." 

"You are?" I said, thinking when have you heard about North Carolina? We've been to South Carolina, but not North. But trying not to interrupt her thoughts I said nothing and she continued. 

"Yeah, that's where I am going to be a farmer." Being a farmer is on Punkin's list of occupations, along with being a rock star and a veterinarian. 

"Oh, okay" I said, "But that's a long way from here."

"Yeah," says Punkin very matter of fact. "But do you know who I'm gonna marry?" she asks. I look at her as if to say who? And she states, "Jeremiah."

"Me and Ms. Monique sure will miss you, being so far away."

"You know what you can do?" she asks. 

"What?"

"You and Jeremiah's mommy can come visit us. And if you want, you can go to Taco Bell". 

"Thank you" I said. 

"I called Jesus this morning. I asked him if our kids could be twins," she pauses for a second as if remembering the conversation, then continues. "But he said no.  We'll just have 2 kids, not twins."

We finished our conversation and it was time for us to go in for Button's appointment. 

Too cute!  I just had to share!  

From Monique (Jeremiah's mom)

Oh my goodness! That makes me laugh! I will be very interested to see what God has 20 years down the road ;) 

The great news is that you know you are doing something right when they are already asking Jesus about what to do!!!! Even better that she stops to listen! 

More good news... If our kids grow up, get married and become farmers in NC we will all like each other enough to carpool to go see them. Oooo and the fun we would have with grandbabies!!! 

Jeremiah has been very concerned with who he will marry in the future lately. It has been a serious issue in our house. Isn't it funny that it is something their minds already focus on these things?

Birthdays and Ponies

I can't believe she is four. Our little Scooter Button is four.

Because I was working on the Firebird shoot Friday and Saturday, the girls got a lot of daddy daughter time. They had picnics, and dance parties, explored Gander Mountain, went on walks and discovered the joy of honeysuckles. They had a great time!

So for Scooter Buttons birthday, we asked her what she wanted to do. When asked earlier in the week she had mentioned the zoo. We thought maybe that's what we would do for the day. She consistently said she wanted to celebrate with her THINK (a homeschool group) friends. But since that is during the week, that celebration would have to wait. We gave several options and because if the memorial weekend, there were some really cool things going on. Rolling Thunder parade (motorcycles), a concert that night at the Capital, a strawberry festival....with pony rides....yep, that one was the winner. She wanted to ride ponies!!  So that's what we did. At one of the state parks, a church holds a strawberry festival each year as a fund raiser. It's your basic summer time fair with vendors, food , some games, a hayride, music - including square dancing - and then pony rides. Button road Batman the first time and Rainbow the next. Punkin got Honey and Nibbles. Yes, they rode two times. We had smoothies and fruit and snacks between rides. But, she asked to ride again. So for her birthday, she rode ponies.

The next day we had cake. Punkin made (really she did about 90% of the work) the requested lemon cake with strawberry icing. Then the next day she got to celebrate with her THINK friends. We took cupcakes and princess plates.

I can't believe she is four already!  Where as that time gone? It's gone to her growing into a beautiful, smart, funny child. She has a great example in Punkin. They are both unique and they care for each other. So, I'm not complaining. I just can't believe she's four.

There will soon be more daddy daughter outings too. For her birthday, both girls got fishing pokes complete with backpacks, sunglasses and mini tackle boxes. One is Barbie and the other is Princesses. Very cute.

Enjoy afunnysomething today!  One of ours just turned four!!