a few lazy days...

I love that I can say things to Jewel like, "Let's get in the van." And now, instead of a confused look, she says, "OK, fan, fan, wun wun wun, bubba, go!" Not only is it really cute, but every little thing she learns to do for herself, especially by voice command, so to speak, makes my life easier and more efficient. She will now find her cup/doll/toy/crayons herself, get into her seat in the van herself, and frequently attempts to undiaper herself. She says,"I tinky, diaper, i tinky, momma!" Trevor is learning new things to do for himself too, but they are more subtle. Such as, getting to nickjr.com without help, or wiping his own butt. Honestly, now that these are the things he is trying, I would rather just do them for him (sometimes) because the mistakes are more time consuming to fix. He is also learning to pour his own drinks and help me cook, so you can imagine the messes that can generate. (Don't worry, Taylor found the egg shell in his pancake before he ate it.) There were lots of learning activities that we did the last two days. But, it was a kind of lazy study. We did a few experiments to complement the things we learned from the Joy of Science lectures (5 and 6). We tried to find the iron in our cereal, an activity from the about.com email "kids chemistry activities of the week". Then we did a few motion and force experiments from My Book of Science Experiments. We also started reading The Odyssey (and it's lecture). We also watched two movies for a break, and to get them sent back so Dad can get the movie he's been waiting on. I also started reading The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, which I loved when I was young. I read to Taylor while he plays a video game, sometimes we read outside, sometimes we walk and read, and sometimes we listen to audio books while we play video games together. (I actually managed to read three articles from Discover magazine while on the treadmill, not while running, obviously.)

what did we do today...

The morning started with some games for Trevor and Taylor and mom time (coloring while learning colors and some spanish) for Jewel. Then, we took turns painting our tea set pieces while Taylor watched two lectures from the course on physics (Einstein's Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists) to get some more information about the reasons that Rutherford's model of the atom wouldn't work in reality. He worked on the photomosaic Mickey Mouse puzzle while he watched, because he thinks better if his hands are busy. (Honestly, I don't know where he gets it from, he he he.) Trevor built a spaceship with the legos during the "wecture" as he calls it. Jewel kept bringing me things she found in the lego bin while commenting on them; a clay ball, "uh oh, bubba" (he isn't supposed to leave clay laying around), a lego man, "debot, debot" (uh, robot?), a dinosaur's head, "uh oh boken boken saur saur", and so funny, a strange green piece, "dat do? it do? dat do?". So curious. Then, we all took a break to watch the movie Igor. After the movie, Trevor painted his tea cup, Taylor worked out with the Wii game (Jillian Micheals), Trevor helped when he was finished (ie, all the orange and yellow were used up). Jewel ran around singing and dancing, played with her playhouse, played with legos, and in general made several messes. I did help her paint her cup and saucer. After a little more outside play, I convinced the babies to sit in their beds (like a nap) and they watched a show about elephants on PBS. Surprisingly, Trevor loved the show and told me all about it, not surprisingly, Jewel played with the buttons on the TV and messed it up so I let her watch a cartoon. Yes, I needed to get the laundry folded, so I abused the TV use rules. Taylor watched another Planet Earth episode from the DVR, while he finished painting his cup and saucer. And, another episode while assembling his chemistry lapbook (from Hands of a Child). The babies finished off "waiting for dad" time by reading with me and playing (aka making a mess in the bedroom). I, of course, participated in all of this, while the cleaning, cooking, and laundry just did itself (like magic ;)). I did however do something for me. I thought that cable on each machine at the gym would be plenty of distraction for boring running, but I forgot who I am. Until I can take audibooks again (we need new mp3 players, long story) I need more than discovery channel or history channel or news, at home I read or write or study while I "watch" them. The commercials are too long, also. So, I put some of the lectures on my Clie. Now I am sure to be distracted enough to run without thinking, "is it time, how about now, am I done now?" We'll see how well it works tonight. Anyway, here are some videos and pics (for Mimi).

our learning...

Ha Ha Ha, Trent is teasing me about blogging. He said, "If you don't tweet, your not in." He just said he will never be a "twit". And, I found the Teaching Company on youtube. I don't know why I never thought of looking before, unfortunately there are only a few snippets and we own two of the five lectures shown. But, actually the point of posting now, is to start "talking" to myself about the game again. I have found some time the last two weeks to work on a few ideas. I like where we are going and Taylor is going to help me tomorrow get the board for Trevor's part of the "world" drawn. We have been trying to adjust and simplify the game for him. We have also been trying to use our new "routine" to guide the game. We have changed our learning activities lately because of the babies' changing needs and new resources. Also, as with any student led style, our "focus" and Taylor's interests have changed. He is heavily interested in chemistry because of it's relevance in astronomy. Because of the references to physics in the chemistry resources we are bouncing through lectures. When we played the game before the lectures were so popular in our house, they were only "counted" in a minimal way. However, Taylor wants to be able to decide what activities he does each day (within limits) and still get "points" for each activity. So, I have found a way for him to choose any lecture and still earn something for watching it (besides knowledge, I remind him). Today he started with "Biology and Human Behavior", then watched two episodes of Planet Earth, then after lunch and some playtime, completed the "decimal" portion of the basic math lecture. (I suggested that he just skip those math lectures, and he said he wanted to make sure he doesn't miss any tips. The teacher is really great.) He had baseball practice and when he got home he spent an hour playing games on iknowthat.com. Trevor spent the day playing outside, playing on nickjr.com, coloring, and playing with blocks. Jewel, whew, she colored and played outside. And she climbed in and out of my lap all day, and ate all day, and jumped from one thing to the next rapidly all day. She makes Taylor laugh all day everyday, and all of us think she is so funny. Well, Trevor sometimes acts like he thinks she is not funny at all, but he just doesn't get it yet. The two of them have started playing together more than they fight now, which is a welcome change. Trevor even brought her cup to her without being asked. What a bunch of sweet, wonderful kids.

Just some stuff and a game...

You know life is good when you wake up with a stomach bug and you still smile all day. Either I really love my "job" or I have completely cracked up. I have, in the course of creating this blog, learned a lot about myself, about health, about appreciation, about my family, and about trust. I knew when I started blogging that I would, as usual, say lots of things that I later learned were not based on correct or complete information. I hate doing that, and try to avoid it. I have learned, however, that the truth is a very hard thing to find, and trusting your sources is not easy. I operate on many assumptions in everything I do, and often question those assumptions. But, like the turtles in mythology (that held up the earth), it's assumptions all the way down. I do however feel better equipped to discover scientifically sound information, now. And even so, I still choose to ignore even the most convincing evidence in some cases (parenting issues mainly). I just sometimes think that finding the "best" advice shouldn't be so complicated. Anyway. Another little lesson I am learning is that, as much as Trent wishes I would go every night to the gym, that just can't happen. I have too many other things that will get behind. I did manage it for a week, but I now find myself playing catch up. I suppose I am trading every night workouts for a cleaner house and time for studying. And, honestly, it is a trade I make happily. I will just have to be satisfied to loose the last 30 lbs a little more slowly than Trent. Big deal, I am just glad to loose it at all. Taylor had a game last night and I got to go alone (well, with no babies). My parents did come also. I really enjoyed being able to just watch the game (thank you, Trent). Taylor struck out all three at bats, and was pretty disappointed about it. But, he also played catcher for four of the six innings. Of course, he thoroughly enjoyed that. My mother even gave him his own little broom for the base. We lost 7 to 9, but I thought our team actually played better. They threw out several fast runners and caught at least 10 right out of the air. They are really fun to watch. To be honest, my first thought when I made it to the field is, "Ahh, two hours without the babies, and no cleaning." It was great. The babies are loads of fun, Trevor is starting to play with Legos, which is fun. And, Jewel is starting to potty train (herself, really) which is exciting to participate in. But, my brain is sometimes on overdrive. Here are a few videos from Taylor's game (I haven't gotten my new camera back from repairs, yet).

tidbits....

Before we left for the field yesterday, I told Trevor that we were going to watch Bubba play baseball. He said to me, "Mom, I need more than that. That's too boring!" I knew that, but for him to just say it like that, at 3 1/2, what!? We agreed that "lots of books" (Trevor's words) and crayons with his "Preschool" book would do. They worked for an hour or so. Jewel has spent the day climbing into closets on stools and chairs and getting into things she should. But, we did color together for a while and she picked up the purple crayon and said "pupu"! Also, please, someone tell me why the "news" channels spend so much time talking about each other. Right now, there is a hilarious argument about Jon Stewart and what he said to the guy from the other news channel on CNN. I love watching the "news" shows where the experts argue over the "issues". Not because it is informative, but because it is so funny. Although it does sometimes make me worry about the views that exist in our world. Last tidbit, we are still working on the game, and on posting more about school. I am trying very hard to squeeze in time for it, however the light at the end of the tunnel is that as we work out more I get more energy and stay up later. I hope I don't quite revert back to my mid-20's hyperactivity/insomnia, but it is nice to watch a lecture or do some math or laundry after everyone goes to bed and still get up before the babies in the morning. I am so glad that we lost the weight because the energy we have back is priceless. I made some videos of Jewel, so now I really have to get the camera out this week for the boys. Oh, but I want to finish the tracking board for the game! Crap, here we go again. Maybe I can ....limit sleep to 3 hours a day? Stop blogging? hmmmmmm