A Family Treehouse: My Daybook, Entry #38

FOR TODAY
Tuesday, July 20, 2010...

Outside my window... Sunshine & 77 degrees - BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

I am thinking... our dog is getting "ancient," takes arthritis meds and has dry eye that we treat daily with eye drops and Blossom's kitty was in a cat fight and has an eye infection that we are treating with an oral antibiotic. Dog vs meds = not so bad... she likes her treats and has been going at the meds long enough to KNOW that a treat follows. Cat vs meds = not so great... doesn't know that a little chunk of leftover salmon will be her reward if she just stays still and lets me squirt that white antibiotic slurry down her throat. Keep trying... keep trying... keep trying!

I am thankful for... our relaxing family weekend that we make sure to take and remember the important things in life. More on that later!

From the learning rooms... slow and steady wins the "race" - Teaching Textbooks for Math seems to be going well. Branch seems to really like the independence of the work. Bud likes the computer aspect. We are using two different typing programs for a fun way to learn the keyboard - Roller Typing and Read, Write & Type. They, too, seem to be going well. We are using English From the Roots Up to learn Greek and Latin roots - we are going to work on one or two roots each week. We enjoyed playing around with it a bit so far. MCP Math for Kindergartener Blossom - I am wondering if it is too simple for her and might skip ahead a bit to move beyond beside, up, down, above, below, etc... But, it was a fun few lessons and that is encouraging, so we'll just see how it goes. For Art & Art Appreciation we are using a book called Art Fraud Detective and work on two pieces of art each week and then finish off with doing some art of our own that would be indicative of the art of one of the artists getting ideas in the book Discovering Great Artists: Hands On Art For Children in the Styles of the Great Masters. We have some other things going for the year, but for these summer months are on a lean schedule using these items (oh, and working at improving handwriting!).

From the kitchen... my "big meal" plans

Tues: blt's
Wed: steaks
Thurs: fajitas
Fri: not much of a plan, here,
Sat: company is coming...
Sun: need to determine when we
Mon: will be here or out and about!!!

I am wearing... (gray) shorts and a (charcoal and gray) t-shirt

I am creating... I purchased the notions and such for the gift I will sew for my niece... this birthday gift is just going to be late.

I am going... to participate in an online webinar regarding photography... hope isn't "you get what you pay for" because it is free!!

I am reading... photography books

I am hoping... to improve my photography skills... can you tell?!?!!

I am hearing... cars. Strangely, they are racing by on the road not too far from our house and it seems that they are all missing mufflers, today!

Around the house... Again, I am wondering how to keep kids stuff contained. How do you teach your kids to constantly pick up after themselves? I want to raise capable adults... so, I want them to learn this skill NOW as children so that we can move on to other important things! (Like how to have a REALLY great FUN time when all the stuff has been tended to!)

One of my favorite things... a turtle split - I have been thinking about one of these for weeks and I cannot seem to get anyone on board for enjoying one with me. I could make my own and just nosh, but it is soooo tasty and I need to convince Bud. He's my foodie... I'll work on him this week!!

A few plans for the rest of the week... convince Bud of the deliciousness of a Turtle Split, back to the library, a bit of baking, school work, company is coming...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

While we were at Geemah & Grandpa's in Illinois...