Guitaro... by Burke

Burke likes to play the guitar, aka"Guitaro." Burke also wants his own blog, and Olivia too. Thanks Aunt Andrea; we've created a monster!

Math Is Fun

It's been a good week mathematically-speaking. We've used Julia's favorite toys as math manipulatives (instead of all those pricey things I bought). I love learning at home!

PHOTOS BY JULIA

me... and my shadow
weird flower
Get closer!
waiting for the egg

Autism Linked to Vaccines

THEY FINALLY ADMITTED TO IT!!! The government has finally admitted that vaccinations play a causative role in autism. Hooray! Perhaps now we can move forward and find a way to SAFELY vaccinate our children, identifying those at risk for developing complications like autism.
Here's the news report about the landmark lawsuit:

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/health/stories/2008/03/06/autism_0306.html

HE LIVES!

HAPPY EASTER

The "S" Word

I have GOT to stop using the "s" word - it's time to clean up my language. Whenever I say it, the kids groan. I realize my mistake too late; the mood has soured just that quickly. No, not THAT "s" word - I mean "school"! We are educating our children at home, we are teaching them at home, but I don't want to school them at home. I don't want to kill their joy of learning and discovery, but I have succeeded in doing that. It has been a struggle to balance rigor and thoroughness with their interests and the "teachable moment." Many times I have succumbed to the fear and purchased "school" curricula, only to end up disappointed in the results. Ninety percent of their true learning has come from their self-directed pursuits. Why is that so scary?
I do not want to recreate what the government schools do. That system was designed, with multiple subjects divided by bells, to create an efficient factory worker, not a skilled craftsman capable of seeing a product from start to finish. Is it any wonder we all have attention deficits? We are programmed to focus for a brief time and move on. I know where I don't want to go, but where I do want to go is largely uncharted. There are families that have made it - my sister and her husband have made it there. I thank them for their courage and encouragement. Here's a link to sound advice from my brother-in -law:
http://thebrownbull.blogspot.com/2008/03/curriculum-selection.html

I had lunch with a wonderful lady the other day, so supportive of the role of mothers. She has 8 children, the youngest is 17. She described her children as" home-taught." I wondered at the time why she didn't say" home-schooled." Later it hit me like a ton of bricks. There really is a difference. She meant precisely what she had said. She didn't use the "s" word anymore! And I'm not going to either!

BEACH BUMS

We are back from the beach! We had a ball as always but were GLAD to be HOME!! We fought the wind and waves, played 2 rounds of goofy golf, and the kids ate chicken nuggets and fries at all the fancy seafood restaurants we could find! Alec made his move on a group of lovely co-eds - I didn't get a picture of him sitting in their laps as I was too busy trying to get him off of them!

Congrats Fuzzy and Linny

We have babies!!! Yesterday Fuzzy gave birth to 2 perky babies. They have been bright-eyed from the get-go. They are ginger and white like their mommy, each with one pink ear and one ginger ear. One of the babies is very shy, so that is why there isn't a good picture of both of them. Linny and Fuzzy are proud and attentive parents. The kids are THRILLED!

I'M NOT FAT - I'M FUZZY

This is Fuzzy, one of our guinea pigs. She is truly adorable. She squeaks with delight whenever we come near the cage. Fuzzy is MUCH bigger than when we got her at Christmas. I think I hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet. Any excitement will, of course, be shared here.

TOOTH FAIRY, TOOTH FAIRY !!!

After a week and a half of wiggling and pulling, Julia's first tooth is finally OUT!! Thanks Aunt Andrea for the free (and painless) extraction.

NOW THAT'S ART !!!!

Alec has started drawing and writing since we began ABA 2 weeks ago. I think it shows the influence of the great masters, especially Picasso. Too bad it was on a dry erase board or I would have framed it!

OLIVIA AND PUFFKINS

Liv and one of our MANY kitties!

The Home Education of Jasmine

When the hawks started picking off our chickens, Julia decided she needed to take action. Here she is teaching Jasmine about various birds of prey and how to recognize them.

HERE WE ARE!!

Scatter Brain