Odd day and this 6 week wrap up

Yesterday when I opened my garage door, there were 2 men on bikes right behind my car. Now, to understand how odd this is, you kind of have to understand the topography of my neighborhood. Floyd Landis, you know, the guy who won the Tour de France after Lance Armstrong but had the title stripped from him because of testosterone use (do I have to say “alleged” testosterone use. Not if it’s all through the courts right?). Anyway, he trained in the hills just south of my house. For all the good it did him. Snark. But, no one “bikes” here; cyclists train here. There’s a difference. They ask me if I have any work. Umm, no?

To put it mildly, they freaked me out. They could have easily been what they said, people looking for work, except for a lot for reasons that made no sense. They point I mentioned, about the hills. The valley, not far from me, where houses are a lot closer together, it’s flat, and seemingly easier to ask people for work. They went to my neighbors house, and since she’s an older woman whose alone during the day, I went with them. She wasn’t home, they circled the cul de sac, and left. I called my husband, and asked if he could call the sheriff. I just had an odd feeling.

That night, I talked to my nearest neighbors, and called two others, just to let them know to keep their eyes open. As it turns out, the one on the hill above me had been home. They had been to his house first (up a 1/4 mile, very steep driveway) and he watched their interaction with me, because he was concerned about them as well. Half an hour after I left, the sheriff came, then another sheriff, then a helicopter. So, unfortunately, it seems as if my suspicions were right and I have to say I’m glad I missed the excitement.

Now, for the six week wrap up.

Things are going along. Same old, same old .

James has discovered the Magic Treehouse series, or Jack and Annie books as he calls them. They are difficult for him but he loves them and that’s the important thing. He was determined to read one in a day (it didn’t happen), but he did read 7 chapters in one day (they are 10 chapters long for those unfamiliar). I had to keep taking the book from him because his brain would turn to mush, he would ask me every other word, and I would tell him “enough.” He would scream and yell, take a break, read some more; it as a long day, but proud nonetheless.

He is telling more stories, after the success of posting one here. I have another one to post here and he has picked it as the story to make a book out of for the Illustory kit my sister bought him for Christmas. He is a comment junky.

I am thinking about doing this with math, to tie it in with history and to punch it up a bit. He also loves this cd I bought on addition songs. I’m going to get a subtraction one. It’s very annoying, but he says it helps him learn his facts so, o.k. then. I’m getting a little bored with math, don’t know about him. It’s hard to decide, when to move on. He gets the concept, addition, subtraction, but doesn’t “know” his facts, depending on the tides, phase of the moon, how far grown out his fingernails are . . .

Handwriting is coming along. He’s using lowercase when he does copywork, but still not spontaneously.

I’ve started doing history with another family. This week was the third week; the first 2 the kid’s didn’t listen to the reading portion at all, but this week they finally got into the groove and sat and listen. The other mom and I kept saying that if we were persistent they would do it, but I don’t know that we fully believed ourselves . I think it’s going to be good doing it together (the kids love it, it’s half the work, and I get to visit), but we’re still working out some of the kinks.

We started using R.E.A.L. science. It’s good. He likes it. I try to make sure we get out and do nature observations and/or to the science museum sometimes as well.

Interestingly, he seems ready for more, science more often than once a week maybe, his reading is starting to take off, his creative writing, he just wants more and I seem to be at a point where I’ve burnt out. Hopefully this break will help me to recharge.

And to answer Fourmother’s question from 9 week’s ago now, I will do a year end wrap up.