My party

This is Connor speaking:
Yesterday, I had a small party. I invited four of my friends.
"Hey Ryan, I did not think you would be the first one to arrive."
"Well your mom did pick me up."
"Yeah, well, let's go get some squirt guns while we wait for the others." Shortly after Ryan arrived, Ezra's car came into view,although we did not know it was his car at first.
"Hey Ezra. You know Ryan right?"
"Yeah, I know him. Hey Ryan, whats up?"
"Oh, nothing much"
"Hey, there is Joe!" I shouted. It seemed like Joe was tailgating Ezra he was so close. We all got some squirt guns and filled them up. We started having a water war and going down the slipping slide at the same time.
"Hey Logan! It's Connor!"
"Hey Connor, can I have a squirt gun too?"
"Take mine." Pretty soon the water slide broke, but we just took the hose out of it and sprayed each other when we went down.
"I don't know about you guys, but I am going to get something to eat." Every one followed me to the food. We had plums, peaches, hint of lime chips and salsa, plus cracker and cheese. We all pigged out till we were going to burst.
"Lets go to the pond," I said. Everyone agreed to go to the pond. We were half-way through the fields with grass 5ft tall when Joe said,
"Hey guys, I am going back because of my allergy."
"Okay Joe," I said. "See you back at the house." When we where at the pond we threw some sticks for Luke to fetch, but Luke was too chicken.
When we came back, we went downstairs to play a board game.
"Can we play Age of Mythology?" Ezra asked.
"Lets play Risk," I replied. In the end, we played Age of Mythology, but we only got half-way through the game before Ezra destroyed it. Then, we went upstairs and made pizza. After that, we played capture the flag. That is the end!

Funny what children learn

Yesterday was Connor's big summer party. In the spring I had promised him that if he finished his math book then he could have a party to celebrate. Then we got the four foster children and we put it off. Well, yesterday was the date. Connor woke up early and began scurrying all around the house. He emptied the dishwasher, swept and mopped the floor, rearranged the deck furniture, got out the squirt guns, set out crackers and chips, etc. etc. It was fascinating to me watching him mimic all the things I do before we have company. He was only having four boys over for a few hours, but he obviously picked up on the "proper" way to prepare for a party over the years. Makes you pause to reflect on what else they are learning when you're not teaching.

This is Connor:
Today Austin, mom and I are going to go to the mall. I need a new book, and lately I have been reading Calvin and Hobbes,which mom thinks is not educational. But, to tell you the truth, I think Calvin and Hobbes is very educational. First of all, the vocabulary that Calvin uses is vast. Some of the words I don't even know. For instance, in a comic strip Calvin's mom comes into Calvin's room and says "Rise and shine." Then Calvin grumbles and his mom says "The early bird gets the worm." Calvin replies by saying "Big incentive." I had to look up the word incentive.
Anyway, I have been reading Redwall,a series by Brian Jacques. Oh, and also, I'm reading The Ranger's Apprentice series, by John Flanagan. But, I just finished all the Redwall books that we have, and I can't get the next Rangers Apprentice book because the sixth one is only out in Australia, as are the seventh and eighth books. Australia is where the author lives. So, I can't wait until I can get a new book at the mall. I keep begging mom to let me take out my $100 from the bank and spend it all on books, but she says no, we can go to the library.

Foreign Exchange Students

Well, we've done it again! We've agreed to host another foreign exchange student from China. After reviewing our curriculum and educational goals, I realized that Xiao was absolutely integral to our learning. In previous blogs I said that I wasn't sure what I would do without Xiao and all his tutoring of the boys, and I meant it. Consequently, I said ok to hosting and our new son will arrive Aug. 15th!!

Life Science Center

I am soooo excited to find out that the University of Rochester offers classes to homeschoolers once a month at their Life Science Center!! Connor is going to do experiments in a college lab on DNA, infectious diseases etc. etc. etc. this fall. Wow!!! This opportunity is going to prepare him for high school Science in a way that I never anticipated. Who knew that homeschoolers had all these amazing resources at their disposal that public schoolers miss?? No wonder U of R hired two (twins) PHD candidates to teach courses at the University at age 19 last year. They were homeschooled!

NYC-- by Connor

I went to the Museum of Natural History yesterday. It was very crowded. First, we went to the dinosaur exhibit. I kept on asking if the bones were real, and always received the same answer, yes. I was amazed at how many there were. I also saw a jaw of a shark. Its diameter was probably about three of four feet long. The dinosaurs were separated into groups. The dinosaurs with four limbs, the dinosaurs with back bones (vertebrates), and the dinosaurs with orbital cavities. It was all very amazing.
The museum was HUGE!!! It took us a long time to get to the space part, so on the way we stopped at the North American Birds. We saw every type you can think of. Eagles, (Bald and Golden) Cranes, and many other types.
Finally we made our way to the space place. There was a whole row of signs with facts on them. They started at 10 to the power of 15, and went all the way to the power of -18. At each sign, say 10 to the power of 3 (1000). Then they would turn it to 1000 meters and find an object that is 1000 meters. Ten to the negative eighteen was a blood cell.
The next day we went to Ellis Island. It was interesting. I found out that my great-grandma and a few relatives from three generations ago were immigrants and checked in at Ellis Island. There were a lot of interesting facts about of Ellis Island. After we got bored of Ellis Island we took another ferry to Liberty Island were we observed the Statue of Liberty. It was huge! Then we returned to our hotel at about five o'clock. Well, that's all!