Time

is marching on. . .



Sawyer started junior high today. Gym uniform, algebra, locker combination, homeroom, and parental figures MILES from the school. He is most excited that school doesn't begin until almost 9:00 am. He plans to snooze longer than us all.




Avy and Kennah are both at Candy Lane this year and were happy to let me drive them to school. Tomorrow (and all future rain-free days) they plan to ride their bikes. No small task since their school is in another city. But Slade prepared them well this summer so it's time to see if they can do it.

momma said there'd be days like this . . .

... and I hope there are MORE!

The kids practically LEAPED out of bed this morning. They laughed all the way through breakfast. May the magic of the first day of school last!

Back to School

After a fun summer of spontaneity, relaxing (and a fair share of working), turning a cold shoulder to bedtimes and not caring who catches the early worm, organization and schedules have re-entered our lives.

Slade gets up first at 5:35. He heads to the kitchen and makes breakfast and lunches.
Heidi showers at 5:44.
Sawyer showers at 6:00.
Kennah and Avy roll out of bed at 6:10.
Slade rides his (well, Joel's) bike to work at 6:40.
The kids leave for the bust stop at 6:48.
Heidi follows up on the bus stop at 6:58.

Ahh, for those of us that like order, it is a little slice of heaven.

By the look of it, the kids are happy to be back as well.

From his dad? Definitely!

There are definite traits that each of our kids take from us. For example, Sawyer is very rule abiding (at school) and has incredible behavior. Granted, once he gets home and breathes out, it is a different story. (Which reminds me of another story . . .for later.)

He gets that from me. Slade has no problem admitting that. I always behaved in school.

So, what does he get form his father? Well. Let me give you some examples from his homework this week.

His regular teacher has been sick for a few weeks (thus less/no homework from the subs.) However, the sub has been hired and as a result the homework is back. As we sifted through papers today, Slade asked Sawyer if all his homework was done. "Of course, Dad."

So Slade started looking over a 5 page packet. The first page, math--"Looks good Sawyer." The second page, rearrange the sentences to say the same thing in a different way--"Those will work, Sawyer."

The third page, at first glance, " Sawyer, if there are three lines, they are looking for more than a one word answer." "Oh." Then Slade started laughing. This is what it said:

Q. Did you know that the United States is the top meat eating country in the world each person consumes about 260 pounds of meat each year beef is the most commonly eaten meat. (Obviously a lesson in run-on sentences.)
A. No.
(The ideas was for him to rewrite it into three sentences. Instead he answers the question. No, he didn't know that information.)


Q. Have you ever notices that Abraham Lincoln faces the right on a penny he is the only president on a U.S. coin who does Sacagawea faces right on the new dollar coin, but she was not a president?
A. No.


Q. It would be fantastic to have a robot to do all my chores, help do my homework, and play games I really thing the day will come unfortunately, it won't come soon enough for me.
A. BOOOOOO!


It gets better.

Page four is all about reading maps.

Q. The symbol (compass rose) stands for:
A. chaotic (his current card game fascination and must incorporate the compass into the design)

Q. The capital of Wyoming:
A. Grand Canyon

Q. Boise is the capital of:
A. Hundred ecer (acre) woods

Q. The direction between east and south:
A. bottom right


We couldn't stop laughing. Probably not the best for his self-esteem. But, deep down I think he realized the were lame-o answers. He just doesn't like to be bothered by busy work. And THAT is where he and his dad share educational values!