Errands and Reading

Today was spent running errands. That gave the boys plenty of time to read. B finished the book that he had been reading and read both of these Star Wars books.

D read these two Babymouse books.

This evening the boys went to their last night of Bible School. Once again, I went early and peeked in. They had made hourglasses using water bottles and rice. The boys were having races to see whose hourglass emptied the fastest. Then they all began shaking them like maracas. They both had a good time this week and hated to see Bible School end.

Another Busy Day

Inspired by our trip to the museum yesterday, the boys and I stayed up very late last night looking up pictures of albino animals. That made it very hard to get up early this morning so that we could get to the library in time for the Summer Reading Program. We did make it and were rewarded with the music of Charles Pettee. He sang and played the guitar, harmonica, mandolin, and banjo.The boys and I really enjoyed it, and it seemed as if everyone else did as well.

After the program, they had a drawing for prizes and D won a book.

Then we headed home to meet Big B so that we could all go to the movies to watch the new Harry Potter movie. It was okay, maybe a bit on the long side. Poor D fell asleep near the end. After the movie, we had dinner and then took the boys to Bible School. When they came home, they played and watched a little TV.

D has decided to take a break from the Backyard Sports book that he has been reading, and has decided to reread the BABYMOUSE series. He has read the first one and is almost done with the second one.

I checked out this book by Diane Mott Davidson today and started it tonight. It is the latest in a series of mysteries featuring a caterer. The series also features recipes, several of which I have tried and enjoyed.

Feathers and Fur

This morning, we headed over to Weymouth Woods for the hummingbird banding again. There were more people than hummingbirds today, so neither boy got to hold any. While we were there, I saw a flier for a Birding Basics class for kids later in the morning. I asked about it and discovered that no children had enrolled. So, the boys had a private class. They discussed different types of birds commonly found in our area, heard a little folklore about owls and vultures, looked at mounted birds, and then headed outside for a little bird watching.

After Weymouth Woods, we went over to the Taxidermy Hall of Fame of North Carolina/Antique Tool Museum/Creation Museum. Basically, it features a lot of mounted animals, tools, and miscellaneous oddities with religious signs and bumper stickers posted throughout. The boys had a good time and were really fascinated with all of the albino animals on display.

This evening, they went to Bible School. I got there a little early to pick them up, and so I peeked through the window to watch their class finish up with their craft. There were 11 kids and 8 of them were boys. They were decorating milk carton megaphones. It was funny watching the boys. They seemed to all pair up at the same time, with one boy in each pair putting his megaphone to his ear like a funnel and the other boy putting his right up against it and talking in it. Then about half of the boys put them on their heads like hats, while the other half began using them to look through. Then they all seemed to catch sight of each other and the megaphones on the heads immediately went to eyes and the ones at eyes went on heads.

After Bible School, the boys were excited to see that Big B was home and now they are all watching I Survived a Japanese Game Show on TV together.

Better Than Yesterday

Today was much better than yesterday. The boys worked on math, critical thinking, dictionary skills, geography and science. Then they played with Lego's until supper time. Afterward, we went to D's baseball game. It started late because of a storm and then it was stopped halfway through because of another storm. Driving home was quite an adventure as there was water pooled on the road in several places and tree limbs on the road. We saw two trees that had fallen along the side of the road. We came upon either a small tree or a huge limb that was laying across both lanes of the road. I had to drive on the opposite shoulder to get around it.

We managed to get to the church in time for the last hour of Bible School. I'm glad that we did because there was a religious magic show. The boys really liked it although they did take issue with the preacher/magician using the word stupid so many times. After Bible School, we came home and had a snack and settled in to enjoy a little TV.

A Bad Day

We didn't really get much done today. The boys did a little math, some critical thinking worksheets and a dictionary skill worksheet. They just didn't seem able to focus on anything today. Their games didn't seem to last more than 5 or 10 minutes and then they were on to something else. I was hesitant to send them to the first night of Bible School tonight, for fear that they would be too rowdy. I sent them and didn't get any reports of bad behavior when I picked them up, so I guess they did okay. When they got home, it was back to being restless, until I couldn't take it any more and sent them to bed.

As for me, I wasn't able to get much done either. I just didn't have the energy or the will to do anything. I had to force myself to make dinner and clean up afterward. I guess it was just one of those days. I hope tomorrow will be better for all of us.

While the boys were at Bible School, I started this book, featuring the good Temperance Brennan and not that socially stunted reject on Fox TV.

Soil and Muffins

This morning the boys had their second cooking lesson. They each made blueberry muffins using blueberries that they picked themselves.

After we ate muffins, the boys read and practiced their typing. Then I helped them set up their own user accounts on the computer and set up their own email accounts. Next, we headed to Weymouth Woods for a surprisingly interesting lecture on local geology. Afterwards, the boys and I took a short hike.

After Weymouth Woods, the boys and I went to my mother's house for peach cobbler and ice cream. Then, back at home, the boys had a friend over to play Lego's.

A Tiring Day

We got up early this morning because D had a baseball game. After the game, we ran errands until late afternoon. Then B and I ate nachos and watched movies while D went shopping and out to eat with his grandparents. He came home with these cool pictures.

An Inactive Friday

Today the boys worked on spelling, math and geography. Afterward, they played Lego's and Bakugan and watched a couple educational shows. After dinner, they read for a while and then played while I organized school material for next week.

D finished the Cam Jansen book he was reading and started this one. It is the 1st book in the Backyard Sports series.


B started the 7th book in the Wiley and Grampa series tonight.


Big B finished the 7th Harry Potter book this morning.

I have been reading from this book for the last couple of days.

Yet Another Good Day

This morning the boys and I went to the library for the Summer Reading Program. We were entertained by the Almost Amazing Al. It is the 4th time that the boys have seen him, but they still enjoyed it.

When we got home from the library, the boys read for a while and then did a little math, spelling, and geography. After dinner, we headed out to the ball field for D's game. His team is now 6-0.

Vincent (Starry Starry Night) - Don McLean

The favorite artist of The Pies School for Boys.

Another Good Day

This morning the boys and I got up early and headed out to Weymouth Woods for the hummingbird banding. They only caught three this morning.

From there we went to the lake for a few hours.

When we got home, the boys worked on math and geography. Then they played both at home and at the neighbors' house. Then D visited with his grandparents for a while. After supper, the boys read for a while and then we watched Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

A Good Day

This morning, the boys did spelling, math and geography. Then they watched TV and played for a couple of hours. Then we ran a few errands, went to the library, checked out what could possibly be the world's smallest comic shop, browsed a book store and then headed to another library to see Birdman Dave .

Birdman Dave showed the different types of feathers found on birds.

D holding Sky.

Christopher Columbus.

Christopher Columbus flying on a lead.

Birdman Dave and Belle.

Belle flying around.

When we got home, the boys read for a while and then played with Lego's.

Daniel is reading this Cam Jansen book.

Brian is on the 6th book in this series.

A Fairly Uneventful Day

Today, we did not do school because B wanted to catch up on his reading. In addition to finishing the book he had been reading, he read these:


D finished the Backyard Sports book that he had been reading and then spent the rest of the day playing. This evening, D had baseball practice.