No, he didn't escape...the curse is upon my son as well

Allergies. My daughter has suffered terribly with allergies and they were the reason for us starting to homeschool. Now, for the past few months I am watching my son get more and more allergic. He doesn't have eczema like his sister, and he doesn't have asthma (yet), but he is clearly allergic. We'll have to allergy proof his room. He has nasal symptoms in the mornings and lately his little cheeks look bumpy with little hives. His sister is quite upset about this as she is terrified he'll go through what she endured. And that was a nightmare. Missy's eczema is mostly gone now. She has a patch of KP (Keratosis Pilaris on her belly) and some eczema rash that comes and goes on her upper thighs (precipitated by underwear I think). Bear has KP on his upper arms and knees, nothing to be concerned about, but since KP is a form of eczema I am worried he might still develop it. After all, he has a 25% chance of getting eczema too.  I put on a brave face but inwardly I am afraid too. Non- lethal allergies may not take your life but they can certainly take the quality out of it and they are certainly life altering.

The Three Questions

Sometimes you come across a decent book. At times you may be lucky and pick up one that's pretty good. But rare are the times when a book is perfect. A book which carries a message where everyone can take something away from.  And which is beautifully illustrated. Not the pretty 'awww, that's cute' illustrations. But  the kinds of illustrations which contribute to the written word in a way that completes the experience to perfection.

Several years ago,  during a scholastic books bookfair I came across one such book. It is titled 'The Three Questions' and is based on a story by Leo Tolstoy. This book is written and illustrated by Jon J. Muth.

The story begins thus...

There once was a boy named Nikolai who sometimes felt uncertain about the right way to act. 'I want to be a good person,' he told his friends. 'But I don't always know the best way to do that.'

The story deals with three main questions of life.

When
                                Who
                                                                What

Nikolai's friends are a a heron named Sonya,  Gogol, a capuchin (by the looks of it) monkey, and Puskin, a gorgeous borzoi.

In the story, Nikolai asks his friends three questions. And the three friends give him honest answers, as they see them. But as Nikolai ponders the three different answers he realizes that their answers didn't seem quite right to him. So, he decides to visit Leo. Leo, the turtle, whose ancient wisdom would surely guide him.

I will let the story tell the rest.

It is a timeless message which transcends age, gender and creed and I encourage you to read this book. And if you have done so already, ready it again.

Lesson Idea - Math - Linear Graphs using real data.

What better way to learn compiling, arranging and presenting data than with real information. To practise making Linear Graphs, Missy used weather data from  the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Website. She made a graph charting the daily highs for May 2010 of three cities in our area. 

Here are some screenshots to help you navigate. Click on the pictures for a larger and cleared image.

This is the NOAA's website. Enter in your Zipcode in the upper left corner.



Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on 'Regional Weather Summary'



This is the page that will pop up. In the section for 'Climate' click on 'Local'



This is the page that will open up. From 'Product' click on 'Monthly Preliminary Climate Data', choose your location and then choose the 'Archived Data' option. Now your child can choose which month's data to retrieve. 

 We really enjoyed making the graph on quadrant paper using different colors for different cities. Missy also calculated the median, mean, range and mode.

And the winner of the Giveaway is Tim!

Tim won the giveaway! CONGRATULATIONS!

I'll be contacting you today.

Sorry for the delay. These last few days were beyond crazy and I only now managed to get to my blog. Tim, I'll be contacting you.

What??? Nobody wants Twenty Free Bucks?

Alright, People! I announced a give-away several days ago. Make that about 2 weeks ago, and only two people entered.  Hey, great odds for them and I am sure they are thrilled no-one else entered. But if I am to be able to get more give-away sponsored by different companies I can't show them that only two people entered. The giveaway ends on the 15th at midnight CT. Here is a link to the give-away , go enter for your chance to win $20, usable at any of the CSN stores.

2011 Bucket List

I borrow this idea from another blog. It's not my life's bucket list but just 10 things I want to do before this year is over.

1. Take my children to a concert.
2. Take my son to a zoo.
3. Have a date with my husband.
4. Have a dinner consisting entirely of some rustic bread, brie, olives, pears, apples. Did  I mention brie? And of course olive oil and a good aceto balsamico.  My keyboard is wet, I need to stop drooling.
5. Have the above mentioned dinner sans husband or son but with my daughter while watching a chick flick.  She will not touch the olives. Everything else we will squabble over.
And it will be wonderful.
6. Write a letter to my Dad telling him how much I appreciate him.
7. Write a letter to my Mom telling her how much I appreciate her. Do you know the song 'I hear voices' by Chris Young? I need to let them know I hear their voices all the time. If you haven't heard this song, it's ok. Not everyone is into country music.
At least go to the Internet and read the lyrics.
It's worth it.
Trust me
8. I want to go out for a 'couples dinner' with a  dear couple I know. Their daughter is my daughter's best friend. And we grown ups get along great.
9.  Send someone a present -Just because-
10.  Take my children to a church, a synagogue, a Muslim prayer center, and our local Sikh prayer center so they can learn about different faiths and what they mean to the faithful attending those places of worship.

More to come I think.

As heard on 'Good Luck, Charlie'

Cast of Characters.

 

Charlie, adorable,blonde toddler (approx. 2 years old)
Charlie's Mom.
Charlie's considerably older brothers.

 

Setting: Basement Family/Laundry/ whatever room. Charlie is sitting on a portable potty in front of TV, while mother alternately cajoles and bribes Charlie to go potty.

 

Two older brothers barge in and try to set TV up to play video-games.  Mother tells them not to do that because baby Charlie only goes potty when she can watch `the Gurgles (presumably something like the Wiggles).

 

Older brother: "Charlie needs the 'Gurgles'  to do her business?"

Mother: "Yes, dear, Charlie needs the 'Gurgles to do her business, much like your dad needs the sports section to do his."
***

 

Can you relate? Our family certainly can. We all have our 'potty aids' too!

• IT man needs his Wall Street Journal. 
• I need my I-Pad or a book (preferably cook book - don't ask, I don't know either)
• Missy whatever book has been stashed in the bathroom.
• Bear whatever he can sing to himself because he can't read well enough just yet.

Are you a 'potty reader'?