It was another busy weekend.

Saturday morning started out with NT's basketball game and then NT and I went to the dentist while John and Lizzy walked to the corner store and baked chocolate chip bars.

Lizzy napped Saturday afternoon while NT went to play with the neighbors.

After dinner John took NT to Camp Snoopy while Lizzy "taught" me how to play "chest" and then she and I watched ice skating on the Olympics together before bed.

Sunday morning NT was reading all about Guppies in preparation for an afternoon trip to the fish store. Lizzy helped me put together a rhubarb crisp to bake later in the day for dessert.

John and NT had a Cub Scout activity and Lizzy and I cleaned the house while they were gone. After Cub Scouts, John and the kids went to the fish store where NT traded in his remaining gourami for 3 guppies (he would have gotten more, but that was the number he could afford, he said).

Late afternoon, John, the kids, and the neighbors spent a huge amount of time out in the sunshine chopping ice to open up the storm drain in the street. They waded around in 6 inches of water in their rain boots and made all kinds of rivers and, of course, got pretty wet!

NT was up to watch PBS's Cyberchase on high-low estimation. The kids played with the Magna Tiles and cardboard building blocks, but for most of the morning NT had his nose in his tropical fish book. He had the calculator out and was trying to figure out how many inches of new fish he could get if he got rid of a certain number of inches of his existing fish.

After lunch we had homeschool play group where this week's activity was a play dough craft. NT finished quickly and then spent the rest of the time throwing snowballs outside in the sunshine with a bunch of other boys.

We stopped at the library on the way home where NT picked up several more books on fish.

NT was up early to watch PBS's Cyberchase on linear measurement. Afterward, he watched an IMAX DVD on Shark Island and a Nature DVD on sharks.

Lizzy asked me to bring the big cardboard blocks up so they could build their own coral reef which didn't last long because NT was back into reading his fish book to figure out what he wants to do now that he's not sure he wants to keep the other blue gourami after the tragedy. He is also very intent on getting a loach, so he's trying to read up to figure out which kind will be suitable for his tank. In the process of his research he came across the term "import", so we talked about what it means to "import" or "export" something.

The kids played Go Fish again. I'm not sure how much Lizzy "gets it", but they seem to enjoy playing it anyway and she is easily identifying the numbers.

We spent the entire afternoon with homeschool friends at the zoo and had a great time getting lots of exercise and learning lots of new things about the many aquatic fish and animals they have there!

NT was up early to watch PBS's Cyberchase this morning. He came upstairs afterward to show me that he had learned to add three 3-digit numbers together so we fine-tuned what he had seen on the show.

After breakfast NT asked for our old digital camera and the kids took turns taking pictures for quite a while before they decided to build a pirate ship in the living room out of furniture, couch cushions and blankets, which soon turned into a bird's nest. They used two laundry baskets to make the egg that they took turns "hatching" out of.

After lunch NT went to the Science Museum to see Into the Deep at the Omni with Grampy, which he loved. Lizzy and I went to meet friends so Lizzy got to run and play and share dance steps with with two other little girls.

Late afternoon NT and Grampy returned and NT twice watched the Into the Deep DVD that Grampy bought for him to take home.

Though it was a fun day, it was a disappointing evening for NT. He and John walked over to basketball practice only to discover that it was cancelled for both this week and next, meaning that there are only two games left and no more practices for the season. NT was so upset. John took him down to their basketball "court" in the basement and they practiced for a little while down there.

When it was time to go to bed we went to feed the fish, only to discover that one of his new fish, a blue gourami, had gotten caught in the shipwreck and drowned. NT was devastated. His Siamese Fighting Fish had died earlier in the day (we were expecting that since he had not been well for some time), so it was a doubly difficult loss for him.

First thing this morning NT and I worked on time telling--digital clocks vs. clocks with hands. He attempted to teach Lizzy how to play Go Fish and then tried to get her to play football with him in the living room. She is getting weary of being tackled, so she wasn't a very willing player.

NT decided to build a ski gondola from the kitchen to the living room. He used what seemed like miles of red Christmas ribbon and did quite a few experiments to figure out how to get whatever object he wanted to move to slide on the ribbon. Meanwhile Lizzy was building a home for her purple pony with Magna Tiles. I have never seen her build 3-dimensionally with them before (just do flat patterns on the floor), so I was really excited to see that all by herself she had built a structure with a floor, four walls (2 tiles high) and a ceiling!

We played several rounds of Go Fish and Lizzy helped me play my hand by helping me determine if we had the cards that NT asked for and asking him for cards that we had. I shared with NT my strategy of remembering cards that he asked for that I didn't have at the time, so that if I did get the card in the future, I would remember to ask for them. He picked up on that very quickly and won two of the games!

After lunch we went to Leonardo's Basement for their first homeschool workshop. Of course, NT loved it just as he did the last time. He got to use paints, a hot glue gun, a hack saw and power tools all by himself--he can't get enough of that place! Lizzy stayed with me in the parents' meeting and busied herself for almost two hours "writing", coloring, and drawing.

We stopped by the co-op afterward and NT wanted to try something new for his co-op treat so he tried cardamom angel food cake. The frosting was a bit strong for him (and me!), but we were both glad he tried it!

At ceramics class NT got his first lesson in changing a tire. The instructor had a flat tire when he arrived, so he was showing the kids how to jack up the car, get the lug nuts off (they got to take a turn doing this if they wanted to), and change the tire!

NT was up early to watch PBS's Cyberchase on 2 & 3D geometry. He worked for quite awhile afterward reworking the LEGO model of his bedroom that he had made the day before. He built his "dream bedroom" out of LEGOs to show us how he wants his room set up (there are lots of fish tanks in it).

Lizzy had ballet in the morning and while we waited, NT and I worked a little more in the math workbook for my benefit, though we were interrupted by one of the other moms who sells Usborne books. We spent the rest of the time looking through her samples and they are really amazing. NT was actually jumping up and down with excitement over BOOKS!

The kids spent the afternoon building with K'nex and playing basketball in the basement...until NT decided to bring his dribbling practice up to the dining room, which lasted for quite a while.

Late afternoon NT had a Mad Science Class and then went to Minna's for dinner where they played card games and board games. Meanwhile Lizzy and I went to Irish step where Lizzy had a real live fiddler in class!

This morning we decided to make some progress in organizing the kids' rooms. They helped with some sorting and Lizzy organized her things into the new shelf she got from Minna & Grandpa Alan.

NT set up another "basketball hoop" in the basement (after I cleaned out much of the stuff...) so that now he has a "full court". He and John spent quite a bit of time down there playing. NT also watched a bit of pro basketball on TV, but decided to get back down to his own court to practice. John told him he should take a break because he is so basketball-focused that John is worried that he will burn out, but NT would have none of it.

Late afternoon we picked up Grandpa Alan and we all went to Minna's orchestra concert where Lizzy danced in the back and NT learned about a couple of new instruments. Lizzy especially liked watching the (homeschooled) high school girl play her flute solo. Afterward we all went out to dinner.

When I went up to bed I got NT up so he could watch his fish feeding at night. Several of them are nocturnal, so I have found it is much more fun to feed them when they are really active. We sat and watched them for almost 30 minutes. It was a lot of fun!

Highlights of the past few days include:

Zoo with friends Augie and Louisa on Thursday where NT took a complete inventory of all the fish at the zoo to see if there were any breeds there that he could get for his tank.

Gymnastics for Lizzy on Friday morning. While we were waiting NT and I went through a good portion of the a first grade math workbook (for me) so I could feel comfortable that he does, indeed, know the kinds of things first graders are "supposed" to know.

Friday afternoon NT had homeschool science club at the Science Museum which turned out to be a disaster. We have been repeatedly disappointed with the calibre of those classes and have decided to find other more exciting places to participate in science classes. While NT was being bored to death in class, Lizzy and I hung out with Runa and her mom at the museum. After class all the kids ran crazy together to burn off all their pent up energy!

This morning NT had a basketball game and had Grampy & Maria and Minna & Grandpa Alan in the cheering section. He is making great strides and is really enjoying the game.

After basketball we took a family field trip to the fish store where we spent a huge amount of time talking with the staff about our cloudy water problem, learning about what kind of fish food we need (we ran out of what the fish came with), and asking about what to do about our Betta who doesn't eat. NT got two new powder blue fish for his tank (I can't remember the kind...).

NT has been keeping up with PBS's Cyberchase, and for days the kids have been building with the big cardboard blocks I brought up from the basement. They have also been getting tons of entertainment out of the huge Rubbermaid container that the blocks are stored in. It is fascinating to see the kinds of games the kids come up with on their own.

NT has been drawing, wrote a letter to Ezra, has been asking about the meanings of sooooooooo many words, has been reading his fish book like crazy, and asks so many questions about so many things I can't keep up! :-)

This morning NT flew out of bed to watch PBS's Cyberchase about math in nature.

The kids spent the morning building all kinds of forts in the living room, building with the Marbulous set, and generally making a huge mess of the house.

Lizzy went to Minna's after lunch to bake a birthday cake for Kiki while NT and I went to a homeschool program put on by Mad Science on air pressure at an Eagan library. Afterward, NT and I went to Bridgeman's for a treat. Lizzy went shopping with Minna at the co-op.

We saw another wild turkey on the parkway on the way home.

As we go about our days, NT and I talk about a lot of life issues, most of which I forget to write down, but a teeny tiny number of examples just from the past few days include: restaurant franchises (who owns McDonald's), how Elvis died, how come so many famous people die of drug overdoses, who is more famous (U2 or the Beetles) and why, who are the first and second most-wanted "bad guys" in the world and why, could you start your own organic fast food restaurant or not, why are some people's houses worth more than others, what is debt and why can't the bank just give us more money just because we want it...plus, I am constantly defining words.

I feel pretty confident he wouldn't be learning many of these things sitting in school all day, if for no other reason than that he wouldn't be as exposed to as many real-world things that prompt him to ask! :-)

The kids built with K'nex in the living room late this afternoon and then went out to play with the neighbor girl in the snow before dinner. John and both the kids walked over to NT's basketball practice this evening.

Highlights from the past several days:

We tried out the new play group last Friday. They were meeting for a class on endangered species at Woodlake Nature Center. NT at first refused to go and refused to "learn anything" but, wouldn't you know it, he learned a lot, got to touch a live turtle, met some new friends, and had a lot of fun.

Saturday morning NT had a basketball game and had a good-sized cheering section, as usual. He and John went to the fish store afterward and he brought home 5 new tiny fish for his tank--he has been reading about them over and over in his fish book.

Sunday Aunty Em and Craig took the kids ice skating and out for a treat afterward. We had homemade pizza and banana splits in honor of Valentine's Day while watching the Olympics.

Monday Lizzy had ballet and then the kids went swimming with Grampy and Maria at the "indoor beach" and out for a treat afterward. Late afternoon, NT went to play at the neighbors' while Liz and I went to Irish step class--it was a busy day!

All the while, NT has been keeping up with PBS's Cyberchase, reading his fish book like a fiend, inventing all kinds of things, playing like crazy with his Marbulous building set, devising and writing up all kinds of "secret plans" to "trick" his parents with his sister, and conducting all kinds of physics experiments in the living room which make a huge mess and drive his mother crazy. :-)

NT was up to watch PBS's Cyberchase on mixed numbers in fractions.

We were out the door early this morning to get to The Snowy Day at Stages Theatre with a bunch of other homeschoolers. While waiting for the play to start, NT and I talked about the different kinds of jobs people have to create a play--creative director, music director, choreographer, lighting designer, costume/make-up designer, etc.

After the play we had a quick stop at home to change to go check out the homeschool open house sample classes at Ballare where Lizzy takes ballet. Lizzy tried out the homeschool Creative Dance class and NT tried the hip hop class because he is interested in breakdancing...but they didn't do any.

In the end, the director and I decided to keep Lizzy in her regular class instead of switching to the new homeschool class because there is no year-end performance with the homeschool class. The performance is very important to Lizzy!

In between activities NT has been poring over his tropical fish book planning for the trip to the fish store on Saturday. He has all kinds of fish picked out. It will be interesting to see what he comes home with!

NT has invented all kinds of things today--from a sling shot to a paper surf board (to slide down the dance studio stairs) to a bird feeder made out of an egg carton. I can hardly keep up.

Liz surprised me and "cleaned" her room all by herself this afternoon (the floor is picked up and there is a "mountain" piled up on top of her bed, her toy box, her shopping cart...), and she has spent quite a bit of time this afternoon performing with her microphone on her "stage" (today it's the couch). If only I could find her a class where she could sing and dance at the same time!

It will be early to bed tonight!

NT was up early to watch PBS's Cyberchase. Today's topic was math in nature.

We had a leisurely morning--the kids played football, war (*sigh*), and NT and I read through his entire book on tropical fish to find out what options he has for adding to his aquarium. Lizzy helped me peel some "picnic eggs" (hard-boiled).

This afternoon we decided to get out of the house so we stopped by IKEA (where the kids like to play in the play area) on the way to the library. NT checked out another arm-load of books on a plethora of subjects.

Just before dinner the kids watched a Magic School Bus video about how body parts work during athletic activity and then it was off to walk to basketball practice. Lizzy asked to go too.

NT watched PBS's Cyberchase this morning on dew points.

We had a blissful day off, for the most part. We made a big pancake breakfast and ate it leisurely.

The kids brought a bunch of their invention materials up to the living room where they spent much of the day inventing things. They tried out some of their inventions in the tub early afternoon. They "played" chess and some tackle football and made a pink and white feather boa nest for the dog under the dining room table. He loved it and was curled up in it for most of the day.

We spent a good amount of time out shoveling and playing in the snow. Lizzy helped me shovel the neighbors' walk. NT and I talked about how sometimes the neighbors shovel for us and sometimes we shovel for them--we all try to help each other out when we are able.

Late afternoon we took NT to ceramics class. We were early so NT showed me how he works the foot-powered pottery wheel. It was really neat to see how adept he has become at working the wheel!

Tonight NT got to bring home his fired projects. He proudly displayed each item for John and I just before bed. He made a lot of cool stuff!

This morning NT was up early for PBS's Cyberchase on direction and distance.

Lizzy had ballet this morning and while we were waiting, I showed NT how to finger knit. He worked quietly on his rope for the entire time, and then worked for another couple hours once we got home. He plans to make a rope long enough to go around the whole living room.

After lunch we went back out to shovel and the kids played for quite awhile in the new snow.

NT continues to try to teach his sister how to play chess...so far it's not really taking, but he likes to keep trying anyway.

We dropped NT off at his cooking class late-afternoon and then Liz and I were off to her very first Irish step class, which she loved. They learned some dance steps and did some rhythms and learned a song.

NT had dinner at Minna and Grandpa Alan's where he got to play chess!

Friday I dropped NT at Minna & Grandpa Alan's while Liz and I went to her gymnastics class. NT ended up spending almost the whole day there. Minna had visitors who brought their fiddles so NT got a chance to play Minna's little violin again in the morning for the first time in quite awhile. In the afternoon Grandpa Alan taught NT how to play chess, which he has been wanting to learn for several weeks now. He LOVED it and started begging to get his own set.

Liz played by herself with the Magna Tiles for much of the afternoon and then she and I made cookies.

Saturday morning NT had a basketball game. This week's fan club included Minna & Grandpa Alan, Grampy & Maria, Auntie Em & Craig, and Kiki. Afterward another parent approached him and told him he played a good game and was really good at staying with the ball.

Saturday afternoon Brenna came over to play and John took Liz over to Grandma Ruth's.

Today the kids went out to play in the snow and ended up pulling apart some of the corn cobs that Grandma Ruth gave them to feed the squirrels, though all the kernels are likely to get buried in the new snow!

After lunch John and NT took some fish water in to the fish store to get the water tested and were given the thumbs-up on water quality (though no word on why it's still cloudy, but no one seems to care, including John & NT...). Then they stopped to pick up NT's very own (cheap plastic) chess set.

We watched the Super Bowl in the evening and had lots of yummy snacks made by John!

Tuesday we had a much needed at-home morning to sleep in (until 7 a.m.), catch up on housework and laundry, and build pillow forts in the living room.

In the afternoon, we joined some new homeschooling friends at the History Center where NT showed us around the Ben Franklin exhibit. We checked out the MN 150 exhibit, and finally ended up in the granary play area where the kids got all rosy-cheeked climbing up and down, running through tunnels, and "driving" the grain wagon.

NT had ceramics class in the late afternoon and then he and John had a Cub Scouts den meeting in the evening where it was a craft extravaganza!!

Yesterday started out bright and early with PBS's Cyberchase and then it was time to take NT to his weekly MN Science Museum class, which he is really enjoying.

The kids built a fort in the living room/dining room after lunch and then we took an impromptu trip to the Como Park Conservatory to meet some other new homeschooling friends. We saw all kind of tropical fish and plants, lots of cool koi, and even an up-close sloth that we watched for quite a while and learned quite a bit about! We really enjoyed the warm, humid air--NT pretended he was back in Lamanai!

NT had basketball practice and one of the other parents approached me to tell me what a great game she thought he had on Saturday!

Today the kids did some more fort-building and then we were off to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts where we waited in line for an hour with hundreds of other artists so NT could register his artwork to be shown in the Foot in the Door exhibit starting later this month. He is really excited--he has been asking to show his work in the "Minneapolis Substitute of Arts" since he was 3-years-old!

After lunch we headed over to the library where we picked up a bunch of lacrosse books and a lacrosse DVD that NT had requested, and Grampy picked NT up to take him to practice basketball at the gym for the afternoon.

Last Friday we went with a homeschool group to see Mr. McGee and the Biting Flea at the Children's Theatre and met some new friends who invited us to try out a new play group not far from us which we will do on Friday of this week. After the play we spent a little bit of time at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, but NT was disappointed that there wasn't any artwork up that was done by kids, like the last time he visited, so we didn't stay long.

Saturday NT had a big audience at his basketball game--Aunty Em, Grampy, Maria, Grandpa Alan, and Minna all joined us and got to see NT make the first basket of the game for the second week in a row!

Afterward we went to the co-op and then John took the kids ice skating (Lizzy's first time!) late afternoon. Grandma Ruth and Bob came to play in the evening and the kids stayed up late taking "pictures" with the old camera they brought and playing all kinds of board games.

Sunday NT and John went briefly to a Cub Scout event and then we had a quiet day. We all stayed up late to watch the Grammy awards. NT wanted to see the Black Eyed Peas perform and Lizzy likes all the singing and dancing ladies.

This morning NT was up early to watch Cyberchase on gears ("algebraic thinking").

Lizzy had ballet class and NT practiced punting his hackey sack up the stairs the entire time. He was trying to figure out how to get the ball to go straight, as opposed to curving or hitting the ceiling--it was an interesting scientific experiment!

The kids played all afternoon and then NT went to cooking class. It will be early to bed tonight!