Sept. 2009 week 1

This week has been a great week. The weather was cooler at the start of the week so we went for a nature walk and bike ride! We all had so much fun.

Jude did an experiment with white carnations to see how they pull water up to their blooms. He hypothesised that the ones with food coloring in them would die quicker because the dye would clog up their tubes inside. He was pleasantly surprised that they just changed colors. We also did an experiment dealing with hot air and cold air. He put a balloon on an "empty" bottle and put it in hot water and then cold water to see what happened to the balloon. We covered a lot of science topics in general conversation as well. We have found Planet Green on TV and he loves learning about new ways to help the environment especially Eco-houses.

In math we did a couple of workbooks that Jude chose. He also did some math games on the computer. At the grocery store he rounded to the nearest dollar the price of every item we chose so that I could write down a running total. At the end he was able to see how we were near the actual total in our estimated total. He turned in his "Handipoints" for a reward of $5. He then shopped for something he wanted that was within his price range and still had money left.

In history/geography we spoke a little of the holocaust. He had heard the word genocide and wanted to know what it was and the topic just lead there. He wanted to say prayers for people that judge someone just because of their faith or country. He got a new book that "goes on the inside of structures and cities". It goes inside Eco-houses, ports and docks, skyscrapers, dams, growth of a city, etc. He was fascinated by it and that a big city once started as a small village.He also learned some state jokes from veggie tales.

He has completed a chapter book! He started a new one today. Five books before he reaches his goal reward. He has been writing in our monthly expenditures journal. His writing is still shaky but improving! He also looked up where the abbreviations am and pm and OK came from.

Jude designed a new dog wash invention and drew the design. He also has been sculpting with Play-doh. He does something with art/music every day!

Lainey has been really enjoying playing with Jude this week. They have been giggling so much together! She has started to stand up in the middle of the floor with no help! It's only on occasion but still impressive! She has also been wanting to do songs together like wheels on the bus, pat a cake, etc. She been playing with her new train rolling it back and forth and laughing.


This is a picture Jude took of his "octopus hot dogs" that we made. It is one of his favorite things to eat!
Daddy put Jude up in a tree on our nature walk! So fun.

We all thought this tree was pretty cool looking.

We heard a noise up in the tree and I saw two squirrels fighting and they scattered and this fell to the ground!

Jude took this picture from the pier of the old bridge.

Lainey LOVED the walk! Jude was riding his bike and she was riding her wheelchair.

This is the results from Jude's carnation experiment. Starting on the bottom left and going clockwise- red, green, control (in reg water) blue and yellow. The red didn't absorb the color very well.

This is Jude's new loft bed. We found a general pattern online for one and decided to make some changes and build it ourselves! He loves it. It's raw wood for now until he decides what he wants to to with it!