New Blogger in the Family

Yesterday, I got a request from my oldest - he would like his own blog.  I guess you could say - where did he get that from, but well, I guess that's pretty obvious.

I told him that I would think about it.  And then I realized that we could use it for a semi school project.  He'll have to work on his typing skills, writing skills as well as his spelling skills.  Sure son, you've just been awarded your next project!

For those of you out there who are worried parents, I get a copy of all his emails - it's how I have things set up with facebook.  So, I'm planning on basically doing the same with this.  I've subscribed to his blog through feedblitz.com.  It will send me a copy of every blogpost he posts.  That way I'll be able to keep up on content.  I will also be having a conversation with him about what is okay to post, not okay to post.  IE: Not okay to post:  personal information on self or family or friends, his personal email address or information on situations that the whole world doesn't need to know about. 

I have though, gone through the settings, so that it won't be listed in the google blog directory & it won't be searchable through the search engines.  I am also an administrator on his blog - so I can easily get in and change settings if need be.  All this being done, if it becomes too cumbersome or inappropriate, i'll just make it a private blog.  I'm hoping that that won't be necessary!

And yes, Jos is the type of kid who will honor me in respecting my wishes concerning his blog.  I think that through my public writing experiences etc that he's seen me do - that he understands that what we write out there in cyberspace matters - whether it be facebook - email - blog.  So no forseen issues there!

So, here's his blog addy: www.54pitches.blogspot.com
Enjoy!

Paper Boat Regatta

(Photo by Zindra - can you tell how hard it's raining???)
There is one thing, ONE thing - that we will stop almost anything as a family to do... Literally, when one of us notices that it has begun to downpour (not just rain) - we pull out the coats, hats, an umbrella or two AND paper.

(Photo by Zindra - Jed & Jules watching their paper boats.)  A few years ago, Rod learned how to make paper boats. Ever since then, when we get a downpour (and you really need about that much water) it's become a tradition to sail them. We live on a paved street, so when it rains the water moves them so quickly! Next time, I'll have to see if we can time it :D

(Photo by Zindra - Paper boats)  Today is one of the few days of the year where we got enough rain to actually sail the paper boats well :D It just seemed really noisy in the living room and no one but me was in it. No tv on or anything.. I looked around and opened the door to see if it was raining. It wasn't just raining! The rain was raining SO hard that the rain was bouncing off of the cement - making it look like hail! Paper boat time! 

I called to everyone and told them to come see - and Rod & I started making boats while the kids got their gear on. I love these moments. The sporadic ones that make you feel like you did something really memorable with your kids. This is one of the things that we do with our kids that I really believe that they will remember. And that's something that I honestly can feel good about. I just love though how everyone giggles and smiles and has such a great time! 

(Photo of Josiah by Zindra - 1st boat went all the way down the street.  Completed the course!  The 2nd boat went down TWO TIMES!  That's an amazing thing in itself - if you know anything about paper boats you'll understand!  The third boat, Josiah "didn't feel like" taking it to the starting line - and it made it from 1/2 way to the finish line.)

Now, back to what we were doing in real life - updating the mattress on Josiah's bed....

It really does work to study!

It all started about 4 years ago. I had been hunting in eastern Washington with my father in law. We were up on the side of a mountain and the ignition broke in the van we were driving. We were literally stuck on the side of a mountain, but I had full reception on my cell phone. So I called Zindra and she picked up the appropriate parts and headed east. By the time we got everything switched out and the car running it was almost dark. The boys asked if we could go for a little hunt and so we did, nothing happened but we walked out in the woods trying to be quiet(which doesn't happen when they are 7 and 5). So we get home and it is late and I was tired so I decided to sleep in the next day. I got up around nine and Josiah begged me to call Granddaddy and see if he wanted to go hunting, he said whenever you get here we will go. So I got out to his house about 10 and to the hunting area around 10:30. So by 10:45 I had shoot a deer with Josiah standing next to me and the dream was born.

Fast forward 4 years Josiah had been talking about being able to hunt and carry gun. I told him he had to take the hunters safety course and pass it. So we looked at the requirements and what he had to do to take the test. We found that he could take the test on the Internet and then do a field course and pass a small quiz.
I called and scheduled the time for the field test and I told Josiah he had 6 weeks and 15 chapters to complete and a test to pass. He buckled down and got through all of the chapters without much prompting. It is amazing what an 11 year old will do with the proper motivation. Now it is time for the practice test. We home school and do not take many tests much less multiple choice tests. The first practice test he missed 17 questions out of 75 it was a fail he could only miss 15. So I had him read some of what he missed and he took it again and again he missed 17. The next day I sat with him and did the practice test and went through the questions we only missed 5 but I was helping. So he took it by himself again this time he missed 11 great he passed but to close for comfort. I went through the test and found his errors and taught him the answers. We had to go run some errands so he got a break and came home and took the real test, he took the test and I had to pay $15 for this one and Zindra was getting annoyed because I was taking to long to tell her if he passed. I finally submit it and Josiah missed 2 questions 2 he passed with a 96 Yeaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

Now the field test, we had to be there at 8am(come on I am unemployed I do not do 8am) So we get halfway there and forget the paperwork to prove he had passed so we go home and get the paperwork and get the test a little late. Josiah passes and the 15 question quiz and we listen to an hour of conservation and an hour of sportsmanship. Then we do the field test which requires to carry a loaded gun(dummy rounds not live) and go through obstacles. Each obstacle they unload go through the obstacle with the action open and reload. They had a fence, a log, a boat and a ditch. Josiah did great with everything his loading and unloading, muzzle control, and handing off the gun to somebody else. The only thing he forgot was to keep the action open which was closed 7 of 8 times. Each time was worth 2 points so he lost 14 points for an 86 but passing was an 80, so he did it Josiah is now official and can carry a gun and buy a hunting license. I am so proud of him and all of the hard work he put in to be successful and pass his test.

So this year even if we do not get a deer we still have a hunting story to tell for this year, the year Josiah passed his test