EOG 2009

It's that time again. Time to sharpen our No. 2 pencils and fill in those bubbles.



This year I tested all the kids at once. It was so much easier and faster than testing them individually.

Jeremiah was the only one who did not have to test. His school year ended in May and he wasn't 7 yet. He did very well with staying busy and quiet.



He mostly sat with his back to the testers and played with LEGOS.



When he got tired of that he went upstairs and put on a video in my room.

Homeschoolers

Slugs and Snails or Blah Blah Blah

We've had several downpours (uneven watering) and so my beautiful tomato cracked. I'm hoping the rest of my crop will be better.

I have also had some trouble with slugs. I can't exactly salt my plants. So I decided to set a trap with beer.

I hope these slugs are German, or at least have good taste in Beer.




Supposedly the slugs will be attracted to the beer and will drown in the bowl. So the bowl will go under my garden in the shade. We'll see if it works.

We have a jumping spider who likes our garden. He doesn't like us though. This is the first time I've caught him on camera.


For the past couple of days I've noticed someone has been eating the leaves on my marconi pepper plant. I think I've found the culprit:


I think he's an Armyworm moth. There wasn't much damage. We got rid of this one. I hope it's not an infestation.

Joshua's 9th Birthday

He spent his birthday shopping at the mall. The LEGO Store is so very cool!





(I think he spent most of his money at GameStop though.)



He's 9 and such a cute kid! He's got a great smile. I love that he's always so eager to lend a hand. He excells in all his school subjects. We are very proud of all his hard work.

Animal Planet at Nana's

We found this oak toad getting ready to devour his dinner.



A giant regal moth.



They were about a foot apart and the toad was not going to take his eyes off his prey. Juicy!

http://www.bio.davidson.edu/projects/herpcons/herps_of_NC/anurans/Bufque/Buf_que.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citheronia_regalis

This is what the Baker Truck looks like when a turtle is trying to cross the road.


However, upon inspection, this turtle didn't need much help afterall. He was FAST! and got halfway across the street before we could catch him.


I'm pretty sure he is a river cooter.


He tried to bite Ishmael.


http://www.bio.davidson.edu/projects/herpcons/herps_of_NC/turtles/Psecon/psecon.html

Then we found this pretty little ebony jewelwing damselfly.


http://bugguide.net/node/view/601

The kids and I had fun looking up all these species. Gotta love modern conveniences!

Fun at Nana's

Water guns in the rain:




Down by the creek:


At the swing:




In town at the dresser building:




Cheese Doodles on the back porch:


Card games in the afternoon:


Lots of summer memories at Nana's house.

Family Reunions

We had a busy week! First we went to Nana's on Monday.

Tuesday we met with family at the park.

My Aunt Dawn took this picture. So cute!




Hi Grandma!


My nephew Matt.


Chillin in the shade.


Aunt Della and her children and their friends. My cousin Rachel is in the green pants. Emily is in the very center and Evelyn is right beside her. In the way back (yellow shirt) is Daniel. Yay for the May Cousins!!


Thursday night was our family reunion party. From left to right you see Grandma Shaw, Kelsea, Mom, and my sil Karen.


Mom, Kelsea, and Aunt Beth.



Kelsea took this one. Left to right: Mom, Aunt Lucinda, Me, and Aunt Dawn.


The boys played water balloons with their new cousin. Actually Michael is their second cousin.


The May Gang. lol

Jeremiah

I was going through pictures from our Webelos Camp-Out and found these of Jeremiah. I'd forgotten I'd taken them. These show his personality so perfectly. He never sits still and is often in his own make-believe dream world. It's one of the things I love about Jeremiah.









I'd like to be that kid again. The one who has many adventures and lives life to the fullest.