Flu, Part II

LIGHTNING STRIKES TWICE: Another day, another flu case on campus.

Long before dawn's early light, CJ was losing his lunch - and he hadn't even had breakfast yet. ;)

It was a long day here at MPA, and we got very little done (except, oh, about 5 loads of laundry).
Bee played around on the computer more than usual today, and CJ logged about 17 hours on the couch.

Annabelle and I also got in some Moon Sand playing sessions. Annabelle got to be the white kitty. I was assigned the "Orangey the Bread Holder" character to play with. :/
It's 9:30 now, and I'm happy to report CJ is up off the couch for the first time today and he's playing with Moon Sand with Annabelle and Christian. Yay!

Still hope, Hope, HOPING Annabelle and Christian somehow escape this viral menace.

Bouncing Back

ON THE MEND: While yesterday from 3 p.m. to 6 a.m. today was no tiptoe through the tulips, I do believe I'm on the uptick.

At one point last evening, during the peak of my nauseated stupor, I awoke to find a card (hybrid of front and inside above) on the pillow next to my head. I could still smell the fresh scent of the Mr. Sketch markers on them. :)

You can be sure my first order of business today was going around the house and disinfecting every surface, throwing open windows and doing laundry. I so hope no one else comes down with what I had. It was horrific.

GOING GREEN: Not too late this morning, I realized it was St. Patrick's Day.

I told the kids they were lucky their pajamas had green on them, or they might get pinched. Naturally, CJ wanted to know where this pinching tradition came from. (I've always just accepted it, unquestioningly.) We found an article by the Christian Science Monitor online that explained several St. Patrick's Day traditions, including the fact that the pinching is "an entirely American tradition that probably started in the early 1700s." Supposedly St. Patrick’s partiers thought wearing green made one invisible to leprechauns, who would pinch anyone they could see. So, people began pinching those not wearing green as a reminder that leprechauns were lurking.

I hopped online looking for resources for the kids. I found a few reading and writing exercises on EdHelper.com.

The kids read and answered questions about rainbows and several stories about leprechauns. I also had a couple of drawing worksheets for them to complete. It kept them busy while I was still feeling rather green around the gills.

I played some Irish music on YouTube while they worked. Annabelle couldn't help herself - she just had to dance. Little did she know my camera's video function was rolling ...

Together we read the book "Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato," an Irish folk tale retold by Tomie dePaola. Afterward, the kids took an Accelerated Reader quiz for that book, as well as two books we finished yesterday, Ruby Bridges' "Through My Eyes" and "She'll be Comin' Round the Mountain."

YESTERDAY ONCE MORE:For posterity, I'll go ahead and post a few of the things we did yesterday.

Having finally finished "Through My Eyes" by Ruby Bridges, the kids each took a couple of minutes to write her a letter. The address for the Ruby Bridges Foundation is in the book, so we'll mail them there, along with a couple of dollars.

DRIVIN' SIX WHITE HORSES: We got in some Americana learnin' by reading "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain," a picture book based on the old song.

Naturally, after reading the story, we had to cue it up on YouTube. I found a great old version by
Ramblin' Tommy Scott. Then my eyes fell upon another video. Made in 1949, it features the "Catfields" and the "McHounds" in the most absurdly violent cartoon I think I've ever seen. It makes Tom & Jerry look like the Teletubbies.

And then somehow we wound up finding another old gem from the same era, by the same animators - "Shortnin' Bread." That's a song that's on the kids' current Musikgarten CD of African American tunes.

The cartoon was complete with a follow the bouncing ball sing-a-long. CJ wanted to know why there were so many typos in the text. I explained to him they weren't typos, they were trying to be authentic sounding to the roots of the song.

UP YONDER: We made it to Shoreline for science class, and as soon as we walked in, we saw our glass art tiles made weeks before were back from the kiln!

I was assuming we'd be able to take them home when they were done, but they were hanging in the front window along with everyone else's tiles in what looks like a semi permanent art installation. Hmm. Guess we won't be getting them for awhile...

The kids were happy with their finished products. Here's CJ's Mega Man ...

and here's Annabelle's self portrait ...
We started a new unit in science class. It's all about rocks. For our first foray into the subject matter, each student had six rocks they had to sort by similarity. We used magnifying glasses to study the rocks and listed their characteristics (smooth, rough, speckled and so on). And we conducted one fun experiment - rubbing rocks together to see what would happen. We did it over both black and white paper, and were amazed by the rock dust we created!

Down and Out

Annabelle, the barefoot ballerina, getting a lift to the car after her lesson on Monday.

SHOO FLU: I'd love to be able to post a diary about today's doings, but it's not in the cards.

This afternoon I was hit was a nasty virus of, shall we say, the intestinal nature. Ugh.

I'm shaky and dehydrated and hoping Hoping HOPING no one else gets it.

"Talk" to you tomorrow. I've got to be better tomorrow, right?

Short Stuff

KERPLUNK: We did math and music first this morning. The kids were pretty quick to plunk out their homework tune - "Willum" a song with African American roots about a man with seven sons. They also copied a few note cards, all featuring E#.

Math is more review - they're down to just a few pages in their math book. They'll be glad when this book is done. They're pretty sick of doing x3 and x2 problems.

AFTERSHOCKS: The earthquake and tsunami that pummeled Japan are still a hot topic around here, of course. The kids have seen the devastating photos and videos on the news and we talk about what happened and what is still going on.

Today, the kids colored a couple of tsunami and earthquake related mini posters.

Annabelle did the one above. You can see she didn't color it so much as edit and embellish it.

CJ colored a page with waves. He called it "Tsunami Row." He said the biggest wave is Super Tsunami, hence the ST on its chest. He also pointed out that he "gave it a mohawk." Interesting. While we didn't have any full fledged natural disasters at MPA today, we did have some WILD weather. We had the hardest, longest hail I've seen in my 45 years. It happened while the kids were at music class. While lightning and thunder were crashing simultaneously overhead, hail was raining down in sheets. Within two minutes the yard, alley, surrounding rooftops - everything - was covered in white pellets the size of peas.

It was SO LOUD! Here's a short video of the beginning of the icy assault.

It was bad for Northwest standards - but nothing compared to this hailstorm in Georgia I found on YouTube. Talk about hailing golfballs - yikes!

And because I'm Facebook friends with the National Weather Service, I learned our area had a severe weather warning. Quoting the warning (issued IN ALL CAPS OF COURSE), "NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR ALSO INDICATED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITH THE THUNDERSTORMS...THUS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT ONE OF THE STORMS COULD PRODUCE A FUNNEL CLOUD."

Fortunately, we didn't see any twisters!

This one's short. I'm heading out to see DEVO.

American Pi

PUZZLING MORNING: It was my pleasure to announce to the kids early this morning that it was Pi Day! That special day once a year - only and always March 14.

We started by talking about just what Pi is. I had them hold paper plates and trace around the edge or circumference. Then we talked about what diameter means - a straight line from the circle's side to side, passing through its center.

Then, I told them that thousands of years ago, some very smart folks figured out that a circle's circumference is about 3.14 times its diameter. Of course, it's that "about .14" people have fun with. I held up a poster for the kids to read a few dozens of the decimal points. They thought it was hysterical that the number was so long.

(BTW, this picture doesn't show the lines and lines of little numbers that follow it.)

To help cement the concepts introduced, we watched a couple of videos. The first was one about circles and measurements and formulas concerning them. Annabelle said she thought it was a little confusing, so we watched it again, and this time I wrote some notes on our white board during it, and that helped it click for her.

We also watched a kinda weird music video about the number Pi. I think it helped the kids understand how the number goes on and on and on ...

Next, we moved on to work a jigsaw puzzle. But not just any puzzle - it was a two-sided puzzle of a pie with the symbol for Pi on one side, and 3.14 and so on and so on on the other side. It was a small puzzle, but really hard due to the pieces' shapes, especially when working the fruit side, which is what we did first. I challenged the kids to see if we could finish the puzzle before the song "American Pie" finished. It was close, but we fell a couple pieces short of that goal.

After the jigsaw, we did a hands on activity to help illustrate the 3.14 fact. I had the kids wrap a string around the outside (circumference) of a small plate. We cut that, and then I had them take that string and run it back and forth across their plate. How many times did it make it across and back (diameter)?

Three full times - with just a tad bit (.14 etc.) extra!

THE REAL DEAL: Naturally, we HAD to make some pie on Pi Day!
CJ and Annabelle each made their first from-scratch pie crust. The cut butter into flour (that took awhile!) and added a bit of water. After we chilled the dough for awhile, they rolled it out and cut circles to make mini pies.
We filled them with a cooked Cameo apple filling and sealed the edges with a fork. They cooked for about 15 minutes. After the pies cooled, the kids decorated them with Pi symbols (with some added flair) made from glittery gel icing.

The cute little lessons were pretty tasty, too!
PIZZA PIE: For dinner, naturally we had to have pizzas.

I let the kids each make their own personal Pi pie. They even got to try some dough tossing for the first time ...
CJ was a bit timid at first, but after about a minute, he was making some ceiling-scraping tosses!
They topped their dough with some homemade pizza sauce, grated cheese, olives, and Canadian bacon.
CHALK IT UP: This evening I walked into the kids' room to check on them and found Annabelle doodling on their closet-door-blackboard.

I could hardly believe my eyes! AND ONE MORE THING: Happy birthday to Albert Einstein.

Shaken Up

Photo: America.gov

BRIDGING THE GAP: We started our school day by delving back into the Ruby Bridges story. Today, we read more about what her typical school day at William Frantz Elementary was like, and learned more about her remarkable teacher, Mrs. Henry. Mrs. Henry recently moved to New Orleans from Boston, and she had no idea what she was getting herself into when she applied for a teaching job.

After reading, we moved over to the computer, where we watched another 20 minutes or so of the movie dramatization of Ruby Bridges' experience. Both the book and the movie illustrated how hard the situation was for the Bridges' family. They were taking heat from all sides, not just the protesters outside the school. Local business owners, neighbors, (former) friends and more made their lives more difficult.

While we watched the movie, Annabelle did some doodling on a small notepad. I like how she turned the little bug in the lower lefthand corner into a positive protester with its "B & W" - for black and white - signs.

TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE: We're in the final pages of their math book. Today, the kids both got stuck on the same problem. Paraphrasing, it said that Mary and Sarah were going to share the cost of their friend's birthday present. The present was $16. How much did each girl contribute?

Upon reading it, I immediately knew what their trouble was. This was the first problem that didn't flat out give them both numbers they needed to complete the equation. Though it said the friends were going to split the cost, it didn't point blank say it was TWO friends (16/2 = 8).

CJ and Annabelle had both written 16 divided by ? = ? on their papers.

I suggested they talk amongst themselves and see if they could figure out what they were missing. They talked for a bit, but were still stumped. I asked them to consider something else - if we were going to order a pizza and it cost $9, how much would we three each have to pay? They immediately knew it was $3 apiece.

At that, I redirected them to the problem in the book and they both got that it was TWO friends and solved the problem lickety split.

HEADLINE NEWS: First thing I saw at 5:30 this morning was news of the devastating earthquake and resultant tsunamis in Japan. The kids saw me watching and reading about the disaster, and the video of the tsunami devastation was jarring. So, we spent a fair amount of time today talking about tsunamis. Fortunately, there were lots of good resources to draw from.

Though it's very cartoony, the NOAA's Tommy Tsunami and Ernie Earthquake coloring book is a non threatening way to ease into what is a pretty damn scary topic. In fact, the NOAA has a page where there are dozens of links to tsunami resources for parents and educators.

An animation from the PBS series "Savage Earth" was very helpful in explaining how tsunamis are generated. We also were fortunate to catch none other than Bill Nye the Science Guy live on MSNBC talking about tsunamis.

Afterward, the kids were upstairs playing with the trains and train table and listening in, I heard their play turned into a rescue operation for people struck by a tsunami. Guess that's one way kids work through things like this.AFTERNOON ERRANDS: I basically can't stand shopping in bricks and mortar stores any more, but this afternoon I pretty much forced myself (and the kids) to go to Ross, the Dollar Store and the Grocery Outlet. All are conveniently located in the same strip mall - on north Aurora. It's a pretty rough area.

We're in the middle of the Dollar Store and my arms are full of 'treasures' when CJ announces he has to go to the bathroom. AAAAAAAARGH. This is so definitely not a neighborhood where stores let shoppers use the bathroom. So, I have to cut short our shop there. After we cash out, I notice there's a Burger King across the parking lot. So we make a beeline over there, and I felt like I had to buy something since we used their bathroom, so I let the kids each get a small fry - a rare treat for them.
As I watched them polish off the fries, I half wondered if CJ's bathroom plea was a ruse.


UP AND AWAY: When Christian got home, we walked up to "hilltop playpark" or Ella Bailey Park. We haven't been there in months and it was good to be back!

As I looked out over the bay, I couldn't help but wonder what it would look like with a two story high wall of water racing across it.

Ruby Flippers

FEET: First thing this morning, I asked Annabelle to get her slippers on. Instead, she slipped some flippers on.

She wore them until about 1 p.m.

RUBY REDUX: After finishing a math exercise, we continued our effort to learn more about Ruby Bridges and school segregation and integration. To that end, we read a book Bridges authored, "Through My Eyes."

Though it's classified as a non fiction picture book for juveniles, it's a lengthy, meaty volume suitable for all ages. It's full of photographs from the front line - the gauntlet Ruby had to walk each morning. To be honest, some of the pictures terrified the kids - especially CJ. He was completely freaked out by a photo of a woman holding a small cardboard casket with a black baby doll in it. And he was really upset about a photo of a shouting woman holding a scarf. She was threatening to strangle a parent for bringing his white child to a school where a "negro" child was being taught.

We only read about half the book today, as it has a lot of words and concepts to digest.

Afterward, I showed the kids the first 25 minutes or so of a made for TV movie about Ruby Bridges. Though it's a dramatization, the movie followed what we'd read in the book practically to the letter, which was good to see. The kids were definitely engaged, which was great to see.

Tomorrow, we'll read the rest of the book and finish the movie.

PERFECT STRANGERS: I figured we were waaaaay overdue for a social skills lesson, so this afternoon we played a game I thought up called "Strangers on the bus."

I told CJ he was going to be a bus passenger and it was his job to engage whoever sat next to him on the bus in conversation. We talked about things he might talk to a stranger about. He knew where this was going and he said, "I know that not everyone is interested in video games."

Bingo! :)

So, we talked about other things he might talk about. He said, "I could ask their age." While that's true, I pointed out to him that a lot of people who aren't kids aren't very interested in sharing their age, especially with strangers.

And so, I proposed to him that he be a "Social Detective." Check out the passenger and from that, assess what he or she might be interested in.

I took Annabelle into the bedroom and outfitted her with a Mariners hat and sent her to "the bus." When she got on CJ instigated small talk like a pro. "So, um, I see you like fairies," he said, noticing her shirt. He then launched into something about the tooth fairy, which was appropriate. They had a nice conversation about fairies, which was good. I thought it interesting he never noticed her Mariners hat. ;)

We played a few rounds of the game, changing passengers and props. It was time well spent.

TOOTH OR CONSEQUENCES: CJ had a date with the dentist this afternoon. Unfortunately, one of his two fillings had gone bad and the tooth needed to come out. :(

While CJ was back being a patient, Annabelle got to enjoy the well appointed play area, where she created this ... Before too terribly long, CJ emerged. He was a little spacey, but not remotely "David after Dentist."
We asked him if he'd rather go home and relax or go to Full Tilt for some ice cream and arcade action. No surprise, he chose Full Tilt.

There, they were both able to get their Kong on. :)

As it turns out, apparently CJ + nitrous oxide = new heights. ; ) Not only did he gain the high score on Pac-Man, he was thrilled to beat a level of Street Fighter II that he'd never mastered before.

They both enjoyed some excellent ice cream, and Annabelle and Christian even got in a spirited game of chess.

HERE WE GO AGAIN: Once we finally got home this evening, I summoned the kids to the big screen to take a look at what was on NASA TV. A shuttle roll out!

Endeavor was making its way s-l-o-w-l-y from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad at Cape Canaveral. It was moving so slowly, you could barely perceive movement at times. I told the kids it was one time in their life they could say they move faster than a space shuttle. At that, Annabelle began zooming 'round the house.