My goal was to write on this blog thing at least once a month....I'm a little late for April and now I am having trouble remember what we did in April!
I know we did alot of baseball games and baseball practices. Chandler's team was pretty stinky overall, so that was kind of frustrating to watch over and over and over. Chandler did well personally though. Continued to be a pitcher, catcher (which he dislikes immensely) and first base man. We found out at the end of April that Chandler was selected to be on the 10 year old "B" team All-Stars. Chris was a little miffed that it was the "B" team, and several other people around the league commented to us that they thought Chandler should have been on the "A" team. I thought it was a honor to be selected to All-Stars at all. We moved to one of the best leagues in the city to have Chandler play with better competition, it was only his second season here (and first time playing here in the Spring season which is the competitive time) so the fact that he made All-Stars was pretty commendable. Plus we have been around this baseball thing long enough to know there is alot of political junk that happens behind the scenes, so you just have to take it with a grain of salt. In the end, after endless conversations between me, Chris and Chandler over a three day period, Chandler made the decision that he did not want to participate in All-Stars this summer. There were several factors, but in the end, I think he is just really ready for a break to do other things. I asked him if he was sure, because once we told the coach, there was no taking it back. He said he was sure. I asked him if he was 110% sure. He replied that he was 125% sure. So we went with it.
Chandler and Chris are still doing Flag Football. They are enjoying it but their team is struggling a bit on the field. I think they have one win and a handful of losses. Oh well, it's all about fun and they are definately having that.
Cooper and Chandler are still doing golf. I think both of them really enjoy it. Cooper never complains about having to go, which is a sure sign that he likes it. Chandler and Chris went out on a Sunday and played nine holes. The first time Chandler ever played a real game and the first time in YEARS that Chris played. They invited Cooper but it was a Sunday and that is his day to play with the neighborhood boys all day, so he declined to go. Chandler is happy to tell you that he beat his father. I think it was 52 to 54. Chandler is eager to have a re-match.
Cooper is still doing Karate. He is enjoying it and looking forward to testing for his next belt in June. He goes twice a week and looks so cute in his little white uniform.
Our homeschool co-op ended in April. Chandler won 1st place in his chess group tournament for 5th graders, so he was pretty happy about that. Although the co-op is done meeting until August, we will still see many of our friends at field trips, beach days, and park dates, through the summer.
Our school work is going great. Chandler has gradually been finishing up subjects, like Latin, Marine Biology and History, while some subjects will continue into the summer months, like Grammar and Math, while at the same time, we will be starting a few new subjects over the summer. We basically school year round, do not take a "summer break". As I told Chandler when he grumbles about it, "Summer breaks were created when farmers needed their children home to work the farm during the summers. We are not farmers, and you won't be needing to work the farm. Therefore we don't need to take a summer break." Now, lest you think I am the meanest mom in the world (I have been told I am, by the way), don't think I work my children to death. First, we take numerous breaks throughout the school year. We take off days whenever we want to, go on lots of field trips, have breaks just because, and get plenty of time off, we just don't do it for 2 1/2 months straight. Secondly, although we do schoolwork in the summer months, it is a much lighter load than what we do during the normal school months. Third, and last, honestly what does a child do with 2 1/2 months off? Here in Florida, by July, it's too hot to play outside, we are sick of the pool as we have been going almost daily since May, and no one needs to be playing video games that much.....so why not spend part of your day with some fun educational activities :)!! The boys will have time off from school work this summer to attend camps and different activities, so we will have our share of fun.
Cooper has done wonderful for his Kindergarten year. He has one more letter of the alphabet to learn, and he has completed goal one. He also knows some of the letter sounds already, even though that was not even a concern of mine. We will go right into learning to read later in May and work on that right through the summer. I'm a little nervous as I have never taught anyone how to read before, as Chandler came home from private school knowing how to read. I have spent alot of time researching curriculum for learning to read, and I think I have picked out one that will work for Cooper. We will also continue his Math curriculum through the summer.
Cooper is turning into a big boy. It's just interesting to watch and hear him because he is having such logical conversations and valid points, and just understanding things in life like "big boys" do. Just makes you realize he is a young boy now.
Max is a fun little boy. He loves to have you read books to him. Currently his favorite book is "Pirate Pete's Giant Adventure". We read that to him at least 4 times a week, his choice. He loves playing video games, and we have to include him in the "game time schedule" (with three boys who want to play video games, we have to schedule game time for each, which is earned with good attitude and work for school, getting chores done, and overall good attitude). Max is also at that age where his conversations actually have valid points (if you can just decipher what he is saying), so you can have quite the interesting conversation with him. Max has moved on to the next step in potty training, which is getting himself to the bathroom and on the toilet. As long he is wearing pants that are easy off, then he takes care of most of his own bathroom business. He hasn't quite managed to learn to put his pants back on though, so you will often see him running around naked while his underwear are hanging from whatever notch he threw them while taking them off, at least until I go find his underwear and then chase him down to get him dressed. Max also loves to play outside and it does break his little heart when he can't always go out with his brothers. Chandler and Cooper are allowed to play outside by themselves (with very strict guidelines as to where they can go and what they can do), but Max can only go out with me. So if it is a time when I can't go out, so neither can Max, he is just sad sad sad. Poor guy!
All of the boys are happy that the weather has finally warmed up enough to go to the pool. So we go there quite often as it is a great way to burn up some energy.
The very last day of April we went to the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine. It is normally way over-priced but we got a great deal going in with a homeschool group, so it was worth it. Lots of yucky gators and other interesting creatures. We ended that day by going to the historic St. George street and buying the boys a chocolate-alligator-on-a-stick, which has become a tradition every time we go to St. Augustine ever since Chandler read about them in a book he read.
And that is all I can remember for April. May is here, and lots of life going on all ready!
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