Guest Lecturers

So... Filming Macbeth became a huge nightmare. Too many wannabe film school students around here, and the budget for craft services was getting out of hand. It became a detriment to our getting through the play and following the story. I DO have one more scene to edit together and share, but not right now. This week is all about history.

I try to keep the boys' attentions with entertaining-ish PowerPoint presentations of our history lessons. So Josh learned how to use PowerPoint for his own entertainment, and began asking if he could present one of his own making for history. WHAT A FANTASTIC IDEA!

Each of the boys chose an upcoming chapter from our book to present (Ben's is in a couple weeks). I had them read the chapter, then gave them the relevant test questions to make sure they covered that material sufficiently, then set them loose. Josh already was pretty handy with PP, and Joseph really only needed a brief tutorial and a pointer here or there. These presentations are all theirs. I was really impressed with their work ethic and the finished products. I will definitely be having them do this again this year.

The audio is lousy - you may have better luck using headphones or earbuds. And my dryer buzzes in the middle of Joseph's presentation. Hazards of homeschool. :) And again, if the picture is cut in half for you (as it is for me), simply click the link above the video to watch it full-size on YouTube. You've GOT to see these boys' faces as they present.

First up: Josh with the Nez Perce Indians:



And now: Joseph presents Mark Twain:

Josh's Blog

Josh started a blog a little while ago, and has given me permission to share it with family!

Go, enjoy the weirdness that is http://jdburr.wordpress.com

Macbeth

I've been meaning to get back to blogging more since we got back to Texas. I was just so struck by what a difference other people's blogs made in my feeling like I've kept in touch, even though I've only really been stalking. But, you know, with permission. Kids who were infants when we left Texas would be unrecognizable to me now if their mothers hadn't been posting photos of them weekly/monthly/whenever they could. As it was, I recognized many, and felt just as close to some of these friends I hadn't spoken to in 5 years.

So, my goal is weekly updates, with plenty of photos of the boys and their goings-on. This week, all I have is VIDEO YAY!

We've come to the second quarter of our school year, and Matt suggested switching from poetry to drama (specifically Shakespeare) for English. Long story short, this quarter we are studying Macbeth, and so far it is going swimmingly! We found a series called No Fear Shakespeare that is awesome. Open to any page of the script, and on the left you have the original Shakespeare. On the right, you have it translated into modern English. So what we do is read through the modern first, so the boys can get the images and plotlines into their minds, then we go back and read the Shakespeare with plenty of Mom Interruptions to point out cool turns of phrase, explain a tricky word, or just show how it matches up with the modern translation. Then we gather costumes, and the next day... WE SHOOT!

We're all learning a LOT as we go along, and it has been so much fun. So, until next week, I leave you with the first 2.5 scenes of MACBETH dun dun dunnnnnn! (We discussed the whole "curse" thing. We don't much care about it.)(Also, the video starts out with some loud rain, but once the boys start talking it's pretty quiet. Headphones or speakers will come in handy.)(And now I've ruined the intro. Better announce the video again.)

UPDATE: On my computer, the video gets cut almost in half vertically - you may have to just follow the link in the upper left corner of the vid to watch it on YouTube proper. Okay, here we go...

MACBETH!

Merry Zelda to all, and to all a good Link!

Dude, I am Zelda'd OUT. Also, 90% of this post will only make sense to people familiar with the Zelda series of video games.

As I write this, Joseph is preparing to play his new Zelda game. The one we gave him in the brief interlude between

Triforce pizza and

Zelda cake.

The game came with a 25th anniversary Zelda Symphony album. Guess what we listened to while we ate the cake?

MORE CAKE PICTURES!

The only reason he's not wearing his Crest of Hyrule shirt in this photo is because it was filthy and I made him change out of it.

Yellow (and green) butter cake with lime frosting and lime curd filling. The flavor was his choice. And a tasty one!

I gave him his choice of cake slices. He chose the slice with Navi/Ciela on it (a fairy from the game that looks like a blue bubble with wings). Then he decided he couldn't bear the thought of anyone eating it. So now I have a plate with a blob of icing on it, in the Icing Blob Protection Program.

OTHER GIFTS!

Yesterday a package came from Clovis. It contained his gift from Gamma & Grampa Nicholls, a SUPER cool RC truck that does every trick you can think of.

It's a hit with boys AND dogs! :)

Gramma & Grampa Zornes sent a birthday card with sweet sweet cashola. Guess what my baby bought with it?

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Named "Agua Amigo."

He originally wanted a mouse, but the most basic of starting setups for a mouse was about twice what he had to spend. Imagine my relief at not having to call my mouse-hating mother and tell her that he had used her money for evil. For what he DID have, though, he was able to get all the basics for a betta fish, plus a couple of little tank decorations, and a deep sense of satisfaction and maturity. So flipping cute!

Uh... hopefully I'll write again before next May. Aheh heh. Aheh.

Big Announcement

We're homeschooling beginning this fall!

There are a thousand answers to the question "Why?" I think one of my favorites is that I want more control over the time I have with my kids. I can teach them the same amount of material - and more - in less time than it takes for public school teachers to try to get across to 30 squirrely kids. I HATE trying to cram all of our family time into a couple of hours in the afternoon, in between scouts and homework and music practice. There are awesome things happening in the world at 10 in the morning, meteor showers at 2 in the morning that I want them to see and then sleep in after, vacations that are best taken in mid-September.

I've debated homeschooling the boys for so many years. This is the first time it's felt possible, and the first time the excitement hasn't been overwhelmed by dread.

I have a ton of awesome resources and supports. I have what I call "My Cindys," Cindy Wood and Cindy Darley who are shining paragons of homeschooling AWESOMENESS. Both have homeschooled from day one with their kids (Cindy D has NINE KIDS, y'all), each in totally different ways that I will borrow liberally from. I have my mother-in-law Trish, who's homeschooled on and off for so long that she has quite the arsenal of information and materials. I have my friend Karrilynn who homeschooled a bit and saved everything and has already started giving me books. And of course I have my awesome husband, who honestly thinks I can do this, bless his blinded-by-love heart! :) And is eager to help. And who will totally be Captain Computer Lab. You have no idea how badly he wants to teach these kids programming.

So that's our big announcement. We've been working on it for quite a while now, but we told the kids this weekend (since the school has started sending home the forms asking where the kids will be attending the following year. "Burrhaz Academy," by the way), so the cat's out of the bag. We were nervous, mostly so about Ben, who tends to deeply mourn any change in his life. So we told him first, separately. He thinks it's awesome. Then we told the J's together. Joshua's super excited and - this will shock you - full of ideas. Joseph grabbed a marker and headed straight for daddy's whiteboard wall.


I think we're off to a good start.

2011.2.28-2011.3.6

Intro

Sorry, I missed last week. The week got away from me; before I knew it, it had gone. (Note from Amy: And this post is going up late because it took me FOREVER to figure out how to get the videos on here!)

Ben

This week, Ben had a report to give at school. It was a report on Benjamin Franklin. Every kid in the fifth grade chose a historical figure to report on, and then they held a “wax museum,” where each kid dressed up as their historical figure and stood still until visiting classes and parents pressed a button drawn on the back of their hand, at which point, the kid would come to life and briefly relate facts about the historical figure.

Amy did an awesome job putting together a great costume on very short notice. And Ben did an awesome job overcoming his fears to deliver his report.

Joshua

Not much to report for Josh this week. It was a pretty typical week. We’re still working with him to try and tip the balance between desire for baptism and an apparent fear of water. The missionaries have visited regularly to work on the discussions with him. But he still just doesn’t seem very interested. We’ll keep at it.

Joseph

Joseph had a pretty typical week, too, except on Thursday. On Thursday, he and his class at school put on a patriotic presentation. They sang several patriotic songs and read poems. And Joseph participated and sang right along with them. He did great until the last couple of songs, when he started to get weepy, and finally broke down. When Amy asked what had happened, he told her that he realized the performance was just about over and that meant she’d be going home. He’s such a sweet kid. He really gets attached to things (he’s currently taking all of his beverages from a paper cup we got at Panda Express on Saturday and that he fell in love with).

(Note from Amy: Joseph's video begins with jsut a few photos and no sound - don't worry, it gets better!)

Matt

Big news for me. I got a new position at Microsoft. I’ve been on a six month rotational position doing some development work, and now I’ve taken the position on full time. No change in salary, but a new title – Operations Program Manager – and a drastic change in responsibilities. I’m really happy about the change. It may mean some international travel later in the year, so I’ll have to get my passport up-to-date.

Amy

Amy here! This week was crazy. I mean, every week is crazy, but "I need a costume Friday" on Wednesday evening just kicks it up a notch, you know? But I need those moments for a little creative outlet now and then. So Thursday was busy, but fun.

Also on Wednesday I got my newest student, the oldest daughter of some good friends of ours. That brings me up to 7 regular weekly students. Josh has asked me to teach him piano, and since we still have all the books he started with in Texas I agreed. I think that will be fun, and of course very good for him.

ALSO also on Wednesday we had a nice small-scale International Night dinner. Ireland this month (for rather obvious reasons). We had Dublin Coddle (layered potatoes and onions and sausage and bacon all boiled in ham stock), which was so delicious but even thinking about it makes me gain weight, straight-up boiled cabbage which the boys really enjoyed, oddly enough, and chocolate cake with potato as the secret ingredient.

Now I look back, Wednesday's also the day I had to take Bilbo to the vet for a torn fingernail. Busy enough Wednesday? Sheez!

I think Thursday was the day I finally got the part I ordered for my Kitchen-Aid mixer, so I was able to get that put back together (with no leftover pieces! YAY!) and it's working a treat now. So if your mixer ever starts to go "whirrrrthunkwhirrrrrthunkWZZZZZZZZZZ" and the attachment thingy stops moving, let me know. ;)

Other

Other than that, things are as they are. Macska’s hunting genes have kicked in and she’s expressed her gratitude to us by delivering a few lizards to us over the last couple of weeks. Such a sweet gesture, but I’ve informed her that I expect her to step it up and start delivering some birds for all that we’re doing for her. Baby steps, though; I watched her bird hunting earlier in the week, and she needs some more practice.

2011.2.14–2011.2.20

Ben

It was a pretty normal week for Ben, until yesterday (Saturday). We watched our friends’ kids for a few hours, and they clung to Ben. He was a really good sport, playing games with them and keeping them entertained, and we really appreciated it (especially, Amy, as I was out for a little while in the afternoon). We got him a sundae from McDonald’s to reward his helpfulness. He can be such a grownup sometimes.

Joshua

It was a typical week for Josh, too. Friday, though, Grandpa and Grandma Burr brought him a belated birthday gift: a set of puzzles. I think all of the boys are enjoying them. And on our Friday-night date, we picked up a little multiplication book to help him memorize his multiplication facts.

Joshua is a good, unique kid. He’s his own person, and happy to be that way. We were talking a bit about how he struggles memorizing his multiplication tables. It’s not ineptitude – he’s very capable of the task; it’s lack of interest. Rote memorization just doesn’t fit his creative mold. We both agreed, though, that we are perfectly satisfied if he’s not a math genius, because that’s simply not where is strengths are. He’s a writer, an artist, and a creator, and that makes us happy; more importantly, it makes him happy.

Joseph

It was also a typical week for Joseph. Most of the excitement for him (and the other boys) this week was focused on the “Impact Academy” at school. I mentioned last week that the school is becoming a science and technology magnet, sort of. We had a preview and an explanation of the changes on Wednesday night, and the boys were thrilled to go.

The school will focus their teaching next year on math and science, or – more generally – problem solving and critical thinking. Even English and Social Studies will dovetail with their activities in Math and Science. They have a new computer lab, and have redone several rooms to focus on scientific learning.

Much of the recent excitement centered on purchasing a skeleton, named Fred, for the school. The children contributed pocket change over the last several weeks, and the school purchased the skeleton a few bones at a time; this week, they completed their purchase. The boys were ecstatic.

I am happy the boys are enthused, but I don’t know how I feel about this focus on math and science. I love both, but I believe in a more rounded education at this stage. Looking at the world through the lenses of only science and math gives a warped perspective. Math and science can be beautiful, but in a crystalline way. I think children need to be exposed to the ethereal and warm through English and Social Studies, too.

At least, at home, we’re compensating. Bedtime stories have been an important part of the boys’ bedtime routines since they were babies. At first, we read to them individually, usually from books about letters of the alphabet, but now we read to them at once, usually from a longer, involved narrative. Right now, we’re reading Neil Gaiman’s Graveyard Book (which is excellent), and before that we read Mary Pope Osborne’s excellent two-volume retelling of Homer’s Odyssey. The boy’s loved the Odyssey, and constantly hark back to it in their creative play. Occasionally, one of them will grab one of the volumes to read in bed after we’ve sent them off. After we finish the Graveyard Book, we’ve got a retelling of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on queue; we’re hoping to introduce them gently to Shakespeare.

All in all, as uncertain as I am about the focus on math and science (to the possible detriment of other important subjects) at school, I am certain the boys will still get a well-rounded education. Amy and I have always believed that education is a shared responsibility between the school and the parents, and it works best when parents are involved. We’ll fill in the gaps.

Amy

I’ll let Amy speak for herself:

Oh, blargh. It's always so hard for me to remember what I've done in  a week. This week was a TAD more memorable, though, since I went all Apocalyptic on the boys' rooms. Came a day I just couldn't take it anymore, so up I went with some very large boxes and trash bags. Any toy that didn't already have a dedicated home went into a box. Seven very large boxes ended up in indefinite storage in the garage. One medium-sized box full of things I thought they might immediately miss is set aside. Should they ask about a toy, they can earn it back. However, in the several days since the apocalypse, only one - ONE - toy out of all that was asked about. And since it was Ben who asked, and Ben who was the first to thank me for having cleaned their rooms, he got it back that evening. I think for now they're just enjoying having lots of open space to play in.

Sunday night had some excitement in the form of me trying to accompany the stake choir rehearsal (our regular accompanist spaced and took her family to the visitor's center). Many laughs were had by all. :)

Teaching continues to go well. By next week I'll have 7 regular students each week. I have a few more in the wings who are looking for instruments or time or things like that. I never thought I'd love teaching so much, but I do.

Amy out!

 

Matt

As for me, school and work continue to take up most of my time. At school, I had an exam this week, which went well – I think. I’m taking algebra, and it has been really good to go back and revisit it after 17+ years. I use algebra regularly, but I haven’t studied it in some time; plus, there are facets that I don’t use regularly, that I never learned well, or that I have forgotten. It’s great to be learning it anew.

Most of my excitement is at work, though. I’ve been in a rotational position at work, essentially a 6-month contract on a team other than my own. It’s work in business intelligence development, and it’s been fun. I’ve always worked in operations – after the product has been developed and deployed, I support it. But my heart is in development, where I can create new things, so this has been a blast. They want me to stay, so they’ve opened up a full-time position. I still have to interview for it (tomorrow), but I expect to fly through the interviews, since I’m interviewing for what I am already doing. So, assuming there are no road blocks, I’ll move permanently into this role as a Program Manager. I’m excited.

2011.2.7–2011.2.13

Introduction

We’re trying to get into a better habit of keeping family up-to-date on goings on in the Burrhouse each week. For the most parts, one week is the same as the next, but occasionally something new happens, and even when it doesn’t, we know family likes to know how things are going.

So, you’ll start seeing these (approximately) weekly blog posts, and the occasional other post when something spectacular happens. I’ll divide the posts into sections by family member, plus a section on other news, and a section that looks forward to anything we have planned next week.

**Note from Amy: I'ma throw in a few pictures and notes here and there!**

Enjoy!

Ben

Ben attended Boy Scouts for the first time this week on Wednesday. He’s an 11 Year Old Scout, and his patrol is very small right now (just him and one other boy). He likes his scout leader, though; I know him, and he’s a great guy. So, even though he was the only scout at the meeting this week, he had a blast.

** He also got very excited about a science experiment he had done at school, and had us do it here at home. It involved celery and red dye and weighing things - it was fun. And cute.

Earlier in the week, he managed to get a very cute photo of Macska hanging out under the table. Budding photographer, perhaps? :) **

Joshua

Josh is a Bear now, and he had his first Bear den meeting on Tuesday. I gather he enjoyed it, too. We’re still working on getting Josh baptized. On Saturday, the Elders took us on a tour of the church building that included a walk through the font, and discussion about baptism. It’s going to take patience and working step-by-step to overcome Josh’s fear of water, which dwarfs any desire he might have to be baptized right now. We’ll get there, though.

** Joshua's also the one who discovered that a hummingbird has built a nest atop our windchimes in the front patio. I got a so-so picture of the bird at rest.

I say so-so because Matt discovered an egg in the nest today, and just look at the photo he got! Whatever, Mr. I Know What the Different Camera Setting Are For. :)

And let's not forget who discovered the nest in the first place!**

Joseph

Joseph was sick Monday through Wednesday. He got whatever Josh had last week. It started on Sunday. I noticed he was unusually lethargic, and found he had a fever when I took his temperature. By Monday, it seemed to have gone, and we took him to lunch with us in the afternoon, but by evening it had returned full force, then again on Tuesday. By Wednesday, he was fine, but the school district insists that he can’t return to school until he’s gone 24 hours without a fever.

He’s all better now. The boys all got long overdue haircuts this week, and they’re looking great.

** By the third day of his having to be home from school even though he felt fine, I started to cave on our otherwise very strict No Electronic Joy When You're Home Sick From School rule. Enter Plants Vs. Zombies.**

Amy

Amy started genealogy indexing on Sunday when she was home from church with Joseph. She indexed 400+ names that day, and she’s been going strong ever since. I catch her at the computer several hours each day indexing census records; she really seems to enjoy it.

Matt

It was a pretty typical week for me. I’m nearing release of the project I’ve been working on at work, so a lot of my time at work is spent on the last little items needed to get things just right. I’m enjoying school; I have only one class, math, this semester, and it’s fun.

**Isn't he the cutest?**

Other News

The dogs got much-needed baths this week. They smelled tons better until yesterday, when they got into I don’t know what. We got an unexpected overage refund on our escrow; some of that – I think – is going to go toward a freezer. This year is about conserving money, and part of that is buying food in bulk and storing it for longer periods of time; hence the freezer.

Next Week

Wednesday, the boys’ school is holding “Astronomy Night” as a way to introduce their new science & technology center. Next year, the school is becoming a science & technology “magnet” (not really the right word, but close enough), so they’ll be detailing the program on Wednesday. Next weekend, we may be heading up to Monterey for the first of our “Explore California” vacations (another way we’re saving money: making smaller weekend excursions around California instead of a large interstate vacation).