professor punk

On Tuesday school was in session, and Punk was the teacher. Treats had asked Noah to teach her about animals, and Punk took the offer very seriously. He taught her about endangered species, what causes animals to become endangered and what people can do to help.There was a display board, worksheets, a mini lecture and even a test. He worked pretty hard on it, and was pretty proud of himself when he was finished. Treats made a super cool lunch for them - bird's nest salad, "octopus" hotdogs on seaweed and frosted spider cookies for dessert.

ballerina girl

Kooka had her first ballet class of the year today. I've always thought that ballet is her specialty - she's got decent splits and an arabesque to die for.

But when we got to tap, she completely smoked the rest of the class. She's still the youngest one in it, so she always surprises me.

She told me today that she really wants to take a jazz class. The only one I teach right now is for 10 & 11 year olds. Thankfully Queen Liz said she is teaching one this fall - that is where Kooka will be. Actually as soon as Queen Liz starts teaching ballet and tap and jazz - or opens her own studio, I am off the hook - she's a thousand times better than me.

more about the bride

Tonight Belina the dolphin had her dorsal fin in a binder - sorta like Mulan. I asked why and Kooka informed me that Belina is Chinese. (What?!) She said she is teaching her English, and how to be more like us, so she can be happy here in America with Dolphy.

I'm not really sure if this was some sort of mail order bride thing. It was definitely an arranged marriage, I know that much.

The tag on her tail does say "China." I hope she didn't just marry Dolphy for the green card.

dolphy's big day

Dolphy is a Sea World Souvineer and one of Kooka's favorite stuffed animals. He's been snuggled, stepped on, had his tail in a cast, ridden in an airplane, eaten ice-cream-star soup, had a makeover - the guy gets around. Anyway, last night Kooka won a lovely tie-dyed dolphin at the DJJD Carnival. And as I tucked her into bed she said, "Get some sleep mom. Tomorrow is dolphy's BIG DAY!" I asked what she meant - I mean Dolphy's already had a pretty exciting life - what could be bigger than that? A tremendous grin spread across her face as she held up her new prize. "Tomorrow Dolphy's getting married!"

So, this morning we were in the kitchen when the announcement came, "The wedding is about to start!"

Aaron and I entered the sanctuary to the strains of the NutcrackersRussian Tea dance from the Nutcracker. Pastor Kooka was dressed in "fancy" black with a blue rose headband. All of the "A-list" was in attendance - Aaron and I, Kitty-Meow-Meow, Silverhorn (who looked a little sad, as Dolphy used to be her husband. Apparently she's been demoted to aunt), Baby Pasta, Green Riley, Smudge the Dog, Nella, Capricorn, Toto, and Baby Christmas - who "is really, really sarcastic - that's why we always keep a pacifier in his mouth."

At the end of the aisle sat Dolphy and his beautiful bride Belina. She wore a red veil and a diamond tiara.

Pastor Kooka began:
"Dolphy and Belina have loved each other's kindness and warm loving hearts since they were very small children. So they decided they should get married. And now they will kiss."

After much applause, and the obligatory smooch (during which Baby Christmas had to be reprimanded, and the pacifier stuffed down his throat a bit further), there were party favors. I left with a hand-made fan, a magic wand and an emerald ring.

Best wedding I ever went to.

are we done yet?

Apparently not. I know you all thought he was finished - but it ain't over yet. Punk and friends will be hosting the Queen's tea for visiting royalty this Sunday. We were told to bring as many helpers as possible.

You know you want to spend your Sunday morning in the high school cafeteria eating canned pickles and watching little Miss Lakewood's mother generously reapply her child's lipstick 14 times. (Seriously - you gotta watch out for that woman. Anybody who gets within 10 feet will walk out of that school looking like Britney Spears.)

On the flip side - there are free cream puffs. And some of you may actually WANT (or need) a free Britney makeover. I'm sure Kooka will save you a spot in line.

poor punk

Punk is still pretty sad. His best buddy Cam is moving and hour away. I didn't think he'd take it quite so hard. Cam's dad s staying in town, but Punk still feels like he's losing him forever. He's never known life without this kid. They met before their second birthday, and are so much alike - science freaks, imaginative, kindhearted, loyal-to-the-core kind of guys. You don't find that kind of friend every day, and unfortunately, Punk knows it.

Maybe the uncles can write something funny on his blog to cheer him up.

sticking to the schedule

It's harder than you think. It's supposed to go something like this on Thursdays:

Chores
Breakfast
Circle time
Music
Geography
Reading
Math
Language
Computer

But it's pretty hard to make a circle with only three people. Harder yet to alphabetize your spelling words when the Jehovah's Witness girls are knocking at the door. And nearly impossible to keep your eyes on a music scale when the dog is barfing in his kennel and eating it.

I don't think they have these distractions in public school.

sad day

Punk's very, very best friend - since before he was two - is moving today.
Kooka's 2-year-old beta fish died.
One of my favorite dance kids is sick.
It is a sad day for us.

first day of school

Today there was much excitement in the house of homeschool. It was Kooka's first day of Kindergarten and she was sooooooo excited. Punk admitted to being a little bit excited - but only for science and art. Kooka dressed herself in her favorite "Don't Bug Me!" dress and asked for her very favorite hair - "one ponytail coming out the back." Even Punk put on a clean shirt for the occasion.

After chores and breakfast, we kicked off the day with art.

Art is Punk's favorite, and even though we knew this was easy work for him (having worked with Ms. Toni all last year) we started with color wheels. Kooka blended the primary colors to make the secondary colors. Punk had a tougher assignment - blending the primary colors to make secondary and tertiary colors (no easy task with the tempra paint we used). Everybody had fun - but we're all excited for Ms. Toni to come back - and this year Kooka will get her own lessons too.


Next it was on to reading. Punk started "The Cricket in Times Square," and is loving it. Kaia is reviewing phonics rules and using Sing, Spell, Read and Write books. She's a different type of reader than Punk - so it's more challenging to make sure she can actually read and isn't just memorizing sight words.

After reading it was on to math and language. Kooka is our puzzle kid and looooves math. She asks for it all the time, and is pretty quick (even though she still counts on her fingers). She just seems to "get it.". She aced the first two pages of a first grade book, and asked for more. Both kids are starting Singapore Math this year - which is supposed to be incedibly tough - so we started with some assessment stuff. Punk worked on a test, while Kooka used the numberline and flashcards For language, Punk started his new spelling list, while Kooka worked on rhymes and opposites.

Our final project was science - where we built food pyramids out of legos, and filled in our own food pyramids on paper. It's not nearly as cool (or gross) as the human body project they have planned for next week - but still cool.

When it was all said and done Kaia got to pick where we went for her "first day of school lunch" - China Buffet. But we couldn't leave until we took a picture of her with math book, and her new binder, and her fuzzy red pencil, and her color wheel . . . . .

a sad, sad fortune

Today we went to China Buffet for our annual "back-to-school lunch." Punk read his fortune out loud:

Punk: "Attend to business another day, neuter your love life today."
Me: "I think the word is . . . nurture."

the best site ever

I probably shouldn't even post this because Mr. Sarcastic will link to it, and then I'll be listening to my 8-year-old spout these seeds of truth all day. Oh well, it's so worth it - these are hilarious. Our other favories include bitterness, and wishes.

Let us know which ones you like: demotivators

my least favorite field trip

We'll do almost anything in the name of education, and today was the Renaissance Festival.

Did I mention I hate the Renaissance Festival?

It is always hot and crowded and dusty and expensive. But Punk loves the elephants, the secret garden "fairy trail", and the guy that insults people. Kooka loves the "real" queens, the unicorns, and the fairy trail. So we go.

We pretend it's educational. We pretend that this is our first day of school - brushing up on our history. Kooka makes a magic wand at "Frogwarts" magic school. Both kids ride an elephant. Punk hunts for fairies in the secret garden. Kooka blows kisses to all of the queens and princesses, who blow them back. Aaron and I spend $20 on one Turkey Drumstick, two root beer floats and a bottle of water. Our money is history - that's about as authentic as it gets.

But Kooka wins the costume contest for the day (along with a very cool pirate and purple fairy), Punk gets to hand-feed an elephant, both kids ride the elephant, they clamber through the secret garden, Kooka learns to stand up for herself, and we all lament the lack of air-conditioning.

I ask the kids if they 'd like to live in the Renaissance period. They both shout, "NO!" They tell me it's too hot and noisy and crowded. Plus the people are rude and the bathrooms are revolting . . . hmmm maybe they did learn something after all.


Punk watching the elephants



Kooka with the other winners of the costume contest