I feel like a broken record when I say "it's been a busy week." Honestly, the weeks are always busy and just as one activity ends another starts.
My two younger boys have started Spring baseball and that means another 2-3 evenings away from the house per week.
The only thing difficult about being at the ball fields in the evening time is what to do about dinner. Other than that, everyone loves being there.
Last week during Spring break I administered standardized testing to the boys. In years past we have used Washington State's MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) or the MSP (Measurements of Student Progress.)
I find both of them to be totally inadequate and I will NEVER use them again. This year I chose to pay for the CAT5 (California Achievement Test.)
I love this test because it surveys their knowledge of 5 subjects not just 2 or 3. The boys' were tested in Reading, Comprehension, Math, Science, and Social Studies. The testing materials arrived fast. I had two weeks to test and send the materials back. I was shocked to receive their scores in the mail a week later. (I've waited 6 months for WA State testing results.) I was also over the MOON happy with the scores. No surprises, just an accurate survey of where they are academically. I will continue to test this way in the future.
Last week after testing, the boys participated in the 2 day Whatcom County Youth Fair. It was our first year and OH, WE HAVE BEEN MISSING OUT! The Professor took Photography class. The Arctitect was in Junior Rodeo class and the Scientist had Chess.
Junior Rodeo instruction wasn't everything the Architect thought it would be and opted out of the second day.
I could barely drag the Scientist away from Chess each day. And the Professor took his photography very seriously and learned a lot. Definitely worth the $ 10.00 per child.
Last week showed us beautiful spring flowers, rain, rainbows and snow. Three weeks into Spring and still plenty of unpredictable weather.
On Thursday, Josh and I took the boys to Olympia to participate in TeenPact. I love this program.
The first part of the morning is spent singing a few worship songs and doing sword drills. A sword drill is looking up bible verses as fast as you can. The kids pretend to put their bibles in a sword sheath and then *shing* they draw out their swords and look up a verse. The first one who finds it gets to read it.
Before lunch the group splits into smaller groups and walks around the Capital, stopping at certain locations to pray for those leaders in our government.
Here the group has stopped at George Washington in order to pray for our current President.
The second part of the
day is spent learning how a Bill is passed. It's amazing how fun the
teen staff can make this. Anyone coming out of this class will have a
clear understanding of our legislative branch of government.
Since I had already been to TeenPact last year with the Professor, Josh stayed with the older boys and I took the Scientist to the Olympia Children's Science Museum.
We had so much fun! We road the free bus and walked in the rain.
He played so hard. It was nice to see him un-distracted by older brothers. He was able to focus on what he wanted to do and how long he wanted to play. I hope we make it back to this museum some day.
I guess it has been a busy couple weeks.
