Playing outside

We have been working hard the last couple of weeks trying to get our yard cleaned and organized so Allie and Preston have a nice place to play. Today Susanne and I finished disposing of all the trees we cut down (choke cherry and scrub oak) and sanded and primed the slide platform. We should be getting Allie's playhouse this week, too. Allie loves playing outside and is never happy when we make her come inside. Her favorite place to play is at my friend Jackie's house. They have a huge lot and she thinks she owns the place. They spoil her rotten, let her play in the dirt, buy her presents and let her run and run and run. Today she wouldn't even go shopping with us - she told us to go by ourselves so that she could stay and play with Sam and Jackie. She is getting very independent and only needs us when she is tired or hurt.

Mark got his second ACT test back this week. He did very well. His highest score was in English. He loves the rules of grammar, so he got a 36 on that section. He got a 29 composite. His biggest problem with standardized tests is that he is slow and methodical. He cannot be rushed, much like his father. He could compete with anybody [even David ;)] if the test were not timed. He is very hard on himself and thinks that if his score is not in the thirties he isn't doing very well. You see what a bad example you all set? Less than 99th percentile isn't good enough. 29, by the way, is only 95th percentile. What a slacker!???

I only teach 11 more days! I looked at what I still had to teach in science and wasn't doing as poorly as I thought. But then I gave a science test and I am sad too say that, although I covered the material, the kids haven't learned what they should have. Next year I need to start earlier and cover the material several times. I actually spent more time on science this year but covered more things about the scientific method and how to set up experiments to answer questions. I think that is pretty important, but next year I will have to save that until last or just squeeze in more lesson time. Whine, whine, whine. Yes, it goes good with crackers.

That was a downer kind of paragraph, but generally I am happy and doing well. We miss Dave, Ya-ping and Preston but should be able to see them again soon. We are hoping they come home the last of May. Everyone is healthy and we are not dealing with any traumas. We have great friends and family. What more could we ask for?