Report Card Time

Yes it is already half way into the quarter. The kids received their mid-term report cards this week.

Ben did ok. He received 3 C's, 3 B's and an A. He is in all honors classes and he is working very hard in them. The grading system is very strange here. When he does a project....it is based on a scale of 1 to 5 so if his project is perfect he gets a 5 which equals a 100%. If it is very good, but not perfect he will get a 4 which equals an 80%. I am finding it hard to believe that an almost perfect report can get an 80%. So his grades really are not showing the value of the work he is doing. Rob and I are both very proud of him.

Lauren got all A's on her report card. She is adjusting very well, however I don't believe that she is being challenged enough. Her math class is working on subtraction and she is well into multiplication at home. Her reading has taken off. She has discovered Judy Blume books(not the teen ones) and she really likes the Fudge books. Rob and I are very happy that she has adjusted so well to school and are proud of her as well.

As far as Rob's work, he is heading to 2nd shift soon. I am just dreading it. We knew it could happen we just didn't know when. He will not be here for meals and homework most nights and I am not looking forward to that. He is a big help with homework time. Looks like he will be on 2nd shift for a few years. Things may change but this is what it looks like right now.

My work is going very well. We have taken on a bunch of new clients which means my work is still in demand in these tough economic times and I am greatful for that.

My sister in Maine has just started contracting for the same company and I am happy for her. With the oil bills coming soon, this is sure to help out her family. Maybe she can even have some extra to set aside and come visit her sister in Florida. Hint Hint!

Hurricane Ike is long gone (we just got the wind and waves on that one) and none in the near future, it is nice to relax from the worry. In the condos we are in, all the older people are having the new type of shutters installed. They stay up and just "accordian " away. They don't look very nice, but you just pull them closed and lock them. It is about $3000.00 to have them installed! That is a lot of money.

Ben started Jr/Sr Little League last week. He really likes being back on a team, it's nothing like AAU but he likes it. Some of the kids on the team have no baseball skills at all, but it doesn't seem to bother Ben, which is good.

I guess that is about it for now. I hope everyone is well. Enjoy the fall.

Smiles, Lynne

So many papers!

The kids have been in school for two weeks now and BOY, I am drowning in paperwork! I cannot believe how many papers come home each day. I am going to have to hire a secretary to keep it all straight.

All of the kids textbooks are on the computer. This method is good and bad. I like that the kids don't carry their books to and from school each day, however it is very hard to do homework when all you have is a website to look at. I am a textbook learner. What if a child doesn't have a computer at home?

Both kids seem to be adjusting very well to school. They are doing a great job getting up in the mornings, which I expected to be the hardest part. I really did underestimate them. Ben is doing well in most classes, he is still afraid to ask questions in class. I am not sure how to help him deal with that. Ben is in a TV production class and he just loves it. He has made lots of friends and is doing well overall.

Lauren is doing very well. The teacher really likes her. Lauren is so happy at school, she gets sad when the weekend comes. The only issue Lauren has is AR testing. In Florida after the kids are done reading a story book, they must take an AR(Accelerated Reading) test about the book. It is a computer test. She panics on these. I am finding that she doesn't always retain what she is reading in a story book. I think part of this stems from the fact that she hates to read. She is finding that she must take her time when reading. She will do fine.

We have more hurricanes on the horizon...we will just keep watch for now.

I hope all is well with everyone. I feel like I do all the talking and never get to hear about all of you. If anyone has a blog, I would love to visit it.

Smiles, Lynne

First day of school and first hurricane day

Lauren
in her
uniform.

The cool
backpack!
Notice
the
skull!

Ugh!















Finally!
The Bus












Ben was
not as
eager to
be
photographed

Note: He does
wear shoes at
school.










Today was the first day of school for the kids. They both seemed excited. Lauren was awake at 4am and I woke Ben up at 8:15am.

Lauren had a blast. She liked her teacher and made a friend already. I wrote a joke and put it in her lunchbox and she was embarrassed by it and asked me to not do it again. I was crushed.

Ben didn't say much about school except that he thought his honors algebra was very hard. He met a kid on the bus that he really liked. He has a class for television production. He thinks that is great. Ben also requested that I stop the jokes in the lunchbox, jeesh!

The kids have no school tomorrow due to this tropical storm headed directly to us. We did not put up our storm shutters, but a lot of the residents around us did. There were two guys driving around and offering to put them up for $120.00. They were making money like crazy! If I had a long enough ladder, I would be out there ready to charge $120.00 to take them down tomorrow!

Rob has to work during the storm. He is on a core group that has to stay throughout the storm and take care of any needs the plant has during and after it.

Ben is sleeping at a friends house, so Lauren and I are riding out Fay alone. I feel very safe although if the storm worsens, Lauren and I can head to Rob's work about 2 miles away.

Not sure if the power will stay or not. I will blog when it is over. We are as preparred as we can be.

Windy Smiles, Lynne

It was HIS idea !

I knew if you wait it out, they do finally come around on their own.

These are pictures of Ben with his new haircut. I know, it's been a long time coming.

He went 1/2 way on the last haircut and decided to finish it off.

Ben turned 13 on August 5th and starts 8th grade at the local Charter school on Monday the 18th. He is enrolled in advanced and honors classes. We are very proud of him and so excited for him to start this new part of his life.

Tonight was the open house when we met all of his teachers. They all seemed excited to get back to class (which is nice).

Lauren has her open house on Thursday and she is already smiling at the thought of riding the bus to school.

For the first time since Lauren was born, I will be alone in the house during the day. I will be working , but alone none the less. I am thinking the quiet will aggitate me, but who knows...I may just learn to love it. I will let you know!

Smiles, Lynne

A new chapter...

Well, it is time. As a family, we have decided to have the kids go back to public school. Well, sort of.....
We have applied for spots in the Oasis Charter school system here in Cape Coral. It has been a month and we have not heard if they have been accepted yet, but we remain positive that they will. The schools are right beside each other and they are about 2 miles from our house. We chose the charter school because, although they must still follow the Lee county requirements for education, they are able to take whatever route they choose to get there.

Now that the decision is made, the kids are excited for what is ahead for them. They are anxious to find out if they got in (There is a long waiting list for each school).

We made this decision based on multiple things. Ben will be in 8th grade this upcomming year and I am coming to the end of my science, grammar, and history expertise. It is time to send him back to school to prepare him for high school and beyond. I loved every day I had with him home and I feel as though he has become a very well behaved young man. I know he is now ready to make the tough decisions he will face in school. I am confident he will follow a path to success rather than choose the path of least resistance.

As for Lauren, she did not want to go to school at all, but once she walked around the school, she just lit up. The only fear I have ever had for Lauren being in Public school is boredom. She is very smart and learns very quickly. She will thrive at Oasis and she will make so many new friends and experience things like: field trips and eating in the cafeteria. I have no worries about her. They will place her with kids of her own learning ability, not just age.

Right now I am working all different hours throughout the day and night, this fall I will be able to work all day and then pick the kids up and have the nights and weekends to enjoy with them.
I am looking forward to that.

I guess thats all for now. Smiles, Lynne