Jamie's Language

Jamie had to take the test, too. I claim no responsibility for his Yankeeness.

Your Linguistic Profile::

60% General American English

20% Dixie

15% Yankee

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

What language do you speak?

This is exactly what I thought I was. But, where is my other 5%? It's totally Jenny-speak, I guess.

Your Linguistic Profile::

60% General American English

35% Dixie

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

0% Yankee

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Journals

We started our journals, and now I think we're rolling. Jamie actually did his without complaint (too much) today. He has even contributed questions for the question bucket, I think , giving him ownership of the system a bit. I am making them write as many sentences as years old they are, so Jamie is doing 10 and Bess is doing 7. it didn't take long for them to think I needed to write 35 sentences. I am not, but I am writing a notebook page full of my answer, which is still more than they do. I said since I've already graduated from college, I don't need to grow in my writing skills as much as they do, and, therefore, don't need to write so much. Plus, I should count my blogs or e-mails, maybe. Ha!

Here's a summary of the questions and journal entries; they are kinda similar in nature!
Day 1:
What do you want to do this summer?
Bess says reading, fun, less chores, Children's Museum, book stores, fold clothes, help Mommy, and help around the house more.
Jamie says get away from the journal, do something with meaning, get out of the house, play on the computer, swimming, camp, go to Tennessee and Oklahoma.
I said a bunch of things I wanted to avoid (like arguing ang nagging and watching T.V.). Then I said I wanted to journal, a daily Bible Study, be more active, swimming, popcicles, going to Memphis, and Sonshine School training in July, and make our deck a nice place to sit. We ate dinner out there tonight---the sun was behind clouds this evening, and it wasn't too hot out there!

Day 2:
Write some places you want to go this summer. (Bess's question)
Together we've compiled this list:
Memphis, TN
the beach
the library
parks
Children's Museum
the backyard
the movies
Sonshine School Camp
Jackie's wedding
Bess's softball games
Jamie's Troupe productions
VBS
ice skating
the mall
Children's Museum of Memphis
the swimming pool (Henderson Harbor is almost like our own personal pool, it feels like)

Day 3:
What do you like to do outdoors?
Bess says softball, recess, swimming, tree climbing, and running. (We are going to get her in Bryan ISD track camp in June!)
Jamie only wrote one thing: swimming (Not a good day for his journalling)
I wrote swimming, water slides, Schlitterbahn, ocean swimming, being at the beach and listening to waves, building sand castles, eating outside, picnics, grilling and campfires, camping in general, visiting historic sites. I should have mentioned spinning my flagpole---I think I could get my arms in great shape if I did that for a few minutes every morning in our backyard.

And today, Day 4:
What is the best place we have gone on vacation and why?
Bess wrote about our trip to holland, MI. She mentioned the wedding and eating ice cream.
Jamie wrote about the trip we took to Memphis when Rachel and Kirk were there, too. (Don't tell him, but he really wrote 11 sentences!) He mentioned the zoo, Graceland, the Children's Museum, and Texarkana.
I wrote about a trip we took to San Antonio in 2000. Bess would have been almost 2, so the pictures of that trip are really cute. I really liked us being away from home for 3 nights and doing touristy things---the Riverwalk, the Alamo, the Witte Museum and eating out a lot.

So that's our journey into journalling. I might or might not post all our answers this summer. You could comment and tell me your answers, if you want! I know Jamie's questions are about Star Trek topics, so they might be a stretch for me! We've been getting the DVDs of Star trek Enterprise series, which has gone off the air in the last couple of years.

Bess and I both really look forward to getting the question every morning! Maybe more tomorrow!

Photo Hunt Blogroll

Photo Hunt blogroll

And the award goes to . . .

It's time for those end of year awards! Bess is here getting two: One for good grades this six weeks and one for good conduct. Larry got to go to the awards ceremony to take pictures.

You can't tell here, but she has one of those front teeth coming in a fraction of an inch, and the other one is ready to break through the skin at any moment. I can't imagine this is very comfortable! Bess also had a Brownie ceremony where she got a pin for one year in Girl Scouts.

I want to give her an award for "Great Progress in Reading Skills." We got her testing results and he achieved all the targets for first grade and then some. She has surpassed the reading level Jamie got at the end of his first grade year, which isn't surprising, since she likes to read more than Jamie does. I really think she might pass him! She's a pretty great kid.

Jamie might have had a school awards ceremony at the end of his year, but we didn't know about it. He has gotten where he doesn't want us around as much. He did manage to get an A average for the whole school year in all his classes. Pretty cool! This was a year I was glad was over for his sake.

To the right is a picture from the awards banquet for BV Troupe. This is Jamie and Jayme. They got an award for the "Best Acting Performance by a Duo." This was Jamie's "Ollie Ribbons" role, which he really wanted, tried out for, and got. Jayme was a television reporter interviewing Ollie, who had seen Alice chase a Rabbit down a hole. Jamie also got a "Sweet Sixteen Award" for one of the 16 most memorable roles this past year, and he got on the "All Star Cast" for the sceond year in a row. (This is why he is wearing two medals.) I think he is right where he belongs in Troupe. Larry and Jamie were presenters of two awards also. I'm proud of my boy!

summer begins

This is my "testing testing one-two-three" blog. My first!

I am enjoying my first day of summer. My job as pre-school teacher is done for the school year, and my own kids are in school for two more days. Uninterrupted computer time? yea!!

I'm adding pictures of what Bess and I did Sunday, the trip to Natural Bridge Caverns, near New Braunfels, TX.

The picture below is a picture I took in the cavern with no flash, and it came out really good. This room is called "The King's Throne Room" and it was my favorite place in there. Much to my disappointment, it wasn't cooler in the caverns, but very humid and slippery. To the right you see me with my jacket tied around my waist---wishful thinking that it would be cold in there. This was a trip with Bess's Brownie troop, a reward for selling cookies.

My agenda for the day:
*get my e-mail caught up
*personal Bible devo
*housework---sheets and vacuuming on the top o' the list
*sell popcicles at Bess's school (raising money for postage for school supplies to go to Bolivia!)
*cook something good for dinner

It's the beginning of my summer of good intentions----"quality" and quantity time with the kids. The quality time will come with quantity time spent. my hopes?
LESS TV!
MORE READING!
MORE SWIMMING!
MORE JOURNALLING! (this one will be a hard sell with my two!)
MORE EXERCISE!
LESS WHINING!

We'll see . . .