My computer motivation has been limited lately. By the time we finish homeschool and I do what needs to be done on the computer, I am done with computers.

This past weekend I went to Billings with a friend. Nothing but relaxing, shopping, eating and sleeping. So nice to get away for a few days and have no schedule. Other than my persistent cough that would wake me up, I came back ready to tackle the rest of the fall! I also brought a couple of projects home with me that I hope to start soon.

The boys got out of school early today and off school tomorrow and Friday...for statewide teacher training. We are getting together to play with a few friends, but not much else on the schedule.

Recently Joseph's preschool went on a field trip to a pumpkin patch. (The older two boys both went with their preschool classes and weird to think this is my last organized field trip there. I look at all of Joseph's classmates' parents upon preschool pick up. Many of them are hauling younger kids for pick up. That is no longer me. I am phasing out of that season!)

Here are a few pictures from the field trip.

This is the apple press....the juice comes out of the small pipe in the middle bottom of the picture.  They had lots of bees buzzing around but they said no one has ever been stung because the bees are way more interested in the apples.

These pigs were a muddy mess...

This is a set of twins that live next door.  They are all in the same class and Joseph loves playing outside with them.  (Unfortunately they are moving to a different part of town...Joseph will be sad.)

At the beginning of the school year Jacob's teacher sent home a note that there would not be much math homework coming home. It is the first year of common core curriculum and there was a huge learning curve for the teachers and how to teach it. I thought 'what in the world'...it is second grade math? Well, Jacob finally brought home a math paper.

Now they have like a 3 step process, where they have to break down numbers before they can add them. Still not real sure why the need was felt to change the way the kids have been learning for years. Jacob's teacher from last year was telling me that he thinks in the long run kids will understand the processes better and not be so clueless in the higher grades. I am not convinced. Seems like if I continue to homeschool Benjamin that he will be learning the same stuff but not in the 'proper' manner. They are supposedly changing up the SAT/ACT tests to reflect this new style of learning.  Something that has all home schoolers and some private schools concerned.

The end of October is the end of the first quarter.  One down and three to go.  I think we might both survive this school year.

Off to call it a night.