Long Time No Post

It has been a long time since I have posted anything. And a lot and I do mean a lot has changed. The remodeling is finished but it did take longer than expected. The finished kitchen and bathroom are much better than expected. I'll try to post pictures soon.

Zachary started Kindergarten at EC Brice. His teacher is Mrs. McKinney. Zachary loves school. He enjoys the socializing with everyone and the playing. However, he is not learning much that he didn't already know. It says school is too easy. We will be talking to the teacher after Christmas to see if we can get him some more challenging material. Meanwhile, we have been doing afterschooling. He is working mainly on 1st/2nd grade material for me at the house. Zachary and joined Cub Scouts and he was on a soccer team (season is over now).

Now, the really big news. I am pregnant. The reason why I stopped blogging is that I got really sick at the beginning of the pregnancy. I have what is called Hypermesis, it's really bad morning sickness. I was in the hospital 3 times in the 1st trimester and once in the 3rd (so far). I stay nauseated most of the time. I am due January 12, 2008 with a little GIRL. However, I am requesting that I be induced at the end of December.

I have been substitute teacher as much as I can.

moths and butterflies

Well we had the moth and 5 butterflies this past week. It has been an interesting experience for all of us. Zachary has loved watching all the stages of both the butterflies and the moth. One of our butterflies wings didn't form correctly. Zachary is very worried about this butterfly when we let them go so i'm I. I'm wondering if we can just keep him and feed. Guess that means more research.

The Buzz!

Well, we have a lot going on right now. First the Moth is still in its cocoon. Then we had 5 catterpillers mailed to us. We are going to grow Butterfiles. YES! these are butterfiles and not moths. We went away Friday night for Mark's and mine anniversary (8 years) and when we got back late Saturday evening the catterpillers where double their size and fat. Last night I noticed that one of the catterpillers was at the top of the container and hanging in a J. This morning he is now in his crystalist. 3 more are fixen to join him and 1 is still eating. Will keep you posted and try to take pictures.

Now the BUZZ! We have a swarm of bees that are making a hive in our wall just outside the kitchen and bay windows. At one time there was around 100 and then all of a sudden there were 500+ flying around and almost completely covering a board and the enterance to the hive. I'll try to take pictures and see if they are clear enough to post.

Remodeling is slow going. We are trying to pick out everything b4 starting. UGH! Mark has commented a couple of times that the #2 reason for a marriage to split is building or remodeling a house due to the lack of communication. We better start communicating more.

later guys!

Butterfly or Moth

Yesterday morning I took the caterpillar out and clean the cage. I replaced him with fresh leaves and 2 sticks. He hasn't been moving much and I had just read that that sometimes mean that they are ready to go into the pupa stage. Then yesterday late afternoon he was hangin upside down on one of the sticks and there was a web like substance. But he didn't stay there. He moved closer to the bottom of the container and he started making a cocoon between the side a leaf the bottom and a stick. By last night you could still see him but he was completely covered with this silk/web stuff. Well this morning we can't see inside the cocoon. I'm also guessing that since it is a cocoon that he will turn into a moth and NOT a butterfly. Zachary has loved watching this whole process, but he is already getting sad about having to let his pet go once it turns into whatever it turns into. Will keep you posted!

Spanish, Italian, Astronomy?

Spanish: apartamento


English: apartment

Spanish: ¿Vive Ud. en una casa o en un apartamento?

English: Do you live in a house or an apartment?


-----------------------------------------------------------



Italian: appartamento


English: apartment

Italian: Abita in una casa o in un appartamento?

English: Do you live in a house or an apartment?



++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We got our Astronomy book and kit in Friday. At first Zachary didn't want to look at it but then he started looking and asking about every picture in the book. So, today will be the first day of our new science. Zachary is excited b/c we have decided to do his room in a space theme.

Science Experiment

Just found this and think it is cool. Zachary was watching Beakmen's World the other day and they did the same thing.

New Pet and pics of remodeling

Here is our New pet. Its name is "Caterpiller". Really it is. We caught this one right outside our patio door asleep (I think). We are giving him 2 leaves a day and he usually has those eaten by the morning. Oh, we have also ordered more catapillers so that we may watch them turn into butterflies. It will be interesting to see both the one we caught and the ones that are in the kit shipped to us turn into a butterfly.

Here are a few pics of the Kitchen. The avacado stove, the blue ,the ugly tile floor, and all the wall paper gone. I can't wait for the new kitchen.

I found 2 more Mad Libs Junior today at Canton, TX. Zachary loves these. I got him this one called "Once Upon a Mad Libs Junior" it has alot of fairy tales stories in it. I also got him "Summer Fun Mad Libs Junior". He took this one and did the 1st story by himself. Writing all the words and reading it. He only needed help on 3 words. I am so glad I found these.

Welcome!

Welcome friends and family! I am going to try and keep a blog of our family and the happenings here in Mt. Pleasant, TX.

We are the Alexander Family. Mark, Kathy, Zachary, Belly (cat) and Pepper (dog) will all be represented here through stories and pictures.

We moved to Mt. Pleasant from Coppell (suburb of Dallas) about 9 months ago. We bought Mark's grandmother's house. It is a big beautifly 2 story house. We are starting to redo the Kitchen and the master bath. I will take pictures and keep you updated on the changes. I also want to redo the master bedroom, Zachary's bedroom, the sun room, the well actually I'd like to redo the entire house.

Mark has moved his company Superior Mortgage Service to Mt. Pleasant; www.superiormortgagetx.com. His business is growing with the help of David Witherspoon. I am responsible for all computer related issues at the business. The office is right across from Glynn's Western Wear which is owned and operated by Mark's parents.

I am in the process of redesign my old website and Mark's business website. My new website will have a new name called www.EducationalPantry.com. I will continue to sell the 3-part flashcards that are inexpensive in a .pdf format. I will be adding other items that people can purchase. I also started taking up painting I will try to download pics of my paintings. Mark wants me to start making soap too. We found some soap at Central Market and Mark loves it and wants me to try and make it. We'll see how this turns out. I am also homeschooling our son, Zachary.

We have decided to place Zachary into public school in Aug. only if certain things fall into place. We want him to get into EC Brice school (we are currently in Corprew). We are also going to request that Zachary take the tests needed to skip Kindergarten. So, if all these things fall into place Zachary will be in PS this Aug. If not we may decide to continue to homeschool.

Zachary is doing great in his studies. I will blog alot about Zachary so get ready! Zachary is a gifted child. He tested into the gifted range when he was 4 yrs old. His achievement scores placed him in 1st grade pretty much across the board at 4 yrs old. Zachary was reading words and 2 years old and read his 1st book at 3. He counted to 100 b4 he turned 2. Now, at 5 years of age Zachary is still ahead of his age peers. He is currently working on a 1st/2nd grade level for most subjects. Here is a list of what we are currently using:

• Abeka 2nd grade math
• Harcourt Science 3rd grade
• The Little Red Writing Book
• K12.com History Kindergarten
• Abeka language 1st grade
• Scott Foresman Social Studies "All Together" 1st grade
• Mad Libs Junior
• Fun Devotionals for boys "Gotta have God"
• Modern Curriculum Press Spelling Workout A
• Spanish
• Think-a-doodles
• Abeka Reading Enrichment books

_____________________________

Curriculum we will start:

• Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy (is ordered and will start as soon as we get it and drop Harcourt Science)
• Story of the World Vol. 1 (already have this and will start when we finish K12.com Histroy)

_______________________________________

We will continue homeschooling till he goes to PS. When school starts we will cut out a lot of what we have been doing. But, I do see us still working a few subjects at home. Zachary is a child that has a huge thurst for knowledge. We only plan on keeping him in PS for a year and then we will start back homeschooling him. We figure that he is ahead of his peers and that he will continue to learn on this fast pace of his and PS will not be able to handle him.

Well, this should be a good start for now! I'll try to post as often as I can.