Field trip to The Fort at No 4

I set up this field trip to coincide with my co-op class and our study of the book Calico Captive and the history or the French and Indian War. It was a fun and educational day. Plan to go back to the Fort for one of their special events or reenactments at some point.

Life Scout

Tristan's been busy with Boy scouting over the summer. There was summer camp, fundraising, a parade and some merit badge work. he also acted as senior patrol leader for camp and a few meetings after the former SPL aged out and went off to college. Tonight was a court of honor where the boys were awarded badges they'd earned at camp and over the summer as well as any new earned ranks. Tristan received 4 merit badges and his life scout rank. The scouts did some skits at the court of honor, watched a slideshow, received awards and the had some refreshments.

Flurry ran out of fight

Flurry the kitten passed away. I guess she was always sicker than we were willing to admit to ourselves. The veterinarian was gentle in his explanations of her illnesses and let us have some time to hope but she was too sick to go on very long. Looking back at pictures of her she looks sicker than I think we "saw" her at the time. Especially in comparison to her sister Felix. We really did think she would eventually do well, or maybe just REALLY wanted her to and tried to make it happen that she would be well by simple willpower. She lost her fight and went downhill quickly at the end. She was always sick from the day we adopted her but Flurry had her moments, she had spirit and fight in her and had some good times in spite of her illness. We will miss her and what could have been.

Homeschool, year 15, Day 1

Today began our 15th year of homeschooling! New year and new curriculum. For Tristan (and at co-op) I'm using Paths of Settlement with extension. Other curriculum and resources we will use this year are Apologia Physical science, Physics 101 (when it comes out), the Great Courses Math Fundamentals and Algebra, America-The Last Best Hope (older boys through co-op) and as usual anything that fits a need through the year.

It's very different this year, all boys! Hayley has graduated!! Another change it that, youngest child Tristan is starting high school!!! Trevor and Colin are so independent and doing all their courses through co-op or independently. So it's just me and Tristan for full on homeschooling, or should I say Tristan, me and....furry friends!

Tristan gets some "help" from Felix and Flurry.

Flurry studies the teacher's manual.

Homeschool with kittens=chaos!

Felix checks out the water routes of the early explorers.

Felix wants that pencil, Felix REALLY wants that pencil!

Felix snatched the pencil and tried to bury it!

Flurry is ready for read aloud time.

Now THIS looks fun!

Felix will help paint.

 

Tired kittens after their first day of homeschooling.

Kittens, Flurry doing better

Flurry is finally doing better. I'm not sure if she's out of the woods yet but she's far more comfortable, growing and keeping down 80-90% of her meals. We tried several kitten foods but only one seems to work for her and I'm not intending to switch now and fine out if any others work! Wellness grain free canned kitten food seems to work for her. Also feeding her little bits at a time, watering it down and feeding her separately from Felix all help. This way she eats more slowly and we can monitor how much she eats. Flurry is now up to 14.6 ounces (415 grams) and has had steady growth for the past week. She goes back to the vet again next week. Hopeful that we'll get a good report. It would be great if her problems are something she will simply outgrow. She didn't seem to have the best start in life, maybe with continued care she will eventually be just like a normal cat. She is happier, plays longer and even purrs sometimes.

 

the trouble with kittens...

The trouble with kittens is that they're so cute you want to spend time with them rather than working. The trouble with the tiny kitten, Flurry, is that she still isn't doing well. She has good times but she still has a lot of hard times too. I've called the vet in a panic more than once since this began. We've tried all the things there are to try that are non-invasive and she's so small, putting her through something invasive could kill her. Trying, so hard, to figure out why she can't seem to keep down her food and what we can do to fix what hurts her. It's so hard and I've spent sleepless nights worrying about how to fix this. She seems particularly sick in the late afternoons and can cry so pitifully, it's upsetting. I've ordered some grain free kitten food to see if that helps at all.

 

Flurry loves sitting on the power adapter (or whatever it's called) for the laptop. it is warm! We have a heating pad for her too.

Playing in the sun.

Flurry

Felix

Flurry sleeping in the way that seems to help her feel better after a meal.

Freeze checks out the kennel that the kittens sleep in at night. We need a safe spot for them when they're unattended until Flurry grows more.

VBS

We helped at the vacation bible school in Goffstown this week. I didn't get many pictures because I was too busy shepherding 5th and 6th graders! Hayley helped in the crafts department and Tristan helped shepherd 1st and 2nd graders. The theme was international spy academy. It was a fun week and all the children seemed to have a good time and hopefully learned some things. I know those catchy tunes will stay in my head for a good long while!