A missive from the trenches

We have survived the first day of school!

And we even remembered to take pictures!

So the morning started out with a family bike ride to Fisher's school. Nobody fell down, and everyone had fun.

(Don't worry, Mom--he wore a helmet, as did Rhys. You can't really see it in this picture, but it's in there hanging from the lock.)

Jim sneaked a few photos through the window once Fisher had gone in to class:

Then once we'd ridden safely home again, Rhys and I embarked on the first-ever official day of Jedi Temple Academy. We started off with a game of Set (at which Rhys more or less kicked my butt), then drove to Target to pick up a few odds and ends for the rest of the day. Including chalk, which Rhys insisted he needed for "real school" (the kind he plays with Fisher):

When math time was over, we did some much-needed home economics practice (we stripped the beds, washed the sheets and got dinner going in the Crock-Pot.) Then we needed some exercise! We decided to ride our bikes around the block five times... once again, accomplished without mishap. (Though we didn't actually make it to five. After four loops, Rhys had had enough.)

After that, we read part of one of our (many many) library books about knights--in particular, the section on heraldry. We brainstormed for a while and came up with a great design for our...

...homeschool coat of arms.

The castle represents home... it's a homeschool... no-brainer. The quill and scroll, writing and creativity. (And yes, it DOES look like a quill, not an errant leaf. Shut up.) The heart... luuuuuuv, of course. Awww. The book... I'll let you figure that one out for yourselves.

Then after a jointly-prepared lunch and a little quality Animal Planet time, it was time to do some handwriting practice (the only official curriculum we're using at this point--Handwriting Without Tears. Fisher's school uses the same program, and the quality of the kids' printing in his class last year was incredible.) Today: the amazing letters F and E!

And then after some messing about with scissors and a couple games of Toot and Otto, it was time to go pick Fisher up.

Which is when the poop hit the fan.

About five blocks from home and four blocks from Fisher's school, Rhys steered his bike into a pile of rocks on the side of the road... flew off his bike... and skidded to a halt on his face. He tore up his lips so badly I thought at first he'd knocked out a tooth. And because we were closer to school than home, we just had to keep riding so I could get him to the nurse's office and fix him up.

One tooth is rimmed in blood and awful wobbly-looking. Next few days should tell whether it's a goner or not... fortunately, it's a baby tooth.

But Fisher had a great day at school and Papa was there to see him at the end of the day, so he drove Rhys home and spared him the trauma of further bicycling misadventure.

(Fisher just came in and informed me Rhys has fallen asleep on the family room floor. Awwwww. If it makes him take a nap, we'll do six-hour school days every day.)

Comments

[Melissa]

Aww...poor guy...after such a great day, too! Congrats on your first day of Jedi Temple Academy...here's to many more!

[Jennifer Adams Donnelly]

Oh... poor guy. But sounds like a great day, otherwise!

[Herm]

Hooray for Jedi Temple Academy: Where Great Minds Read About Knights. And hooray for Fisher, who's looking awfully grown. Sniff.

Any chance you have an extra copy of Handwriting w/o Tears? My writing makes me weep, or at least squint in puzzlement.

[Amy Sorensen]

You amaze me! I hope every day is as good as the first day of JTA!

[Mimi]

Congratulations on a mostly good first day. Sorry to hear about the bike accident.

[summer]

Poor Rhys~May he be healed promptly, though it *is* frustrating to heal "regular" and "without the aid of socery" my 5 year-old godson Owen has just informed me when I told him this story. Owen is a steadfast opposer to helmets and thusly, never gets to ride when we all go out. I keep waiting for him to break as he has to be may to ride in the "baby" wagon with, *ahem* Caden the baby, but he's still holding out.

Your Academy sounds wonderful. I should enroll my husband in your handwriting class.

[wendysmedley]

Big day for you!
Wendy

[Wanda E. Santiago]

Poor baby the lip is looking like it hurts. Looks like you are keeping him busy!! Hugs Wanda