On Monday Neil went on a field trip that ran until 6 pm. Kelly was too young to tag along if I were a chaperone, so we had our own field trip and went to the beach.
Everyone has a favorite beach. Peter loves the windy overcast beaches on the coast south of Half Moon Bay, [...]
Last Saturday, the boys from across the street invited us to a birthday party for a friend of theirs. The party was being held at their place, and the kids have been good company for Neil and Kelly. I went over with them since it was a pool party, and while Kelly loves being in [...]
For Mother’s Day, I wanted nothing else than to visit one of my favorite art museums, the Legion of Honor in San Francisco, and see the Annie Leibovitz photography exhibit with my family. With gas prices being has high as they are, a trip to San Francisco is becoming a treat. I’d also upgraded my [...]
Last month, I registered Kelly for public school. It was remarkably stressful. In his kindergarten year, I vaguely remembered having registered Neil for school in February, and knowing he’d gotten into the district’s science magnet school in April. But this year when I called the school district in February, they told me I wouldn’t be [...]
My experience with Neil’s fourth grade teacher was more than disappointing, and as a result, I started schooling him at home that spring and summer. Neil astounded me with what he could do once expectations were raised: not only was he an enthusiastic mathematician, he was a capable illustrator, a diligent scientist, a phenomenally persuasive [...]
A few years ago, two houses on my street sold for prices that astounded even those of us who are used to skyrocketing California real estate prices. But then, both houses had been extensively remodelled and staged. What was unusual was the people who bought the homes. I wouldn’t have thought a guy who washed [...]
As a boy scout, Neil completes merit badge requirements. I’m still new to how the process goes, but when I bought him the books for several merit badges, I was surprised to discover how very well they would fit into my homeschooling curriculum for him. For instance, the Astronomy merit badge requirements will function beautifully [...]
Last year, I discovered for sure that I wanted to teach Neil myself through the middle-school years and possibly beyond. Since I’m not doing this through a public school program or through an umbrella or charter school, the California State Department of Education requires me to register the school as a small private school. And [...]
With gas prices soon to reach $4 a gallon, Peter and I are happy to explore alternatives to driving. Peter’s move to offices downtown has certainly helped. This morning, he biked to work on a route that’s mostly car-free and only took him 35 minutes.
Biking is absolutely the best way to go, but unfortunately, Kelly’s [...]
