Last night we started in on RealScience-4-Kids. We read the first chapter on the periodic table of elements last night and plan to do the first experiment this evening. This really does feel like a good program. The first couple of experiments do not seem like much, but I might feel better about them after we get them done. Starting with the third experiment, it appears they really get more interesting.

Kelly is working very hard on getting caught up on her World Book CD research work. When she finishes that, we should be on course to finish our homeschool by the end of May. That would give the kids a couple of weeks to just goof around until we leave for Mexico. We had been thinking we could take off for Mexico at the very end of May. I checked into Lorena’s schedule for Linn-Benton Community College yesterday and it does not appear that we will be able to leave until the third week in June because her final exam will be the week of June 10. We are now thinking that I will accompany the family down to Mexico for the first week, but Lorena and the kids will stay in Mexico for an entire month.

We hope to find a teacher who can give Kelly and Christian Spanish classes three or four days per week for an hour per day. I think that would help them tremendously. We are also thinking that Kelly can write an article for the local Albany newspaper about her stay down there. Christian can take some photographs and we can turn it in with the idea that they might publish it. If they don’t, it will still have been a very good exercise for Kelly, more exposure to the newspaper, and a great record of our trip.