Today was a good day. We fed the speaker and his friends after the meeting. We had smoked BBQ. Later our family we went to McCormicks Creek. Nyle rode a pony named "Freckles" for about 30 minutes. When he was tired of riding we went to Subway and picked up supper. We got our food to go and went back to the park. We ate and then we played. Nyle loved swinging on the swing. All the while wanting me to push him faster. "Faster daddy Faster!, he kept saying. What he really meant was higher. I pushed him as high as I dare and still that was not enough for him. He has become quite a thrill seeker. We played hard for about 2 hours. Eventually the rest of us, Jen, Papaw, Mama, and I; wanted to go check out the waterfalls. Nyle did not want to leave the swing scene. It took a lot of convincing but he finally acquiesced. We were about to just pick him up and put him in the car, as he was not co-operating, when he made us a deal. He said, "I want to swing just one more time, just one more time." So we agreed with the understanding I would push him just once. He agreed to our terms and the deal was done. So back in to the swing he went. I gave him a big push, as big as I dare, and let him fly. The swing soon ran down and he got out with little fuss. We then went to the waterfalls. Nyle is pretty good at making and then sticking to his deals.
When we got to the falls there were about 100+ steps to get down there. So I made a game of counting them with Nyle. This is fun learning time. I try to never miss a teaching opportunity within our fun time. Nyle was able to count to 13 almost, if not before, he could walk. We have exactly 13 steps in our house. Every time I carried him up the stairs I would count them off. Soon he was counting them with me. I also incorporated some ABC's in our step counting today. Instead of counting them all we recited the ABC's for a few runs of the steps today. Nyle can already recite nearly all of them. Again, when he was just a little, guy going up and down our stairs I would recite the ABC's. Of course with 13 steps you have to double up on the letters for each step. If you do these things your children will learn them without even trying. It's fun for them and it's fun for the parents.
I think if we work with him he will be able to read some easy stories to the new baby by the time he/she is born. He's definitely smart enough to have some advanced training. Nyle wants to learn to read. He loves books and stories. One of his most favorite places to go is the library. He also wants to learn to drive. He can already drive his electric four-wheeler with some degree of expertise.
I know I am going on and on about my boy, but that's what this blog is about. I want a record of his growing up experience. This is really not to be an entertaining sort of blog. For that you need to go to Heathers Random Thoughts. She has much more interesting things to share.
On a different note I would like to state for the record I am seriously trying to become a college graduate. I went to the local Jr college a few weeks a go and tested out off all the pre-requisite courses. I passed Reading and English with a 91% accuracy the first time I took the Compass test. I did not do so well on the math. So I studied a week and went back and took the math again. This time I scored a 65. My first attempt I scored a 41. I did not study at all the first time I took it. I just went in and asked what I needed to do to get a degree. I shortly ended up taking the Compass test. So with a week of study I was asked to go to college. It's been over 28 years since I went to any school.
I talked to my Coordinator, as the P.O. is now known as, about trying to get a college degree. He said he thought it was just fine as long as I wasn't violating christian principles or involved with courses that would be contrary to Biblical teachings. That comforted me some. I really believe that this is a good move for my family. I intend to do most of my studying during my free time at work. So it won't take away time from my family or other spiritual obligations. So I asked myself, why not? A degree is worth about $60,000 more a year for me and my family. It's "low hanging fruit" for a person in my position. Also, I will be reimbursed for at least 50% of the cost of going from my place of employment. This includes the cost of taking a CLEP test. That is a test you take to "skip" college level classes like, English Comp, Psychology, College Algebra, Calculus, and almost any college course you can name. In fact their are a couple colleges that will accept CLEP credits for up to a Masters degree. You do have to be an alumni for one semester in order for you to be considered as "graduating" from their college. That cost about $2400. CLEP tests are about $80 a piece. You need 120 credits for a Bachelors degree. Each test score nets you about 3 credits. That's about 40 CLEP's for a total of $3200.00 plus another $2400 to be an alumni. So for about $5600 I can get a Bachelors degree. That is about 1/10 of what one will cost you if you go the traditional route. And I get to do it at my own pace with no home work assignments! It's like college homeschooling. So I am going to try it out for a fit and see.
Well it is late and I need to go to bed. I work tomorrow and I need some rest after today's adventures. More will be added later.
