Slideshow of these Indian Ladder Farm Pics <-- click on this link to see more of these pics :)
Its tradition at this point...gotta take that yearly pic in front of the pink leafed bush at Indian Ladders Farm lol...the kids had a great time and topped the day with apple cider (of course) and other goodies from their country store.
Got them at Stantons Farm in Feura Bush....their prices beat Olsens by a LONG SHOT at 2 huge pots for 40 bucks...then 3 smaller pots for 13.
Well my son has returned to public school for 9th grade. The local news aired a clip of my children running into the highschool to dodge the rain that day Zach had to pick up his schedule - the kids taped it on DVR and replay it in slow-mo for the added comedic relief it provides lol.
This is a list of some of the texts the kids are using this year. The younger two children are also studying 9th grade level Biology, World History and Algebra.
Biology - The Living Environment (Prentice Hall)
World History - Patterns of Interaction (McDougal Littell)
Algebra (Prentice Hall)
In addition to Algebra, Jacob is completing Saxon Math 6/5
All the kids are currently reading GOODBYE VIETNAM by Gloria Whelan
For Vocabulary the kids are still using HOT WORDS FOR THE SAT
Rachael has been learning Japanese but I believe she is switching to Chinese since Zach is now taking Mandarin Chinese in public school.
Rachael is taking guitar and fiddle lessons...gotta see about getting Zach his lessons back-to-back with Rachael's so as to conserve on gas and time lol Jacob wants to learn drums. GREAT. lol 
Test Dates and Fees
Dates
In 2008, high schools may administer the PSAT/NMSQT on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 or Saturday, October 18, 2008.
Fees
The fee for the 2008 PSAT/NMSQT is $13. (Note: Schools sometimes charge an additional fee to cover administrative costs.) The College Board makes fee waivers available to schools for students in eleventh grade from low-income families who can't afford the test fee. See your counselor for more information about fee waivers.
Homeschoolers can take Regents Exams yay!!! <--click on that !!! 
This is a beautiful thing because my two younger darlings can take those exams and use those scores to help apply for colleges. I love homeschooling *happy sigh* lol
Just had a meeting at the High School with my son's guidance counselor. He is being placed in all honors courses. 
Chalk another one up for homeschoolers YAY!! lol...I.
My oldest son will be taking Honors Biology, Algebra, English and Social Studies...he was going to be placed in AP Social Studies but that class would have taken up two periods of class time, and he really wanted to take a computer class. So pretty soon he'll be doing programming. And he's going to be in orchestra and learning Chinese. *Motherly pride beaming so brightly*
E-Book Express <--- click on that to find lots of wonderful E-Books...this is great because I know I am not the only mother in the world with a boy who has Asperger's
Currently his issues are tactile defensiveness, particularly when it comes to the various textures of PAPER, paper towels, and yes, even paper in BOOKS...so this is why E-Books are so wonderful. I just found this link in my email from The Old Schoolhouse, so thanks guys!!
It used to be that glossy pages in books would suffice to deal with this issue, but now that's a problem too. Also several months ago, he began this obsessive compulsion with needing his bedsheets changed if anyone (besides me, lol) so much as TOUCHED his bed, even while in passing. It is not uncommon when friends come over, to hear Jacob say, "would you please make sure that you don't touch my bed?" Hey, at least he says "please" lol...the friends, thank goodness, are very understanding, but you'll still find me, from time to time, putting his favorite blanket in the wash at 10:30 at night (or even later God forbid), because "[someone] touched it".
People who have not walked a mile in my shoes cannot relate to or understand the anguish a child such as Jacob experiences over these kinds of things that they obsess about. It's less discomfort or aggravation for me to simply wash the blanket than to fight him on this issue and tell him to "deal with it"...I know my child, he would lose sleep all night over this issue. If you have never dealt with a child with this problem, you may sit in judgement, but you'll never have a true understanding of what it is to empathize with your child who you know is obsessing and losing sleep over something that would be of no consequence to the "rest" of "us".
My friend Diane and I have had many conversations regarding the ignorant people we have encountered (relatives included!) through our trevails with our Asperger-y boys. We had dinner at their house two Fridays ago...she is considering homeschooling her son this year. He has been in school the past two years but she thinks perhaps this year they may return to homeschooling. I say GO FOR IT HONEY haha...
My oldest is going to highschool this year, he is so excited. I spent about $500 at JC Penney's two weeks ago (they were having a great sale, and I had coupons to boot) and also got him set with all his school supplies too because Rite Aid was having a wonderful sale. So, needless to say, I won't be among those clamoring at the last minute to get their child ready for school. My children are the center of my world and I wouldn't have it any other way :)
If you want to see the rest of the pics from this excursion, go to
http://brandonstrail.tripod.com/id4.html
Rach and her friend Sammi have been literally counting down the days until this book release, Breaking Dawn. So Friday night, I dropped the gang off at Barnes n Noble and finally a little after midnight I got the call from Rach, "Mom I finally got the new book! I can't wait to read it!" (The new book was released for purchase at midnight - kind of like the time I took the kids to EB games so that Jacob could reserve a copy of Super Smash Bros. Brawl)
This event had many activities and contests centered around the books and their characters. Rach said she felt underdressed - many females there were wearing dresses that could pass for prom gowns lol.
Tonight I met my mom out at Olive Garden with the kids for dinner before my nephew leaves this week. We have lots of things to do before he leaves, to cram in the last-minute fun before he goes back to West Palm. Wow the time always flies when he's here. Its been a fun summer packed with friends, bike riding, trips to the park, my mom's, the lake, the mall, their favorite restaurants, their favorite take out, making films, taking photos, playing board games, reading, playing guitar, picnics, movies and of course, playing video games. lol
These children are THE BEST. God love 'em!
Oh yeah I received their standardized tests scores...they did GREAT!! They scored very high in all the subjects, so I think I'll give myself another pat on the back haha 
http://zachshomeschool.tripod.com/id34.html
http://rachieshomeschool.tripod.com/id35.html
http://jacobshomeschool.tripod.com/id31.html
This past schoolyear was challenging due to health issues, but we faced them together as a solid unit, a family dedicated to helping each other through the tough times, and I thank God everyday for the beautiful sweet children he has given me the privilege of raising. I love the fact that despite the realities my children have had to face, they remain happy, well-adjusted, sweet and optimistic about life and their futures.
There were only "happy clouds" in the sky LOL, no angry clouds haha
I took the kids and one of Rachie's friends to Lake George, we spent the whole afternoon there-then I picked up some pizzas from Pizza Hut for them and had them eat at one of their favorite parks. 
Just taking a moment before bed to Thank GOD for the sweet darlings I have been blessed with.
They really are adorable, and aware of their spiritual need, and developing into caring human beings. I feel proud and privelaged to have spent all my time and energy on molding them into the people they are today. I couldn't be happier with who they are, and considering the hell they have been through in recent years, it's been no small feat keeping things together and holding down the fort, all the while maintaining a healthy educational and social routine for them. I could not have made it this far without the caring and concern of my family, friends and of course, JEHOVAH.
I am truly blessed!! I am delivering quarterly reports to the homeschooling office tomorrow. WOW does time really fly or what? lol
Zach's:
http://zachshomeschool.tripod.com/id32.html
Rach's:
http://rachieshomeschool.tripod.com/id33.html
Jake's:
http://jacobshomeschool.tripod.com/id29.html
see? ahead of the extension schedule as originally thought
My next reports for this current quarter are due on April 21st, so that won't be a problem at all.
I'm all over it
I had called the homeschooling office a few weeks ago telling them that my quarterly reports were going to be late due to my children's scabies situation (which THANK GOD is almost OVER yay!)...so I have until April 1st to submit them, but I know I will get them in much sooner, probably 2nd week in March according to my calculations. I already set up the templates of their reports on their homeschooling sites so all I've have to do is just fill in the content and grades once I am ready to wrap up our academic agenda for this past quarter. The district has been aware of what has been going on with my children since the beginning of this scabies nightmare, so they have been very helpful and understanding.
I have been taking java computer programming, so I am going to introduce my children to the java computer language too. Hey, you can never start too early LOL
Today the kids and I spent the afternoon going over the Democratic Presidential hopefuls and the Republican Presidential hopefuls (UPDATE: Romney is QUITTING the presidential race LOL). They learned their personal histories and we reviewed the basic differences between the Republican and Democratic parties, the ideologies involved, the core of what it means to be "Liberal" or "Conservative"...so naturally the subject of fascism and communism came up. The kids were pretty animated when engaged in a spirited discussion over the impact (or potential impact) that fiscally conservative Republican-sponsored legislation has on the middle class and the poor. Nevertheless, being Christian, the children realize that they are to remain neutral in all things political and military. *motherly pride beaming*!!!
Off to do MORE LAUNDRY