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Here it is now, the next afternoon. I've configured the TiVos for the new network and unplugged the Airport Express audio/print server for now. I did another speed test and things are more as I'd expect. I suspect that perhaps the TiVos might have been congesting the wireless network trying to connect to the old network. Endless babbling of "hello, McFly???" might have clogged the network with packet collisions and interference. Downloads are now back in the 3 megabit range again. Last night things were approaching dialup rates. It was pathetic.

The girls had a few friends over this afternoon and we watched Narnia on DVD. Unfortunately, the boys were busy enough that Michelle STILL hasn't seen the movie. *sigh* I must say, the movie was as good as I remember, although less impressive on "the small screen".

My family is watching Narnia right now- Tom bought it today- now that we have a DVD player in the car it seems to make sense to own some of the better movies, but I certainly won't be buying the Spongebob movie that is near the top of our Netflix list!
I talked to Mom about the boys' screening today and she said that Michelle was happy with all the people who worked with the boys- I'm glad. I'm sure whatever they suggest will be beneficial to the boys. It's good they they get help earlier than later.
Are the kids excited about Easter? How about Abby- is she excited about her birthday and First Communion? Kyle can't wait for his birthday. He wants balloons, party hats, and wrapping paper!
I'll try to send you some pics from today's fashion show later, but I might just go to bed.
Goodnight!
Lys

Hi Lyss,
You have a DVD player in your van? Is it one of those permanant mounted setups or something more portable? Does it do okay when you run in the day, ie. does the daylight wash out the screen?

Crafty Abby hand made invitations to her party last week. Planning has begun. I recently got Abby two books for her First Communion:
http://amazon.com/o/ASIN/0809167085/ - Child's Guide to First Holy Communion
and
http://amazon.com/o/ASIN/0967943728/ - Today I Made My First Communion
Claire's been looking them over as well, even though she's 'an old pro'. ;-)

At our quiet dinner last night we talked about the boys' screening a lot. I'm glad that Michelle is handling things so well. I would have bet anything that she was going to take it as a statement against her ability as a mother. Luckily, she's seen what Claire and Abby are like, and the advisors reassured her as well. We also wondered if there isn't a bit of gender involved there. 95% of the kids who were there at the screening yesterday were boys. Perhaps when parents compare them to the development of their daughters, they find them different in their ability to sit, listen, and focus because they're, well, boys?

Good morning,
Scott

Yes, after our last school auction we got a DVD player installed- we made it a Christmas present. We actually saved a marriage for it. An older man placed a bid on it to get the bidding started, thinking it was a videa camera, and then no one else bid- his wife was so mad...I saw them later and told them what a great deal they got, half price of the value... but they don't have any grandkids or a van, so they sold it to us! We had it installed right after Christmas (that was included in the price), and the kids love it. I never actually see it, since I sit in front, but I haven't heard any complaints, although they really are only in the car for any amount of time to watch a movie when it is dark in the evenings.
I would have a hard time saying it's a boy thing, I don't know. Based on my own kids, 4 boys, only 1 so far has a hard time paying attention, which I noticed when he was really little, but he just got all As on his report card. I think there are just as many little girls out there who have difficulty sitting still, following directions... But definitely Michelle should never blame herself... we do what we can...and I know she has worked with them and all of your kids lots...it's just who they are, and they will be fine. You guys are finding out how to help them, and that's what they need from you. They are happy and healthy, right? If you want to go with the boy/girl situation, you could just as easily go with birth order- who knows? It doesn't matter though, they will be fine.
Hang in there!
Lys

Hi Lyss,

I don't mean to imply that because all of my boys had things to be addressed that all boys do or that you should expect it of your four boys. Certainly Timothy has real and obvious issues. But I found it odd that so many of the attendees at the child screening were boys.

My point was that perhaps there are gender characteristics more common in little boys that make it a little more difficult for them to adjust to a classroom environment -- unless they've been doing daycare and preschool for most of their childhood. Indeed, number of children and birth order might be other factors.

The closest thing the twins have had to a classroom setting is the hour that they spend at the YMCA when Michelle attends or teaches a step class. All of a sudden there's this set of strangers each asking them a bunch of questions. The level of anxiety I sensed in Michael was pretty high. The level of "I don't want to do this", "why do I have to do this?" He really wasn't used to it. It was all too new. He wouldn't look the examiner in the eye. He would mimick them in low muffled tones. He was borderline Rainman in behavior. An hour later he was back home and speaking his mind loudly and clearly in much better sentences. How do you test someone who won't cooperate with the test?

I remember when Will first turned 4 there was a little basketball class for 4-7 year olds- I thought he looked like a "special" child (PC?) because he had no idea how to follow directions, and most of the other kids had some experience since they were older and in school of some sort- he didn't get the concept of getting in line, taking turns, listening to the coach, but with experience, most of the time he follows directions just fine now. It would have made it difficult for any kind of test though!
I know you weren't implying that one of my boys should have troubles because they are boys, I was just relating my experience. I think we got into a disageement once before though about characterizing things as "boy" or "girl" tendencies but about adults, remember? I have a hard time doing that- I try not to expext different things or judge or assume anything about anyone because they are boys or girls, that's all. I do find it odd that most of the people there were boys too, but would most likely just thought of it as coincidence, not generalized that boys have more trouble with paying attention. Maybe Suzanne has some insight coming with her professional experience of personality studies. Hopefully the school system has the proper tools to test the boys no matter how difficult or unfamiliar it is for them, the same for Timothy with his hearing tests. I wish you guys luck with dealing with all this and I hope the boys don't get frustrated- maybe they can think it is fun or cool to talk to teachers like Claire and Abby do!?!? Encourage them to try- bribery might work!
Good luck!
Lys

This morning Michelle and I were recalling Claire's first few days in school. "Get in line?" What does that mean?! It took a long time for her to break the intimate kind of instruction a home school provided. There are dynamics you have in one-on-one instruction that just won't scale to work at a classroom level. Abby had an easier time, but I think she could get some idea of how things go from observing Claire.

Just to be clear on one thing you said, I try not to "pre-expect" that an *individual* has a trait just because of their gender. But it doesn't preclude me from believing that each gender, as a *whole*, have proclivities (albeit not insurmountable ones) towards certain strengths and weaknesses.

Not that I in any way want to re-open the old discussion which shall not be named...

I'm glad that we have some decent resources to draw on here in our local school district.