Family - Trailblazers Home School

Chris = Tennis

Richard — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 08:18:49 +0000

Today in homeschool, Chris had some fun playing tennis.

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Three Corner Flies as we Run for our Lives!

Christopher — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 19:46:49 +0000

Feathered Fury and Frightened Flight through the Forest We were literally about to embark on our ride. The birds were fluttering their tiny wings like physics was just a suggestion, and those pesky squirrels were, once again, having a field day in our strawberries. (Seriously, do they pay rent?) Anyway, we shrugged it off and started moving. Then I saw the sky – a truly unique masterpiece. I suggested we look up, and that’s when Dad, bless his observant eyes, saw something else entirely. “A bird! It’s holding a large snake!” he exclaimed, looking like he’d just won the lottery. Naturally, I followed him. And there it was. “The Bird,” as he so eloquently put it, fluttering around with a substantial snake dangling from its beak. Dad, being the resident bird whisperer, immediately identified it as our red-shouldered hawk, the one who apparently pays property visits. Oh, nature, you beautiful, brutal, and utterly baffling thing! We did manage to squeeze in a respectable three miles on that ride, by the way. And yes, there was a second ride to Lake Devin in the evening. On our way out to Lke Devin The Frog We Saw (and the Flies That Almost Ate Us) When we finally made it to Lake Devin, we spotted a fisherman doing his fisherman thing, probably contemplating the meaning of life or how to untangle his line. The local frog chorus was in full swing, providing the soundtrack. We spotted a lone tree in the distance, some electricity poles crackling and humming their electric tunes, and a rather sturdy metal bridge. We crossed said bridge, the poles buzzing like angry bees, and miraculously, made it to the start of the trail without a single tick! I mean, this is tick central, people! It was a minor miracle. Looking out over Lake Devin as I walk across the foot bridge leading to the nature trail. Then, the journey began. I, with my eagle eyes (or maybe just good luck), spotted a small frog. It was practically a master of camouflage, blending in so perfectly I almost walked right past it. But I saw him! My proudest moment of the day, honestly. The little frog I found. Big Problem! (Or, How I Discovered My Inner Marathon Runner) Leaving dad in the dust as we run for our lives. Just when things were feeling all peaceful and idyllic, disaster struck. We encountered flies. Not just any flies, mind you. Dad, ever the expert on all things creepy-crawly, informed me they might be “quarter-inch flies,” and then, with a dramatic pause, warned me they’d “hurt like a bee sting!” As soon as those words left his mouth, a switch flipped. My inner Olympian woke up. I took off running. For half a mile. With only one, maybe two, two-second breaks. My dad, bless his heart, had no choice but to join me in this impromptu sprint, because, let’s face it, half a mile is a long way when you’re being hunted by tiny, stinging demons. Nature, man. It really does change everything. Sometimes for the hilarious, sometimes for the terrifying, but always for the unforgettable.

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Do Not Try This At Home

Christopher — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:41:29 +0000

Don’t Try This at Home (Unless “Home” is a 50 MPH Highway) You know the title, so let’s just get this out of the way: Do not ride your bike on 50 MPH roads. Seriously. My dad and I just did, and while it was eventually hilarious, it started with a lot of questionable decision-making. The Calm Before the Storm (of Semi-Trucks) It was June 17, 2025. A lovely morning, really. Puddles from yesterday’s rain shimmered, squirrels did their squirrelly thing, and the faint sound of wind rustling leaves was utterly idyllic. My dad and I set off on our morning bike ride, oblivious to the impending chaos. I was in charge of the route, which, in hindsight, was my first mistake. As we pedaled along, I noticed a distinct lack of squirrels. This should have been my first clue that we were heading somewhere less… critter-friendly. The traffic started to get heavier, and then Dad hit the brakes at a traffic light. That’s when he dropped the bombshell: “Any direction forward is a 50 MPH zone.” His suggestion? Turn around. My response? “Nah, my legs are tired, and going left is a more direct way home.” Yes, folks, my desire for a slightly shorter route trumped common sense and basic self-preservation. Dad, bless his trusting heart, agreed, promising to “watch my back.” Little did he know, he’d be watching a lot more than just my back. The Need for Speed (and a Very Wide Shoulder) Dad, ever the strategist, told me to get into the left turning lane like we were, you know, an actual car. It felt bizarre, and frankly, a little terrifying. He was stressing me out, chanting about going as soon as the light turned green. My already tired legs were now fueled by pure adrenaline and mild panic. The light changed, we made our left turn without incident, and thankfully, the bike shoulder was wide. Plenty of space! Or so I thought. Then, out of nowhere, a semi-truck roared past, sounding less like a vehicle and more like a jet engine trying to swallow my soul. I swear it sounded like an airhorn had taken up residence in my ear canal. I found myself riding in the gravel, trying to meld with the earth to escape the sheer loudness. My whole world was shaking! And then, because the universe has a wicked sense of humor, a pickup truck with a trailer came barreling by, making the semi sound like a gentle lullaby. My mind was officially blown. Who knew a pickup could pack more decibel punch than an 18-wheeler? Puddle Paradise and Paternal Drenching Just when I thought my eardrums might explode, Dad pulled a fast one. He knew a shortcut! We veered into a bank parking lot, then through an elementary school that was thankfully closed for summer. The school’s bus corral had a gravel drive, deeply rutted from a year’s worth of tiny humans and massive yellow vehicles. But then I saw it. The Mona Lisa of puddles. The Mount Everest of muddy water. It was enormous, dark, and promised pure, unadulterated slime. Who could deny such a magnificent aquatic adventure? Not me! I flew through it, water spraying in a glorious, uninhibited arc. My big mountain bike tires churned through the muck like it was a freshly paved road. It was awesome. Then I looked over at Dad. He was frowning. More than frowning, actually. He was completely, utterly, and magnificently drenched in foul, sickening, disgusting, swamp water that I had enthusiastically sprayed at least 20 feet in every direction. What a good ride we had today. I mean, he’ll dry eventually, right? Have you ever had a bike ride go hilariously wrong (or right, depending on your perspective)? Share your stories in the comments!

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A Morning Ride: More Than Just Exercise

Christopher — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 15:09:08 +0000

A Morning Ride: More Than Just Exercise On the morning of June 16, 2025, my father and I embarked on our routine bike ride. Despite the previous night’s rain, our spirits were high, eager to embrace the fresh air and the day ahead. As we set off, the sounds of nature surrounded us, and I found a simple joy in navigating the many puddles on our path. An Unexpected Encounter As we rounded a corner, we noticed a woman in the distance. Dressed in typical exercise attire, she appeared to be calling out, seemingly distressed. Upon closer approach, it became clear she was searching for something, likely a lost pet. We paused, offered our assistance, and after a brief conversation, learned she was indeed looking for her dog. We assured her that we would keep an eye out and notify her if we saw anything unusual. We then continued on our route, still encountering numerous puddles. The Search and a Brief Setback A short while later, my attention was drawn to a brown dog in a nearby yard. It was sniffing the ground and appeared to be without a leash or owner, suggesting it might be the lost pet. I alerted my father, who agreed it was a strong possibility. My father decided to return and inform the owner, while I remained to monitor the dog. However, as I cautiously approached, the dog quickly darted away, disappearing behind a house. I attempted to follow on my bike, but it had vanished. A Happy Resolution My father soon rejoined me, having successfully located the owner, who was now walking in our direction. I shared the unfortunate news that I had lost sight of the dog. Despite this, my father remained optimistic, reassuring me that “It’ll be okay” and commenting on my thoroughly wet appearance. His positive outlook was encouraging, and I continued my search as he left to accompany the woman. While I continued my efforts, I still couldn’t locate the dog. However, my father soon approached, visibly excited. He explained that as he and the owner walked toward my last known location, the dog had unexpectedly doubled back to the road. Upon seeing its owner, the dog eagerly ran towards her, resulting in a joyful reunion. I was genuinely happy to witness this positive outcome. This experience served as a reminder that even during a routine activity, opportunities can arise to contribute positively to our community. Have you ever experienced an unexpected moment of community connection during your daily routine?

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Homeschooling, Week 1 Overview

Richard — Sun, 16 Jun 2024 15:18:52 +0000

NOW THAT I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION! cool bird huh? Chris was there and loved it. What was week 1 like for him? Well… Every day was like a field trip. The next video doesn’t have a screaming bird, but it DOES have a lady in a cape TPing kids in a library with a leaf blower. My god what fun. https://avxpro.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/science-heroes-short-for-website-lower-quality.mp4 As you already know, he went on a nature walk at the lake and something else. I can’t even remember the first day was of this writing. On socializing: We’re making progress. No meaningful connections yet but I see myself using the website to start a parent group if he decides to do homeschooling in a permanent sense. AVXPRO has become a swiss army knife for the family and I love it. In the Classroom: He came to me ABSYMAL. He didn’t know his constitution, all three branches of government, or even what a noun was. The school taught him how to pass the tests… like a cheat sheet. Good for the school but pretty bad for him. Digging deeper, I found his ADHD much more severe than I previously realized. He doesn’t really know what ADHD is and he considers it unmanageable. He even has trouble eating… it’s affected his weight and his self esteem. I asked him about stress management tactics and he responded “IDK”. I breathed a silent prayer and we got started right away, top priority. Enter the book: “Thriving with ADHD” by Kelli Miller. Photobomb by the family cat who is quickly becoming a classroom mascott. The author started by explaining what ADHD is to him and ma… and you know what, let me go shoot some video RIGHT NOW of the effect the book has had. https://youtu.be/iwjRNUgosHE One of the activities in the book had us call a bunch of friends and ask for words that describe Chris. This was our result The last few activities have been building those good vibes and we are about to make a special box to put everything in that way it’s all kept safe. When he’s having a hard day, he’ll be able to open it and remind himself that he has value. OMG I CAN’T TYPE THIS… THE WATER IN MY EYES!!!! And his studies? He’s got his nouns / verbs / adjectives, etc. We’ve been working on 5th grade vocabulary and increased by 15-20 words! We touched upon government a little bit and we do “current events” every day. One day we learned about the Baltimore Bridge collapse. Another day we learned that Joey Chestnuts can eat 76 hotdogs in 10 minutes. We both lost focus that the current event was Joey losing his sponsership due to signing multiple contracts with competing companies… but COME ON!!! SEVENTY SIX HOTDOGS IN 10 MINUTES!!!! One day he spontaneously read for an hour and a half about UNC campus life and what accomplishments alumni make after graduation. And here’s how we ended the week: And we had some company over too! Good stuff. How am I holding up? It’s tiring but I got this. Early lesson plan. We’ve got a screen and I put the current activity up NINE FEET WIDE and we read from it. It really helps. I’ve got the meal planning. I got the dessert. Heck, I made those cakes from scratch. And we’re getting out as much as possible. That is all. Thank you for reading.

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I can’t believe that I’m seeing positive results after only two days of homeschool.

Richard — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 05:40:30 +0000

I wasn’t planning to make a video But I was so blown away by what I found in his food journal, I had to fire up the camera and share. Thank you for watching. Please consider subscribing if you haven’t already. https://youtu.be/DpHOGmdBO4U

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Our first day of home summer school

Richard — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 05:29:56 +0000

I think it went well. https://youtu.be/M7UdPzTA48k

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A father’s reaction to his son’s 5th grade graduation.

Richard — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 00:31:58 +0000

https://youtu.be/FkJNYUdlz9Y Chris had a super hard year this year. His accomplishment deserves acknowledgement. Chris, I’m proud of you. Good job kid. music by TeknoAXE: https://teknoaxe.com/Link_Code_3.php?q=468

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Chris graduates 5th grade

Richard — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 05:59:46 +0000

Yeah. We made it. He’s in 6th grade. Chris graduated today and I wanted to share this beautiful sight with everyone. I know everyone’s been pulling for him and “Yeah. We made it”. This is huge because I believe the school gave up on him. THEY gave up on him but HE never gave up on HIMSELF. I’m proud of you Chris.

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Tuesday’s meeting with the school.

Richard — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:14:31 +0000