Richard Nixon

Richard Milhous Nixon was born on January 9th. 1913.  That is to say, he would have turned 100 today if he lived that long. He died on April 22, 1994.  Nixon was a U.S. congressman, senator, vice president and then president.  

Nixon is best known for his role in the Watergate  scandal which caused him to resign the presidency in 1974.

Fast Facts: Wife Pat Nixon 

Children: Tricia and Julie

Vice President of Dwight Eisenhower 1953-1960

Ran against  and lost to John F. Kennedy in 1960 presidential election.

Millard Filmore

Millard Filmore, a photo by soogle on Flickr.

  I have decided to teach the kids a little about each U.S. president this year.  Instead of going in order of service, I have chosen to go in birthday order.  So Lucky number 13, Millard Fillmore born this day in January 1800 is the first president we will study.

Fact Sheet

Millard Fillmore

13th President of U.S.

Whig Party

Born Jan 7th 1800

President from July 10th 1850 to March 4th 1853

Died March 8th 1874

Fillmore was preceded by Zachary Taylor ,who had died in office and succeeded by Franklin Pierce.

The most significant event of the Fillmore Presidency was the passage and enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850.  While Fillmore was personally opposed slavery, he championed this legislation because He thought it was in the best interest of perserving the Union which was divided by the issue.  So much so that both Northerners and Southeners threatened succesion from the Union during the Taylor presidency.

Millard Fillmore and his wife Abigail shared a passion for books.  They are credited for bringing the first library into the White House. 

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So Many Posts, So Little Time

One thing I have discovered in my many years of blogging is that bloggers can be very obsessive.  This comes out in many ways but one is the sheer number of blogs one blogger will have.  I am no exception.  In the past 4 years I have started 6 blogs for myself and 4 for my children.  Some of this is due to finding an adequate platform but most of it is due to sheer craziness.  This blog was supposed to be a blog for our home school itself and has largely gone unupdated.  Because of hoe busy I have been lately (working a full time job in the evenings, taking a class 2 days a week and home educating the kids) my time for blogging has become less and less.  I have hopes that some day my children/students will be able to maintain this blog with just occasional assistance from myself.  Until that happens or I become less busy, I am putting this blog on hiatus. 

Dave for the Izola becker Community

Library Week - The Lisle Brary

Each year our family spends a week or so visiting libraries.  We love libraries and most o' the things associated with them.  We are not keen on overdues, but that's a post for a different time.  Yesterday we went to Lisle, Illinois for my mother-in-law,s surprise 70th birthday party.  While we were there ,we visited our first library of the Library Week Season, which is actually taking place over the 2 weeks of Amy's Christmas break.

Today's visit took place entirely in the children's section of the library.

On Our Way

Puppy noticed this first because it's at kid's eye level

We did some reading and checked out the amenities.  There is this cool program where patrons can check out the Lisle Crocodile stuffed toy, bring it on their vacation, snap a photo and post it here,

and also have a FB page.  Kudos to the family that took it to another Library.

While the children's section is not as big as some we've been to, they do an effective job of maximizing that space.  I love that they have an x-box game for kids to play with. 

My kids appreciated it as well.



The patron Hamster of the library even came out of his Kleenex box to spend time with his adoring public.   I loved the little info sheet about the Hamster, that said he enjoys the novels of Harper Lee.  I love when adult humor is brought to a kid's section.  The Lisle Library, like many of the video games available there, is rated E for everyone.

Mark Buehrle 2000 to 2011

Chicago White Sox Mark Buehrle, August 5, 2011, a photo by Ben C. K. on Flickr.

Mark Buehrle is on his way to the Miami Marlins. He is one of the only sports stars our whole family knows of. While we wish him well, we will really miss him on the South Side.