Off on vacation!

I am being horrible about blogging! I have so many half written posts, or posts with just pictures!I can't keep up....and now I'm going out of town. No hope to ever catch up! But, at least I'll be tan.

Chris and I are going to Puerto Vallarta (Mexico)...kids are staying home. I'm kinda sad and kinda happy. I'll miss them, but it will be good to get away. I'm sure I'll have amazing photos to share when we get back, so stay tuned! And, the next lesson plan for Magic Tree House will be forthcoming as well!

Firehouse Tour-cubscouts

It's been a busy couple of weeks! My parents arrived in town, and we've been busy busy busy! More posts to come showing some of the cool things we've been doing. Yesterday, though, Elias had a cubscout field trip. He's working on his firestation badge. He already got his police station!

One of the things we've done is read and follow the
American Red Cross Family Disaster Plan. This website is very informative!

Here he is before the trip. The leader gave him a hat to decorate...it's got a fireman on it.


Some of the other boys


Inside a firetruck



In case you couldn't guess this one...it was Fire Station 53


What happy campers they are! Sitting ON a fire truck!


I almost skipped out on this trip because we've been to the fire station so often. BUT each station is different, and each tour guide (fireman) does it differently. This one was very cool! Glad we went.

Brian's 2009 Formal

People that are interested in homeschooling often ask, or say things like, "Well, I really want my son to be able to go to a Prom, or Graduation....." And I say...."We do all that sort of stuff too!"

If no groups in your area sponsor a Prom/Formal or Graduation, all that's needed is someone willing! Step up, take lead. Find a nice place with a good price for dinner. Then go back to someone's house and have finger foods and some dance time.

The kids this year went to a local Fondue restaurant and then back to one of the kid's houses for a dance.

Here's Brian. He chose the shirt color months before the Formal. It actually looks rather dashing, doesn't it?!


Here's Brian and his friend, Cassia. Could they look any more awkward? Come on guys, this is supposed to be fun, not painful!


Brian always sticks his own brand of uniqueness to everything. His black belt may look plain in the front, but it's actually from his favorite "cause" To Write Love on Her Arms a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.


Group photo. What a bunch of good looking kids huh? And nice too!

Playing with buttons

Lately I've been surfing crafty blogs and a lot of these moms are very Waldorfy-Montessori, full of simple great ideas. I had recently bought a huge bag of buttons, so after washing them I set them in a bowl and gave Sebastian some spoons, and another bowl and let him play away!


Yes I see the plastic in this picture! I'm not claiming I'm Waldorfy, although I'd love to apply more of those principals. But this was a good idea, and Elias even got into it!

Knights Part 2

This is week 2 of Knights, in our Magic Tree House Book Club.

Knights Outline, Part 2


1. We talked about Lords and ladies.
I (tried) to refer to them as Lords and Ladies throughout class

2. Made an almoner
This is a money purse. We made one very simply out of scrap material, cut to the size of a dinner plate. Then took scissors and snipped holes all around the edges, and wove the ribbon through the holes, to create a drawstring.



3.Talked about Trebuchets and Cannons, which ultimately led to the end of castles
I almost bought a mini cannon here, but I was really focusing on trebuchets. I tried to find easy instructions for a trebuchet, but most seemed too complicated for a class with such diverse ages as mine. Then I begged, pleaded and tried to borrow one, but that didn't work out either. Eventually, after this class was over, I did find an easy to assemble kit on Ebay and purchased it. Better late than never!!


4. Fair Games
We split up into 3 groups...of course we had jousting, we also had a javelin type game where they threw pool noodles, Sheep Toss (stuffed animal of course), jousting obviously, and more. It was a great way to spend an hour or so outdoors having fun! We did the sheep toss differently than the above video...we used a stuffed animal, stood backwards and threw it up, above our heads and backwards...seeing how far they could be thrown.

Jousting (on horseback of course!)


Jousting and throwing the javelin



Extras
There are so many things that you COULD incorporate into this topic. I found neat activities for making a quiverful of arrows (learn about Robin Hood), making a trebuchet, etc.



My previous posts on this subject are:

Forming a Co-op
Magic Tree House Index
Dinosaurs Part 1
Dinosaurs Part 2
Vikings
Ninjas
Pirates Part 1
Pirates Part 2
Knights Part 1