Forever Florida

It seems we are taking field trips nearly every week, but I guess that is just part of the fun of homeschooling.  This week we went to this place called "Forever Florida" on the Crescent J Ranch.  There is a link over on the side bar.  

A homeschooling Dad was re-shooting the photo advertising for the Ranch, so he needed "models".  They invited anybody in our homeschool group who wanted to go for free.  We got to take the Eco Tour and get a free lunch.  It was a really cool place!  The kids had a lot of fun and we got VERY close up to FL wildlife.  At one point we were 5 feet from an Alligator (standing on the ground next to the water where he was swimming) - a little too close for my comfort.  

Growing Up too fast!

ACCK!  My son has braces.  Ok, so it is only 2 brackets on his front two teeth, but I feel like Daddy picked him up for the Orthodontist a little boy and dropped him back off a "big kid".  EEK!!  I am feeling rather old.  Just for the record - he thinks they are VERY cool! 

Green Meadows Farm

Last week I took the kids to Green Meadows Farm.  Somebody from our homeschool support group organized a field trip and we had quite a good turn out.  The kids had a great time - we got to milk a cow, hold chickens & ducks, pet all kinds of animals, take a train ride, ride some ponies and go on a hay ride.  Ella's favorite part was holding the baby chick and riding the ponies.  Spencer liked the chickens - he even held a rooster.  Logan enjoyed holding the duckling and the Easter Egg Chicken - who lays colored eggs.  

Race for the Taste

Last weekend Amy & I ran in Disney's Race for the Taste 10K.  It wasn't a FABULOUS race, but we had a good time.  We had actually run 10 miles the day before, as part of our marathon training, so we just "took it easy" on race day. 

The kids participated in the kids race and had a great time.  Here are a few pics from race day.  

Gotta brag on my Spencer

So today I was having a hard time getting Spencer motivated.  He was supposed to be working on his math in my bedroom (he needs the quiet).  When I went in to check on him, he had all the kid's DVDs in a pile on the floor.  He said he got bored of the math and was alphabetizing the DVDs.  I wasn't sure WHAT he was doing, but I told him he needed to finish the math before finishing his "project".  Two minutes later he handed me a perfect math test.  

A little later I went back in my room to check on his "project".  He has all the DVDs perfectly alphabetized (to the 1st letter).  I don't think I should complain about him alphabetizing movies starting with "The" with the "T's".  Do you?  AND I think that should count as his "Language Arts" for today!  

Hope you are pleasantly surprised today too! 

Lots of Dots!

Here is Ella in her new "Lots of Dots" outfit from Gymboree.  I know I am a bit biased, but isn't she so cute?

Elections and The Raft

Last week we visited the local McCain HQ.  We took a tour and learned about what they do there - which is basically make phone calls.  The kids thought it was interesting.  We are continuing a month long unit study on Elections.  

The week before last we rowed "The Raft" and the kids made popsicle stick rafts.  We FINALLY got around to floating them last week.