Hello...I know, I've been a slacker. All three or four of my blog readers have turned blue in the face waiting for my next post :)
I am definitely behind in keeping up with my "electronic diary". I have lots I hope to post, and find time slipping away too easily. However, one reason for my slacker-ness was the first part of my pregnancy. The first trimester is well over and I am feeling so much better. So I've been trying to catch up on all sorts of things around here...like school for the girls and cleaning the house...blogging had to be put way on the back burner.
Um, Rachel, this is nice and all, but what does any of this have to do with the title of your post?
Glad you were wondering!
Our family traveled down to Raleigh, NC last month for the NC Veterans Day Parade. My dad, retired Air Force Major Yates, was the chair of the parade this year and he did a GREAT job organizing the event! He invited us down to participate in the parade. Well, there was no way that this homeschool family was going to miss out on an opportunity like this...history and civics at it's best!
In preparation, Bella knitted her own red, white, and blue scarf for the parade. I made a matching one for Sophia. I also taught the girls a bit about the history of Veterans Day and took them for a visit to the PA Veterans Museum right here in our little town of Media. We talked about family members on both sides of our family who have served in the military. It was interesting to see them connect that their own Uncle Chris is a veteran who has served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Parade day was cold and chilly and a bit wet...thankfully the rain held off until right after the parade and ceremony were over. Dad had arranged for the girls to ride in a classic car...they actually got to be in the parade...wow! Steve and I walked along with them. It was a very special experience...one I'll cherish. We stayed for the ceremony and speeches following the parade. The girls listened, sang, asked questions...it was wonderful.
After the parade, we celebrated with a Veterans Day themed tea-party feast organized by my Mom, Sophia, and Bella...yum! Bella and Sophia each honored my dad with a speech thanking him and sharing with him how much they enjoyed the parade. This was their own idea and neither Steve nor I had any idea they were planning a speech...we were touched and impressed. Bella ended her speech with, "I'm proud to be an Air Force granddaughter"...I almost cried and I think my parents were very touched too.
I am thoroughly impressed with my dad and the wonderful job he did organizing the parade. Thank You, dad, for all your hard work. The parade was wonderful and an honor to all the Veterans and their families. You can see more of the parade at www.ncveteransparade.com
What a wonderful and wacky week we've had! What a fun week of school:)
On Friday, Sophia had an appointment at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She was referred to an ENT specialist simply because she has very large tonsils and they needed to evaluate if anything needed to be done. The good news is that she is fine and her tonsils do not need to come out...it's always good when surgery is not required. Our short, little experience at CHOP was actually very pleasant. And they validated our parking ticket so it only cost $3 to park in the city for the entire day...major bonus!
So we went across the street (literally) to see Steve. Steve's chemistry building is right across the street from CHOP. We got to have lunch together...a rare treat. We also completely splurged and took the girls to a place called Naked Chocolate...doesn't the name say it all! We let them each pick out one treat...it took them a long time to pick because everything looked so wonderful! Steve and I split a peanut butter cupcake...it was AMAZING!
Then the girls and I took the subway across the city to the National Constitution Center. It was the 223rd anniversary of the signing of the Constitution and they celebrated with a free day. They had lots of activities...it was great! The building is so beautiful and the exhibits are very well done. We enjoyed a live narration of a movie-in-the-round which was a great history/civics review of all the girls and I have been studying with school. It was well done. The girls loved wandering around the museum...I love this kind of learning. A gentleman with the NCC even took some photos of them dressed up as judges at one of the Supreme Court exhibits...maybe they'll be used for a brochure or something...they were mighty cute! We participated in a Bill of Rights "gameshow" and B even got up on stage to read one of the questions to the audience...I was so proud of her...she did great! One of our favorite parts of the museum was Signer's Hall...filled with statues of the signer's of the Constitution. S even recognized Benjamin Franklin...I think it's pretty neato that she's learning big stuff too.
We took the subway back to the other side of the city and then hung out on campus while waiting for Steve to finish up his day. The girls LOVE the courtyard behind Steve's building simply because there are lots of squirrels and for whatever reason, they love to chase squirrels. I have no idea why :) Those poor squirrels...we were there for over an hour and the girls ran around almost the whole time...they both fell asleep easily that night!
It was a GREAT day!
On Saturday, we headed over to the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge for the Cradle of Birding Festival. We have been there a couple of times and have really enjoyed it. I figured the festival would be fun and that I might even be able to count it as a school field trip. It was so much more than I ever expected!
We were there for 5 hours and still didn't see everything! They had all sorts of tables and booths set up...all sorts of organizations were represented. We visited table after table and kept gathering more and more info. The girls did all sorts of things...identified animal skulls, used microscopes, learned about feathers...the list goes on and on. We also enjoyed Philly Zoo animal seminars where the handlers brought some of the zoo animals to show and talk about. The got to hold lots of exotic birds and see birds of prey up close. We went on a kid's butterfly and bird walk with some experienced birders...they brought their scopes and set them up for the kids...it was so fun! They finished an "information treasure hunt" and won a puzzle. The PA Game Commission had a booth that let the kids help build a bluebird house and they got to bring it home too. One of the highlights was an artisan woodworker. He made such beautiful things out of wood. He showed both girls how to chisel and so they each brought home their own carved piece of wood. They drew the design and he helped them carve...B was able to do most of it on her own. They are really neat!
We started our "official" homeschool year a couple of weeks ago. B is now a 3rd grader and S is a Kindergartner...and Steve is beginning his 5th year of grad school. This is the first (and hopefully the only :) year that Steve will be in school at the same time as both our daughters! Life is interesting with 3 students to care for. I want a really good teacher gift at the end of the year :)
This is the first year I have to report to the state on B's progress as a student, so our year will look a bit different than in the past. I find it is necessary for me to be more organized, which is really good. I had to submit legal paperwork to my local school district declaring our intent to homeschool along with our objectives for the year. I have to keep a portfolio of samples of her work and progress during the year and submit it to our school superintendent at the end of the school year. B also has to undergo state testing near the end of the year and we have to hire an evaluator who will assess B's progress. PA has some of the most stringent homeschool laws in the U.S., but I am also thankful for the accountability.
S is simply delighted to officially be in Kindergarten this year! She is especially excited because she can officially participate in our homeschool co-op...she's no longer in with the Preschoolers. I am her teacher this month at our co-op and she thinks it's pretty special to be the teacher's daughter...I'm just thankful she likes me that much!
I am also thankful that we live in a country that allows parents to make the school choice they feel is best for the child and/or family. Homeschooling has been a good choice for us so far. Only God knows His plans for our homeschool years. We are open to changing how we educate our children if called to change, but also hopeful to homeschool many more years.
Steve tells me that all you chemists following my blog will understand the title...some kind of mnemonic for remembering acids...or something like that. He started naming them, but I don't speak chemist.
What's that...oh...I only have one chemist who actually reads this blog...oh, well...it really is good apple pie!
Yesterday we went apple picking at Linvilla Orchards and today we made apple pie. I say "we" loosely...Steve and the girls made apple pie while I tried to document the event through photos.
The pie is delicious...especially with some vanilla bean ice cream...my mouth is drooling just thinking about it. WOW!
But we did discover that both our children have some odd tastebud defect...neither of them really cared for the pie!?!? How is that? Steve doesn't seem to mind too much...more for him :)
Today we went to Linvilla Orchards and had a blast! We went specifically today because it is opening day for Honeycrisp apples...the absolute best apples in the world! And we were not disappointed...we picked a half bushel of these beauties and then headed over to the peach orchard to finish our bushel. The peaches were excellent too. I'm thankful they don't weigh the pickers before and after...we definitely enjoyed a snack while picking!
After our time in the orchard, we headed to the playground. The girls had a blast running around, being crazy, and conquering the maze! We enjoyed our picnic lunch and then walked around checking out the animals. The girls even got to feed some of the deer...apples, of course :) We saw all different kinds of chickens, some goats, and some emus too.
Then we headed over to the market. Steve got some hotsauce...poor guy's been out for a while...he's happy now!
All in all, it was a wonderful day! Here are some pictures for you to enjoy~
My husband is an organic chemist...I only know how to say it...I personally found chemistry rather difficult and avoided it at all cost. Until, of course, this very handsome chemist and I became friends...and then closer friends. Suddenly I was very interested in listening to him talk about his work and draw me pictures of his work...of course, I just listened to his foreign language and pretended to know what all those doodles were. It all worked out in the end...he promises to take over the upper level sciences for homeschooling :)
Anyhoo, he recently brought home a molecule building set for the girls and they opened it this morning. What fun! It's like a better version of tinker toys...everyone should have one of these for their kids :) I loved watching the girls get creative! B wants to know what molecule she created...I told her she'd have to ask her dad. S also loved it...she wants to hang her creation from the ceiling...we'll see. I love this kind of time with the girls...it is wonderful watching them learn and create.
