We have gone on quite a few field trips and co-op activities the past few weeks.  Check out the fun we’ve had.

We made paper!

We visited a farm.  The kids got to feed goats, brush a calf, feed a calf, milk a cow, and make ice cream.  They had so much fun!

We visited the Hampton Mansion.

And our favorite so far was McFadden Glass Blowing.  The kids got to make a glass item (marble and pendent).

I love homeschooling.  We get to experience so many interesting places and have made wonderful friends.

Just over a month into our 3rd year of homeschooling.  I can’t believe it.  I have to admit that up until this year I didn’t feel confident in this choice.  Yes I put on a good front telling people we homeschool and saying it’s going well.  But inside, I didn’t quite feel that confidence.  I knew it was a good choice.  But for some reason my heart wasn’t quite convinced.  The first two years, when school began for everyone else, I had a bit of sadness for my kids.  That they weren’t getting new supplies and feeling the excitement of a new teacher and new friends.

I don’t know exactly what changed my attitude.  Well, that’s not true.  I do know, but will save that for another time. Regardless, this is our family’s choice and we are happy with it.

So, go ahead and ask me how it’s going.  I will smile and tell you we are homeschoolers and we are doing great!!  And this time, I will mean it!

School has been going really well.  Everyday is a new adventure and I am really feeling comfortable and happy with this choice to homeschool.  There was a gathering at a nearby park for local homeschoolers and we were shocked at the crowd that was there.  I knew there were many in our area, but couldn’t believe just how many there really are.  The parking lot was packed!

We did go on a field trip this week to The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  What a fun place to visit.  There were so many things to see and do.

Climbing a rock wall.

Surfing.

How does it feel to spin like an ice skater?

Sitting in the cockpit of an airplane.

The joy of launching a paper airplane.

Watching paper being made.

The feel of wind from a jet on your face.

And the joy of falling dominoes.

Finally, posing with Ben Franklin.

Our Calvert box arrived and I couldn’t wait to begin.  We started last Monday and it went wonderfully well.   Initially, I wanted to adhere to a very structured schedule.  However, we have quite a few activities coming up and since we are able to be flexible I thought we would ease into things and just take it a lesson at a time.  So far, so good.

This bin is from Staples and makes a wonderful spinning storage unit for our Calvert supplies.  I find it easy (yet a bit heavy) to carry around the house or outside.

Our first science lesson began with testing to see how craters were made.  Dropping marbles and smaller items into dry flour to see the differences in sizes.  However, with most science projects we do, things got pretty messy.  This is either an incredible discovery or an experiment gone horribly wrong.  Whatever it was, it kept them busy and giggling for a long time.

Third grade Calvert looks challenging and I believe we’re going to have a great year.  We are also going to dabble in a bit of preschool work for Henry.  He is very interested in school and seems to want to read.  I found alphabet stamps at Target for $1.  Henry enjoys stamping paper and trying to make words or just saying all the letters outloud.

We’re gearing up for 3rd grade.  My how time flies.  This year we decided to jump back on the Calvert boat.  I placed my order yesterday and will be anxiously waiting for our box to arrive in the mail.  This year Henry will join our lessons to do preschool work.  I’m excited to begin a new year with a new outlook and new adventures.

We love spending time outside. We pack up our books and make snacks and just enjoy the outdoors while doing schoolwork! Today we headed to our property with the intent to fly kites, but the wind didn’t cooperate. Instead we played in the stream.

In an attempt to incorporate art into our lessons, I found many interesting ideas thanks to the internet.  Henri Matisse.  We discussed his life and looked at his work online.  Then Keely worked on her own masterpiece, her own Matisse…

We’ve had a very busy, fun-filled Easter.  Dyed eggs, flew kites, egg hunt, etc., creating wonderful memories for the loves of my life!