Christmas Parade 2013

Since Kaylee joined the American Heritage Girls troop we have had many new opportunities and learning experiences. During Christmas, we went caroling at a retirement community and we were also in the county parade.

The girls were each given a blank cutout of a Christmas tree made out of foam. Our homework was to decorate the tree to carry/wear during the annual Christmas Parade. Kaylee was very excited because this was her first time in a parade.

Each girl started with a blank foam Christmas Tree. Kaylee decided to paint her tree green.

Before today she refused to use the hot glue gun. 

Holding a Christmas ball while the hot glue cooled.

Kaylee's Christmas tree is all ready for the parade!

It was a cold and windy day. All of us had rosy wind burned cheeks. But, Kaylee never complained. We waited an hour by our float for the parade to start. We had to be there early because they closed the roads close to parade starting time. The girls kept busy by decorating the tree that was part of our float. 

We had a quick picnic lunch before the parade. 

Kaylee is ready to go. 

Parade time! 

We like to bake!

Kaylee has always enjoyed helping out in the kitchen. The Montessori Method encourages children to participate in household chores at a very young age. Kaylee has a bin of appropriate sized kitchen gadgets just for her. She has her own rolling pin, mixing spoons, baking brush, spatulas, cheese shredder, slicer, chopper, pie pans, and more.

One of Kaylee's favorite household activities is baking and cooking. She helps in the kitchen almost everyday. She especially likes helping to make the pies and bread during each holiday. It's an all day event at our house. We make everything from scratch.

Spreading melted dairy free butter on our warm homemade rolls. 

Pressing pie dough into her personal sized apple pie pan.

Sealing the apple pie crust with a fork.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

Making Kaylee's Halloween Costume

Kaylee really likes My Little Pony. She wanted to be a character from My Little Pony named Twilight Sparkle. We looked at all the local stores and searched the internet. We could not find an affordable and appropriate costume. I decided to take on the task of making her costume. I do not have any sewing skills. I had to attempt to create this costume without sewing.

Kaylee preparing the fabric for Twilight's cape. We then used seam tape to create easy seams. 

Together we made Twilight Sparkle's wings out of craft foam pieces that we hot glued together. Then, we put a clothes hanger through the wings so they would stay open and to make it sturdy.

Kaylee is cutting the fabric into strips for Twilight Sparkle's tail.

The tail is all done. I looped the fabric around a piece of velcro. Then, I opened the velcro and put it around her belt loop.

The costume is complete! We also sprayed her hair with the temporary hair color to match Twilight Sparkle. She was SO happy with her costume that she helped to make.

Pumpkin Carving

Time to carve that pumpkin from our trip to the pumpkin patch!! It's such a messy fun time!

Cleaning out the seeds! 

Concentrating....

Our family pumpkins are all carved and on display! Kaylee's pumpkin is in the middle.

Belvedere Plantation

We went to Belvedere Plantation in the fall. We went with our homeschool group and got a discount. Otherwise, it would have been too expensive for our whole family to go. It was another great day.

It was cold! Brr...notice our hats and coats?

Petting the goats.

Kaylee posing with the straw family. Can you find her?

She found a wooly bear caterpillar while choosing her pumpkin at the pumpkin patch.

Jumping on the giant air pillow! 

Riding a "pony." 

Swinging on a rope swing in the barn.

Leaf Study

In the fall, we studied leaves. I found a great free resource and downloaded fall leaf identification cards.

We went for a walk around our neighborhood and collected different types and colors of leaves. It was a lot of fun.

When we got home, we matched up the leaf to the identification card.

All matched up! It was an easy fun activity to introduce leaves. We also read quite a few books about leaves and why leaves change color. 

American Heritage Girls

Kaylee in her American Heritage Girl uniform.

Kaylee joined American Heritage Girls in October. We were originally going to join Girl Scouts, but decided that we liked AHG better. It is considered a Christ centered alternative to Girl Scouts. Kaylee and I both are enjoying the troop. She has already done many activities and earned her sewing badge.

Kaylee working on her sewing badge.

Recently, she earned her joining award during the joining ceremony. She was happy to light and hold a candle.

Kaylee during the joining ceremony. 

The AHG Troop worked hard each week from September to December to earn their sewing badge. They had to sew and make a pin cushion, sew and make a letter pillow, and sew on two different kinds of buttons.

Kaylee proudly displaying her pin cushion, letter pillow, and buttons. 

Recently, they went caroling at a retirement community. Kaylee loves to sing Christmas carols. 

Caroling at a retirement community.

Kaylee and I both really enjoy being part of the American Heritage Girls. There are so many opportunities and experiences! It was a great decision to join the troop.

Nature Program: Campfires

In October, we went to a Nature Program about Indian Campfires. The instructor did a short presentation about campfires. While the fire was going, she demonstrated the different stations set up around the area. The first station Kaylee chose was making necklaces with wooden beads, of course.

Kaylee making a wooden bead necklace. 

Next, she played some games. 

Put two sticks on the back of your hand, let them go,
and try to catch them before the hit the ground. 

Toss sticks into a hoop on the ground.

Tossing a corncob through a hoop.

One of the most popular stations was grinding corn. It was really neat. It was entirely made out of wood. Then, they cooked corn bread over the campfire. 

Kaylee loved grinding corn. She went to this station at least 2 times. 

She was supposed to wrap her corn bread dough around a
stick, but instead she smashed it between her fingers.

We finally got her dough on the stick and she cooked it over the fire. 

She finally got to eat her dough. It was a bit doughy in the middle, but she couldn't wait any longer. 

Eating her cornbread and drinking sassafras tea. Her hands are covered with dried squished dough. 

State Fair of Virginia

In October, we spent a day at the State Fair. We've been going every year since they moved it to Doswell. It's only a few minutes from our town. The day we chose to go ended up being a very hot day!

We went with a friend. They rode every ride they were tall enough to ride.

There was a band there, but we were too busy riding rides and eating fair food to listen for more than 30 seconds. Lol.

Next, we went to see the animals. Another favorite State Fair activity.

Kaylee fed a giraffe a carrot.

There's a sign that says, "Warning. Please Don't Feed Animals From Your Mouth." Makes me wonder what happened to make that sign necessary...

Kaylee is happy that the giraffe ate her carrot.

Kaylee holding a tiny piglet wrapped in a blanket.












We really enjoy the State Fair. Although, the day was really exhausting. I think it was a mixture of the excitement, heat, and being a bit dehydrated that made Kaylee throw up along I-95 on the way home. I guess it could have been the ice cream cone she ate before we left. She said she felt much better after vomiting.