Show and Tell

Kaylee was excited to attend her first show and tell event. We were invited through one of the homeschool groups we are members of. She decided that she wanted to take one of her hermit crabs and teach the group and them.

Before the day of the show and tell, we went to the library and got a few books about hermit crabs. She made a list of the facts that she thought was the most important. She also copied a diagram from one of the books to show the parts of a hermit crab.

Kaylee presenting her hermit crab. 

Kaylee did a great job! She really likes speaking in front of people. Especially, when it's a topic she is interested in. You can watch the video of her presentation below...

Our first camping trips

This summer we decided to get a pop up camper. It gives us some freedom to travel and not worry about the expense of a hotel room. We bought a used pop up that needed some work. It ended up needing more work that we had anticipated, of course.

On our first camping trip we decided to travel a short distance. We stayed at a campground on Lake Anna. It was only a 30-40 minute drive from home. We figured that if it didn't work out then, we could just pack up and go home. There were a few issues, but we worked through them. I believe camping in a pop up is a learn as you go kind of thing.

Breakfast our first morning of camping. 

 I made the waffles at home before we left and just popped them in the toaster that morning. 

Reading the comics by the campfire. 

Kaylee really enjoyed our first trip with our pop up! 

A few weeks later, it was our 15th wedding anniversary and we wanted to take the camper to Virginia Beach. I was a bit nervous driving 2-3 hours pulling the camper on the highway and being so far from home. It ended up being a great family trip. The only challenge we had was that it was raining when we had to fold up the camper and head home. Not a big deal, but it was a muddy wet job. We had to open up the camper and air it out for days.

Kaylee helping to set up the lights under the canopy of the camper. 

Our first morning at the Virginia Beach campground.

It's been a but stressful preparing the pop up camper for camping and driving while pulling it, but it is worth it. We now have a cheaper alternative for traveling and taking family vacations. We all enjoy travelling and we can't wait until it is warm enough to go camping again.

Christmas Break 2014

We had a busy and fun Christmas time. Tomorrow, we go back to official homeschooling and regular life. The decorations have been put away. The house has been put back in order. This time of year I always feel conflicted. I am sad that the Christmas season has passed, but I'm happy to be back to the regular routine again. Here are the highlights from our Christmas.

One of the first things we did to celebrate the Christmas season was go to Christmas Town at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. We got a great deal from Busch Gardens. We got tickets for $12 each. They were only to be used on certain dates, but we made it work. Kaylee and I actually went twice. We went once as a family and then we went with friends.

Kaylee posing in front of a Christmas tree. The weather was pleasant the day we went as a family.

We went to see the penguins.

Kaylee and Frosty.

One day during the week, we went to the mall to see Santa. Kaylee had a Christmas list to share with Santa. 

Kaylee with Santa. Her doll Kirsten that she got for Christmas last year also went to see Santa.

Our homeschool group offered discounts to Great Wolf Lodge for certain days in December. We took advantage of those and spent two nights at Great Wolf Lodge. It is a resort and indoor water park.

Kaylee at Great Wolf Lodge.

We attended the homeschool Christmas party at the bowling alley.

Kaylee loves to bowl with her friends! 

At the Christmas party, we paid extra to go to the mobile gem mining lab. 

There were also discounted tickets to the ICE! show at the Gaylord Hotel in the new National Harbor right outside of Washington DC. We really enjoyed this event. I underestimated how cold it was going to be. It was 9 degrees. They gave us parkas to wear over our regular coats. Brrr. 

I found that the best way to enjoy this show was to step outside and warm up, then go back in again. As far as I know, you can do this as many times as you would like. Those hand warmer packets helped, too. We enjoyed the Frosty the Snowman theme. Our favorite part was sliding on the ice slide. 

The ICE! show was Frosty the Snowman theme. 

Kaylee all snug in her parka in an ice tunnel.

We loved the slide made out of ice! 

A slippery and cold ice slide. 

Family photo!

We decorated gingerbread men and a gingerbread house.

Kaylee showing off one of her gingerbread men.

Of course, Kaylee helped make Christmas dinner.

Kaylee helping to make dinner rolls.

Then, it was Christmas morning. Santa was generous, as usual, to Kaylee. We had a great Christmas. 

Kaylee with her doll Kirsten and her new doll Isabelle. 

Kaylee trying out her new pogo stick. 

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and a blessed New Year. 

Science Museum of Virginia

We try to get to the Science Museum of Virginia  as often as we can. Aaron, my husband, has never been there. He decided to join us on our trip to the museum.

When we went, they had a special exhibit on dinosaurs called, Be the Dinosaur. Everyone loves dinosaurs. It was a great hands on exhibit.

Kaylee pretending to be scared beside the big dinosaur. 

She (and Aaron) really liked the Be the Dinosaur interactive game. She especially liked when you had to have the dinosaur eat and then poop. Poop is very funny when you are 6 years old.

The full sized animatronic triceratops.

Next, we went to her absolute favorite program in any science museum: Static Electricity. She loves going up on stage and watching her hair stick out.

Before

After

Then, she explored the phases of the moon exhibit. Phases of the moon is something she's been interested in for a few months. 

Exploring the phases of the moon. 

Next, the head on a plate mirror trick...

Head on a plate mirror trick. 

Building a Roman Arch from blocks...

Complete!

Then, together we all built a larger sized Roman Arch. 

Kaylee and Aaron posing in the Roman Arch we built together.

Lastly, we made paper planes and tried to get them to fly into the cloud.

Ready, aim, fire! 

What an fun, educational, and exhausting day we had! This was just a small sample of all the things we did. And we didn't have a chance to do each section.

Calling All Spirits

Kaylee and I playing the game she created. 

Kaylee is very creative. The flexibility of homeschooling really encourages her to be creative and do things in her own way. She enjoys making games, putting on plays/shows, art, and creating things. Recently, she was inspired to create her own card game.

She called the game, "Calling All Spirits." She cut out card shaped pieces of paper, colored them, and put stickers of each pony from My Little Pony on a card. There are 3 of each type of card. To win the game you need to collect each pony. There is a deck of cards face down in the middle. Each player chooses a card and then you can pick a pony card from the playing area that matches the color from the deck. She even made a white strip of paper with each pony listed on it to help you remember which ponies to collect. The game totally works.

She created this game on her own. I'm amazed.