Making a Commercial at Our Children's Museum

Our local children's museum asked for homeschool families to come & play at the museum for free so they could make a video.  At first, the kids were excited to be in a commercial.  After their friends arrived, they really didn't care about the video.  They just played & had a great time.

The kids played with their friends for over 30 minutes in Ed's body.  

Collin with Michael (& some kid we don't know) and Matthew playing in water.

Will scanning Collin's groceries.

Collin, Michael, Matthew & Will

Camera guy videoing our kids playing on the big red fire truck.

Will, Collin & Matthew looking at this kid's reflector jacket.  (See how the camera flash is reflecting??

 Will giving the weather while sweet Maryanna looks on.

 

Madalyn, Matthew & Faith virtual surfing.

Botanical Gardens at the Zoo

We have gone to our local zoo for years & have never been to the Botanical Garden.  So we decided to check it out.  I think the kids really just wanted to ride the tram to get to the gardens.  We were so surprised by how beautiful it was.  It was breath taking.  The pictures do not do it justice.  I took so many beautiful pictures of individual flowers (132 to be exact) that I couldn't possibly post them all.

Faith riding on the tram.

Collin & Will on the tram.

Collin & Faith hiding in the jungle.

Absolutely Beautiful!

Check out Faith's umbrella.  She had to have it.

Mama & Faith taking a break.

Gorgeous.  The flowers are dazzlingly too.

Love this little path.

My 3 little bears in Papa Bear's chair.

 Writing Spider (Charlotte's Web)

I like spider's webs. (From a distance that is.)

Turtles remind me to take things slow & easy.

We got to see the penquins feeding.  It's hard to get a good picture of the penquins because the glass gets foggy.

Ice Skating With 96 Degree Temperature

Our co-op meets 3 Thursdays out of each month.  This year, we decided to do a field trip/fun day on the Thursdays that we have class.  This summer, our local library had a reading program.  One of the rewards to a free pass for ice skating.

Our first Thursday off, we went ice skating - for free. Yay!  So, we dug out our heavy jackets, hats, scarves & gloves.  It felt funny, because the temperature outside was 96 degrees.  They wore them at the beginning, but then got to hot skating.  Meanwhile, the moms were freezing as we watched them skate.

Cheyenne, Will, Collin & Blake in a deep discussion on the ice.

Our "mascot".  Sweet Cianna all bundled up.  

Another conference.

Cayman & Audrey did great on the ice.

 Addy & Faith

:Will:

You Can Learn Anywhere

We like to change up our school days a little bit. Playing Scrabble has helped our vocabulary.

When we were getting some paint mixed for our "Tall Painting" art project, the sweet man from Lowe's let us come in the mixing area & watch him program the computer & then mix it. 

 

I can't believe that the kids have not seen Hurbie The Love Bug. ( I loved the old version) We saw this car when we were going down the road.  Had to stop & get the picture. Planning on getting the DVD from the library so the kids can learn a little bit about an American Icon.

Gama Batty showing the kids how to make shapes for checkers with the Drimmel set Collin got for his birthday.

Collin is loving it.  He is very talented with his hands.

Will said that he wants his own for Christmas.

Check Mate

A few years ago, Will wanted to learn chess.  His Uncle Kyle taught him & then Will taught me.  Will caught on fast, I on the other hand still have problems remembering which piece can do what.  So I have to use a cheat sheet.  

Our homeschool support group has a chess club. So we decided to try it out. 

 

:Will playing chess:

Faith was sitting with me & the mom that was over the club asked her if she wanted to learn how.  So Faith started playing & caught on real fast.  The mom was very impressed that a 5 year old was doing so well.  There I sat, playing with my cheat sheet. One day, I'll remember it all.

Trumpet Playing Tony

Tony was asked to play an orchestra concert at a neighboring church.  We love to hear him play.

Tony on the end ~ lead trumpeter.

The orchestra sounded great.  So thankful of his wonderful talent.

Tim Hawkin's Concert

We love Tim Hawkins.  He is a Christian comedian that will keep you rolling in laughter.  

Money has been tight this year. So the kids & I started saving our change in March.  I told the kids that if God wanted us to go, then we would have enough money by the time Tim came in Aug.  The kids learned the value of money & were reminded how God provides.  It was a rewarded blessing to watch the kids count the change & put it into money rolls.  The closer that we got to the final ticket amount, the shouts started coming. We had saved $106, which was way more than we needed.  Praise God!

My brother-in-law found these cards in the church for us to get signed.  Thanks Uncle Kyle!

My niece & nephew - Ashton & Nathan along with Faith, Will & Collin looking at the stage.

Waiting for Tim to take the stage.

Tim Live in Concert

Waiting in line to meet Tim & get his autograph.

Will talking to Tim.  

Tim is a homeschool dad & makes jokes about homeschooling.

Tony told him that we homeschool & he said "yes, I can smell it."

Collin & Tim.

Faith, Froggy & Tim.

What a great night.  We laughed so hard that our faces & our sides hurt.

Collin posing with the Rochester Gang

We had a wonderful surprise.  The Rochesters were watching the concert too.  They are our favorite Christian Blue Grass singing group.  They have such a sweet spirit & love the Lord.  It was funny, because while we were talking to them in line & getting their picture, people we looking at us ~ trying to figure out who these people were.  :) Little did they know they were amoung some wonderful musicians that has blessed the nation.