Classrooms

When you homeschool, the whole wide world is your classroom.  It isn't the reason I homeschool but it is one of my favorite by-products of homeschooling!  And since we just finished this ~

I thought a barrier island tour with a biologist would be just what the teacher ordered!  It was.  This was our classroom for a day. 

Lovely, no?

And this chick?  Yeah, she was the teacher for the day!

A biologist with a love for marine life, she made for an excellent resource.  Plus also, she was hilarious!

She had their rapt attention.  Not something I can boast about everyday....but, whatever.

They peaked over the dock to see what critters might be lurking there. 

Needless to say, there were some interesting fellas down in that water.

My sensory issue boys, tried desperately not to touch too much ick. 

I thought it was a wee bit funny watching them lean over the dock with their hands behind their backs...

See that.  That is not because they were told not to put there hands in the water.  Oh no.  That is because they have issues from infancy {premature births account for this most likely}, that for the most part are forgotten....except every now and then, when they resurface.....due to mom's failure to mention that this was a hands-on experience surprise opportunities to touch things they perceive as icky.  It was amusing to say the least....but they got distracted from their issues as the day wore on, as usual, as all was right with the world.....so long as there was an ample supply of hand sanitizer available. 

There was. Thank. goodness.

'Cause our guide had loads of neat things for the kids to touch!

Yeah, those are skulls.

And, that?  is lunch! a dead Callinectes sapidus.  Ewwwww, in other words....a blue crab.

But, I have to show you that I learned something, right?

The kids spotted this big guy on Capers Island.

What I want to know is why are there electric poles on an uninhabited island? 

Can't someone live without Dancing With the Stars??

Isabel's favorite part?

Walking on the beach, of course!

Noah's favorite part?

Well, let's just say that it wasn't carrying his sister on our island excursion. 

But, he was a good sport about it!

All in all, it was a good day to be a homeschooling Charlestonian!

Ahhhhh, gotta love the lowcountry.

Sidelines

Within a week of being home from China, Claire was sitting on the sidelines.  Her brothers had a baseball game.  And that was just the beginning.  You see, our kids are team players.  Baseball team, basketball team, swim team.  So, Claire?  She's spent a whole lota time on the sidelines. And, pretty much as soon as she could talk....in English, that is, she wanted to know when she could get off the sidelines and into the game! 

Today was her day!

Claire wants more than anything to play Upward basketball.  But she has to wait until this fall when she is old enough.  So, we thought we'd try Upward Soccer to warm her up.  Today was her first game!

And when they called her name, she ran through the tunnel all by her big girl self.

Mom and Dad?  Yeah, we cried like big ole babies when we saw her coming!

Because she was so proud of herself and was giving high-fives like all the other kids. 

And because we still remember the baby that came home from China.

The one that doctors told us not to count on walking.

But look at her now!

Whoever thought this would be impossible did. not. know. Claire.

Today she got off the sidelines and got in the game!

She is the smallest player on the team.  And the slowest. 

Neither of these facts occurred to her today!

She was in.the.game.

And, that was all she cared about!

Everyone was sweet about it.  They gave her a chance.

They cheered her on!

Even when she was often left behind.

So, she made sure to wave to all her fans.

On the sidelines.

Where she was not sitting today!

'Cause she?

Was in this game!

And she was lovin' it!

Until.....

She decided to come off the field in the middle of a period....... because she?

Was done!

"I'm tired now"

She pretty much did this until her coach came to get her.

And take her to the bench.

But it was still fun, and she got Best Effort for her first soccer game!

YAY CLAIRE!

You did a great job and you will sleep well!

And the princess went home and put on her tutu!

Because that's how we roll, baby!

Guess what? 

She gets to do it all over again next Saturday!

Spring has Sprung!

Spring is .....well, springing all over the place down here!

And since we have a short window with some of our spring flowers,

I ran out to snap some pictures with my newest toy.

Of course, my new toy is way beyond my pay grade.....so, I don't really know what I'm doin'.

Thank goodness, it's pretty much fool-proof when set to auto.

And, when you have such a cute speciem to shoot.

And, the flowers are this helpful!

Now I just need to figure out how to use the software I got for Christmas!

Because as amazingly adorable as this chick is....

I bet this picture would be even sweeter if I knew how to use PSE to, you know, enhance it!

Then again.

Does.

It.

Get.

 Any.

Cuter?

We Present:

Something adorable!

And possibly dangerous!

{Note the helmet}

But, really really cool!

 Princesses on Ice, eat your hearts out!

We give you....

A nail biting show packed with daring feats,

And death defying moves on ice! 

We present,

FALLING ON ICE!

Coming soon to a rink near you.

You won't want to miss a minute of the action!

Because any ole show can be about skating,

But we've got the best falls on ice!