Monday, March 2, 2015

February (The longest month of the year)

You may think I'm crazy, because everyone knows that February is actually the SHORTEST month of the year, right? Well, not in the Homeschool world!
I have heard many a homeschool mom say that February is the toughest month of the year! It's often the month that homeschool moms feel like throwing in the towel. It's in the middle of the winter, you are all stuck in the house together, ALL DAY LONG, and it can feel like it's NEVER going to END!

February was a busy month for us, and luckily it didn't all involve being stuck in the house together ALL DAY LONG! We did a lot of things this month, and it just felt extra long.
But they were fun things!
Morgan began an Art Class for the younger children.
EVERYONE enjoyed this!

Our homeschool group field trip was to an indoor pool!

Some fun spent at the mall carousel.

And an awesome field trip to the National Building Museum in D.C.!


Ashlyn and Duncan took a class all about city planning. They got to help build some buildings for their 'zones'.
Duncan was so proud of his hotel....the 'Ritz'!



Then everyone came together with their buildings and laid out the city.
It was such a fun class!

Madelyn was in a class of her own...
Where she made her own house!
I didn't get to be in there (as I was a helper in the class Ashlyn & Duncan were in), but all reports came back that it too was a great time!

Then a little building fun together!

Ronan didn't sign up for a class, he just enjoyed roaming through the museum on his own checking everything out.

Back at home we were studying the solar system in science...
We measured out how far each planet is from the sun on a roll of toilet paper (scaled down of course).
The kids are way out where Neptune would be! So far in relation to the other planets!
Then we did some planet painting, and put together our own solar system. 


For our PE group we did some indoor games (due to the cold weather).
Like Red Rover, basketball, dodge ball, and others.
We also spent an afternoon at an indoor trampoline park for PE one week.
That was a definite hit!

A friend in the ward was looking for some faces to paint so she could take photos to have for her face painting business. My kids were more than happy to volunteer!


A friend in the ward was looking for some faces to paint so she could take photos to have for her face painting business. My kids were more than happy to volunteer!


I hosted Kindergarten Group just before Valentines Day, and we had fun with heart shaped crafts and food (apple hearts, and heart shaped bread).

Hayden had some fun with his chemistry experiments

And Duncan and Hayden took a 'Computer Guts' class offered at our local library which they loved.
They had fun taking computers apart and checking out all the inside workings.


And then we got some snow....
7 inches worth.
We had some fun snow days!
Whose crazy child is that outside in shorts and no coat in the snow???
Our dutiful boys clearing up the snow.

Hayden and his friend Ted had a great field trip opportunity to go meet the Governor of Maryland, and sit in on a hearing at the state capitol in Annapolis.
The students had lunch with a Senator, and a tour of the Capitol building as well.

The younger kids and I studied Medieval History, and made some Viking Long boats, 
and homemade catipults.

And I think Duncan slept in a tent in the girls room more nights this month than he did in his own bed!









Sunday, March 1, 2015

Duncan's Birthday!

This crazy, fun boy turned 11!
And we spent the day celebrating him!!
Started out with breakfast at his favorite resturant-Chick-fil-A!

The day before was lunch at his favorite place...
House of India!
(We did this a day early, since we would be out for his birthday field trip the next day!)

 

For his 'birthday field trip' Duncan choose to visit the Bureau of Engraving and Printing!
"Show me the money!!!!", he said.

It was a pretty cold February day in D.C.,
And Madelyn found a way to keep her face warm.

After the tour of the Engraving and Printing, we went up the Washington Monument.
And saw some great views. (Lincoln Memorial)
The D.C. Temple is the white building sticking up out of the trees on the left, off in the distance.
(White House in the front)
Duncan looking out at the Capital Building.

The frozen Tidal Basin around the Jefferson Monument.

Such a fun day celebrating the boy!
Happy Birthday Duncan!!