Good Friends, Good Times

Knowing we would be on Easter break last week, I invited the Campbell children (minus the little guy) over for a play day.  Funny how I didn't even have to twist Christy's arm to get them here.  (haha)  The weather was beautiful and the children played nicely all day.  They arrived around 9:30am and left after dinner.  It was a fun day.  I just wish I had taken more photos.  They aren't going to be this age for long and they made such fun memories that day.

E and Lily enjoying their picnic lunch.

The rest of the gang finishing their lunch.

All eight together - good friends, good times.

(They insisted on everyone eating outside at the same table.)

Salt Dough Maps

One of the (many) things that motivated me to join a co-op was the hands-on activities I knew our children would experience in a group setting.  As we study different continents, it seems at least one of our children make a salt dough map.  They enjoy making them every time and it never gets old for them.

Right now we are learning about the continent of Africa.  Last week H and B made a salt dough map.  H's class just invested one week on the project.  They also made an animal from the dough.  I was impressed with H's elephant.

Africa and Elephant - by H

B's class invested two weeks on the project.  The flags did not stick and I'm glad.  They have had fun taking them off then putting them back in the correct location.

Africa - by B

The learning continues...

Roar!

We're studying Africa for three weeks in TOG.  Last week the twins made lion masks in class. 

They changed shirts at one point during the day so I'm not certain but I think C is on the left and E is on the right.

Other Things

So these photos are just bits and pieces from this month that don't fit any other posts.  (I'm determined to begin my week caught up with the blog.)

I was chatting with my backdoor neighbor a couple of weeks ago.  She was kind to offer the kids a morning snack (as any good grandma would do:) and the subject of snakes came up.  I assured her that we had never seen a snake in our yard.  That afternoon I was in my bedroom when one of the kids came running into the house yelling, "MOM!  MOM!  There's a snake in our yard!  And it's BIG!"  I went outside (camera in hand as any good mom would do) and this is what I saw.

I politely told him that we did not want him and that he could go visit the nice grandma behind us.

H made a button lamp in co-op while I was on the cruise.  It sat around the house for a while so one evening I suggested they all go outside with Dad to light it.  After it burned for about a half hour, she finally ran water over it to put it out.  It was a fun experience for them.  (Thanks, co-op teachers!)

We have been part of a small science co-op this spring.  We only meet every 2 or 3 weeks but the kids have learned quite a bit about botany.  I taught the week we were learning about stems so this was one of the experiments.  I've tried this before and it didn't work.  I was not putting enough food coloring in the water.  It worked quite nicely this time and my kids "got it".

My friend, Kristi, has been helping H with some sewing.  This day they were working on the last piece of her "Laura dress" before the musical.

H has learned quite a bit about pinning, cutting and putting pieces together.

Naturally, this is the fun part.  The fabric was not cooperative so Kristi was having to help her.

Bentonville, NC 145th Anniversary of Civil War Battle

Dad and Mom have often talked of going to a Civil War reenactment, especially since we've lived in NC.  Late last year we began hearing of the weekend celebration taking place the 3rd weekend of March in Bentonville, NC.  They would be celebrating the 145th anniversary of the battle that occured there three weeks before the surrender of Robert E. Lee.

So when our co-op decided to plan a "field trip" to the Saturday battle, we purchased our tickets (at a discounted price:).  And we marked our calendar for the big day.

We arrived at the battlefield around 10:45am.  After walking though some of the army campgrounds, we decided to go sit in line and wait for the gate to open.  We had our lawn chairs and umbrellas since we'd have to wait 2 hours for the battle to begin.  So if you see yellow "caution" tape in some photos, it's because we had a front row seat.  Unfortunately, all the "Event Staff" told us that "any seat is a good seat" but they were wrong.  We could not see the Confederate troops at all but we saw lots of Union troops setting off canons.

Confederate troops preparing to march to the battlefield.

More Confederate preparations.

Union troops making their way to the battlefield.

Union troops marching to the battlefield.

This reminds me of photos I've seen in history books.

There were about 10 canons at the battle yesterday.  Each time the order was given, a man with a bag would go to get the ammuni*tion.

Then the man with the bag (I'm sure he has a title but I don't know what it is) would show it to the commanding officer by his canon for inspection.

Then the man with the bag would take it to the soldiers by the canon for them to load the canon.  At that point they would cover their ears.

Then BANG!!  The ground would shake and smoke would fill the air.  I'm quite proud of this photo because I was able to capture one of the smoke rings that appeared sometimes.

A man sitting beside Dad who has been going to events such as this one for many years told him lots of trivia we would not have known otherwise.  One bit of information he shared is that they were only using about 1/4 of what the canons would actually hold.  This was to keep it from being so loud.  And to think it wasn't the real thing.  Gave me a new perspective of what it may have been like for the soldiers 145 years ago.

Little House on the Prairie: The Musical

One of H's Christmas gifts was tickets to the LIttle House on the Prairie musical.  Today was the big day!  We dropped off the other kids at the Fields' and headed toward Raleigh.  But before we went to the convention center, we stopped for lunch at G*lden C*oral (her choice).

I think I was as excited as H because Melissa Gilbert is "Ma Ingalls" in the production.  I wanted to meet her when I was little so I was like a kid again.  (This was as exciting as when I saw Marie Osmond in The Sound of Music.  Remember that, Stephanie and Betsy?)

H in front of the poster inside the convention center.  (Thanks, Kristi F., for the great outfit!)

H and her friend, Alexa.  There was so much excitement in the air!  H could barely contain herself. :)

The musical was wonderful.  If you've ever read the books, then you would have followed right along.  After the performance, there was a Q&A session for the home school students.

Who will sit in the empty chair?  Could it be saved for HER?

YES!!  Melissa Gilbert showed up a little later than everyone else but she answered lots of questions.  And I got her picture!  Unfornately, they had another performance tonight so none of the cast members stayed around for photos with the kids.  But it was a nice experience just the same.

Melissa's youngest son, Michael, plays "Willie Olsen".  That's him beside his mom.

Back to School

Okay...after a 3 week (unplanned) spring break, we're going "back to school" tomorrow.  The schoolroom is now upstairs, B's room is downstairs and freshly painted(just for you Nana!) and it's all gonna' be good once I get everything settled.  But it's settled enough for classes to resume tomorrow.  And we're all well enough to get our work done.

Cruise photos to follow soon...

Saying Good-bye

Our neighbors and friends, the Notts, moved to Dallas this week.  It all happened very quickly.  While we're excited for them and the new opportunties awaiting them, we're going to miss them very much.

We did not have time to plan a going away party for the boys.  I was thrilled when all their friends from the neighborhood ended up in our backyard their last afternoon here.

Silly faces, good friends.

I've watched those boys walk home many, many times.  I must confess, I got a bit teary eyed as they were walking home one last time.

We did have them over for roasting marshmallows and making smores the night before they headed west.

Fun times around the campfire.

I even let the kids eat as much as they wanted.

Yum, yum!!

Happy faces together.

Our street won't be the same with you gone.  We'll miss you!!

(Eat some Blue Bell for us!)

Upward 2010 Celebration

Upward basketball game to an end this weekend.  Here are the highlights...

Little Colts

Lady Tigers

Junior Rattlers

Lady Tigers with Coach (aka Dad)

B has been known to go on and on about how he NEVER wins anything.  So I had to get a photo of him walking down from the stage after WINNING a door prize at the Upward celebration.  (Yes, I had already turned off my camera thinking it was time to go.)  It is an Upward license plate but he won't let me have it to put on the van.  I think he still can't believe he won something.

Great Upward season!

Sand Sledding

A family from our home church here in NC are missionaries in West Africa.

Check out the photos on their blog of how they go sledding.

You'll have to scroll down a bit (you can read the other entries too if you like) to find the photos.

Oh, and look for the camels!

Then say a prayer for the Millenders and all other missionaries living around the world.

Mom and Grammy Go Cruising

Mom was very excited when Dad encouraged her to get away a few days with Grammy on a cruise.  (It was his idea.  And a very good idea!)  So Grammy got it all planned (she had won it) and we marked our calendars.

The morning I was driving to the airport, it was snowing!  I honestly thought I would miss the ship and spend five days in Texas rather than on a cruise ship.

Here's Mom taking a self-portrait while waiting in the snow for the shuttle bus at the airport.

Nine hours later...goodbye Galveston!

We had dinner every evening in the dining room.  I think the only time it takes me two hours to eat dinner is when I'm on a cruise.  The food sure is yummy.

Hello Cozumel!  Hello sunshine and warm weather!!

Grammy had never been to any Mayan ruins so I arranged a guided tour of the Tulum ruins.  We took the ferry across to Playa del Carmen then a van was waiting for us to take us to Tulum.  We had a private tour because no one else from our ship wanted to take that tour that day.  Our guide was incredibly intelligent about Mayan history.  We just studied it last year in our co-op so it was a bit fresh on my mind.

Love the blue water!  We didn't have time to swim but enjoyed the time at the ruins.

Mom and Grammy

Grammy is ready to be back on the ship.  The ferry ride was a bit rough.  (We found out later that evening that the ferry did not run again after we got off.  Thankful we took the earlier time!)

We were on the Carnival Ecstasy (left).  The Carnival Triumph was docked next to us.  Our ship almost collided with a Celebrity ship as we were leaving because the winds were so strong.  The Triumph was delayed four hours in leaving port.

I wanted to go down the waterslide so much!  I walked by it several times trying to convince myself that I could do it.  But when I looked up at the top and saw the Carnival employee wearing a SNOW CAP, I knew it was just too cold.  The sun was warm but the water was freezing!  (I put my foot in the kiddie slide water just to feel it.)

Our last night sailing.

I love sunsets on a cruise.  This was the only one we caught.

Fun, fun memories!  Thanks, Grammy, for taking me with you!!!!

Mom in the Atrium.

Good bye, Galveston!

Dad helped me locate a Papa*sittos at the airport.  I practically ran two terminals to have lunch there.  Then my flight was delayed.  Oh well, I needed to exercise off my lunch.  (No, I did not eat it all.  I brought some home for Dad to enjoy since he misses it as much as I do.)

I'm so glad I was able to spend this time with my mom.  I love you!!!!