Hemenway Park in Boulder City

 

We went with our friends, who also homeschool, to Hemenway Park in Boulder City to see the Bighorn Sheep. My friend, Angie, studied about bighorn sheep so she was able to teach the kids, (and me) quite a bit about them. It was fun observing them. Some had the tracking collars on, so I got to teach the kids about those as well.

We also went on a short hike. Sheldon and Tessa are leaning about bugs so we stopped at just about every ant mound they found.

 

 

Of course the kids also had fun at the playground too. They were very glad to have Cody there to push them.

It was a great morning spent with very good friends.

Marie-Anne

Bible KIds Club

We held a meeting of the Bible Kids Club last night. We were happy to have people from our church come, as well as friends from another small church. I had a horrible headache and was glad to let Ms. Sharon run the whole thing. The kids had a good time.

Marie-Anne

Homeschool Group- Hidden Falls Park

We met our friends who are part of a homeschool group at a new to us park. Hidden Falls Park rivals "Awesome Park" according to the kids.  I have never seen a park set up like this.

This park has lots and lots of climbing challenges. The kids tested them all.

Sabrina loves to get dizzy. I don't understand it, but she had a blast on this thing.

We also brought a picnic. Alex was too busy playing with the other boys to join us. The blanket was made by my great grandmother. It is finally being used after sitting in a drawer for about 30 years.

Our friends just joined this homeschool group. I will at least do the 30 day trial to see if it will be a good fit for us. Both of the children had a great time playing with the other kids. The adults were friendly too. So we will just have to wait and see.

Marie-Anne

Tea (hot cocoa) Party

When Frank and I first got married we were told by an older pastor's wife that we HAD to have a china set as a pastor and his wife. So, though I was quite happy with my Corningware, (and still am) I listened. We bought four plates, dessert plates, cups, and saucers, then for some reason stopped. I guess she didn't tell us the number of place settings. We have had this china since our first year of marriage, yet we only used the plates and the dessert plates for holidays. The cups and saucers still had the price tags on them!

Sabrina LOVES tea parties (hot cocoa). We have used her little tea sets, but really they are far too small. She was absolutely delighted when I pulled out the china for a tea party last night. We will continue to use her little sets for outside tea parties, but now we finally have a use for the china that we just HAD to have.

Our tea parties are not serious, but filled with laughter and joking. We all enjoy them.

Marie-Anne

Arroyo Grande Sports Complex

For our family walk we went to nearby Arroyo Grande Sports Complex. First we walked in a big loop.

Afterwards the kids got to play at the playgrounds.

Sabrina also tried to roll down the big hill, but didn't quite make it all the way down.

Marie-Anne

Ethel M

Just got back from Ethel M. I wanted to get out of the house for a while so we walked the trails of the cactus garden then claimed our free piece of chocolate.

Marie-Anne

Square Foot Garden

We finally have a square foot garden and a few containers as well. Since this is our first season, it is more of an experiment. We plan on adding to it as we gain skills.

I mixed the soil according to the All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew.

 

The garden is also part of the kids' homeschool. They each helped to plant and water half of the garden and they have their own containers to take care of. I also got the Square Foot Gardening with Kids book, also by Mel Bartholomew. It has interesting things for them to learn and do.

Marie-Anne

Fox Ridge Park

 

 

For our family walk we took the kids to Fox Ridge Park. The kids walked around almost once, but they ditched us at the playground. Frank and I continued to walk the trail several more times.

Marie-Anne

Barnes and Noble

The kids and I walked to Barnes and Noble yesterday. I read the new Princess in Black book to Sabrina twice, (she wanted me to read it again).

Marie-Anne

P.S. Can you tell Sabrina loves her overalls? She has two pairs and she is wearing one in almost every post lately.

Family walks

Lately we have been going on walks together, after Frank gets home. It is a fun relaxing way to squeeze in some family time and some exercise.

Sometimes the kids bring their scooters, but most of the time they walk too.

Marie-Anne

Gametime for Sabrina and Mom

While Alex was playing at his friend's house, Sabrina and I played board games.

Marie-Anne

Whitney Mesa Park

I took the kids to Whitney Mesa Park. They had a great time even though we had the park to ourselves.

Marie-Anne

Praying Mantis

Sabrina has wanted to find a praying mantis for a long time. She learned about them from Wild Kratts.

Mean mom told her that since we don't know how to take care of it we wouldn't keep it as a pet.

Marie-Anne

Outreach at Paradise Park

We joined Pastor Jones' Church at Paradise Park for an outreach and a concert. Frank had spent most of the day helping them with evangelizing.

Since we got there early the kids got to play with their friends at the playground for a long time while I chatted with some ladies.

For the concert we left the playground, but they didn't leave the fun. Sabrina brought her soccer ball so the kids played with/fought over it. And they went from tree to tree "planting seeds".

Marie-Anne

picnic Sabrina style

One thing Sabrina really loves is for us to eat snacks in the backyard and just talk or for me to listen as she tells stories she makes up.

Marie-Anne

Grapevine Springs Park a.k.a. Awesome Park

Yippee! It is cool enough we can start doing outdoor things again. Of course, our cool isn't exactly what anybody else would think of as cool...

I took the kids to Grapevine Springs Park for a fun afternoon. This is the park that the kids have nicknamed "Awesome Park". Needless to say, they really enjoyed our time there.

Marie-Anne

Frank's birthday

The day before Frank's b-day we took him out to eat at the place of his choice. On his actual b-day he got his gifts. I had a gag gift in mind, but ended up getting something he can use.

Frank is such a wonderful husband and father. We are truly blessed to have him. He is my best friend even after all these years. I love him so so very much!

Marie-Anne

Getting dirty at the library

We signed the kids up for a class on container gardening at the library. we thought it was a class for kids, but they were the only kids. They were bored during the slideshow, though I learned a few things.

 

However, the hands-on portion was great fun for everyone. The kids got to mix the soil and they are taking good care of the plants they planted themselves. The timing of this class was great too because it was right before we started our square foot garden.

Marie-Anne

Barnes and Noble

We still occasionally go to browse at Barnes and Noble. The kids really like doing this.

Marie-Anne

Petland

The kids tried to talk me into getting a bird for Frank's b-day. Didn't happen.

Marie-Anne