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Labels: family, field-trips, Jen's world

Labels: family, field-trips, Wordless Wednesday

The American Girl Place, Los Angeles was our destination last Thursday.

we had some good bloggy-guessers :)

Labels: family, field-trips

Answers for the Show Your Stuff Quiz, Sea World edition:

1. Which scientific order do seals and sea lions belong to?



1. Answer: Pinnipedia
Seals and sea lions both belong to the scientific order Pinnipedia. The name literally means “fin-footed.”


3. why are flamingos pink?

3.Answer: Because of their diet-
A flamingo's pink or reddish feather color comes from its diet, which is high in alpha and beta-carotene. People eat beta-carotene when they eat carrots.


2. Penguins live only on Antarctica, True or False?

2 Answer: False
-some penguin species live as far north as the Galapagos Islands. There are penguins off the coast of Australia, South Africa, South America, New Zealand and the Phillips Island, as well.


4. What non-sea animal has an exhibit at Sea World, San Diego?

4. Answer: Clydesdale horses (answer I was looking for, but I will take others, also...Sky pointed out that Flamingos aren't sea type animals, either...

The Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales....To qualify for one of the traveling hitches, an Anheuser-Busch Clydesdale must be a gelding (neutered male) at least four years of age. He must be 18 hands (6 ft. or 1.8 m); weigh between 1,800 to 2,000 lb. (817 - 907 kg); be bay in color; and have four white stocking feet, a blaze of white on the face and a black mane and tail.

Thank you for playing! The winner, chosen by random generator is:

Michelle, who was number 3 (counting out my reply and a double post)
congratulations Michelle, I will contact you to get your info!

Labels: contests, field-trips

you can read the first half of this trip *here.

So, a good time was had by all during our Sea World educational-day field trip.
The kids loved, loved the dolphin pool. They have a really nice set-up at Sea World, you can touch the dolphins in this pool, and they have two underwater windows for better viewing.
Aww, aren't they cute? Too cute to be legal, don't you think? Cute like lots of sugar....

Do you think they are $6 a tray of fish cute? They have a few special feeding times where you can purchase a tray of food for $6 and feed your new friends. I tried to economize and purchased just 2 trays to share among my 4 kids. Do the math, this was $12
There were 3 small sardine fish in each tray, which worked out to $2 a fish. I warned the kids to be very careful and not let the sea gulls steal one...because it's like, $2 for each little fish....
So, do the dolphins look cute and happy? Yes they are happy, because they get expensive fish...!
(ranting aside, I get it...if they were reasonably priced then everyone and their grandma would feed the dolphins many trays of fish and we'd have fat dolphins..I do get it. It's just, yikes!)
We had beautiful, beautiful weather on this day...which was the day after a big rain-storm in So. California. A bit chilly, but beautiful!
We purchased the half day tickets so I could beat traffic home (it's about a 2 hour trip) and so we could stop for McDonald's happy meals on the way home...instead of buying lunch in the park. And the children were all rendered HAPPY! :) and mom was happy because it was not...all together now,...$2 a fish!

Labels: field-trips, homeschool, homeschool California

We were fortunate to attend a Sea World 'education day' last week. It is an opportunity for schools to visit the park and attend special educational exhibits for a discounted rate..and if you sign up for only a half-day, it's a very discounted rate.
(the kind of rate that makes me smile real, real big)

We opted for the half-day; the big draw for me is the thought of beating traffic home, and not having to buy lunch for 5 of us at the park...it's McD's on the way home (and all the kids cheer!)

My favorite moment of the day was seeing the flamingos on parade! They were on their way to their exhibit spot. I know I am a bird person, always and forever because of the draw this event has on me. My favorite part of the day, hands-down.

There is something other-word-ly about seeing tall, colorful birds with their spindle-ly legs cruising down the pathway. I kind of felt like Richard Dryfus in that scene from Close Encounters of the third kind...the part where he walks up the ramp of the spaceship and all the aliens walk around him. Kind of. Is that a weird thought?? Don't answer that...

Amie's favorite spot was the stingray pool. You can feed them here for only $6 a tray...only..
But, secret is, they will love on you even if you don't have any food! They are very optimistic and will come visit in the hopes of getting food. Can you see how soaked Amie's shirt is here?

The stingray pool always puts a smile on my face because they act like a pool full of excited puppies. Puppies that are in the water, have no legs and are covered with a layer of slime...yes, just like puppies...kind of. They made me think of puppies the way they would rush up to you and pop out of the water, trying to get your attention. Very cute. In a fishy way.

Okay, time for a "Show Your Stuff" Quiz!
Answer the quiz questions correctly in the comment section and
1 random correct commenter will win a $20 Target card. I hope you will spend it on yourself, after all this holiday rush is over!

1. Which scientific order do seals and sea lions belong to?

2. Penguins live only on Antarctica, True or False?

3. why are flamingos pink?

4. What non-sea animal has an exhibit at Sea World, San Diego?

good luck!

*contest ends Wednesday, December 16th at 9 p.m. pacific time

p.s. you are welcome to use internet 'help', but if you can do this with no help, mention it in the post and we will cheer for your smartness!! ;)

*special note: if you are not linked thru a blog, please leave an email address I can reach you at if you win.

**new note: Contest is over, Michelle won!!

Labels: field-trips, homeschool

The only close venue available? The cemetery. It turned out to be a really good spot. We saw several different types of trees, including huge pines, magnolias and wonderful magnolia seed pods with bright red seeds- which were a revelation to the kids. There were yellow ginko trees, sparkling golden in the sun, a revelation to me.

Labels: classical Conversations, field-trips

This week we enjoyed a trip to the Kid's Science Museum in the big city nearest to us. Another homeschool mom called to remind us that is was a free day for us, and to tell us that the museum had a neat hockey exhibit...Demi is all about hockey these days, he just tried out for a roller-hockey team...

Nice perk of homeschooling, we were able to drop what we were doing, and head on down!


Here is one of the neat hockey exhibits, a movie screen in front with a hockey player approaching to shoot at the goal. There are 3 slots in the wall, and the hockey puck shoots out of one of them. The kids got to dress up in goalie gear and try to stop the puck. Red lights and roar of the crowd added to the fun.

Amie tried out the harp with no strings. It had lights instead. Sounded like the real thing and was fun to experiment with. Mom played with it, too.

The whole crew had to try out the rock climbing wall. Love these! I wish we had one in our backyard, just the sort of thing I would have loved as a kid.

I've learned through experience to not arrive at the Science Museum until after lunch. I think they try to schedule all of the school field trips on the city-free day. It's a real zoo in the morning. Arriving 1 pm or later works out well, the kids are out having lunch and then being rounded up on buses. We have the place to ourselves, pretty much after 1.

A perk of homeschooling, ....avoiding the crowds. :)

Labels: field-trips

I had a stack of must see resources for our trip to Boston. The ultimate preparation would have been a year long American History study, such as Sonlight's Core 3 and Core 4...but this trip didn't fit into that schedule, so here are the books I made sure we enjoyed before the trip:

Johnny Tremain by Ester Forbes: In my mind, this was the most important book to read for our trip, I read this book in 6th grade- and to me, it spoke "Boston". I was so excited to see the area myself, as an adult, and I was sure my kids would love and get as invested in Johnny's story as I did.

Samuel Eaton's Day and Sarah Morton's Day: wonderful, scenic picture-books of a day in the life of a pilgrim boy/girl, photographed at Plimoth Plantation, using period costumes. Really, really wonderful!

Tampenum's Day, a Wampanoag Indian Boy in Pilgrim times:
again, wonderful photos, done on location at the Wampanoag village at the Plimoth Plantation museum.

Drive Thru History: Columbus, the Pilgrim's and early Boston DVD*
I'll fess us and say I haven't viewed this, but if I had known about it before our trip, I would have ordered it. I was aware of the longer and more expensive Drive Thru History America dvd set...and was thinking about getting it when we do American History next school year...but this is shorter, more specific to the area and not a bad price at all... Did you see that it is a DVD? I have viewed one of these on Greece, and it was very entertaining and informative, well-done, I thought.

1621-A new look at Thanksgiving: beautiful photography again. I first read this years ago, and had a little bit of a hard time with some of it's harsh tone and representation of parts of history..but, it did challenge me, and it did present a side to the colonization of Plymouth I did not know, and it presented a clear look at the historical Thanksgiving-debunking many of the myths we learned way back in kindergarten...I think it was a good addition to our reading and gave my students a chance to see the 'other' side of history lore.

We also had a booklet on the Freedom trail, which was invaluable on our walking tour. We purchased it at Border's bookstore in Boston...I'm sorry but I cannot find it now, but I am sure you can find it, or ones like it in Boston!

Of course, Make Way for Ducklings was also on our list!! How could I forget that one? If you don't know, there are statues from this book at Boston Commons...

Labels: Boston, field-trips, homeschool

I mentioned in an earlier post that our trip to Plimoth Plantation was one of the highlights of our trip...it really was, I highly, highly recommend taking in this living history museum if you are anywhere near it. If you are a homeschool family, I think it is one of the 'must sees' for American History.

We began our walking tour at the wampunoag village, which is hosted by real descendants of these native peoples. They do not speak 'parts' in this village, unlike at the Pilgrim village...but they are very open to talking to you about the past, their ancestor's way of living before and after the Europeans came, and about what they are doing at that moment, whether cooking a meal, planting corn or hallowing out a canoe.

This man was hallowing out a canoe with burning coals. I saw a real papoose board, something I have read about in books- it was a little different than I had imagined.
This is the Pilgrim village, men are building a roof. They slowed down to talk to us a bit about what they are doing, and how the village is run.
Two guys talking...
Here is the inside of one of the houses, this is a more prosperous house, we saw some that were more 'humble'.
Here are my kids pondering sitting like this every Sunday...sitting on a hard bench, having to stay awake...being hit if you are a boy sleeping, being poked by a stick if you are a girl...

they didn't sit that long....eh, these modern kids...!

Labels: Boston, field-trips, homeschool

Okay, I was only fun'in with you...during our family trip to Boston, we visited Plimoth Plantation- it was really the highlight of our trip. Plimoth Plantation is a living museum. First up was the Wampunoag village. Here are a few of their canoes parked on a bank.

What a view! Those Pilgrims had some prime real-estate, let me tell you. I liked looking out and imagining what the coast was like back then...

more to come in the next post.

Labels: Boston, field-trips, homeschool

We really enjoy visiting Cambridge, and of course touring the campus of Harvard. This is the foyer of the Freshman dining hall. You have to be a freshman to eat here. We couldn't even go inside...tho, our last visit here, I got a really good peek inside when the doors were opened for a few seconds. On one side of the foyer was the dining hall, the other side has a theater. The stained glass windows are breath-taking. And, secular. No bible stories here.
Amie in front of the statue of the 3 lies. It's a fun story. This is the founder of Harvard, or not...hence the reason they call it the statue of the 3 lies... See the shiny foot? It's tradition that if you touch the foot, that either you or your kids will get into Harvard. So, we saw lots of tourists/visitors holding the foot and taking photos. Our student guides begged us not to touch it, and it wasn't the idea of germs that prompted this warning....we heard tales later of drunken students in the middle of the night, and I'm sure your imagination can supply the rest, think of why the bronze might be shiny, beside people constantly touching it... ewww!!

We loved Harvard, weird statue story and all. It's a beautiful campus. George Washington slept there, really! Lots and lots of history, my favorite subject!

this is homeschool field-tripping at it's best!

Labels: Boston, field-trips, trips

Sky and I visited the Boston area two years ago, loved it, and really wanted to take the kids. We finally got our chance this May, after we spotted some super-low airfares. Visiting Boston is a super rich experience for us on two fronts; 1)the history! I loove History, I love visiting places I've read about, and I loved/longed to share these places with our kids. 2) meeting up with people we've met through having the Bible college boys/girls over to our house every week. Sweet, sweet fellowship.
There were many firsts for Demi and Amie. Look! - A very first plane ride!
Look! -very first subway train ride! This actually had monumental buildup after seeing subways in movies like Narnia and Spiderman.
Our very first Bible College boy, graduated several years ago, now serves on the college campuses in the area. He has become a very good tour guide, on the side. Here he is enriching us with his knowledge (which was considerable) of the old statehouse building. We actually had other people stop to listen to him at several stops. (we are joking about sending him a costume so he can do the tour in a proper way...)

Notice Amie giving him all her attention and just soaking in the history...

Labels: Boston, field-trips, trips

The Home crew went on a little field trip, we joined the National Tea Party. We were able to bike to downtown, which worked- out wonderfully.
*Notice Amie's civic-fortitude on the far left of this photo...

I love this flag! Texas just embodies what American freedom and independence are all about.

I am pretty proud of the composition of this photo, it just works.
Totally an accidental shot, but I am still proud of it...


The crowd was very well-behaved, the signs were fun, lots of people dressed-up. I captured a lot of fun pics for my fb page. Meg was captivated by the bevy of mounted police folk...she went over and chatted with them. (they looked very bored, with such a tame crowd)
-I guess I can count that as career planning. She discovered one of the horses is stabled at the stable she works at, the policewoman thought she recognized Meg.

A sign of our times, perhaps, or most likely a sign of how little I think of televised media...when I got home I checked FB and googled to see what was going on with the Tea Parties nationally, but it did not even occur to me to turn on the t.v. news. Maybe not having a t.v. for 6 years contributed to that, too. I just thought that was really funny, when in the evening, Sky finally switched on the cable networks.

I enjoyed hearing about the tea bags thrown over the fence at the White House, hee-hee. The new national security's report calling we peaceful protestors possible right-wing terrorists was very insulting and maddening. A reminder to not think too hard about politics, eh?

We are currently reading Johnny Tremain, in anticipation of our up-coming trip to Boston with the kids! We haven't gotten to the Boston Tea Party yet, but I am really excited about all the connections that will surely follow.

Well, that is my excitement for the year...

How was your tax-day?

Labels: field-trips, homeschool

I promised the kids a trip to Disneyland a few weeks ago..and so the other day I cashed in my promise. It happened to be an unusually hot day.

We went to art lessons in the morning and then headed to the park.

I got a real kick out of the candy corn stalks...it's just too cute!






We spent the whole trip over at California adventure park, we headed right for the grizzly rapids ride..it was so hot, a little soak sounded like just the thing.

We happened to catch a parade, too.

Lots of fun!

Mom got a diet coke and a rice-krispy treat...she was good-to-go... (it's the little things in life...)

Labels: field-trips

Here are the highlights of our train trip to San Diego.

Once there, Sky met us at the station with the van and we took the kids to breakfast...I did mention earlier the forsaken hour of our departure, didn't I?? We then headed to Point Loma to visit the Cabrillo monument and tide-pools. The tide-pool beach was not one conducive to playing and sand-castle building, so we packed it up and headed over to Laguna Beach- where we had lunch and relaxed.
It was a good day.

Here is the history book we read from to learn more about Cabrillo and why he has a statue...


Our Golden California by Juanita C. Houston

Labels: family, field-trips

We had the chance to join a group for a field-trip,
the reduced fair of $6 a ticket was the only real reason I found myself at the train station at
6:15 A.M.

My offspring look way too chipper here, at this un-earthly hour....









Did I mention the 6:15 A.M. part? You do realize that this means most of these moms had to get up before or around 5 A.M. to make this magic all happen.

This is a preschool co-op group, they all have preschoolers, toddlers and babies. I am simply astounded that everyone made it on time!

Round of applause all around!







This magic-potion -in- a -patch-was the only reason I would step foot on a train...

another festivus miracle








We took the train from central Orange County to downtown San Diego. Kind of a once in a childhood experience, since the tickets are pricey. Trains are a very exciting, magical thing to little kids- I knew the memories of this trip would be worth the pain of getting to the station way-way-too early for sanity.








Here's Amie catching sight of the beach.



Childhood really is a time of wonder.

Labels: field-trips