From Massachusetts to Texas!!

I am so thrilled how well our homeschooling is going.  Jenna and I are both learning a lot along the way...educational wise and character wise.  Today, we finished up our study of Massachusetts.  I must admit that I've learned just as much as Jenna.

I remember learning the states and capitals in school, but I don't remember learning ABOUT each state.  There were so many interesting facts in You Wouldn't Want to be at the Boston Tea Party, Wharf Water Tea, You'd Rather Not Drink.  We read it over the period of 2 days and it really makes me want to pick up more books from that series.  Next we are reading If You Lived in Colonial Times and You Wouldn't Want to be an American Colonist. We placed our Massachusetts stamp on our Road Trip USA travel log.  Our next state is NEW HAMPSHIRE!

After our studies were over, we headed out to the Home School Bowling League for our weekly session.  Jenna got 1 strike and several spares!  She has upped her all time high score to 91...way to go Jenna!!

And my big news is that I am going to Houston, Texas next week!  I'm really excited about the trip.  I've never been as an adult, so I'm looking forward to seeing if things really are bigger in Texas.

Until then...

Rockin' with School House Rock

After our overnight camping trip to the KOA in New Bern, we are finding it a little hard to get back into the "school mode".   If you overlook the sweltering heat and the whining (from mostly me) that went along with it, we had a pretty good time.  I would definitely go back to the KOA in New Bern (when the temps go down!).  We are actually planning on going to the KOA in Asheville coming up soon.  Here are some pics from our first camping trip:

All that camping fun made it hard for us to get into the groove today with our schooling.  We are learning more about nouns and pronouns.  Of course, I had to find some videos from School House Rock to supplement our lesson!

And let's not forget a very important lesson on pronoun agreement from Daffy Duck!

Here's a better version of Daffy & Bugs...Pronoun Problem

Until next time!

I'm just a bill!

Hello from Maine!!

Jenna and I have just finished up our studies on the state of Maine.  It really sounds like an amazing state.  Did you know that the residents of West Quoddy Head, Maine see the sun rise before anyone else in the U.S.?  That is because it is the farthest east of any other place on the East Coast of the United States!  How cool is that?

We also read about Portland Head Lighthouse...just gorgeous.  I would love to visit there someday!

Jenna and I read about how the position of President, as well as how a bill becomes a law.  It's amazing how interesting this is to both of us.  After our reading, I couldn't help but look up the old School House Rock video about "Bill" becoming a law.  Brings back memories!

Land of Liberty

Why is it that I am finding U.S. Geography and History more interesting as an adult than I ever did as a young student?  We have covered Connecticut and Delaware on our Road Trip USA and will be heading out to Maine on Monday.  As we discover more about each state, we are also reading from If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution.  It's geared toward grades 2 through 5, but I must admit that I have truly enjoyed reading it.  It's wrote in a question and answer type of format, that keeps Jenna's interest as well.  It is even making me want to take a trip to the Northeast to see some of these historical areas that we are reading. 

Speaking of the Constitution, remember this oldie, but goodie from the School House Rock series?

New Hope Academy - Week 2

We made it through our first week and have ventured on to week two!  I am so glad that everything is going well.  **knock on wood**

We are "traveling" throughout the Northeast Region, learning about states.  Today, we are visiting Delaware (remember the capital is Dover). We learned about the Delaware Memorial Bridge.  It is one of the longest suspension bridges in the US.  Here are a couple pics:

Our project for this state is to build our own suspension bridge from Popsicle sticks.  Let's just say that it is a lot harder than it looks!!  But it was fun to do, and we had to use our brain skills to get it to work so that is another plus!

New Hope Academy - Day 2

We have decided to give homeschool a try this year for Jenna.  Our school name is "New Hope Academy".  We are on Day 2.  Jenna and I still like each other and so far are happy...for this I am thankful.  There are so many resources available to homeschool moms out there, but I still have to wonder if we are doing it "right" or even "half way right". 

Today, we read a little bit about a girl named Gemma who moved to the United States from Australia.  We watched a cool video of Great Barrier Reef .  Then we did a neat craft with sponges, cutting them in strips making sponge balls.  That made Jenna happy!

Later we took the sponge pieces left over and did some sponge paintings too.  It was fun to experiment with the sponges.  All these great ideas came from Erica over at Confessions of a Homeschooler.  Thank you Erica!  Tomorrow, we continue our homeschool studies, focusing on US Geography and learning about the state of Connecticut.

Boo! Time to get in the Halloween Spirit!

I am so thankful that fall is finally here!  It seems like we spent the past 4 months in 90 degree plus heat.  The cooler air is a welcome temperature change! 

I've been working on more scrapbook layouts...digging through my stash, having a great time putting some layouts together.  Here are a few Halloween layouts to get you in the Halloween spirit!

Happy Fall Y'all!