Orlando Science Center

Back to Orlando! This time just me and my boy Chase! Daddy and Reef had a day to play!

shhhh...the rest of the boys and girls in Brevard County had the day off for "teacher in service", while Chase and I headed over for another homeschool class! Forces of nature, 3 science experiments a 'Cinedome' movie and plenty of play and exploration! Do I dare try to list all everything we "touched on" while there? Naaaaa...trust me not your average 2nd grade science class! Yeah, We Rock! Wish you did too! LOL :)

Orange County Regional History Center

Weather Watchers! Downtown Orlando, Thanks to my dear friend Shelly, I actually did know this place existed! She was married here, in the old courtroom. This is one of the original Orlando municipal buildings and now serves as the History Center, it is part of the Smithsonian museum organization and is well worth a visit! Did I mention its also right next door to the downtown Orlando Public Library? Loved it! We did our "Weather Watchers" class, and actually class put on by the center for homeschoolers :)! and then hit the Library for lunch and some book time! And let me tell you this is the place to be on Friday afternoons, the childrens library sets up Wii and X box and free play for all! Not your mothers library! (I say that quite literally, can't imagine this in my Moms library!) And then off too IKEA! Gotta squeeze in a little shoppy, shoppy, when your in the "BIG CITY"! Oh and if you haven't noticed we're not the type to just call it a day after that... Off to Uncle Long and Aunt Floras for some yummy chow! :) Yeah that was long day, I really don't think we left the house once the next day!

COOKIE MATH & Community Service

This is how we started our school day, a batch of oooey goooey oatmeal cookies! Yummy! No this wasn't breakfast, it was our contribution to the Faith City Church bake sale! Good stuff, However when explaining it the community service part of our lesson Chase seemed to question the legitamacy of it all, "what, earn money? Our church has GOD money" ! Yes, indeed dear Chase and we are believing for it! Amen. He's wise beyond his years and very in-touch. What a Blessing.

Oooops! Missed one! Well so much for trying to post in order, As i'm posting this I remembered another outing prior to this one that should be here! Hmmmm....Where are those picutres? Anywho! This was BUSY day! Radio Disney was at the Avenues! So we went out and played a few games with those guys, go balloons, colored, dug insects and animals out of a sandbox with the Brevard Zoo guys and Then headed to the Books-A-Million for some A.C.! So Reef played with Thomas & Friends, Chase and I got some reading in and then as you can see I parused a few books myself. Wait, Wait... We're not done yet! Then we checked out the "new" Hobby Lobby...(after all the hype and reading about it for years) I wasn't nearly as impressed as I thought I would be. I must say I was impressed with there variety of "science experiments" and stuff we could use here at The Parman School for BOYS! sooooo....then we went to lunch! Chik-Fillet, need i even say how i enjoy this place (well as fast food, boy food goes) clean atmosphere, friendly faces, contemporary christian music playing! And "REAL" chicken, Chase asked. Seriously! Oh and the give your unopened toy back and get an ice cream cone thing! LOVE IT!

Nope not done yet! We went to the Viera Wetlands to get a little science, florida wildlife in! Alligators, tons of birds! (where are those pics?) Afternoon thunderstorms heading in, yep now its time to head home.

Catching UP!

O.K. so here it goes! I'm going to play "Catch UP" and make an attempt to get as close to the current date of September 14th, as I can. So here's our recap of the past few weeks! OH what fun we've had...this is not to say we have not had our struggles! Struggles what struggles you may ask?..."mom, just give me 3 things today, okay?" yeah sure kid! or what about the gaze that reaches into infinity while he sits over a page of math for ummmm, 30 minutes that seem like 300! Or how about little brother climbing over us, "can I play JUMPSTART, can I play JUMPSTART, can I play JUMPSTART..."? !!! or what about the spilt bowl of cereal, on the ground while we are in the "final stretch" (and nope, I'm not so lucky to be the mom who can just let it sit 'til we're done) this minor spilled insisted on a full mop of the kitchen and dining rooms! Well you get the picture... But whats the BIG PICTURE...what made it into our forever FLOW of life that will make lifelong memories? I sure hope these days of ours, these beginning trips in our homeschool journey make the list. :)

GATOR WRESTLING 101

GATORLAND

What a day we had! Well what boy doesn't love reptiles! and with the added bonus of the Florida Resident special of $9.99 who could resist! Additionally if your studying Florida, Alligators are on the list...right? Not to mention that we had also come across information of Leusistic Alligators when doing some related search and Chase had become intrigued! And HAD to just had to...LOOK into the eyes of a blue eyed white alligator! Well, what do ya know? Thanks to "mom research" Gatorland (right in our backyard) has FOUR!!!

Leusistic Alligator : a blue eyed white alligator. Similiar to Albinoism it is caused my genetic mutation and is extremely rare.

ADVENTURE

Hello All! Well here we are a little more than a month into our ADVENTURE! ...and I wouldn't trade it for the world. As I imagined there has definately been a bit of an "adjustment period", How does one go not only from Summertime into the school year but also into our FIRST year Homeschooling? What does a 7 year old expect when Mom says, "We're doing school at home this year"? Just IMAGINE...visions of video games, cartoons, trips to the park, theme parks, swimming and the beach, and all the other FUN he was sure his little brother and I were up to...dance through his head! So yeah...some of his visions are mine too!!! But maybe the Surprise was that Reading, Math, Science, Geography, History, Handwriting, Journaling, and Living Books would also be a part of our days too :) ECLECTIC Style Baby! Toss some fieldtrips in, and we are well on our way to a fun filled journey of learning and exploration. My desire...My destination is to instill a TRUE LOVE for LEARNING& READING that lives in my Boys hearts forever! Day by day we'll make our way, finding what works for each of the boys, what makes them happy and peaks their interest. With the Love and Support of wonderful family and friend, what more could a girl ask for?