The line between school, play, and life is often blurred at our house. They are young enough that I can get away with calling anything "school." (My favorite science experiment, for example, is baking. All kinds of science involved in baking. And math, too. Good enough reasons to bake all the time.) Math is Hannah's least favourite subject, so sometimes I try to disguise it in activities she enjoys. Charlie helped us learn money by hosting a restaurant :-)
Hannah did ballet this spring, which she really enjoyed.
It was so neat to have so many fans cheering her on at her recital. Thank you, everyone, for making the effort to come!
The basis for our curriculum this year is American history, and we just got up to the Civil War, and the Homestead Act. Lucky us, we were able to have our own personal field trip to talk to Patrick's paternal grandparents about the kids' great-great-great-great-grandfather, who died in the Civil War. We still have his coat, and letters he wrote! His son came out to Kansas from Indiana and homesteaded here, on the exact property. This very farm. He built a sod house first, and then soon built a lumber house, that has been added on to and changed, but is still the same living room we sit in to visit, now. The kids's great-great grandfather is Charlie Asher, the little boy in the right of the picture.
an original wash kettle, for the girls
and an original plow, for the boys :-)
Sometimes knowing (at least part of) where you're from can make you feel more confident about where you're going.
As it turns out, we were also able to experience living history at Western Days. We watched roping competitions,
shot black powder rifles
threw tomahawks
made our own rope
visited a chuck wagon
and visited with Civil War soldiers
We also heard a great bluegrass band and watched a gun show with Wyatt Earp. So much fun! Except hot. very very hot. And, negligent mother that I am, I forgot sunscreen. Must make mental note to always remember sunscreen, before I take my children to Africa!
The other day I was making breakfast and looked through the window to see Caroline trotting down the driveway wearing nothing but her pajama shirt and rain boots. I called her back inside and asked what she was doing. Mommy! I have to go see the 'tuwips!' Well, alrighty then. just put some pants on please.
Balloon races to illustrate force and motion. (At least that's what the book says. Pretty sure they didn't actually learn anything. But we had fun.)
And the BIG news of the week. I discovered the town nearest to us has an ice cream place! They don't even have an ice cream place in Pratt (the next nearest town). So we were pretty excited about this. #itsthelittlethings
Lemon Park might actually be, other than people, what I missed most about Pratt. It has a very nice paved walking path, a playground, a pond, a small branch off of some river, and paths through the woods. The kids were a little too young when we lived here before, but now they're really enjoying it. Caroline especially is our frog catcher.
Hannah and Charlie decided they were Lewis and Clark. And Caroline was "Baby John." No idea where they came up with that. Don't remember that in the actual story. But at least they are remembering something! The fact that there were explorers named Lewis and Clark. That's good enough for me.
We usually pack our own lunch on our "town day", and then sometimes hit up Sonic for happy hour. (That's half price drinks from 2-4. Slushies. in case you were wondering ;-) Sonic slushies being full of sugar and food colouring, my kids are always excited to have one. (All four of us get a special drink, for $3.04. That's a great deal!) Yesterday, Hannah told me conspiratorially, "Mommy, you might get to be the fun one. We got ice cream and a special drink! two treats in one week." Watch out, Patrick; your title is up for dispute ;-)
As absolutely crazy as my kids drive me (and they do. they definitely, definitely, do.), I love spending time with them. Most of the time. So, Happy Mothers Day, I guess!
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