Bottom View Farm

We had a fun day with friends at Bottom View Farm! 

Checked out a flyer about the haunted woods.
 (We'll wait a few years for that!)

Donkeys!

Went on a hayride.

Picked some pumpkins.

Went on a rolling train ride around the farm.

The slide!

Played in the corn crib...

and on the merry-go-round.

Watched a Pumpkin Launcher!

Milked a fake cow.

Got lost in a maze.

Enjoyed treats at The Inside Scoop, where everyone fit on one bench!


Linking at:
Outdoor Play

Wicked

We thoroughly enjoyed our Wicked experience today at TPAC!

Homeschool Resource Meme

Sarah at The Forest Room tagged me, so here goes...


1. One homeschooling book you have enjoyed.
Playful Parenting--not exactly about homeschooling, but it is focused on giving children what they need, and isn't that what it's really all about?

2. One resource you wouldn't be without.
(Non-resident) Nashville library card and the online reservation system.  We live in an adjoining county, and our library system simply doesn't meet our needs.

3. One resource you wish you had never bought.
RightStart Math--neither of us liked how parent-intensive it was, so we only made it through a few lessons.  We have continued to use the abacus and clock from time to time, so it wasn't a total waste. :)

4. One resource you enjoyed last year.
Headsprout Early Reading

5. One resource you will be using next year.
Teaching Textbooks-Math 3

6. One resource you would like to buy.
Appleseeds--this magazine looks amazing!  The only reason I hesitate in purchasing it is because we have had a subscription to Click and now have a subscription to Ask, and though I think they are excellent, Gerrick, surprisingly, has never been that interested in them.

7. One resource you wish existed.
An iPad that supports Flash.

8. One homeschool catalog you enjoy reading.
I can't choose one over the other--Home Science Tools and Acorn Naturalists.  I've never ordered anything from either, but they sure are fun to peruse!

9. One homeschooling website you use regularly.
Ambleside Online

10. Tag other homeschoolers.
I'm going to keep it simple and tag a few of my (in-real-life) friends. Play along if you like!
Mandy at a bona fide life
Amy at A Hundred Happy Things
Christy at The Abundant Life
Shannon at Discovering God's Creation

Building Our Tribe

On Friday, we met friends at the Annual NAIA Intertribal Pow-Wow & Fall Festival. We browsed the craft booths, listened to music, and watched some dancing, but the best part was the hours the children spent in freeplay in and around the teepees while we mamas sat on the grass and enjoyed the day together. Later we heard all about the battles they had fought and there was even mention of the passing of a peace pipe. We are thankful to be growing great friendships through experiences like these. 

One of several teepees where the children played.

Fierce Warriors

"Wherever you are, it's your friends who make your world." -William James

 

Fire Nation Ship

I honestly don't remember the last time Gerrick played with something in the house that he didn't create.  He is constantly building things (usually inspired by Star Wars) from egg cartons and cardboard.  He spends most all of his free time doing this and even often works on them while I am reading aloud to him.  Lately he has begun to draw inspiration from the series Avatar: The Last Airbender as well.  He puts great details in his creations by drawing with Sharpies and building compartments with working doors that hold weapons, etc.  I don't usually blog about these toys and models because I just don't feel I can do them justice.  He is considering making more videos like this one to share with others.  But until then, here is a short video of him playing with his "Fire Nation Ship"--shooting fireballs at the cat.

Bumblebee in Gerrick's Garden

"Nature is not a place to visit, it is home." -Gary Snyder

Calvary Cemetery

Gerrick is fascinated with cemeteries.  He has wanted to visit Calvary Cemetery since we passed it one day last summer on the way to another field trip.  I can't believe it took me this long to take him!  We really enjoyed exploring the grounds.

He was pleasantly surprised to see a pyramid!

 

We picnicked and read to each other.

He found some parts of Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich quite hilarious.

I couldn't help but think of Platform 9 3/4 when I saw this sign.

He made many rubbings of crosses.

We highly recommend spending an autumn day in an old cemetery!