Saturday Morning Strawberries and Flea Market Adventures
Are you the type of person who likes to stay at home and relax on a Saturday or the type who wants to get out and explore? While I appreciate occasional relaxation, exploring gets my heart pumping. I crave adventure and love nothing more than the chance to get out and see new things, experience new sights and sounds, and try something interesting. I guess you could say I’m a bit of an adventuress. Even with 4 kids in tow, I hate to be cooped up. We put a lot of mileage on our truck.
My tiny helper 
A beautiful bounty of strawberries
We had a blast at the St. Augustine U-Pick Strawberry and Vegetable Farm last weekend and ate all of the produce we purchased. I asked the kids if they wanted to head down to the farm and stock up on some more strawberries. They bounded to the truck excitedly. Our pals next door needed some more strawberries too and came along. It may be 40 minutes or so down the road, but it’s worth the trip!
The strawberries were even larger, jucier, and plumper than last week and practically burst from the bushes. The kids went crazy gathering them and our basket was soon overflowing with saturday morning strawberries. We also gathered some spinach (complete with a caterpillar, we found out at home), tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, and radishes. Four bursting-full bags of produce sounds about right to start off our week on a healthy note. Yum!
Anyone need a suit of armor?
The St. Augustine Flea Market is situated right next to the farm. Flea Markets aren’t usually my thing, but my neighbor wanted to check it out and I’m game for just about anything. There was stuff to look at everywhere! The kids’ eyes were the size of half-dollars as they took everything in. It was busy and there were scores of people, new smells from vendors and shops, and thousands of things for sale all around us. The flea market is surprisingly large. I wasn’t sure quite what to expect and wasn’t disappointed. While there was definitely a lot of random stuff, we would some interesting things too. The girls got 6 new dresses in great condition for $5 total. Alex found a lovely glass necklace for $3. I discovered a beautiful, handmade bird house for $10 and thought it would look perfect in our flower bed. I think this was even better than a garage sale. While I wouldn’t go back often, it was a neat experience!
Alex shows of her necklace and one of her dresses
My new bird house
The kids were nice and tired from our morning adventure. By the time we left, the sun was high and hot. 93 degrees already and it’s only May! We were all hot and sweaty and ready to go home for lunch (which included lots of strawberries). Most of the kids are resting, sound asleep in their beds. Derek, like his mom, gets excited from our adventures and isn’t tired at all. I hope the other kids are dreaming peacefully of their new experiences. I think it’s awesome to introduce kids to all the interesting things the world has to offer. One never knows what they might see or experience next.
An amazing collection of fresh produce for healthy, growing kids!
Lunch! Strawberries and sugar are amazing on a hot Florida day!
Related articles
- Why Go to the Grocery Store When You Can Go to the Farm? (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Why Go to the Grocery Store When You Can Go to the Farm?
A while back, a political commentator on the news offended American moms by saying that stay-at-home moms don’t work and don’t know much about the economy. This is so far from the truth. Moms move the economy. In my home, I am in charge of 99% of our financial transactions. I choose the clothing we buy and the food we eat. I choose where we shop and where we go, for the most part. Moms control the budget in many families. In fact, media reports claim that 85% of all consumer purchases are influenced by women. That’s huge! I also know that where we spend our money has a broad impact. For example, I know that the best place to buy produce is from a farm or farmer’s market. Why? The money goes straight to the farmer and supports their livelihood. It’s also healthy and fresh and didn’t have to be transported anywhere (or at least not far).
The kids and I, along with some friends, ventured down to the St. Augustine U-Pick Strawberry and Vegetable Farm this morning. They have so much more than strawberries! Everything is grown hydroponically and without any harmful pesticides. There was a bounty of fresh produce! I bought strawberries, green beans, various lettuces and spinach, and some delicious red tomatoes. Mmm! Along with a jar of locally made apple butter, I spent only $25! I voted with my wallet—and family’s budget—to support a small farmer today.
The best part of the farm visit was picking everything ourselves. Each child got their own pail and we walked the rows finding delicious things to eat. While they said their berry supply was low, we still managed to find lots of red, ripe strawberries. The kids loved finding them and plucking them from the vines with scissors. Cute!
The kids hurried from bush to bush, “I found one! I found the best, ripest, reddest strawberry! Mommmmm!!!!” We ended up with a very large basket full of strawberries. I had to remind them many times to slow it down. Could we really eat that many? We’ll be eating a lot of strawberries for the next week! They do taste wonderful.
Yes, my toddler is sooooo sweet and cooperative. 
Buy local! Support your local farmers and small businesses!
It was also very cool for the kids to see how the fruits and vegetables we eat grow. Picking our lettuce leaves from an actual lettuce plant was a new experience for me too. I love that we’re getting more in touch with what we’re putting in our bodies and that the kids are learning this from a young age. The fresher and more organic it is, the better. See, you can take the girl out of the Northwest, but you can’t take the Northwest out of the girl. I would fit in very well back in Portland.
The only thing I didn’t love was that the farm was so far away. It was a 45 minute drive from our house. Still, convenience isn’t everthing. I think I would rather drive the distance once in a while and support local farmers and businesses while also getting fresh, pesticide-free produce straight from the vine. We live in a culture of instant gratification and putting more effort into getting our food may seem impossible. It’s not. It does take effort, but it’s worth it. Today I voted with my wallet to support a small farmer over a large corporation. Feeding a family of six isn’t cheap… so my vote definitely meant something.
If you want to visit the St. Augustine U-Pick Strawberry and Vegetable Farm, it’s located at 2495 State Road 207, St. Augustine, Florida 32086. They can be found on facebook at www.facebook.com/BerryStacks. This farm is certainly worth the drive! The farmers were very friendly and helpful, the produce was unbeatable, and the taste is amazing. The kids enjoyed lots of fresh strawberries with their lunches and simply couldn’t get enough. I’m looking forward to making a salad tonight that is as fresh as it gets. This place is awesome!
Our Beautiful Bounty
Slow Food First Coast Tour-de-Farm!
It baffles my mind how far removed from our food we are as a culture. It’s not that we don’t love to eat. It’s that we don’t think twice about where our food comes from and what’s in it. In our fast-paced lives, many of us reply on quick, previously frozen meals, fast food or restaurants. Our family has gone organic in the past month. It has been a true journey, a transformation from ”I’m too busy” to “we need to do this now and we’ll make time for it.” Not only do we use a whole lot of fresh, organic produce, but I’m preparing our meals from scratch. No more frozen chicken nuggets or processed macaroni and cheese for us. Does it take more time? You’d better believe it. Is it worth it? Definitely. We’ve been feeling better than ever. Our journey got me thinking. Do most people even know where their food comes from any more? The correct answer is not “the grocery store.” Who produces our food and how? What pesticides are being sprayed on them, or not? What do these farms and factories look like?
While I grew up in the country and saw farms and animals regularly, I realized that my kids don’t see these things often. I don’t think the younger kids have ever been to a farm. When I read about the Slow Food First Coast Tour-de-Farm, I was thrilled. Farms all around Jacksonville were to open their doors to the public for one day. What a perfect opportunity!
It was pouring rain this morning, but we decided to give it a go anyway. We chose one farm from the list and drove an hour north to check out Connor’s Amaizing Acres in Hilliard, Florida.
Alex was beyond excited! She wanted to see some horses.
How cute and homey is this?
My Four Adventurers
The Cow Train! Moo!
Chickens!
Derek has been working on a farm lapbook this week to get ready for today’s trip. We’ve been talking about food we get from animals, different types of farm animals and the sounds they make, and what a farmer grows on a farm. On the drive up, Derek pointed out his window, “Look, mom! Goats! Cows eat goats.”
“What?” I asked. “No they do not! Cows eat grass.”
“I sawed one,” he stated mater-of-factly. He pointed again, this time at a cow. “Look, mom! A reindeer!”
Wow. We need to work on that a bit. I guess there’s a big difference from a picture of a cow in a book and seeing one in real life. The kids argued for the next 10 minutes about where reindeer live and where they do not live. Derek insists they live in Florida. Alex insists that Derek was born without a brain.
Gobble, Gobble!
Derek loved the goat. She was very sweet.
What is it with girls and horses? I was OBSESSED with horses as a child and now Alex is as well.
This calf is sooooo cute!!!!
The boys enjoyed the farm very much.
Conner’s Amaizing Acres farm is not huge, but it does have a nice variety of animals. There were cows, horses, chickens, pigs, sheep, goats, and more. There were also babies galore! The kids loved the animals and I thought the calf was so cute, I wanted to take him home. I don’t think that ladies at the base housing office would approve, though.
There was a giant turkey that ruled the roost and he was a bit frightening to look at but very gentle. The recently hatched baby turkeys were the goofiest looking birds I’ve ever seen. There was even a hen who hatched and cared for a bunch of baby ducks! How funny! We loved the three-day-old foal and the bunnies too. The sheep was very interested in the kids and followed us up and down the fence line. The kids thought this was absolutely hilarious. I’m not sure if the kids were watching the sheep or if the sheep thought he was in for a treat checking out some goofy kids.
Making new friends
Up close and personal!
Look how cute he is!
I love the joy on Derek's face in this picture!
Our friend Evie makes some baby friends!
The hydroponic garden was neat although pretty small. We saw a lady buying a bag of strawberries, but by the time we got up there there were no more strawberries to be picked. Bummer. We walked over to the peddle car race track and Alex had an absolute blast. I wish we had room for one of those! That kid really got her vehicle moving and had so much fun. The other kids played on a big slide made entirely of recycled materials and then in a giant bin of corn. Who knew they would like that so much? The corn bin kept them entertained for quite some time.
How beautiful! A mare and her three-day-old foal. Awwww!
A family of ducks all in a row
So this is what you do with naughty kids...
Alex on the race track!
There were two other local farmers selling their wares and I patronized both! I was really hoping to bring home lots of fresh produce, eggs, and milk today but they simple weren’t for sale. I bought some handcrafted cheese from Sweet Grass Dairy in Thomasville, Georgia. Yum! Their cows are grass fed and the cheese is made from raw cows milk. It’s delicious! I also bought fresh honey from Karma Acres Honey in Callahan, Florida. It was pure, raw honey and so reasonably priced! I got regular, peppermint, vanilla, and orange blossom honey. It’s amazing!
Evie
Goofy Little Girls
Who knew corn was such fun?
Corn!!! The perfect toy.
The cow train!
The kids kept asking to go on the cow train and I finally said yes just before we went home. This is when the rain caught up with us. The kids hadn’t been on the open-air train for more than two minutes when the skies opened and it began to pour. The kind farmer turned right back around and brought them back, through the dry barn. The kids thought this was hilarious and talked about how fun that ride was for the rest of the day. Who would have thought getting rained on would be such a hoot?
After several hours, we headed back home to our house in the city. The kids were exhilarated from their time on the farm. I could have taken a nice, long nap but I think they somehow got more energy than before. I wish we could visit the farm all the time and let them play. I hope they learned a thing or two as well. It’s sad how far removed we are from our farms and I wish we could be reminded more frequently how important they are to us. Plus, it’s always fun to see baby animals. I don’t think one ever gets too old for that.
Enjoying Spring at the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens
Is there somewhere in Jacksonville we haven’t visited yet? There was! We drove past the Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens many times but never went in… until today. We joined some friends from our homeschool group for a hike in the woods on this warm (90+ degree) Spring day. It was a drive, but definitely an experience!
I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from an arboretum and it really wasn’t what I was expecting. I was thinking we were going to walk through gardens. Instead, there were a series of trails through the Florida wilderness. It was a fun and free way to spend several hours!
We spent our morning running around doing errands and weren’t dressed entirely perfectly for hiking. I was wearing a skirt and flats! The paths were a bit rough (hilly, narrow bridges, lots of exposed roots) for the stroller too. I was thankful for help with Bella!
The kids all had a blast. There were lots of pretty things to see. We all got plenty of fresh air and exercise! By the time we went home, the kids were filthy from head to toe, red from the heat, and tired too. Bella was asleep in her carseat before we even left the parking lot! Ethan is sound asleep now. The other two.. not so much. It’ll take more to wear them out!
The Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens is a little hidden treasure in the River City. It’s very easy to miss! The lily-pad covered pond and gently flowing stream are peaceful and beautiful. The trails aren’t too long and are fun to hike. I’m glad we stopped by for a visit.
I Spy a Cardinal! Bird Walks and Forest Adventures in the Florida Wilderness
It was unusually warm outside today, even for Florida. At 9 am, the temperature was already above 70 degrees. It is technically still winter, right? We began our school day with a “bird walk.” Drawing pads and pencils in hand, we headed out to the NAS Jacksonville nature trails.
As we neared the trails, we spotted a jolly red cardinal! The bigger kids began drawing to the best of their abilities. Derek scribbled a bit, then threw his drawing pad under the stroller. I told them to stand quietly a moment and listen to the different bird songs. There were many varieties!
We saw surprisingly few birds out and about, probably because Derek was so darn loud. I reminded him that if he was loud, he would frighten the wildlife away. There were plenty of butterflies, though! They really liked Alex’s hair flower and flittered and fluttered about her head.
Alex and Ethan drew lots of birds, plants, and butterflies throughout our walk. After about 20 minutes or so, all the drawing pads were stored under the stroller and the kids ran, explored, and frolicked along the trail. They got a lot of exercise!
Our forest adventure lasted an hour and a half. The kids got in some great science time, a bit of art, and lot of physical fitness time too. They were all quite tired by the time we meandered home, ready to focus on some school work. Bella was ready for a good, long nap.
We love exploring and spending time together in the great outdoors. Perhaps eventually I can even convince them to tone down the volume and we’ll see some interesting Florida wildlife. Besides for gators… I really don’t want to see any gators. A cardinal or two will always do.
February Homeschool Classes at the Jacksonville Zoo
Love Is In The Air
This morning we went to the first of our first two homeschool classes at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens this month! Alex and Ethan both participated today and had so much fun. They learned all about habitats, including the jungle, the Savannah, and Florida. There were three animal encounters per class, for a total for nine animals! Two happy, smiling kids came running back to me after their third class was complete, homework packets in hand. We love the zoo’s homeschool classes and will be sad when they end this month.
One of the best parts of homeschool class is that after I drop Alex and Ethan off for class, I have just two kids to take through the zoo. Our neighbors Jordan and Evie came along with us for some exercise and exploration. It was the perfect day for some walking: temperatures in the mid-60s, sunny, and not too many other people. Here are some of my favorite photos from today’s adventures:
This is Derek's "I'm being a stinker" face
Derek, Age 3 1/2
Checking Out the Animals
I asked Alex what she thought about today’s classes:
Me: So, what was the best part of today’s classes?
Alex: Petting the bunny. I like the bunny. It was black and white and it was a shy bunny.
Me: What did you learn about today?
Alex: I learned that many species of animals that live in the rainforest could get killed cause we cut down too many trees. Lots of our food comes from the rainforest, like chocolate, nuts, and some oranges. Isn’t that weird?
Me: What other animals did you see?
Alex: I saw three snakes, a dove, a hedgehog, and a live armadillo. It was kind of bumpy and furry! We touched its shell. We couldn’t touch its face.
Me: Did you touch any snakes?
Alex: I touched all the snakes! Every single one.
Me: What did they feel like?
Alex: They feel kind of bumpy. One felt like a football plus a basketball plus it was soft and squishy.
Me: Okay, then. What was the most interesting thing you learned?
Alex: The most interesting thing I learned is that toucans can hear their friends from very far away. It’s hard to see other Toucans through the rain forest, I suppose.
Me: Did you have a good time?
Alex: Yeah, I had a really good time!
Love!
Our friend Evie loved the animals!
Look at that!
My cute little monkey!
I want to do it too!
The animals were all very active this morning. The Kudus ran and frolicked about their habitat, chasing birds and having fun. The monkeys made all sort of racket. The lions roamed their den and birds and small creatures were abundant. I love taking the kids to the zoo because it’s a great chance to get get some exercise, connect with nature, and gain an appreciation for and understanding of the vast world we live in.
I’m kind of sad we won’t be here to take homeschool classes at the Jacksonville Zoo again next fall. We still don’t have orders, but should PCS out of here in September. It’s a bittersweet thing to look forward to. I hope wherever we may end up will be as educational and fun as Jacksonville. This duty station has been good to us.
Eating Evie's snacks
Jordan and Evie
Snacks are always better with friends
My learners!
Love Is In The Air!
Outside Art Time on a Summer-Like February Morning
Punxutawney Phil may have predicted six more weeks of winter, but we’re certainly not feeling it here in Florida. Did winter even happen? Today was another lovely, sunny day in the upper 70′s to mid 80′s. It was so nice that we couldn’t help but take school outside to the park. That is a definite benefit of homeschooling: our classroom is not confined to one space. The world is our classroom.
While the kids got ready to go outside, I gathered together a bunch of art supplies: construction paper, yarn, scissors, crayons, paint and paintbrushes, newspaper, pipe cleaner, and more. I cut our egg carton into three pieces and stacked everything into a rather precarious heap to be transported outside. We staked out the picnic table and covered it with newspaper to contain painty messes. Today’s first project: Egg carton caterpillars!
The kids had so much fun creating colorful caterpillars. Do you remember making these crafts in elementary school? I do. Bella ticked Derek off trying to paint his caterpillar. “No, Bella!” he exclaimed, “You is not invited! You is ruining it!” Ruining it is an interesting concept considering he likes to paint by flinging.. yes, flinging… the paint at his creation. Wow. We went through many, many baby wipes cleaning up Derek’s paint job.
Derek ran off to play and the bigger kids did a symmetrical cutting project, cutting butterflies from construction paper and making them into a pattern banner. Alex designed a variety of interesting butterflies and merrily cut them out. I drew Ethan’s butterflies and he cut most of them. He has had a lot of trouble listening this week and wouldn’t follow directions at all, frustrating both of us. In the end, we ended up with two pattern banners of colorful butterflies. Ethan ended up with fewer butterflies because he would not listen and kept unfolding the paper and cutting the butterflies in half.
Our mornings aren’t all fun and games and we did accomplish more than fun art in the park. After we finished and cleaned up all the mess, we headed indoors for the serious business of math and reading. Derek got his own profile on IXL.com today! The bigger kids love IXL and practice their math drills using the program daily. Now Derek is a registered preschooler. He had so much fun counting and labeling shapes! What a smart boy. He’s also rocking his phonics. Alex did awesome with her typing tutor today and made some big strides forward in math. We had a very productive day today, the best kind of day.
Now we have some adorable caterpillars sitting on our counter and pattern banners hung around the dining room. We sure know a lot more about butterflies today than we did this time last week! This has been a very fun unit. Who knows what we’ll do next?
Learning About Nature and Fossils at the Florida Museum of Natural History
Fun, hands-on field trips are an important part of any child’s education. Today school day consisted of a trip to the Florida Museum of Natural History in Gainesville, Florida. It wasn’t our first visit to the museum itself, but it was the first time we visited the museum’s Butterfly Rainforest!
Kids Discovery Area
The Kids’ Discovery Area was a welcome addition to the museum, one we didn’t see when we visited last spring. The kids were instantly drawn in and played for a good 20 minutes of so. There were aquariums, science tools, puzzles, books, and even a dinosaur footprint. I love watching them learn!
Four Monkeys on a Learning Mission
Baby Bella puts together a puzzle
A Pretty Butterfly Kite Overhead
Little Girl Has Big Footsteps to Fill
Florida History
The kids learned all about Florida history and saw fossils of many giant and interesting creatures that once roamed where we walk today. Did you know that 99% of creatures that ever lived on earth are now extinct? That’s pretty wild. Derek found the fossils terrifying and wanted to get out of there ASAP. Alex loved them and wanted to examine each fossil closely. She loves learning about ancient life.
Whooly Mammoth Fossil
Learning all about fossils and rocks
Standing in the jaws of an ancient shark
Fossils!
Learning About Butterflies
The main point of today’s visit was to visit the butterfly exhibit and the Butterfly Rain Forest. The kids saw hundreds of butterflies from all around the world, learned about the insects, and viewed them under a microscope. We learned so much!
Examining Butterflies Under a Microscope
The Grand Butterfly Rainforest
The Butterfly rainforest was so amazing, I wrote a blog entry on it alone! The Butterfly Rainforest is an enclosed outdoor exhibit filled with beautiful flowers and plants and hundreds of live, flying butterflies. It was truly spectacular!
Today was an awesome adventure! We all had a great time and learned a lot about nature, fossils, and especially butterflies. It’d say it was a successful day. Field trips are awesome.
The Jacksonville Zoo Has a New Baby Giraffe!
1-year-old Savannah the Giraffe
While looking through last weekend’s newspaper, we came across an exciting headline. The Jacksonville Zoo had a new addition: a baby giraffe! We simply had to squeeze a zoo visit into our school week!
Yesterday morning we packed up and headed to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens with a great friend. I’ll bet her boys were envious that she got to go to the zoo while they were at school! Not only did we enjoy the regular exhibits, but we also caught glimpses of the new baby giraffe in his enclosure with his mommy giraffe. I couldn’t get a good picture apart from little legs as he ran sporadically about… but I got a few of the 1-year-old giraffe Savannah! She was last year’s Christmas Eve baby. It was so cute how she kept peeking over the baby giraffe’s enclosure as if to say, “Oooh! A playmate!”
Looking for Giraffes
Ethan and Alex
Hey, I'm the baby!
The kids enjoyed running around and seeing all the animals. We shared a picnic lunch near the fountain and walked some more!
Look at me climbing everything!
A beautiful jaguar! Go Jacksonville Jaguars!
Look! I'm climbing more things! I'm a crazy monkey!
Look carefully in the bushes!
Our friend Juanita treated us to a train ride before we came home. The kids were excited. They love trains! Bella kept saying,”Choo! Choo!”
We love trains!
Too cute!
We had a fun little field trip to add some excitement to our week! We always love the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. There’s always something new to do and see. Plus, mommy gets her 10,000 steps in for the day! It’s really a win-win situation. We are going to miss our wonderful zoo when we move!
Duck, Duck, Goose! Crazy Fowl on the Loose!
After several hours of school work, I asked the kids if they’d like to feed some ducks at the park. They hurried to finish their projects and excitedly gathered their socks, shoes, and sweaters for a little adventure. I filled a plastic baggie with torn bread for each of them and we gathered into the Armada. After being stuck inside yesterday due to inclement weather, I wanted to get outside and stretch. They needed some running-around time in the cool, fresh air. Field Trip!
I remembered seeing a cool gazebo and duck pond in the Argyle area of Orange Park and decided it was high time we checked it out. Luck would have it that there was also a playground! The kids squealed when they saw a few ducks as we pulled up. The ducks started following us to the park. This was hilarious. The kids were practically keeling over with laughter. Then more ducks arrived. And geese. And egrets. And seagulls. Suddenly, we were engulfed in a sea of 100+ geese and other fowl begging for bread! Holy cow! I have never seen so many different kinds of birds gathered on one spot in my entire life! The kids’ eyes got really big and they quickly spread the bread pieces among the masses. We felt like Marie Antoinette’s family staring down at the masses of hungry rioters begging for bread. At least we didn’t say, “Let them eat cake!” I was glad I wore my boots in case I needed to kick a too-eager bird and start running. They were quite crazy and very determined to be fed!
Here come the Geese!
Mobbed!!!! Run!
Once our bags were empty, we high-tailed it to the playground. A small groups of ducks followed us while most of the rest made their way to the pond. Another group waited for the next unsuspecting family to fall into their devious trap.
:-)
The playground itself was rather old and worn, but the novelty of it made it fresh and fun. The kids ran and climbed, slid and balanced on the balance beam. Bella kept trying to chase ducks. “Duckie!” she screeched. “Duckie! Duckie! Quack! Quack!” I spent my time chasing her and rescuing her from herself before putting her into a baby swing with a nice view of the ducks on the pond.
Duckie!!!! Duckie!!!!
Derek the Explorer
Stay, baby, stay!
Next, we checked out the large white gazebo resting over the pond. It offered a great view of the various birds swimming on, resting near, and flying over the water. The kids were contained and liked running from one side of the gazebo to the other to see all they could see. Fortunately we were the only visitors, so I wasn’t concerned about them bothering people with their excited running and noise.
Wow! Look at that, mommy!
My four avid learners on an adventure!
This was the best sort of adventure: close to home, unpredictable, full of interesting things to see, and free. The kids had so much fun. They ran around like crazy and talked non-stop on the way home about the things they had seen. There were of course those moments I feared we were about to be mobbed by water fowl, but fortunately we survived unscathed. Alex says we just need to bring an entire loaf of bread next time. I’m not sure Daddy will agree to that. This was an outing I don’t think they’ll soon forget! Quack!
Get that duck!
Mobbed!!!! Run!
TExt
Bringing Winter to Florida: Homemade Snow and Cool Science
Snow!
All of the snowy pictures from the Pacific Northwest make me long for some real winter weather. Even a sprinkling of snow would be nice. With this 70-80 degree winter weather here in Jacksonville, that’s not likely to happen anytime soon. The palm trees are rustling in the warmish breeze and the robin’s egg blue sky beckons for outdoor adventures… most days. For Wednesday’s preschool time, I thought it might be fun to make some “snow” for Derek.
First, we put lots of ice in the blender and added some water to help with mixing. Derek helped whir the ice into a shaved ice blizzard. It took lots of stirring to get all the big pieces properly shaved. Perhaps it’s because my blender is old and cheap. It works! We drained out the excess water and poured the “snow” onto a large plate for science time.
Derek helps make snow
Derek was so excited for some snow science. He measured and scooped, patted and balled. He separated the snow into piles and into containers of various shapes and sizes. He sloshed it around his plate and made a watery, wintry mess. We had to make a second batch of snow to replace the melted variety and the table ended up covered in towels. He had so much fun, though! He stuck with his project for at least 40 minutes! That’s a whole lot of attention for Derek to devote to a single activity!
Snow!
We talked about the properties of snow while Derek played.
“What do you think snow is made of?” I asked.
“Cold stuff,” Derek replied, swirling his snow into an ever-more-watery circle.
“Do you see how the snow is melting? Do you know what that wet stuff is?” I prodded him.
“Water!” he laughed. “I making it melt by wacking it and stirring it.”
“Kind of,” I answered. “It is water! Snow is made of frozen water. What happens when snow melts?”
“It turns to water!” answered my smart, wet, goofy preschooler.
After the last of the snow melted and Derek ran around for a while to get his energy out, we read a few colorful picture books about snow and winter. We played a few snow-related finger plays too. Here’s one that Derek really enjoyed:
Make a Snowman
Start with a very tiny ball. (Form ball with fingers)
Roll it through the snow. (Push with right hand)
Over and over and over again. (Repeating pushing motion)
Each turn makes it grow.
Now the ball is big and round. (Make ball with arms)
Make it broad and tall. (Indicate with arms)
Add a head and then some arms. (Motion as if setting them on)
Firm so they won’t fall.
Here are buttons for his coat. (Pretend to place)
A broom for him to hold. (Pretend to hold a broom)
Let’s put a hat upon his head, (Pretend to put hat on own head)
So he won’t get cold.
After circle time, I put the Finger Play book on the counter and moved on to help Alex with her project. “Where did you put that book?” Derek asked.
“Why do you ask?” I questioned him. You see, the Finger Plays book keeps disappearing for weeks at a time. I search the house for it and can’t find it anywhere! Then it emerges in odd places, like behind the couch or in the laundry room.
“I pretty much hate finger plays,” Derek replies with a mischievous twinkle in his blue eyes, retreating to the play room to dump his cars and trains all over the floor. Hmmm…. that explains things.
Today’s lessons were really run and got Derek involved in learning. A little homemade snow brings a bit of fun to a Florida winter day. I hope that next year they get to see some real snow. You know, the kind that actually falls from the sky.
This is what happens after a morning full of learning!
Largo, Florida Elementary School Student Sent to Mental Health Facility WITHOUT Parent’s Permission
Image via Wikipedia
Every once in a while I come across a news story that really gets my blood boiling. This is one of them. Check out the article “Largo School Has autistic Boy, 6, Baker-Acted” at http://www.baynews9.com/article/news/2012/january/369526/Largo-school-has-autistic-boy-6-BakerActed?cid=rss#.TxF5rsCmsVQ.facebook&mid=57.
Here’s the jist of it:
6-year-old Ryder is autistic and throws tantrums when he’s taken away from his usual routine (I can completely understand this! So many children with special needs do this!). The 6-year-old’s school deemed his outbursts too severe and called in “specialists,” who took him OUT of the school and to a Baker Act Facility. The young child spent the night in a mental health facility. Not only was the child locked in the room overnight, but his mother was only notified AFTER her son was escorted to the facility. The district claims that they’re not legally required to call a parent when they feel the need to Baker Act a child.
No need to notify a parent? What. The. Heck. Are school’s not required to obtain a parent’s permission for something as simple as watching a non-pg movie or to go on a field trip? Yet It’s somehow okay to traumatize an entire family by detaining their son for “bad behavior” without permission or prior acknowledgement?
What exactly is the Baker Act? I thought I’d look it up, because this really concerns me. The Baker Act is meant to provide individuals with emergency services and temporary detention for mental health evaluation and treatment on a voluntary or involuntary bases. For involuntary admissions, a parent or guardian age 18 or older can make an application for a minor for admission to a facility for observation, diagnosis, or treatment. A school is not a child’s “guardian.” I didn’t find a single instance in my research allowing for a school or “specialists” to put a student into involuntary detention.
What aspect of our law allows schools to do this? Doesn’t our constitution protect America’s citizens against involuntary detention? What about these parent’s rights? I am scared for a country that allows this. It. Is. Not. Okay.
Listen, I know that temper tantrums are difficult. I understand that an autistic child can be extremely difficult to control. I’ve seen this. I’ve been through this. Traumatizing a young child by taking them away from their parents and school and locking them in an institution is not okay. That is a violation of human rights. The child does not understand why this is happening and is not learning a lesson of any sort. I’m sure he was scared out of his mind. This was not a case of abuse, where the child needed to get away from his parents. He has a warm, loving home with parents who are doing their very best. If the school cannot handle the child’s special needs, they need to admit this and help place him in a capable school.
I wish the family the best of luck with their case and hope that this issue is seriously looked into. I can only imagine the emotions they are feeling and hope and pray that their son recovers from his traumatizing experience.
Cases like this remind me why we homeschool.
What do you think of this story? Do you think schools have the right to send children to mental institutions without consulting parents first?
For more information about the Worldwide Campaign to End the Institutionalization of Children, check out: http://www.disabilityrightsintl.org/learn-about-the-worldwide-campaign-to-end-the-institutionalization-of-children/
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- First-Grader Baker Acted After Fight At School (dreamindemon.com)
Learning About Hanukkah with Jacksonville Homeschool Kids!
After two and a half hours of book time this morning, the kids and I met our homeschool group, Jacksonville Homeschool Kids, at a local park for a fun learning activity and some socialization. My friend Elyse offered to teach the kids about Hanukkah today and we gathered for some fun learning activities. It was a windy, drizzly day but the kids couldn’t wait to get out and play, visit, and try something new!
Alex and Derek learn all about Hanukkah
Lots of friends turned out for today's activities!
Bella snacks on gingerbread cookies
Miss Elyse taught the kids all about Hanukkah and handed out some handy worksheets to bring home as well. The older kids each read a portion of the worksheet to the others. Reading-aloud practice is so great for building reading skills and Alex rocked it! She also answered lots of questions correctly, applying knowledge she’s acquired from our own holiday celebrations. I was very proud of her!
Alex Reads to the Group
Ethan reads along too
We made edible dreidels out of pretzels, marshmallows, Hershey’s kisses, and a bit of frosting. How adorable! Ethan and Alex really enjoyed this project and couldn’t wait to eat their masterpieces. Derek crammed his supplies into his mouth as soon as he got them and ran off to play. Baby steps.
The kids busily work on their dreidels
Miss Elyse is such a great teacher!
Alex's Edible Dreidel!
Learning to play dreidel was a super-fun part of the day. We played last night too, so my kids had a pretty good idea what was going on. Alex loved sharing her newfound vocabulary words! That girl knows her dreidel game. The kids all gathered into a big group, then broke into several smaller groups for games. Alex and her friends played for such a long time! They probably could have played all afternoon long. The kids were really proud to bring home their chocolate gelt coins and colorful dreidels to play with. Elyse went all out preparing for this event and we’re really thankful! We had such a great time.
Alex and some friends play Dreidel
We had an excellent morning out, full of fun, friends, and learning too. That’s the best kind of morning, isn’t it? We love being part of an active community of homeschoolers who are so ready to share their knowledge and plan exciting activities. Our school year has been rich and decked out with all sorts of great learning experiences. May 2012 bring lots more to do and see.
Related articles
- Happy Hanukkah! Learning About the Past Through Latkes, Literature, and Dreidel Matches for Chocolate Coins (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Day Four of the Miracle! (ceceliafutch.wordpress.com)
- Skulls, Fur, and Creative Kid Scientists (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Our New Adventure: Homeschooling! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- But…. What About Socialization? (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- 12 Most Festive Chanukah Favorites By Lily Zajc (12most.com)
- New Concordia University Study Confirms the Benefits of Homeschooling (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Learning Science is Way More Fun as a Family
Hubby is one of the smartest guys I know, a real mine of scientific information. He blows me away with the random and detailed things he knows on a regular basis. He’ll talk about the great scientific conversations he’ll have with the kids when they’re teenagers. Teens? Really? I didn’t listen to my parents when I was a teen. Maybe I was just rotten, but I think that’s pretty normal. These conversations need to start young if he wants them to listen to him (possibly) when they’re older. I halted his train Friday. “Babe… you need to be having these conversations now! Bring it down to an elementary level and engage your kids. We’re a homeschooling family. You’ve got to start now!”
He did. Alex and Hubby had an awesome hour-long discussion about space Friday night. They were both exhilarated afterwards! Alex knocked my socks off by talking about nebulas and black holes without any guidance. That kid is a smart cookie and retains so much of what she learns! To continue the fun, we headed to MOSH Saturday morning. Hubby hadn’t yet seen their Matter and Motion exhibit and I thought he’d have a blast doing the experiments with the kids. I was right! The kids love having Hubby around and learning with him.
A big surprise was the impromptu lesson on dams and water flow Alex and Hubby had at the water table in the kids play area. He taught her so much, things I never would have thought of. It was so awesome watching them bond and learn. Learning about science is way more fun as a family!
The Giant Tree House in the Kids Area is So Cool!
Here comes trouble!
Hubby helps Bella down from the tree house
Learning science with Daddy!
All the kids had a blast exploring the exhibits. The museum was very empty, so Bella got to walk and I think she touched every single thing she passed at least twice. Thank goodness for hand sanitizer! She was soaking wet too, after having found the water table. She refused the water coat and kept pouring it all over herself, despite numerous scoldings. Oh well. She didn’t even seem phased that she was all wet. Next time I need to remember a change of toddler clothes!
Bella the Explorer
Bella wants to do experiments too!
So big!
We treated the kids to Sesame Street‘s One World, One Sky in the Planetarium. It was much more age-appropriate and engaging than the last show. The characters were old favorites and the songs were great. The basis of the show is that Elmo and Big Bird meet Hu Hu Zhu from China. Although they live far apart, they see the same stars and can look up at the night sky and remember each other. My kids loved the trip to the moon the most. All 4 of them were actively engaged. With our membership, it was only $10 for all of us. Totally worth it!
Waiting for the planetarium show!
Mommy and Bella
We stopped by Friendship Fountain to watch the music show synchronized to Christmas music. It was a gorgeous, sunny day. At 75 degrees, it didn’t feel much like Christmas but it was a heavenly morning to be outside. The kids love the fountain and the view of downtown Jacksonville no matter how many times we go. I do too.
Downtown Jacksonville
After 8 Years of Marriage, We Still Love Spending Time Together!
How'd my baby get so big?
Learning is so much fun when we do it as a family. I hope the kids have some phenomenal memories when they grow up. I don’t know too many kids who get to do and see as much as they do. I hope that our next duty station has as much to offer. I think I may finally have fallen in love with Jacksonville. It’s going to be hard to leave next year. At least the memories and friendships we’ve made will last a lifetime.
St. Augustine Nights of Lights– NE Florida’s Can’t-Miss-It Christmas Attraction!
Centuries ago, the first Spanish settlers lit their windows with candles to bring some holiday cheer to the New World. Today, America’s Oldest City goes all out when it comes to celebrating Christmas. With more than 2 million lights decorating St. Augustine‘s historic buildings, majestic oaks, and beachy palms, St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights is something you absolutely must see if you’re in NE Florida during the holiday season.
I wanted to do something Christmasy this evening, and we’ve already seen the lights in our own neighborhood many times. I remembered a friend mentioning that St. Augustine really decks out for the holidays. A quick Internet search revealed Ripley’s Big Red Christmas Train, the best way to take in all the Christmas spectaculaire (http://www.sightseeingtrains.com/). Not only was it inexpensive ($7 for adults and $4 for kids 2 and up), but it was going on tonight! I talked Hubby into going, fed the kids dinner, and loaded into the Armada. Road trip! If we didn’t go now, we probably wouldn’t get a chance to go at all and this was something we definitely didn’t want to miss!
We arrived in St. Augustine just after 6 pm and the streets were packed. The trains didn’t even start till 6, but already there was a very large line. We waited outside of Ripley’s Believe it Or Not Museum for about half an hour before boarding. The lines were dense with merry tourists. By the time our train loaded and pulled out, the line stretched out to the street! The kids waited very nicely and were entertained by a balloon artist who made them balloon swords and a magic wand. Once we got up to the front of the line we got magic glasses that transformed lights into images of Santa. Pretty cool! That kept the kids happily occupied while we waited… and waited.
Bella wasn't too happy to wait in line
Waiting for the Christmas Train!
Derek and Mommy
The kids and their balloon creations
When our train arrived, we snabbed the front row and took up all the seats with our large, merry brood. The Christmas carols were joyful and our spirits were high. The kids were super excited not only for the lights, but also to ride the train. Who doesn’t love a Christmas train?
Christmas Train!
St. Augustine’s Christmas lights were truly magical! The tour was pretty thorough and we saw lots of shops we never even knew existed! It was a unique and fun-filled way to check out one of our favorite cities! More than 2 million lights accentuated the city’s beauty and reflected brilliantly off the water. Wow!
We're Riding the Christmas Train!
Alex Loved the Journey!
The ride lasted about 45 minutes and all the kids truly enjoyed it. We took a shuttle to overflow parking to fetch the Armada. It continued on to Santa’s Village, but the kids were tired and the crowds were fierce so we opted not to go there. St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights (Nov 19th-Jan 31st) was a real Christmas treat and I’m really glad we went! If you’re in NE Florida during the holidays, you really should check it out.
Christmas Lights!
Silver Springs Florida– Wild Gators, Glass-Bottom Boat Rides, and Tons of Family Fun
When the Spanish Explorers discovered Silver Springs, Florida, they were blown away by the shining white river bottom. They believed it to be made of silver and thought they’d truly struck it rich. Poor suckers when they swam down their and grabbed a handful. While modern pollution has caused lots of algae to grow on the bottom of the springs, the water is still spectacular. 70 degrees year-round, water so clear you can see to the bottom, and fresh from underground aquifers, Silver Springs is is a true experience. If you drink bottled Florida spring water, it may just have come from Silver Springs. As our guide said, it’s the best in the world: 99.8% fresh, clean water and .2% alligator poop. ;-p
Silver Springs, self proclaimed as “Nature’s Theme Park,” hosted a Native American Festival this weekend and we didn’t want to miss it. We drove down south through hours of forest on Friday night and stayed in a hotel across from the park. Holy cow, that was miserable. Bella screamed and cried until 3 am, not sleeping for more than 20 minutes at a time. By morning, Hubby and I were exhausted and grumpy. We almost packed up and drove home. Alex’s pleading blue eyes convinced us to bribe monster baby with baby-food treats and hope for the best. We checked out of the hotel and ventured to Silver Springs.
The tickets are ridiculously expensive, but I found a Buy 1/ Get 1 Free coupon on their website. The lady at the ticket counter was great and let us use it more than once. In the end we only paid for two admissions for the 6 of us (Bella was free and she insisted that Derek was “not quite 3″ so he was free too). If you want to go, check out their website at www.silversprings.com and look for coupon deals (http://www.silversprings.com/coupon/). It’s a fun place to visit, but I wouldn’t have paid full ticket price for everyone to get in.
November is definitely off-season, but when it’s 70-degrees and mildly sunny it’s the perfect time for us to go on an adventure. The park was practically empty and we didn’t have to wait for anything or wade through crowds. I’m not sure how busy it gets in the summer. November is an excellent time to check out Florida’s attractions.
Glass Bottom Boat Tours
Silver Springs is famous for their glass bottom boat tours and we were excited to give them a try. The water is so clear, that through the glass bottom we could see all kinds of fish and turtles. We bought some fish food and watched feeding frenzies in the water. The guide was amusing and led us on a tour of seven major spring formations in the Silver River. We saw ancient sunken cypress trees and even an Indian canoe on the bottom of the river, sunk hundreds of years ago. 70-million-year-old fossilized shells glistened below us in the deep water. The ride was about 30 minutes long and the kids loved every minute of it. That is, the kids apart from Bella. She was a beast who would only sit quietly in return for an endless supply of snacks.
Native American Festival 2011
Attending a Native American festival was the perfect way to end our week of learning about Indians. We saw dances and traditional crafts, lots of costumes, and tee-pee’s too. A Mohawk demonstrator taught us all about traditional life and games children played in Mohawk villages. Alex got actively involved and had a blast.
The festival was surprisingly small and there couldn’t have been more than 6 groups set up. If we’d just come down for the encampment, we would have been disappointed. Fortunately there was plenty more to do in the park.
A Few Decent Rides
If you’re looking for Orlando-style entertainment, this is not it. While the Silver Springs website advertises itself as a theme park and shows pictures of rides, that’s pretty misleading. There was one working ride, the carousel, and two other rides that were not running. That’s it. The kids did enjoy the carousel and went on it twice. I was a bit disappointed there weren’t more rides. Oh well. We kept busy enough.
We watched a bird show at noon and saw a variety of well-trained fowl. The kids got a kick out of the parrot who could sing “Old McDonald Had a Farm.”
We did enjoy the Jeep tour through the woods near the World of Bears and would definitely do that again. There was a lot to see back there and the pot-hole filled path made for a really bumpy ride. The boys liked the intense bumps.
The kids and I stand in the "Lucky Palm Tree"-- It's supposed to bring 5 years of good luck
Alex sits prettily waiting for the Jeep ride to start
Animal Exhibits
After a lunch of hotdogs and fries, we went to the gift shop. Daddy wanted to buy Princess Bella a stuffed bear. The first gift shop’s credit-card system was down, but he wanted to get her one so much that he went to a gift shop across the park! She doesn’t have him wrapped around her little finger at all, now does she?
Bella and her bear from daddy
We then headed through the animal exhibits of Ross Allen Island and Big Gator Lagoon. They were well-kept and interesting, although nothing we don’t see at the Jacksonville Zoo or the St. Augustine Alligator Farm. Derek liked the miniature deer a lot. “They like me,” he says, “I want to ride on one.”
Daddy and Derek
Who's that handsome guy with the stroller?
The Happy Couple
My Buddy Ethan
While walking along the river, I was excited to spot a wild-alligator! We’ve lived in Florida since 2006, and I’ve never been able to find one in the wild. People say they’re everywhere, but I am not a good gator-spotter. Guess how surprised I was when I was checking out the fish in the crystal-clear water and spotted a big gator right under me (we were on a bridge). Wow! Here he is:
I will now be able to leave Florida a happy girl, having finally seen a wild gator.
Fort King River Cruise
Our last major adventure for the day was a journey on the Fort King River Cruise. Our guide led us through 10,000 years of Silver Springs history. Silver Springs has not only been the location for numerous films, but also home to 7 different Indian tribes over time. We saw an archeological dig, a replica Seminole Village, homesteads and old-time stores, and Fort King. There was plenty of wildlife to see as well.
The boys love, love, loved the riverboat rides and wanted to do them again and again. It was a great experience!
Silver Springs– Nature’s Theme Park
We spent a happy 5 1/2 hours exploring the Silver Springs Park. It was a great day-long outing. While the park was not very glitzy or glamorous, it was fun. If you go, definitely get a coupon. It’s not worth the hundreds of dollars you’ll spend taking a family there, but for the $60 we spent with the coupon deal it was worth the trip.
We made lots of great memories and the kids had a blast. Another adventure down and another check on our Florida-to-do list.
Related articles
- Handsome Indian Braves, a Real Indian Encampment, and Funky Tee-Pee Cookies – Celebrating Native Americans! (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
Handsome Indian Braves, a Real Indian Encampment, and Funky Tee-Pee Cookies– Celebrating Native Americans!
Without the kindness of the Native Americans, our Pilgrim ancestors didn’t stand a chance. Without the food and supplies necessary to survive a brutal New England winter, they were doomed to a dark and painful end. Had the Native Americans not given them a helping hand, we wouldn’t have Thanksgiving and America would probably be a much different country. It only seems fitting that we dedicate some time each Thanksgiving to remembering America’s first people, learning about their culture and history, and paying our respects to a great civilization.
This year was the first time I’ve introduced the boys to Native Americans. We started with fun finger-plays and stories and progressed to making Indian Brave hats. We talked about different roles people played in an Indian village and what their lives may have been like had they been born back then as little Indian boys. Alex knows a bit about Native Americans, so this year we went more in-depth. We researched and discussed specific tribes, went in-depth about the role Indians played in the first Thanksgiving, and read lots of books. We watched Pocahontas, made tee-pee cookies, and ended our week by attending a Native American Festival in Silver Springs, Florida. Our study of Native Americans started out as an abstract concept and ended with real, flesh-and-blood, costumed Indians demonstrating their way of life, crafts, games, and more.
Hats Fit For An Indian Brave
History is a pretty foreign concept for young children. For the most part, they’re only concerned about themselves and their present well-being. How does one introduce the concept of American Indians who lived long, long ago?
I introduced some adorable fingerplays about American Indians this week as well as some simple stories. We talked about the Native Americans’ role in Thanksgiving and by the end of the week I asked each boy to explain to me who the Indians were and why they are important to us. Derek exclaimed, “They liked to shoot things with arrows and shared their food. I like to shoot things too. I am a good Indian. I can shoot!”
For Ethan, the concept was a bit harder. He’s awesome at memory work, but thinking creatively and explaining things don’t come easy for him. It took a lot of prodding to get him going. Eventually, he came up with some pretty thought-provoking answers. Ethan said, “The Indians used to live here, but not anymore. They were really good at planting food and hunting and taught the Pilgrims how to do this. That’s why there’s Thanksgiving.”
As part of our Native American study, we planned a mini-Thanksgiving feast, where we would read the Thanksgiving story aloud and where the boys would dress up as Indians and the girls would be Pilgrims. We baked a traditional Colonial Thanksgiving favorite, Indian Pudding (For recipe, check out: http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/fruity-indian-pudding-1027303/) to serve with dinner too. It was a lot of work to make it from scratch, but it was very good!
The boys enjoyed making Indian Brave Hats to wear at dinner. They were so cute. Our mini-Thanksgiving went off without a hitch and was full of interesting discussions about Thanksgiving, Pilgrims, and Native Americans. Fortunately Daddy was around to tell the story and answer the hordes of questions. It was great fun!
Indian Brave Derek
Indian Decorates His Hat
Two Handsome Indian Braves
Alex’s Funky Tee-Pee Cookies
Once the boys and Bella went down for their afternoon naps, Alex and I got out the baking supplies and put on our creative-genius hats. If you know me at all, you know I’m not a huge fan of baking. It’s time consuming, messy, and calorie heavy. However, Alex loves it. I resisted the urge to run screaming and let her choose a creative and time-intensive recipe. Her choice? Tee-Pee Treats. For the recipe, check out: http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/tepee-treats-689030/.
Alex’s Funky Tee-Pee Cookies proved to be the messiest project we’ve ever attempted. We had fun, though, and created mounds of messy dishes. We made the frosting from scratch and then smoothed it over waffle cones. If you do this project, don’t get waffle cones. They’re irregularly shaped and won’t stand up unless you carefully tear away the edges until they’re even. The frosting dripped down our arms and coated the table. We froze them for a few minutes to harden before decorating and were in for a surprise. They started melting again while we decorated!
We ended up keeping the plate of frozen, frosting-covered cones in the freezer, bringing one out at a time to decorate, then returning them to the freezer. Now we have 8 tee-pees sitting in our freezer. Bella tried eating one but thought it was nasty when it started melting again. Derek ate half of one and said, “Eeew! Too sticky!” Hmmm… this project was cute but we probably won’t do it again. We did make a cute village though!
Alex Spreads Icing on the Ice Cream Cones
One Lone Tee-Pee, All Covered in Icing
The Icing Was Dripping Down Our Arms and All Over the Table... Ick!
Our Indian Village Before Decorations
Alex Decorates Her Tee-Pee Cookies
Et Voila! Our Tee-Pee Village
Silver Springs Indian Festival 2011
To end our week-long study on Native Americans, we drove 2 hours SW to Silver Springs, Florida. There was an Indian Encampment/ Festival there this weekend and we’ve been meaning to check Silver Springs out for quite some time. I printed us a buy 1/ get 1 free coupon online to save on the steep price-tag and we loaded up into the truck for a little adventure in the Ocala National Forest.
We encountered our first Indians this morning at our hotel. The breakfast table next to ours was full of costumed Indians. No matter how many times I told the kids not to stare, they couldn’t stop. Their eyes were like giant saucers! Native-Americans were no longer story-book characters, but real people sitting next to them! That’s pretty deep stuff to comprehend if you’re little. Next, we headed across the street to Silver Springs and met some more Indians up close and personal.
We watched some Native American dances and learned all about Indians of various tribes, their lifestyles, and their livelihoods. The Mohawk demonstrator taught us all about village life and traditional games. Alex was an eager volunteer and got actively involved. I was so proud of her! We checked out lots of Native American art and a real tee-pee too. Although the encampment was pretty small, we learned about Indian tribes all across the United States. It was a very interesting way to spend a day!
A Mohawk Indian
Alex Participates in a Mohawk Hoop Game
The Log Game Was Fun Too
I was so proud of her for volunteering!
The Kids Check Out a Real Tee-Pee
I hope the kids learned a thing or two about American Indians this week and have gained an appreciation about the importance of Native Americans throughout our history. I hope they continue to be interested in Native Americans and thirst to learn more, just as I did as a child. I probably had just as much of a blast this week as they did. One can never have too much fun learning!
Alex’s First Trip To A Real, Honest-To-God-Pumpkin-Patch!
Living in Florida does have its drawbacks. Sure, the weather is gorgeous most of the year and we live not too far from the beach. What’s missing, you ask? Pumpkin patches. Real, honest-to-God pumpkin patches. Sure, there are partitioned-off areas at local churches where you can buy pumpkins and even some neat corn mazes. Some even sell pumpkins. But… I miss the pumpkin patches I grew up with. You know, the ones where you have to walk way out into a farmer’s field and pick the perfect, bulbous orange masterpiece straight from the vine. I have yet to find one in Florida.
Last week we took an unexpected trip up to visit Grandma and Grandpa Sarkkinen in Washington State. On our second-to-last day in town, we stopped by a real pumpkin patch. It was a nice chance for the kids to get out and stretch their legs after days of visiting relatives. We stopped by Velvet Acres Gardens at 18905 NE 83rd Street in Vancouver, Washington. They were one of the few pumpkin patches open to the public during the week, and we were short on time.
Velvet Acres is a relatively small farm, but it’s big on Fall Fun. They have a petting zoo, hay-bale tunnels for kids to climb through, and a field full of pumpkins just waiting to be picked. Alex and her cousins had a blast petting the pony, cows, and goats. Alex begged to go for a pony ride. Maybe next time!
The best part of all was lugging the sturdy red wagon out through the farmer’s field to find the perfect pumpkin. Alex ran and skipped through the mud and hay, checking and touching at least a dozen pumpkins before deciding on a 22 pound behemoth. She rolled it to the wagon and I helped her pick it up. She was so proud of her pumpkin and couldn’t wait to get back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house to carve it! At 18 cents a pound, it was an awesome deal too.
We had an amazing afternoon out in the crisp October breeze. We were snug in our sweaters and left covered in hay and mud. I definitely don’t recommend wearing ballet flats to a real pumpkin patch! I have definitely lived in the city for too long to make that faux pas. Alex’s first trip to a real, honest-to-God pumpkin patch was a roaring success. I hope we can go to one next year too. Farm life, pumpkins, and a little bit of dirt are what Fall is all about.
Alex at Velvet Acres Gardens
She couldn't get enough of the pony! Like Mama, Like Daughter
Hay bales are so much fun to climb!
My sis-in-law Ashley and Niece Emily
Baby Emily loved the animals!
Mommy and Alex
This one looks good!
Cousin Anthony loved the pumpkin patch!
Look at our pumpkins!
Alex really wanted to bring the pony home
Alex and Mommy
What do you mean, it’s not always 80 degrees in the Fall? Washington vs. Florida Fall
Fall in Washington State is a far cry different from fall in Florida. I miss the seasons a lot. Cool crisp air, sweaters, hot tea, and brightly colored leaves put me in the mood to celebrate. That’s what I grew up with. Alex has never experienced Washington in the Fall, so this trip to see Grandma and Grandpa was a real treat for her.
Here are 5 ways in which Fall is different in Washington than in Florida:
1. It’s not 80 degrees. You can actually wear sweaters, pants, and.. gasp!… socks without sweating your butt off! It was so chilly in the mornings (27 degrees one day!) that we had to go buy sweaters! I love sweaters. They simply symbolize Fall to me. Plus I love a reason to go shopping for cute new sweaters.
2. The apples are crisp and delicious. I love Red Delicious apples, but by the time they get down to Florida they are mushy and kind of gross. Not so in Washington, the apple state! My dad picks up farm-fresh apples at the farmer’s market and they are amazing. There are even apple orchards where you can pick your own apples!
3. The leaves change colors! Everywhere we looked, the leaves were dazzling shades of red, orange, and yellow. They fell gracefully from the trees and graced every surface. Here in Florida, most trees still have their leaves. When they do fall, they are brown. It’s just not the same. As a side note, leaf-piles in both states are equally as good at making little girls filthy and grass-stained from head to toe.
4. They have real pumpkin patches! In Florida, a pumpkin patch is a fenced-off area at a church with a selection of pumpkins on the ground. In Washington, we went to a farm and trudged out to a field with a wagon to choose our pumpkin from a vine. There was mud! There were cows! Ballet flats were probably not the best choice to wear to the pumpkin patch… I’ve seriously been away for too long.
5. You can curl up with a blanket and hot cider and not feel weird about it! It’s just not the same getting “warm and cozy” when it’s hot and sunny. In Washington, we piled on the blankets to sleep and warmed our hands with mugs of hot drinks. Sigh. Heaven.
Fall in Washington clearly win… at least to me. Although.. it was nice to go home and not have to wear socks.
Alex loved making piles of leaves to jump in
Cousin Anthony was a great playmate for Alex
Fall is a beautiful time of year
Safe, Family-Friendly Halloween Fun at Jacksonville Zoo’s Spooktacular
If you’re looking for some safe, family friendly Halloween fun, you simply must check out the Jacksonville Zoo and Garden’s Spooktacular. We’ve gone several times now and keep coming back for more. Today was a big milestone for our family: this was our last time experiencing Spooktacular, at least for the next few years. Next Halloween, we’ll be settled into a new part of the country and on a new adventure… wherever Hubby’s career may take us.
It was a very full, very busy day. Not only did we do school time, but we also attended two Halloween parties! Enough for one day, right? Late this afternoon I realized that if we didn’t make it to Spooktacular tonight, we wouldn’t get to go at all this year. We ate a quick dinner, put on some costumes, and headed north. I was hoping and praying that the traffic wouldn’t be severely backed up like last year. Last October I made the mistake of trying to go the day before Halloween and we couldn’t even get near the zoo traffic was so bad! People were parking a mile away along the road and walking. No thanks to that. We turned around and went home. So this year was a big deal! It was now or never!
Luck was on our side. We went early and on opening day. There was some traffic, but not much at all. We parked without a problem and headed on in.
Bella waits to go inside
We waited just inside the gates with a growing crowd of people. The gates didn’t open until 6:30 and we had some time to spare. The kids liked watching the parade of costumes and playing with their glow stick necklaces. They’re free if you go on a Thursday! The sun was beginning to sink in the sky, slowly dimming the bright daylight. The air was cool and crisp. It actually felt like fall!
The kids wait for the gates to open
Shortly before 6:30, the Wizard spoke to the crowds, then led a countdown to open the gates. We moved aside and let the crowd pass so that we could walk through the maze at our own pace. It was really congested at first!
Spooky pumpkins lined the Maze
The sun began to set and our journey quickly went from “whatever” to “spooky.” The music was riveting and the costumed characters enthralled the children. There were sights and sounds everywhere. Even I was on sensory overload sometimes, but in a good way! The kids were wide-eyed and amazed. They really liked the candy stations and the thousands of glowing pumpkins lighting our walk.
The sun sets...
The courtyard was a ton of fun. There were several bounce houses and a bounce slide. This is where Ethan’s visit unfortunately went from “okay” to “I’m crying and feeling sorry for myself” and he never got over that. Derek and Alex, on the other hand, had a blast. They played for at least 20 minutes. When we moved on it was very dark and we could see stars overhead. Spooktacular at night is absolute magic.
Didn't I tell you not to speak to strange alligators?
Alex sits with the princess and the frog
Alex meets the evil Queen of Hearts... Off With Your Head!
We saw fairies and woodland creatures, princesses and pirates too. Every corner brought a new adventure. The kids didn’t know what to expect next!
Bella was wide-eyed and alert the entire trip
Spooky flashing eyes in the woods!
Alex’s favorite section was Pirate Cove. They did an awesome job decking out the alligator habitat as a pirate ship!
The Pirate Ship! Arg!
My Merry Crew
We had an awesome evening at Spooktacular and made some great memories. The whole way home, Derek talked about the “spooky eyes” in the forest. Alex played with her glow sticks the entire drive, putting on quite a show for her brothers. Bella passed out as soon as I put her to bed. All the kids were super excited to get to stay up way past their normal bed time and to walk around the zoo at night. Sometimes it’s fun to do something totally out of the ordinary.
If you’re in the area, I totally recommend a visit to the Jacksonville Zoo and Garden’s Spooktacular. It’s relatively inexpensive ($28 for the kids and myself) and is a sensory feast. I know my kids will be talking about it for years to come. After all, they still talk about the last time we went two years ago! If you want something unique and not too scary to do with the kids, this is it!
Orange Park’s Hidden Treasure: Clarke House Park
When you picture the ideal childhood park, what does it look like? For me at least, it is a wooden castle full of nooks and crannies to explore, lots of slides, and endless adventures. It looks a lot like our favorite park, Benny Russel, in Milton, FL, where we lived before relocating to Jacksonville in early 2008. Who would have thought that there was a kid’s fort just like it in Orange Park, Florida, a mere 3 miles from NAS Jacksonville?
Two different friends mentioned the Clarke House Park over the last year, so I figured we should give it a try. I packed up the SUV and met some friends there this morning for some playtime and a picnic. You should have seen the kids’ eyes when they saw the play area! They were jumping at the bit to get out there and explore. They’d never seen anything like it!
Located at 1047 Kingsley Ave in Orange Park, Florida, the Clarke House Park is an extensive wooden castle full of fun and adventure. There’s even a wooden pirate ship, an airplane, and a fenced-off little kids area with a giant sand pit and tons of toys. There are walking trails through the wooded area, a pond, picnic areas, vending machines, a volleyball court, a butterfly garden, and the historic Clarke House too. The Clarke House is a 100+ year-old farmhouse that is open several times a year for tours. It’s a cool piece of history and a great photo-location! A big plus for any parent was that there were also drinking fountains and clean bathrooms at this park.
The kids played hard for over an hour, running through the castle halls and flying down the slides, swinging merrily through the 80–degree Florida breeze and tackling the various climbing obstacles. There was also plenty of shade and benches too. They would have stayed all day if I’d let them. We walked part of the nature trail before heading to the gazebo for a picnic lunch. By the time we left, every picnic table was full and the parking lot was packed. This must be a popular hangout for families with little kids!
Who knew there was such a treasure hidden so close to home. The park was absolutely gorgeous. I wish we’d gone sooner and look forward to many more visits in the coming months! If you live in or visit Jacksonville, Clarke House Park is definitely worth a visit.
Derek loved zooming down the slides
Pirate ship! My little pirates loved climbing it
Bella combat crawls across a bridge. She had so much fun!
Brotherly Love
Exploration and Discovery
Derek played until he could play no more... then passed out at home for a nap!
The kids and their pals
Alex on the nature trail
Best buds since pre-school
Arg Matey! Pirate Treasure and Ghostly Tales at the St. Augustine Pirate Museum!
Arg Matey! Today we ventured to the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum in America’s oldest city and old-time pirate haven, St. Augustine, Florida. Voted the best local attraction in 2011, we had to check this one off our Jacksonville must-see list. We were amazed with the collection. If you love pillage, plunder, chaos, and conquest, this is a museum for you!
The self-led tour was exciting and full of interesting things to see and do. Welcome back in time to the Golden Age of Piracy! The museum is build to look like the inside of a ship. Fire a cannon or flintlock pistol, watch interactive presentations about St. Augustine’s pirate history, and learn about pirate rules. Gaze upon one of two remaining pirate flags and the only known pirate treasure chest still in existence today. Check out lots of real pirate treasure and try your hand at tying nautical knots. There is a scavenger hunt for kids throughout the museum too. The kids loved looking for the skull and cross-bone knobs, which led to secret exhibits. How cool is that!
I loved seeing the actual props from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and Hubby loved the plethora of top-notch antique guns. Alex loved the treasure hunt. Ethan enjoyed firing the cannon. Derek was a bit scared and clung to the stroller. The decapitated talking head was a bit much for him and I kept him out of the Black Beard show. He says he prefers Jake and the Neverland Pirates. Bella was irritated that she couldn’t get out of the stroller.
I learned so much I didn’t know. I never realized that so many pirates frequented St. Augustine, or that Black Beard had 14 wives! 14! How did the man have the time to terrorize the Eastern Seaboard and tend to 14 wives? Hmmm. We went through the museum twice because it was so cool. If you’re a military family, you can pick your tickets up for less at the MWR, which we did before leaving base. It quickly adds up and is a bit steep for a small museum, but you’ll see things here you literally can’t see anywhere else in the world.
The Treasure Shoppe was very cool too and we found several must-have keepsakes. They also sell antique pirate coins and guns (VERY expensive but very nice).
I’m so glad we made it down to the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum. It was awesome! Visitors of all ages are sure to learn something new. The only downside was that they didn’t allow any photography inside the museum. That’s hard for a shutterbug like me! There were so many moments I would have loved to have captured! Oh well. We have some awesome memories that are sure to stick around for years to come. Arg!
Here’s the museum’s website: http://piratesoul.com/
Every Pirate Needs a Good Start to His Day!
Arg! The kids hold their hats on... it's windy! Alex and Derek outside the St. Augustine Pirate Museum
Two Ruffians in Historic St. Augustine
Alex and Derek outside the St. Augustine Pirate Museum
Grumpy Baby Pirate
My Little Pirate in Downtown St. Augustine
The Whole Brood in Front of Castillo de San Marcos
Mid-Autumn Evening in the Garden
Success! This evening, I got my darling husband to tag along and visit one of Jacksonville‘s fine museums for the first time in the nearly 4-years we’ve lived here. He’s usually too busy working while we gallivant around NE Florida. We were fortunate to have him around this evening and headed to the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens and enjoy the mild mid-Autumn weather.
Here are some spectacular garden shots from this evening’s excursions!
Related articles
- Stop and Smell the Roses at the Cummer Museum (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
- Jacksonville’s Gem: Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens (homeschoolinghelicoptermama.wordpress.com)
You Know You Live in Florida When…
Here’s an advertisement from our local paper today! I LOVE it! So…. if you’re into this kind of thing, here’s a job for you! I cut it out to keep as a Jacksonville memento.
-There are LOTS of gators in Florida. One site estimates that there are approximately 1.25 billion gators living in Florida (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_alligators_in_Florida). Another claims that there around a million (http://www.floridaadventuring.com/florida-alligator.html). Either way, that’s a lot of gator!
-The family Alligatoridae first appeared about 35 million years ago. They’re not going anywhere any time soon (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw230).
-Because of Florida’s booming population growth, people and alligators are constantly forced to cross paths, increasing the chances of conflict (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw230).
-Adult Florida alligators are usually 6 to 12 feet long. The largest recorded Florida alligator measured 17 feet 5 inches (http://www.floridaadventuring.com/florida-alligator.html).
-Alligators can run up to 30 mph
-Gators are very dangerous, especially to pets and small children. Stories like this one pop up too frequently: “Gator Kills Dalmatian at Jacksonville’s Hanna Park:” http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/crime/2009-08-11/story/gator_kills_dalmatian_at_jacksonvilles_hanna_park
-Gators do not make good pets, although there is a market for them and unintelligent people keep buying them and getting surprised when the gators get large and dangerous. “Men Caught with 260 Baby Alligators:” http://www.news4jax.com/news/29209214/detail.html
-If you spot any nuisance gators, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at (866) 392-4286 (FWC-GATR). Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-08-16/story/avoiding_alligator_attacks_is_more_about_common_sense#ixzz1ZdeFzMIv
Last Fact: I’m not going to miss the alligators when we move!
