Last week we emptied our garden of all its produce.  Little Dude helped and we carried in a bucket full of tomatoes, some carrots and a couple of little halapeno peppers.  Not bad for my little backyard garden.  Next year I plan to start earlier and add potatoes to the mix.

Friday, September 14 was the only day this week that Big E would be home the whole day (he had training all day Saturday and Sunday so he'd be home Saturday evening and for a little bit Sunday evening before heading back to work), and so we decided we'd spend the day together.  I asked Munchkin, "Do you want to do school at home today with Little Dude?"  "Sure!"  He said.  :)  So, we were all off on a science trip. 

This is where we went, at it was great!  Last year when we signed up for our community league, Big E won a family pass here, so we took advantage.
 
 There was a beaver dam with a little stream where the boys practiced building a dam of their own with the materials provided.  Little Dude spent quite a while on his dam and did manage to get a far bit of water build up.

 There was a fabulous play structure there that mimicked the layers of the earth.

 So you could clime around inside feeling as small as a worm!

You could even build flowers...those are leaves and petals strewn around on the ground.

 We took a close look at bee specimens.

 And then we took a look at a live hive...sleeping bees, creating honey, buzzing all around.

 Play structure again...

 And here is the beaver dam....there was even a beaver inside!

 They all enjoyed the slide.  Sprout would slide down again and again, each time raising his arms and shouting, "Did it!"  when he got to the bottom.

  Penguin slide!

 I took this picture several times, and each time someone would have a goofy face....so this is the best of the bunch!

 Train slide.

 "Look Mom, I built a throne!"

 Munchkin ran to get a seat, pulled up to the throne and said, "Your Majesty!"  SO fun to watch!

 We visited the exhibit where they learned about the cycle of the seasons....but do you think I got any pictures?  Apparently not.  Once outside the boys headed up the hill through the trees.

 Sprout couldn't follow...the hill was a bit steep.

 And very pretty.

 Look how much he loved rolling around on the hill.  :)  Poor outfit is going to need some extra TLC when it makes its' way to me in the laundry room!

And then we went out for lunch and home for a relaxing evening playing Hungry, Hungry Hippos.  We had a great day and needed to get to sleep because we had a FULL day planned for Saturday!

Official start of homeschool

Today we officially began homeschooling.  Our mornings we spend with Big E as he leaves at lunch time to return to work.  Then we take Munchkin to school, come home and put Sprout down for a nap and then do our homeschool work.  Today we did printing practice, some science, and research about zebras.  We went to the zoo on Saturday and Little Dude  was to pick an animal that he wanted to learn more about.  He decided on the zebra, we read a little bit about it at the zoo and snapped a photo and then did more research today.  Eventually he'll make his own little book all about zebras. 

 Here we are waiting for the train..

 Here it comes!

 And off they go.

 Sprout and I wandered around until the train came back...we visited with the Emus.

 And they're back...we're off to the petting zoo.

 They had BABIES!!  There's one int he food dish...

 And here's a little one venturing out.  We even saw one wandering around that still had its' eyes closed!

 Boys found a rabbit...

 Oh look, another one!

 Sprout found the sheep.

 They had different chickens..and some pretty ones too, I must say!

 Nocturnal skunk...I assume with his 'scent' removed!

 Arctic Shores exhibit.

 Bone chair for Sprout.

 Little Dude explaining to Sprout about sea lions.

And Little Dude's animal of choice, the mighty zebra!

So, I've been thinking a lot about how I'm going to document Little Dude's school progress and have decided that I'll include it in this blog as well as keep a portfolio of his work.  I should probably e-mail the school board and ask the facilitator to contact me.  I registered way back when and haven't heard a whisper since then.  I'm not complaining tons (I like my flexibility and autonomy), but as a first time homeschooler (officially) I'd like them to check in with me.  However, I'm  happy that we've begun and happy with Little Dude's "I CAN" attitude. 

Today Munchkin told me he didn't want to go to school.  Big E tried to convince him he wanted to go by telling him if he stayed home he'd have to do school, wash walls, clean toilets, and wash the floor, OH and do the laundry.  Munchkin said he wanted to do the laundry and could he stay home!  :)  So I made the same deal with him that I'd made with Little Dude.  Go to school until Halloween, and on that day I'll ask you if you want to stay or not.  :)  Usually that day is so fun that it's an easy decision for them to stay.

End of summer...start of another year

This summer FLEW by!  We finished it off with a visit to the cousins and then started back straight away to school!

 Goofin' around.

 We all tried to husk corn.

 Everybody got a ring pop.

 Cardston temple...there was a wedding just to the left....but I didn't include them in the shot.  heeheehee.

First day of Kindergarten!!

 Everybody was excited, Sprout was glad to come along and Little E was enjoying telling Munchkin all about kindergarten and how the Time Out system worked!

 Waiting in line with a kabillion parents watching....Sprout wanted to go too....then he saw the playground...

 And the rest was history.

 Munchkin waiting patiently.

 First day of grade 1 pictures!

 Happy to be Sprout pictures...actually, probably happy to be doing what his older brother had been doing.

 Hi YA!

 A sword fight!

 Just wanting to monkey around.

And more monkeying.

I asked Munchkin how his first day went and he said, "Good."  When I asked him what he did he told me, "I played with cars and shared toys."  :)  Little Dude said the highlight of his day was walking Munchkin to school.  It was a good day.