Visiting Wetlands

Local to us is a wetland. We have seen the signs for the last several years, but never drove out there. It's not a far drive about 8 minutes or less from my home.

Tonight, we went for ice cream in town and I told hubby we should go out there and take a look.

Awesome! We did not stay long because of the bugs. need bug spray. had none. big mistake.

In our very short stay besides being eaten alive by the bugs we saw pelican and a beaver. First time I have ever saw a beaver in real life. I wanted to stay longer to see if he would come back out, but the bugs were just to much. 

Going to go back soon and maybe a few times and do a nature study. So wish we have been out there sooner. Do you have a local but hidden gem?

Summer Fun On A Budget

One thing you learn quickly when you have a limited income and a tight budget is take advantage of community events, especially free events.

I'm blessed to live in an area that has weekly free live band concerts, free movies in the park, free weekly kids shows. Library that puts on a good summer reading programs, although my kids are to old for the summer reading program, but do enjoy helping out and running the games, crafts, etc.

The best part is these events are easy on the checkbook, building memories with the kids, and looking back they are going to say hey we did things.

We also take advantage of free community days at the local museums, botanical gardens, and other venues that normally cost money.

I learn about these things via Facebook, local newspapers, and flyers around town. How has your summer been? Do you have community events you can be taking advantage of?

And don't forget the standard stand by. A good day at the play ground. My kids being teens don't care to really play at the play ground, but do enjoy Geochaching and hiking in general.

How can you homeschool?

I promised those that followed my facebook fan page that I would have this post for you later this week. I know as homeschoolers we get asked this all the time, but its generally coupled with about your education level? What makes you qualify to teach? About socialization? What about college? If you are a homeschooler you know what the common cliche questions are.

The question I received this week wasn't one of the normal cliche questions. It was  a new question. I have to admit that when the question started I almost didn't listen, because I was sure what the question was going to be before it left the questioners lips. However before I answered his question I actually paused to think about what was said and thought "oh wait my answer is not going to apply in this question".

I should have taken that lesson of the importance of fully listening and applied it other areas of my life this week, but that's another post for another day. Anyway.... The question was "How can you homeschool when HE (my son SS) doesn't know everything?"

Yes, how can I homeschool Superstar when he doesn't know everything? This question, once I stopped to actually listen to it, made me smile and chuckle and I asked the critic in reply "Well do you know everything?" The critic responded with "Yes, I do", but what I can expect from an 11 year old.

Yep that's right a 11 year-old question my homeschooling this week. His concern wasn't about my son being around other kids, or about MY qualifications, his concern was the fact that my son doesn't know everything, thus how could I homeschool him. How is that possible?

Out of all the questions we get asked, I never thought I would have to answer questions from a 11 year old. Not only that but that question didn't have anything to do with the normal cliche questions homeschoolers get. It wasn't really about anything, seeing we go to school to learn! So it really is okay that my son doesn't know everything, that's why he's being homeschooled!

Free Concert in The Park

Our local park district has several free concerts, events, at the outdoor music shell. On Wednesdays' afternoons they have a FREE program called "Imagination Station" that is geared especially for kids.  Today's performance was put on by ScribbleMonster.

It was really, really, warm today, but the kids still had a good time watching and participating in today's concert. Afterwards we went to BK with our friends for some water and indoor out of the heat play.

I was able to find a YouTube Video of one of ScribbleMonster's songs. Enjoy!


Next Wednesday's FREE performance is going In Capable Hands Juggling Company. Below is a demo of In Capable Hand's that I found on YouTube. (I think it's so cool to be able to see them live for FREE)

3D Fireworks Glasses

Today the kids and I went to our local children's (science) museum. We have a family membership pass. This pass allows us daily general admission to the museum for one low yearly fee. For the summer they have special events to do on Fridays/Saturdays and Mondays that are included in the general admission. So we have been going because we have our membership.

Todays activities had to do with lights: experiment with black light, capture a rainbow, construct a color viewer and more. The highlight of todays activities had to do with 3D Fireworks Glasses. Each kids was allowed to bring home a pair to keep. The kids are looking forward to viewing the 4th of July Fireworks with these glasses on!  So what's so special about these glasses? Well when you look through them this is what you see.

3D Fireworks Glasses (Lazer Viewers)- specially treated holographic lenses break light into the spectrum. Lazer Viewers (3D Fireworks Glasses) are an exciting addition to fireworks displays, laser light shows and holiday celebrations everywhere, according to the manufactures website.

The kids through out the day have been viewing the world and lights via the glasses. Imagine that the fireworks on the 4th of July will be pretty spectacular when seen through the glasses. Perhaps I'll even be able to get video of what it looks like through the glasses.

The picture above is what is "really" seen through the glasses. I just turned off the flash on the camera and held the glasses up to the camera lens and took a snap shot!

Walking with a limp.

I know at first you might be thinking this is about me and my recent fall. However it's NOT me, it's Superstar. We have been blessed that over all his recovery has been going good. Really he hasn't had issue with his walking post-surgery. Sure at first, but that was just the initial recovery from surgery. Once he started to walk post-surgery things have been good. I know we had to deal with pressure sores this week, but they didn't caused him to walk with a limp.

As I've mention before we have been given permission for Superstar to have up to 4 hours a day WITHOUT his AFO. He was even allowed to play soccer WITHOUT his AFO.  Yesterday evening we went down to the river to watch a local professional ski competition group preform/practice. Superstar, Web-princess and their friends were not interested in watching the skiers...mainly because it was rainy here yesterday and as a result none of the music was playing and there was no announcer.  They weren't even sure they would go on with the performance/practice until 5 minutes before start time. So instead of watching they played on the playground and tag hide-n-seek among the trees.

Superstar was NOT wearing his braces, because of the time of day. He had shoes on, but some how he end up hurting the bottom of his left heal. It hurts for him to put pressure on his heal. Not sure what happen. I've contact the surgeon. We are already schedule to see him Tuesday as it is, so he told us rest, Motrin, and hopefully it doesn't get worst between now and then.

I'm worried....seeing we are still recovering, etc. I know we got the okay for sports and I know his running around last night was not abnormal play. I just don't understand why he's having pain like that.

Caution: Playground Slides Can Cause Burns!

When I was a child almost every slide was "metal". We all know how crazy hot those metal slides got, well did you know that same thing can happen to the PLASTIC slides on the playground?? This story shows how a little girl received 2nd degree burns from going down a PLASTIC slide.

This reminded me how I needed to be reminded to check the temperature of the slide before allowing the kids to slide on down. Of course if your kids are older like mine you can teach them to check themselves before going down.

Homeschooling AT the park?

That's right today we packed up our school bags and went to the park. DH works near this park so he was able to join us at his lunch hour. We had already eaten lunch at home before we met DH at the park so it was more of a recess for us, but it was still fun!

After we got done swinging DH had to go back to work. I then let the kids play some more and did our work, but it prove to be too windy! So we decided that the car was a good place to work!

After we got our work done we went on a walk and got lost in the woods! Well clearly we are home now because I'm able to blog about it. When we found our way out of the woods Superstar said "Look Mom there's a sign for a picnic area! Let's go there, they always have a map there."

Sure enough the picnic area did have a map. I called DH to let him know that we got lost, found a map, and now heading back to the car. It took us another hour to get to our car from where we found the map. So we were really lost!  So besides our normal school work, the kids learn how to find our away back to the car via wits and maps! LOL

Rained Out: No Zoo

For those of you that have peaked at my calendar (link in the menu bar above) you may have noticed we had plans to go the zoo today. However, we got rained out! NO zoo today!

Yesterday, however was a beautiful day and we took our school work to the local-state park. We even got to have lunch with DH yesterday. The park is a 2 minute drive from his work, so he met us there for lunch over his lunch break.

The kids did their work, played on the playground, talked with daddy, and after daddy left we went hiking in the woods. I, true Nikki-Style, didn't have my camera on me! Having the camera always pop in my head after the fact! I should have had my camera, because the kids favorite place to go hiking is where there is the 3 story rock face with stairs! They love climbing the stairs, and well with me being at the weight I am (5'7" and over 300 lbs) it nearly kills me every time! (I love them and it is because I love them that I nearly kill myself walking up the stairs on this face cliff) Some day I'll have pictures of that to share with you!

After the park, we came home and "hung" around the house, or should I say "tree".

Not only did I get a picture of that, but I did get a snap shot of the flowers up by my front door.

Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival

My favorite post this week had to do with my children.

The first had to do with how I don't understand them. The second shared clips and pictures of the play (Peggy the pint sized pirate) that they were in this week.

For more Sunday Snippets from other bloggers visit: This That and Other Thing

Kids sometimes I don't get them!

I love my kids but at times I don't get it! So yesterday was their big play. (They did a wonderful job). We had an 11 am performance and a 6:30 pm performance. In between the performance several of us at least 6 different families decided to go to a local park and let the kids just run and play. Most of the time the kids played on the play ground, but at one point we decided to take the kids hiking. (I wish I had pictures, but of course I never have a camera when I WANT pictures). In the course of the hike we came across a creek. My kids got in WITHOUT asking, socks, shoes, and all. At one point my DD jumped in and it was up to her neck! UGH.

They thankfully were able to dry out before the evening play. (we weren't able to go home before the play). Their shoes and socks were still wet so we had them go barefoot which was fine for the play seeing they were a whale and a barnacle.

Okay so now to the point of what I don't get. After our hike and walking in the water, we go back to the play ground. Once we get to the play ground the kids ask "Mommy can we roll down the hill?" I just looked at them and said "I don't care". However, in the back of my mind I'm think: What's up with that? You jump in the creek without asking, but you need my permission to roll down the hill!!! Kids are just funny!!!