September

September barged in with all it's commitments and chaos. We got our new homeschool year going. Various outside classes, activities and field trips started up and we didn't have a lot of wiggle room in the calendar. According to my calendar in September 2010 there were 30 days, 20 days of which we had commitments outside the house. Many of those 20 days held more than one commitment or a far away=long drive commitment. 10 days we actually got to stay home.

Over the past year and currently I've been trying to make an effort to make sure the younger boys get to do many things which the older kids did. Trevor and Hayley had a very well rounded time for years when Colin and Tristan were simply too young to remember or care about all those outings. we've been and continue to re-visit many fun and educational places now with Colin and Tristan being 11-12 and a great age for learning and adventure. Hayley usually wants to come along for the ride,which is great. Trevor usually opts out,which is fine as he's BTDT and realistically he's 16 and autistic. We made him do many social type things he didn't want to do when he was younger, now we let him choose what to do or not to do. He's happy to have some quiet time.

So we have been busy, but busy for good reason. Sometimes I feel like I'm running too fast but generally we are doing well, Just....busy!

in September we: continued to garden, scouts started up for the year again, various classes started up including Tristan's recorder class and Hayley's sewing class. We revisited Animal Adventures,which is where the kids took their year long animal course last year. We went to a Bug Ball and also to Squam Lakes science center. We participated in mixed class day, a monthly get together and classes with other homeschoolers. We attended a Naturefest, the boys worked on their gardening, pets and rifle shooting merit badges and helped an older scout with his Eagle project. We went apple picking, to an open house at Bobby's work, attended park day, a program about pyramids, the boy scouts went hiking and we sold boy Scout popcorn.

We did fit in homeschooling, somehow although some extras do not seem to be making it into the routine so far this year. The basics are being done regularly and we are learning a lot through the activities and day trips.

photos:
Colin writing up his garden merit badge paperwork.


Bunnies,there are always photos of bunnies on my camera-lots of them. That must be you, right Hayley :-).


Tristan doing some science experiments.


Making crafts at the Bug ball.



below is the timber rattlesnake, which is NH's only rattlesnake and they're critically endangered. straight from the NH fish and wildlife site: "NH has only one venomous snake, the timber rattlesnake, which is protected by law. If you think you see a timber rattlesnake, please leave it alone, and let us know. There is no reason to kill a NH snake."


The Amoskeag Fishways center has many hands on and interactive things to get kids learning about water, wildlife and nature.




Hayley holds a millipede at the bug ball. I've kind of always wanted a millipede....


bug ball participants:



another day.At the Little Nature Museum there is a lot to do.





a Hay ride and apple picking.




Tristan practices recorder.


A visit to Animal adventures,we saw old friends and met some new ones.








Colin and tristan help Andy with his eagle project for an afternoon.


the project is a handicap ramp for the American Legion.



Then Colin decides to build a handicap ramp for our old dog Bonkers.



Squam lakes Science center was a lot of fun. Many interactive things to do, animals to see and the kids participated in an Animal CSI class.























more bunnies on my camera.


and Freeze the big black puppy.


the boys selling popcorn with their scout friends.


ready for a scout hike and camping trip.




and that was a synopsis of September.