Hard to believe my baby is 11, it seems strange but a good kind of strange. I like this phase of parenting, the kids are fairly independent but they are still kids!
Monday, May 10, 2010
A Birthday Boy!
Lego, Bionicle, Lego, Action Figures, Lego, Star Wars, Bionicle, Clothes, Lego. That's what Tristan's birthday was made of Lots of Legos & Bionicles and a few other favorites too.
Hard to believe my baby is 11, it seems strange but a good kind of strange. I like this phase of parenting, the kids are fairly independent but they are still kids!
Hard to believe my baby is 11, it seems strange but a good kind of strange. I like this phase of parenting, the kids are fairly independent but they are still kids!
a pack of alpacas!
Recently we visited an alpaca farm with a local homeschool group. The alpacas are a wonderful animal, very tame and cute. Their fiber (fur) has many uses. We learned a lot about alpacas, their area of origin and what types of things can be made from their fiber. It was an interesting and fun day at the alpaca farm. Hayley and Tristan both want to learn how to actually turn the sample fiber they were given into a real item.
It was a very rainy, cold day, Trevor and Colin decided to stay home but those of us who braved the weather had a delightful time with the adorable alpacas, photos in no particular order.
It was a very rainy, cold day, Trevor and Colin decided to stay home but those of us who braved the weather had a delightful time with the adorable alpacas, photos in no particular order.
Animal Academy-May
This month at animal academy the kids worked with birds. They learned things about ducks, chickens, fancy pigeons, along with the more exotic rainforest birds. They experimented with eggs and made a big mess when one of the male instructors challenged the kids to break an egg holding it a certain way in two fingers. This was to show just how strong an egg really is. All the boys especially were determined to break their eggs and did so. Along with the lesson there was the obligatory lets see what is new and how old friends are doing and my kids were happy to see new guinea pig babies and the many other spring babies abounding at animal adventures. Just one more month to go now. The children are hard at work on their final animal projects. Hayley is doing her project on tarantulas, Colin-Lizards and Tristan-marmosets. Guess which one if the hardest to find printables for the posterboard. Sigh, Tristan you just have to be different don't you? :-).
Boy Scouts
Colin and Tristan have been Boy Scouts for about 3 months now, having crossed over from Cub Scouts in mid-February. They have gone on two camping trips and one 5 mile hike up a mountain. They've earned the Scout rank and now are well on their way to Tenderfoot rank. They seem to enjoy the weekly troop meetings although they get tired if these meetings run long. Oftentimes it seems the meetings don't end until 9:00 pm and well that's about their bedtime! Mostly it's been good. There has been some stress and issues real or perceived with some leadership. Mainly communication is helping to work those out. I hear there is behind the scenes drama too which I guess you get in about any group. There is about 6 more weeks of scout meetings for this year, an end of year camping and court of honor event and then summer camp in August. Much to look forward to still.
Some photos from recent scout events:
Below, Colin and Tristan spent some time rolling down this hill while waiting for their meeting to start, the patrol leaders were having a short meeting first.
Camping trip number 2, which was at Bear Brook State Park, about an hour away. Photos below:
You can lift that pack Tristan! He's getting better at it.
Below Colin and Tristan mark the areas they want their tents in while awaiting the trailer with all the tents and gear.
It's BUG SEASON
Hmm will the spray even help...
Tristan looks itchy even after applying insect repellent.
More boys arrive as does the trailer and tent set up can begin.
I think they mainly had a good couple days. Tristan came home very tired and said he was cold and found it hard to sleep. It was dreadful weather for it,, rainy and windy. Where is summer???
I hear the boys played on an awesome rope swing. Played multiple games of capture the flag, baked cookies in a cardboard box/foil oven and competed in an iron chef contest. Upon arriving home Tristan was grumpy, needed sleep but wouldn't take a rest, he seems to have a hard time going from camp back to regular life or something. I also think he tried hard not to get upset at camp around all the big kids and then lets it all out when we pick him up. He was tired, didn't like some of the food and did get cold at times but I think he's learning how to deal with these issues better each time. Colin said that he had a lot of fun. Upon arriving home he changed clothes and went straight to bed, waking 3 hours later. he didn't even tell anyone he was going to bed we suddenly wondered where he was and then looked and found him sound asleep.
Photo below:Tristan at pick up time.
Back the week before camping the boys participated in a 5 mile hike. This is part of the second class rank and also was an opportunity to earn money for camp although my guys didn't get any pledges for camp, they still did the hike.
The hike was up and mountain and a few parts were very steep. It was a workout!
above-boys at the tippy top of the mountain
below Hayley hiked in crocs!
Back down the mountain the boys were proud of their achievement.
Some photos from recent scout events:
Below, Colin and Tristan spent some time rolling down this hill while waiting for their meeting to start, the patrol leaders were having a short meeting first.
Camping trip number 2, which was at Bear Brook State Park, about an hour away. Photos below:
You can lift that pack Tristan! He's getting better at it.
Below Colin and Tristan mark the areas they want their tents in while awaiting the trailer with all the tents and gear.
It's BUG SEASON
Hmm will the spray even help...
Tristan looks itchy even after applying insect repellent.
More boys arrive as does the trailer and tent set up can begin.
I think they mainly had a good couple days. Tristan came home very tired and said he was cold and found it hard to sleep. It was dreadful weather for it,, rainy and windy. Where is summer???
I hear the boys played on an awesome rope swing. Played multiple games of capture the flag, baked cookies in a cardboard box/foil oven and competed in an iron chef contest. Upon arriving home Tristan was grumpy, needed sleep but wouldn't take a rest, he seems to have a hard time going from camp back to regular life or something. I also think he tried hard not to get upset at camp around all the big kids and then lets it all out when we pick him up. He was tired, didn't like some of the food and did get cold at times but I think he's learning how to deal with these issues better each time. Colin said that he had a lot of fun. Upon arriving home he changed clothes and went straight to bed, waking 3 hours later. he didn't even tell anyone he was going to bed we suddenly wondered where he was and then looked and found him sound asleep.
Photo below:Tristan at pick up time.
Back the week before camping the boys participated in a 5 mile hike. This is part of the second class rank and also was an opportunity to earn money for camp although my guys didn't get any pledges for camp, they still did the hike.
The hike was up and mountain and a few parts were very steep. It was a workout!
above-boys at the tippy top of the mountain
below Hayley hiked in crocs!
Back down the mountain the boys were proud of their achievement.
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