Strawberry Time!

I've been looking forward to this day for months!! Yum!!

Bridge Builders

One of the highlights of our past year has been getting know and spending time with our Friday homeschool group, QAC (Quest Adventures Club -- kid-named!). The kids and I alike have made close friendships and always look forward to Friday mornings!

Our regular Friday sessions start again in the fall but for the summer we have a series of playdates planned at various playgrounds, parks, and beaches. A couple of weeks ago we met a wooded playground at the local Y. While the kids always have fun, this playdate in particular was wonderful! The kids spent the entire time - over 2 hours - exploring the woods and stream. They spent time chilling with friends in some wooden structures, chased each other down trails, and constructed a bridge across the stream. It was a perfect morning!

I don't have too many pictures because I was enjoying my adult time as well but Ben really got into the bridge building and I found him thigh deep in the water digging up mud from the bottom to plaster their bridge together - awesome!

Julia the Scientist

We are spending our summer doing a couple of fun studies, one on plants and another on prehistory from the Big Bang through Ancient Civilizations. Julia has been enjoying the topics and has especially liked trying out the role of different types of scientists.

For our plant study, I set up an examination of different flowers. She spent a long time looking at the different specimens, dissecting them using tweezers to see the various parts, comparing different types and recording things she found interesting.

Then for our dinosaur study I purchased a fossil kit for her to excavate. She was enthralled and spent hours one afternoon chipping and dusting away to unearth all the bones and then assembling the skeleton! 

International Fair - Off to the Netherlands!

This was our second year participating in our homeschool group's International Fair. Julia chose The Netherlands because it's a country that she hears about a lot from Grandpa Rick. For their project, she and Benjamin unearthed a few mementos that Grandpa has given them over the past few years and picked his brain about the country.

There was a lot of interest on Julia's part in wooden shoes and windmills as well as fascination with the area of Freisland.

the display

getting ready for the parade

shoes and windmills!

flags on parade

Cool Dude

I think the title says it all!

Fieldtrip - Block Island

Another Rhode Island landmark that I had yet to explore is Block Island. We've wanted to do this trip for a few years but thought (probably correctly) that the kids were too young. But Andrew took a day off for his birthday and we hopped aboard the ferry!

donuts and bagels on the ferry!

Excited to be on our way!

We couldn't ask for a more beautiful day!

There's a Julia under there! She spent most of the ferry ride like this!

ahoy mateys!

Once there, we didn't have any grand plans. We walked about a mile along the beach that you can see in the picture below searching for interesting shells and rocks. We found a few including pieces of sea  urchin shells and a very cool iridescent rock.

port!

After beachcombing, we made our way back toward town for lunch. Julia had her heart set on a lobster but settled for lobster meat on her salad when that wasn't available.

lobster salad!

After filling our bellies, we made our way to a nature trail a short walk from the harbor. A local had told us about a glass float scavenger hunt that happens on the island and informed us that there are hundreds of glass floats hidden along the beaches and trails. Julia was intent on finding one so we spent our hike looking high and low. Sadly we were not successful but all disappointment was quickly erased with an ice cream stop before we headed back to the ferry!

We all really enjoyed our day and are looking forward to a return trip! Next time I think biking will be on order and some lighthouse exploration!

Fieldtrip - Green Animals Topiary Gardens

You would think that living in a small state or most of my life I would have seen and done most things here. But you'd be wrong! Like many other Rhode Islanders (and I'm sure natives of other locales as well) there are plenty of "touristy" spots left to explore. 

This summer we are checking off a few of them! First up, Green Animals Topiary Gardens in Portsmouth, RI. We spent a beautiful morning at the property which is owned by the Newport Historical Society. While the garden is on the small side it reminded me of Mount Vernon in Alexandria, VA. There is a sweeping lawn which goes down to the bay and the formal gardens and architecture are similar to George Washington's home.

The kids had fun hunting down all the different animals - some of which were difficult because they had not yet had their spring shaping!, exploring the different formal gardens, and picnicking with friends.

It's a peacock!

her future teenage self!

rocking animal races!