Click to view and save full-size PNG.

The weather was perfect for (yet another–we did one last year too) our walking tour of Annapolis. After the hunt we headed down to the dock to have a bite to eat…a really nice day with all of our homeschooling friends.

Some photos…Michael actually took a movie of the plane taking off.

Both were excited (said it felt like riding a roller coaster) but I don’t think it sparked a real interest in flying.  My Daddy went with us (on the right, in dark blue jacket, jeans & white sneakers in first photo) and I think he was more interested in the program than the boys.  *smile*

Quinn had gotten up very early yesterday morning (and so was sleepy by mid-afternoon) but also a bit intimidated by all the people in the cold hangar (where the class was conducted) and decided that he preferred to go back to the relatively warm car with his Happy Meal and shake.  Grandad came back a bit earlier than Michael and the boys (to get warm too) and held Quinn and sang him to sleep with “Me and My Teddy Bear.”  Brought back warm memories of when I was a little girl.  *smile*

ender Letters is a charming site filled with enchanting photos. h/t Ullabenulla

Jackie’s Space…a very talented artist. Beautiful paper crafting. h/t Di

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The twins (and most of their friends) are flying today with the Young Eagles. Sean did the program too when he was their age..should be fun!

We had a great time yesterday!  We had a bit of trouble getting there due to a wacky GPS system and dare I say, Mrs. Jenn’s wacky driving, *smile* but once there spent about 2 1/2 hours going through the museum.  I fell in love with the religious sculptures and paintings.  Afterward, we headed to Little Italy’s Sabatino’s Restaurant for some pasta and salad.

ff with the boys and Mrs. Jenn, Jenna and Jonathon today to visit the Baltimore Museum of Art to take advantage of their annual homeschooling event. Looking forward to seeing the paintings, of course, and the Antioch Mosaics. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous!

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I had a lovely shopping trip and lunch at Applebee’s yesterday with my Momma and both of my sisters, plus all of Honey’s little ones. AJ Wright’s (owned by the same company as TJ Maxx) had a large selection of gorgeous, large and cheap (nothing was over 15 dollars) religious statues and though I probably shouldn’t have, I bought a beautiful antiqued, golden statue of the Christ Child for my bedroom.

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Dawn, at The Feathered Nest, has a post full of beautiful things to look at and I fell in love with these adorable little pin cushions at Cathy Penton’s Designs Shoppe.

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I did some research while I was taking a break from the internet and found a new spam protector for WordPress and installed it…I’ll give it a try and see if it works. That means YOU CAN LEAVE ME A COMMENT if you want to. *smile*

 love to find and share free online treasures. 

Dawn at The Feathered Nest has posted two really pretty printable images.

My Cherry Heart’s Dolly, who really is looking forward to Spring, is offering all you can take free snow.  *smile*

Widgetbox has free widgets for your website or blog.  Lots of cool things here.  Do people still use the word “cool?”  Oh, well, I do.  *smile*

The Jukebox offers free music from the Golden Years of music.  Do what it says…find a time frame you like and let it play in the background while you surf.  Still humming “A Summer Place.”  Remember Troy Donahue?  *smile*

Animate yourself at Gizmoz.

MorgueFile.com has free for download, high resolution photos.

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For homeschooling…

• Scott Foresman offers grades 1-6 Online Grammar and Writing Handbooks in PDF formats.
• Evan Moor’s monthly offering of free lessons and clipart is nice.
• SimplyCharlotteMason.com has a free e-book, Education is an Atmosphere, a Discipline, a Life, to download.
• Free Virtual Field Trips!

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Free Tips for Healthy Easter Treats and Healthy Easter Treats II and Inexpensive Easter Baskets.

…and a couple of little freebies from Dover, made transparent and printable by me.  If you want to use on the web, just resize and use a sharpen tool.

Right click on the image to save the transparent GIF.

Click on image to view and download the PNG.

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In your Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it,
You’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade.
I’ll be all in clover, and when they look you over
I’ll be the proudest fellow in the Easter Parade.
On the Avenue, Fifth Avenue,
The photographers will snap us
And you’ll find that you’re in the rotogravure.
Oh, I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet
And of the girl I’m taking to the Easter Parade.

In my Easter bonnet with all the frills upon it,
I’ll be the grandest lady in the Easter Parade.
You’ll be all in clover, and when they look me over
You’ll be the proudest fellow in the Easter Parade.
On the Avenue, Fifth Avenue,
The photographers will snap us
And you’ll find that you’re in the rotogravure.
Oh, you may write a sonnet about my Easter bonnet
And of the girl you’re taking to the Easter Parade.

ooking for videos, activities, lessons, experiments to jazz up your science lessons?

• Playlist: Archive of Weird Physics
• PBS Nova, Watch Online
• Newton’s Apple
• Scientific American - Archive from 1800’s
• What is It?
• Funology - The Science of Having Fun
• Time for Kids
• The Science Explorer
• The Crafty Teacher - Science
• Science Printables for Grades K-8
• Earth Science Teacher Resources
• American Chemical Society - Education
• ChemShorts for Kids

• Quinn fed the ducks in our backyard

• I baked some chocolate, chocolate cupcakes that my sister’s family and my family loved

• Connor had an idea to spell out “Life Lessons” with all of his many karate belts

• Cade had a biking accident and took quite a bit of skin off of his arm

• Our homeschool’s co-op class on Air and Space

• Cade and Connor at Ski Liberty

• The boys getting ready to go downhill

• Some of our group on the way up to the top of the mountain

• The ride down…whee!

We had a blast yesterday snow tubing.  The rain held off until the last downhill run.  I think it was a toss-up as to who had more fun…the kids or the parents though I do think the parents will definitely be feeling a bit sorer today.  I know I had leg and butt cramps during the night from muscles that I didn’t know I had. 

You know whenever I read about the lack of socialization, interaction amongst peers, I really have to laugh.  In the past few weeks we’ve been to Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, and next week is our co-op’s field trip to the Air and Space Museum located in Virginia and we’re this busy each and every month.  Yeah, we homeschoolers are a sheltered bunch, aren’t we???  Thank you, dear Lord, for the opportunity to homeschool my boys!

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Today the twins are playing paintball with their scouting and karate friends…I’ll be recuperating from doing belly flops down a mountain.  *smile*

awn has uploaded her invaluable Themes and Plans for March.  Her well thought out, chock full of great information post and our family calendar help me to plan out what we’ll be doing in March…physicals for all the boys, a weekend hike and campout with their Scout troop, tubing, a make-up day for last month’s non-event due to inclement weather, a visit to the Baltimore Museum of Art for their annual Homeschool Family Open House, our monthly homeschool co-op class on aviation and flight which will tie in with a fieldtrip to the National Air and Space Museum in Virginia and the boys flying with the Young Eagles Program.  The twins Calvert 7th grade arrived late last week and we’ll be starting that next week. We usually start in January but due to more sick days this past year than usual we’re a bit behind but that’s okay as we homeschool all year long.  *smile*  Anyway, it looks to be a busy month as usual!

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Quinn has been playing with his educational toys a bit more lately.  He’s also been playing with his Little People themed sets, having his stuffed toys interact with the pirate ship, farm, etc. and playing with his car sets and he sits and “reads” his books at least once a day.   A definite progression from his past play of just a belt and a stuffed animal!

Also, Cade and Connor have been a lot of help to me with Quinn.  Every week Quinn’s speech therapist, Mrs. Christine, sends home a little activity or game to do with Quinn and each day the twins (especially Cade) works on that activity with him.

For March, we’ll be doing spring things…Rain and Rainbows and New Growth on the plants (Evan-Moor printables) and of course, some St. Patrick’s Day and Easter crafts.  For everyday skills we’ll be working on washing his hair and behind his ears…which he hates.  *smile*

Five Little Leprechauns

By Jean Warren

 

One day out walking,

I happened to see

Five little leprechauns

Coming toward me.

 

They ran to a house.

They ran through the door.

I managed to catch one.

Then there were four.

 

Four little leprechauns

Climbed up a tree.

I caught another.

Then there were three.

 

Three little leprechauns

Hid in a shoe.

I caught another

Then there were two.

 

Two little leprechauns

Started to run.

I caught another.

Then there was one.

 

One little leprechaun

Ran to his gold.

He grabbed some coins—

Then stepped out bold.

 

“Give back my friends,

And I’ll give you this gold.”

So I set them all free.

Now my story is told!

Click on each thumbnail to view image.

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These two I took from too far away and they turned out very blurry. I loved the shots though and decided to play a bit in Photoshop to see if I could come up with something better. Not too bad!

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We had a great time!  Mrs. Jenn, Jenna and Jonathon traveled and toured the museums with us but we ran across several members of our co-op while there.  It was probably too long of a day for Quinn (and too many strange people) but he did have some fun in between his meltdowns.  Jenn and I are thinking of going again next month to visit a couple more museums.

oday is Leap Day and we’re off to Washington, DC to visit the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History with our homeschooling co-op. We’re riding the metro to get there, a first for the boys and me. Should be fun!

A cute little Leap Day poem

and More Poems

Leap Day Celebrations (with frogs) in my neck of the woods

Leap Day - Famous Birthdays and Events

…and if you’re a Leapling, Boston Market will give you a free lunch!

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Pioneer Woman has posted the most decadent (definitely not a Lenten recipe!) and easiest apple dumpling recipe I’ve ever seen.  I can’t wait to make it!!!