Plumpton Park Zoo Field Trip

Here are some photos from our HAHSA trip to Plumpton Park Zoo. We had a great time checking out all the animals and then had lunch by the playground......

Rocks State Park Letterboxing Hike

Ok, I wanted to add the photos from our family letterboxing hike at Rocks State Park.... This is a letterbox made by another HAHSA (our HS group) family. The directions are then posted on our groups site and families can go check it out when they have the time.......
Here are the pics from our hike....

Letterboxing Hike May 2007

I wanted to add some things that we have done this summer. We belong to a Homeschooling group that has been wonderful! They have all kinds of things going on and Morgan and I have had a great time so far.......

Here are some photos from our Letterboxing club. There is a hike each month where a new letterrbox is introduced, there is a scavenger hunt for the kids and then lunch and hanging out.....Each family then finds the letterbox on their own!!!! It has been very cool! I will post some photos of us(our family) finding a box... but for now here are the pics of the Hike/scavenger hunt. The kids needed to find many things including: Jack in the pulpit and Poison Ivy.

What's up with your blog title you ask?

Well here's the deal, in my family there is a running joke on how I acquired my mother's habit for always burning breads of any sort (bagels, making toast, garlic bread, waffles, etc.) So a while back I was making toast but instead I burned the sucker---- ok I charred it!!!! I then had one of those "Oh Dear God, I am turning into my mother" moments that everyone tells me about. Well that was it; I am scraping off the charred part!!!!! and b/c of my plans for rediscovering myself I thought it would be a great way of saying that I am scraping off the bad habits/mentality of my childhood and starting from scratch and working on "not burning my daughter's bread" along the way..... So how is that? Make a little or not sense at all? LOL oh well its all ME!
-Kate

All about me!!!

Hello all!!!
Well here I will give you all some info on why I am creating this blog and what my hopes are for it.....
First, the basics: I'm Kate, mother of one daughter (hopefully have another in the future) wife to an ok guy (I think I may keep him for a little longer- he's getting kind of old!) Just kidding However he is six years older then me but who's counting, hun?
We have decided to Homeschool our daughter for many reasons (that's a whole other post). However, one of our main reasons was because we are outraged at the public school system (to be frank)

As I have gotten more comfortable with homeschooling, I am now able to move on to my next project---- ME! I have come to the realization that I never think or do anything for myself.... I have now realized that is becoming harmful for myself and my family.... SO having said that I am now looking into different things to help me find what makes me "tic" What my passions/hobbies/intrests.....? I never give myself to chill and do these type of things....... That has to stop!!!!! Myself and family all agree I me to be selfish and take the time and look into myself!!! :-)

One of my first goals will be to learn about scrapbooking. I love the concept and have some things but I never created a simple space for myself to do this or put aside the time to complete pages........ Not anymore :-) In addition I want to look into painting, working with clay, sewing, quilting, Etc..... who knows what else!!!!

Lastly one main area that I will be working on will be my own education! I went to public school and a year of college. I did not have happy experiences at all and I was very bitter and just plain old mad. However, I am passed being mad about my own education.... I can change that! I have picked out some high school curriculum that I will be purchasing soon (my dh is going through some job issues so it is being put off for just a little while....) and will be learning on my own!!!! This will also be great for my daughter to see that Mommy is studying too! Too cool, hun?
Here is my choices that I am looking into:
Science: Apologia Science:Exploring Creation with Biology
History: Short Lessons in U.S. History Using this as a simple guide thought the years but reading on the topics more with Library books.
Literature:For Such a Time as This: American Literature Student Book
Math: Teaching Textbook: Pre-Algebra- I wanted to start small to remember things that I missed so I will probably go through this quickly.
Art: Short Lessons in Art History This is mainly for fun with my daughter. I'm looking into finding a art class for her and I to attend.
What do you all think? Am I a geek or what? lol oh well I am completely OK with that :-)
Well, I think that wraps it up of a bit.....

Busy, Busy, Busy

We have been so busy lately, between activities, housework and good old playing outside. We are currently spring cleaning and redecorating/reorganizing, so we have been constantly on the run.

However, today we went to the local Planetarium. It was only the three of us! We were able to choose what we wanted to do and she choose to learn about the constellations and planets instead of "day and night sky" which is what they normally do for Kindergartners'. Gigi really enjoyed being able to see the stars so bright and understand how to use your imagination to create the constellation "pictures". She was also able to really see how the big dipper is just a part of the Big Bear. He showed her how to use the big dipper to find other constellations by following up the edge of the big dipper to the north star and over to the left to find Cepheus (the king) and if you look right of the north star to find a "W" that forms the Cassiopeia (the queen). He also sent her home with star charts and solar system flash cards! The school where the planetarium is located is also my husbands old middle school and he went to see his teacher from 20 years ago! He brought my husband and Gigi into the class to meet his students! lol Talk about culture shock!

From there we came home and Gigi wanted to work on handwriting, did a lesson in Math and from then got out our science curriculum and then wanted to work on 3 different lessons/experiments. She created her own mold fossils, exploded a film canister and blew up a balloon with vinegar and baking soda. My husband also showed her how to turn ice cubes (solid) into water (liquid) into a steam (gas) and then turn the water back into a solid just by changing the temperature.

Here are some pictures:

First the Fossil Experiment

What a smile! This is Gigi working on the mold fossils.

Pushing in the samples to create the mold.

Her carefully creating "perfect" fossils. :-)

Next comes the States of Matter experiments using antacid tablet and a film canister.

This is to see to see what happens when you put the anti acid tablet in water.

Then we do the same thing inside a film canister and close the top real fast.

These are some picture of use melting my ice cubes i work so hard to keep up with! LOL (we don't have an ice maker-poor us)

She was feeling how the steam (gas) can turn back into a liquid so quickly when it is cooled.

And lastly our Balloon experiment

Gigi Dropping the baking soda that is in the balloon into the tube filled with baking soda.

See ya soon!