Creation Museum + Ark Encounter 2016

Last night we arrived back home from our weekend trip to visit the Creation Museum and Ark Encounter in Kentucky.

The trip did not disappoint and was totally worth the 9+ hour drive (and I totally counted it as two days of school!).

I asked Alan and each of the kids what their part was and which museum they liked better.

Ansleigh: I liked both museums. I liked seeing the Zonkey at the Petting Zoo.

(Who knew there was such a thing as a Zonkey and a Zorse?? I'm not kidding. Google it!)

Chase: I liked both. I liked everything! I can't choose!

Anna Grace: I liked the Ark! I liked riding on the camel.

Alan:I liked both for different reasons. I liked reading about the different kinds of animals that were on the Ark. 

As for myself, I thought both exhibits were incredibly well done. There was nothing cheesy or watered down about either.  Recently, Chase has had a lot of questions about dinosaurs and the Ark. I loved the way AiG showed different scenarios of how Noah was able to fit the dinosaurs on the Ark, how they were fed, etc.  

  

I think Chase was probably the perfect age to go. He knew enough of the Bible to piece the information together and was able to soak it all in. It also made for great conversation with my  kid who loves Science and History.

 My younger kids enjoyed it (the girls really loved the beauty of the Garden), but there was a lot of reading and some parts were a little intense.
The Creation Museum had a room that flashed black and white pictures of Sin (drugs, the pains of childbirth, starving children,etc). I loved it because it showed the severity of the Fall, but was a little troubling to Ansleigh (What are drugs?).
Also, the first floor of the Ark was a little scary to Anna Grace. The loud sound effects of thunder, lightning and hard rain was pretty intense, but I thought it was a fantastic touch! It definitely made the Bible come to life for my children (and myself!).

All of my children loved the petting zoo (even Caleb who made a friend with a grasshopper). They loved petting the goats, riding the donkey and the camel,  and seeing the Zorse and the Zonkey. :)



The master plan of the Ark included the Tower of Babel, the city of Jericho, and an ancient market.
I definitely recommend going and I can't wait to go again in a few years when my younger children are a little older.

Here are a few pictures from our trip..

Oh, and we can't forget this little fella and his visit to the Florence, KY Emergency Room.

He swallowed a coin (what kind is yet to be determined). The ER doctor patiently assured us numerous times that Caleb should pass it in a couple of days without complications. Always an adventure with our family! :)

Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestowne Settlement

A few of the pictures from our trip to Virginia...

Outside of the Governors Palace..

We visited a Gunsmith (Someone bless that mans heart! He asked if anyone had any questions and Chase had a million!) Anyone know what Bullet means??

The reenactment was probably my favorite. The actors were fantastic!

In the gardens at the Governors Palace..

We stopped for lunch at The Cheese Shop. The next time we go (and there WILL be  a next time!) we definitely will eat here again.

On Tuesday we headed to Jamestowne Setttlement and Historic Jamestowne.

 I loved that the Archaeologists stopped and talked to the kids to explain what they were doing. Here they were in the process of excavating a well.

 The kids loved the Powhatan exhibit!

 A Powhatan hut..

 Grinding some corn..

 The kids enjoyed a Powhatan cooking demonstration.

 I loved that Jamestowne Settlement was so interactive. The kids could touch, pick up, and

roll around on anything they wanted. :)

 Trying on some armor..

Jamestowne also had a fantastic museum and Archaeum. It was a great trip and far exceeded my expectations! I definitely want to go again when the kids are a little older and stay longer in Colonial Williamsburg and maybe visit Yorktown. Hopefully this trip was the first in our family travels!

Its a new year!

We started school last Wednesday. I wasnt planning on starting school until mid-August, but I couldnt wait any longer! I was so ready to get back into routine and  I think they were ready too.
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They have gotten so much bigger since last year! 

2014-2015 Homeschool Curriculum

I cant believe that we are heading into our 3rd year of homeschooling! I am looking forward to this year more than I have in the past. I feel more at ease teaching my children, more prepared as a CC Tutor, and more confident in the Classical process. I want to be more intentional with my homeschooling and while I do want to find new ways to drive in the memory work, I also want to stay true to the Classical model and be as simple as possible. And can I just say that simple is hard? There is SO much out there!


Chase- 1st grade

1. Saxon- I LOVED  Saxon last year and Chase did really well with it. Continuing on to Saxon 2!



2.Handwriting- We started A Reason for Handwriting in the Spring, but we crashed and burned and took our summer break early. I really like the colorful pictures, the Scripture sentences, and it offers lots of practice.


3. Spelling/Phonics- We also started All About Spelling in the Spring and stopped when we needed the break (we finished our 2013-2014 curriculum early and I thought it would be a good idea to continue school- I was wrong). We will start over from Lesson 1 when we start school in a couple of weeks. I don't love All About Spelling (it is pretty teacher intensive and uses lots of manipulatives which drives me crazy), but Chase doesn't mind it. I do think that it will give him a solid spelling/phonics foundation and have been told that it is a great prep for Essentials.




4. Grammar- I havent completely decided if we will use the 2nd grade portion of First Language Lessons. I loved the 1st grade portion, but 2nd grade seems like a lot of writing for a 6 year old boy. If it doenst work out then I will stick with Sonlight LA.


Ansleigh- Kindergarten

Ansleigh will be joining us at the homeschool table and will be enrolled in the Abecedarian class in Foundations. She is SO excited to be in "real " school!


1. Math-Saxon 1.


2. Handwriting-A Reason for Handwriting.


3. Reading- I tried using The Ordinary Parents Guide to Teaching Reading with Ansleigh. I thought she would like all the little songs and flashcards, but she hated it. Hopefully this will work better for her!




For both kids-

1. Sonlight- I cant stay away from Sonlight. I love, love, love their literature selections! Last year we just read from the Sonlight list, but this year I am wanting to dig in a little more. After looking through a friends Instructors Guide, I have decided that we will be using Core A  with some supplementing. I am praying that it wont be too much- We shall see!


2. Classical Conversations Cycle 3-We will continue to meet once a week at Classical Conversations of Evans. I will be tutoring again this year and I am so excited! This cycle the kids will be introduced to American History, US Geography, 24 science facts (including the first 12 elements of the periodic table and the parts of 8 body systems), Latin rules and John 1:1-7 in latin, English grammar facts, and multiplication tables up to 15x15, squares and cubes, basic geometric facts, etc. It seems like a lot, but it really isn't! The kids will learn over 400 pieces of information through songs, chants, hand motions, etc. They have so much fun!


3. Carols Curriculum- I am mainly using Carols for preschool craft activities. Chase and Ansleigh loved it when they were smaller and I think AG is old enough to enjoy it now. Plus, I love that everything comes in a box and I dont have to plan anything! :)


The more that I prepare the more that I am looking forward to this upcoming year! I am praying that it will be our best year yet! :)