Halloween Party Homeschool Style

Shannon, Ian, and I went to the annual Halloween Party at a homeschool parkday. Costumes are optional and Shannon wore the one she designed. I took the picture of the Pokemon trainer she wanted to be and modified a winter hat and an old dress to make her costume. She took her Piplup as her Pokemon. Ian didn't wear his costume for very long and I never got a picture of it. It was too hot for Ian to want to stay in his one piece Star Wars clone trooper costume. Games were played including dressing up in random costume pieces. It was a lot of fun.

Shannon as May with Piplup.

The kids brought clementines that they decorated like pumpkins for the party.

Cox Farm Fall Festival

It was a first for us to go to Cox Farms for their fall fun. We went with three other wonderful families on a gorgeous day. It wasn't too crowded either. I love homeschooling, we get to avoid most of the major crowds that happen on weekends for things like this.

The petting area was lots of fun.

Group photo

Girl's Book Club

Once again Shannon has been invited to be a part of a monthly book club that her friend started last year. This club is run by the girls. The moms just provide snacks. This year the books can include chapter books, graphic novels, picture books, etc. Each month one girl picks out the book they will all read for the following meeting and decides on a craft or activity to present to the group.

The books that have been picked include:
-Turtle's Race with Beaver by Joeseph and James Bruchac

- Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume

- Hereville: How Mirka Got Her Sword by Barry Deutsch (graphic novel)

- Thea Stilton and the Dragon Code by Geronimo Stilton

National Zoo

We went to the National Zoo with some friends on a beautiful day and had a blast.

Shannon and Ian spent a lot of time at the elephant learning station

It was snack time for the elephants so some came right up for a close up. :)

We really enjoyed seeing the mama panda with her baby.

Moon Circle with Friends

Shannon and I went to the first Moon Circle that a friend started. It's a small group of moms and their daughters to get together and do crafts while talking about feelings and growing up. Shannon decorated a glass container with pictures. Inside the container she is keeping stones she picked out. The stones are meant to be used in a form of meditation.

Pokemon Day at Dale City Library

Both Shannon and Ian are having a lot of fun with Pokemon cards. They love to collect, trade, and play battles with them. Shannon also loves to trace, copy, color, and draw Pokemon pictures. A local library has monthly Pokemon days (year round) where they earn points toward badge pins that both my kids are collecting. You earn points by doing anything related to Pokemon; trade and battle at the library, bring in artwork, crafts, and/or stories to the library. My kids try and make it every month.

National Museum of the Marine Corps Homeschool Day

Ian wanted to check out the National Museum of the Marine Corps Homeschool Day. In the end he wasn't all that interested in the extra activities that were there for the homeschool day. But we did go through the entire place with me reading everything their was to see. I read every label with Ian reading some as we went along. Ian was fascinated with the vehicles, planes, and guns. Afterwards Ian played on the playground outside.

                                     

Here's the entrance. The angled roof is mostly glass and has planes and helicopters suspended from the ceiling.

Ian with one of the many planes.