The Fort...

Today, we took a field trip.  It was with the Whatcom Homeschool Association field trip group called The Explorers.

This is us in our semi official field trip attire.
Orange so I can spot them and something a
little formal looking for me so I feel like this is a big deal
and different than our everyday schooling.

 We drove up to THE FORT at Fort Langley BC and learned about the Hudson Bay Company and the early settlers that came to the area to settle and trade with First Nations people.  

It was funny when the guide was asking questions from our group and was looking for the answer "First Nations" but kept getting "Native Americans or Indians" because our group was from the States.  We're talking about the same people but in Canada they are "First Nation" people.  I suppose it is a better representation of who they are.  The term Indian was falsely given to the Native Americans by the explorer Christopher Columbus who thought he had reached the Indies.  Although the mistake was soon realized, the name stuck.

Our tour of the Fort included learning all about the chores the children would have been responsible for.

 Carrying wood...

and water...

As well as...

 Rolling barrels down to the trading area by the water.

Kids had an important role in Fort life.

I was so impressed with the amount of hands on opportunities.  In every building we went into the kids could touch and see items which helped make the time period real and relevant.

Our guide let those children who had taken piano lessons play a song if they wanted to.  The Architect played "Joyful, Joyful, we adore thee..."

The boys were tired and hungry by the time we finished up.  I'm really glad we took the time to visit this great site.  It goes along well with our study this year of early settlers to the Americas.

Thirteen Years...

Happy Anniversary to my hubby and I. 

Saturday Science...

Last week in Whatcom County it was Water Week.  There were a ton of activities on education, conservation and treatment of our local water.  We managed to make it to one of them.  I had hoped for two but a Saturday, 9am Anaerobic Digester tour was cut out due to my lack of being a morning person.  But, we did make it to the Bellingham library Edible Earth Parfaits class.

This was basic Geology of how ground water is filtered through the natural layers of soil, sand and rock.  A lot of candy was used to illustrate this concept.

They started with rock hard (literally) gummy bears. Then added a layer of ice cream and topped it off with chocolate rocks.

 Next, some bubbly sprite was poured over and they watched it seep through the layers.

 Finally, they added the pollution in the form of red food coloring. 

 They watched it seep down and contaminate the ground water.

 Now it was time to be a "pump" and draw some ground water out.  Yum.

I thought this was an extremely well done class and it was FREE!  I love this area we live in.

Working on some things...

I'm trying to finish a few blog posts that I've got in my mind and half way into the camera. 
I hope these beautiful fall days continue.  Today we were able to spend the morning at Million Smiles Park with a friend and I'm so glad we did.  The air is unusually warm for this time of year but it's great.

Play with your food...

I'm in love with Family Fun Magazine.  I haven't paid attention to this magazine in more than 8 years but it's better than ever.
The picture above is grapes, cheese and pretzel stix.  All the things my boys will eat and in the shape of a cool campfire.  I didn't take the picture above, I swiped it. Don't tell!

How about these guys?  Too cute!  I can pick up a bunch of these at Costco and everyone eats them. I may not make these master pieces but I'll give it a go.