Exploring local nature centers

If you know us, you know we love nature, hikes and being outdoors. I've picked up some recreation center information and on Thursday we had the chance to crash my sister-in-law's MOPS group as they met at a local nature center. Meadowfield is just minutes from our house and super awesome.

When we walked in we found a great pioneer set-up complete with hands on and authentic toys, tools, furniture and clothing. It was a big hit with the girls as we are currently re-reading Little House on the Prairie. In fact, we even found a boot jack and they immediately identified it. It wasn't long before Anna and Paige had transformed into Laura and Mary.

Right next to the play space was an inside nature walk with a bridge, cave and underground passageway. It usually has water and turtles although it wasn't working at this time. Carson especially loved when we figured out how to crawl like a bear to get into the cavern.

The inside portion also contained another playroom with aquariums, books and toys as well as smaller stations and restrooms. I can see us hanging out there during long winter days. Until then, there was plenty to see outside too. The raptor exhibit wasn't open, but looked cool from a distance. We explored the other areas using a scavenger hunt and found creatures and plants to check off the list. The girls were able to get a prize from the treasure box for all their searching. I also saw opportunities to take some hikes on nearby trails. Although, next time I will wear sneakers as I almost stepped on a baby snake spotted by Anna!

With a picnic lunch ending, we couldn't have asked for a better morning. I have plans to return and even take advantage of some of their programs like marshmallow roasting and creek exploring.

And here we go...

Have you ever had that excited moment where you half commit to something thinking "yeah, we can totally do that! It'll be great!"? I can remember some specific words coming out of my mouth ohh about 6 months ago when this crazy inkling of an idea of moving to DC became a slight possibility. It went like this:

Patrick: Blah, blah, blah...this DC thing is crazy. Blah. Well, we can't pull Anna out of a school she absolutely loves. And what about Paige who will be starting kindergarten? Are we going to move them to another school in DC?

Me: No. I'll just homeschool them for a year. No big deal!

And now here I am six months later about to embark on a "no big deal" journey of homeschooling where we must record 180 days of educational-like learning in five subjects so we can meet state requirements. We're officially beginning on Monday. Cue the slightly excited, mostly feeling inadequate freak out! Granted I have kinda been homeschooling the girls since they were born using activities and books and learning opportunities to explore the world with them. I mean I love learning and well, teaching is my profession even though it might involve 40 college students. Some would even think it's not that far of a leap.

I'm here to say there is a HUGE difference between teaching 40, 20-somethings and 2 elementary aged kids that happen to call you mom. Not to mention the prep for 5 subjects and two kids...I mean seriously I want my one class back.

So here are my strategies:

1. Pray like crazy. I'm thinking the inadequacy thing is actually good because if I were relying on my own strength, I am certain I would fall on my own face. BUT in my weakness, He will be glorified. So I can check that off-weak, definitely weak. And I'm certain the only way we will get through this is with the help of the only One who can overcome the stuff that happens in four walls with three family members for 180 days.

2. Rely on help. Patrick is already putting together some social studies curriculum for me. Thanks teacher-husband who thought you were getting out of class prep for a year. I have tapped into my network of homeschool moms who have said, "Don't worry! You'r gonna mess up and that's ok." And finally, if I wasn't before (and I was) I am absolutely in love with our public school back home where Anna and Paige's teachers are giving me resources, allowing the girls to skype into class and basically being their distance-ed coaches. I mean how awesome is that?!

3. Fake it til I make it. Ohh, you know you do the same thing when you are in an unfamiliar situation. Just act like you know what you are doing! I started with setting up an awesome looking "Kelly Classroom" which looks like an educational wonderland. Thanks, Target $1 aisle. Seriously though, it's super cute and makes me excited about spending hours in there with my two bright and eager cherubs.

I'm armed with a million ideas, naive excitement, a week-long lesson plan (please, Lord let this take less time to prep in the future), newly sharpened pencils, the capital in our backyard and no other options. I say, "LET'S DO THIS!"

Of mice and (wo)men

There are lots of things to get used to up here which are different than home. Some good. Some not so good. Most I can adapt to pretty easily. Like traffic and traffic cameras at every four way stop to watch whether you run a red light or speed, prompting a sweet little ticket sent right to your mailbox. I can even get used to taking reusable bags into every store because they charge you for bags. But there's one difference that's taken me a bit longer to stomach.

Mice.

In our house.

I first spotted the little creature(s...ohh I've been told where there's one there are more) one evening while on my computer. It scurried along the baseboard so fast and then disappeared that I was afraid I hadn't seen anything at all. It was faster and larger than a bug so my first guess was a mouse.

The next morning I found evidence of them in our kitchen....on our counters. Eww!! We have now implemented a thorough and continuous cleaning routine that fortunately has become a family affair. Anna has also seen one or two as we've come in from being gone for a bit. In any event, Patrick called the home owner and then an exterminator just hours before he left for MN.

So here we are. Patrick is gone. The girls and I are in a new place, in a new house. And I am surrounded by cranky children and mice. I started naming them fictional characters to mentally get in a good place about the situation. Gus Gus, Jaq, Despereaux, Fiffle, Rimmy....the list goes on. Little Reepicheep decided to wander right out from under the couch while I was sitting on it one evening. That was delightful. Patrick recognized my plight and tried to assuage my anxieties with a box of Sees chocolates. It helped some.

The exterminator baited last week and then examined potential areas for them to enter the home. Turns out the gaping holes behind all of the appliances are perfect entry points which is why they will be returning later to eliminate the mice front doors. In the mean time, the girls and I will repeat the chant: Are we mice? Or are we WOMEN!?

Visitors

First, for all of those who are wondering, the bacon donut was a huge hit with Patrick who ate it for breakfast this morning after returning from his work trip. Needless to say, we will be looking for any excuse to be going to Duck Donuts. And plenty of ways to exercise so as not to get fat from eating said donuts.

Yesterday was a special day as we had our first visitors! The Barno Family are sweet friends from SC. It just so happened they had planned a trip to the DC area to visit family a while back and when they found out we would be up here during their trip, we made plans to meet up. It was a toasty day even by our standards so we skipped the trip to the zoo and met them at the Air and Space Museum. Our family has never been before and they had only been once before a few years ago. So it was mostly new to everybody.

The crowds were thick, but it was air conditioned and the exhibits were really cool. Of course the kids whizzed through like Tasmanian devils so I look forward to sauntering and actually reading the placards at one point. It was neat seeing how the entire age of flight and how far planes have come from those early glorified kites. Anna liked the space exhibits and Paige was happy to follow along. We ended our trip with a little picnic lunch outside and then returned on the Metro. The girls are getting quite proficient at getting on and off.

It was a sweet visit and reminded us of home. Yes, we are getting settled in quite nicely here, but it does my heart good to see our faraway family. And I'm looking forward to seeing many more over the course of this year!

Duck Donuts....aka donut heaven

We've hit up several local spots this weekend, just staying busy and checking out the area. The girls and I headed to Silver Spring just 20 minutes down the road where they had an awesome market. It's a great little spot with fun restaurants, stores and a cool vibe. We walked quickly through the market which had live music, veggies and flowers on our way to the movie theater to watch the Secret Life of Pets. The actual movie was OK (I was expecting something a little different), but the theater was pretty awesome and the girls had a great time.

Another awesome local spot we visited and will be visiting again MANY times, was Duck Donuts. You get to design your own donut by choosing a glaze and then a topping and then a drizzle! What's not to love about this?! The actual donut is a cake donut which is less dense than a Dunkin Donut but melty like a Krispy Kreme donut. There were so many options to choose from! The girls settled on vanilla glaze with sprinkle frosting and I got a chocolate glaze with coconut. Since are awesome, we also picked one up for Patrick...chocolate glaze with BACON!! And one of the best parts...it only cost $7.50 which I felt was very reasonable.

As Paige was eating (no devouring) her donut she exclaimed, "I think I went to Heaven Mom!" I agree, Paige. Duck Donuts is most definitely Donut Heaven. Disclaimer: I totally had a donut coma for a better part of the afternoon.

BACON!

Other than that we've visited our pool every day for swimming and beating the heat. These locals think the weather is tortuous, but we just laugh because we know what real hot is and it's not this. Meanwhile Paige is becoming a good little swimmer. I'm also proud to report that after three attempts, we have actually gotten a library card. Whew! Now we're just excited to get Patrick home so we can enjoy the last few days of summer before homeschool begins.

city girls

The Kelly girls have traded in our boots and we are now city slickers! OK, we never had boots, but we did transition from "minutes from cows" to "minutes from urban power center." And I have to say our first trip to downtown DC went really well!

Jessi and Carson invited us along to meet John for a trip to the Museum of Natural History. First up it was two moms and three kids on the Metro. I loved watching Jessi teach Anna about the map and stops. We are definitely pros now!

Popping out of the Metro into downtown DC and then navigating our way to the museum was definitely an awe inspiring moment for the girls. Anna still remembers our first visit to DC, but Paige was just three and in a stroller so a lot of this was new to her. I was really proud that both walked the entire time and were great listeners. It made me excited for our future travels, just the Three Amigas. We are truly city girls!

see the Washington Monument in the back?

the Mall

So the Museum of Natural History is one of my favorites. What makes me excited about homeschooling this year is these types of resources right at our finger tips. Imagine seeing stuffed mammals when I teach Paige about animals or a walking history of the earth's formation through rocks when I teach Anna about minerals. I'm pumped!

Paige could NOT stop talking about all the animals and had me take pictures of several to send to her friends back home. 

Anna's hummingbird project prompted a stop here

This girl loves geology

Paige just loves sparkly rocks

After our visit (and navigating a heavy crowd), the girls and I stopped at a little sandwich place called Cosi for dinner. It was a quiet respite where we enjoyed salads and watched all the DC foot traffic. Then we made it back to the Metro without getting lost. Yes! Somebody was a little worn out. While Paige took a little cat nap, Anna made sure to give me tips on rising the Metro, namely "Mom, you need to act bored. Then you will fit in." I think she really is a city girl now. 

It was a great first trip and we're looking forward to many more. I can't wait for fun field trips!