Little School on the Prairie...

Every woman loves a man who knows his way around a kitchen. Maybe this corn grinding will come in handy some day...

ok, so it's not Legos...but he was quite proud of his corn husk doll (it was the only one with a sword too)!

Wanted for: Cande?? I'll take a "candy" bandit any day!

How cute is are these little darlings?! Wouldn't catch these girls playing with "Bratz" dolls!

He's going to make some little cowgirl very lucky one day...

Life without electricity?! Better learn the art of candle making!

Wow, what a week!! This was our first year at "History Camp" and what a blast. Our charter school, "Valley Oaks", hosts this event twice a year for all of it's homeschooling students and I fell in love. The whole theme is pioneer living...truly amazing! It's held at Pioneer Village, the local museum here in town, which is affiliated with our school (and just happens to be right next door!)... so we get some awesome perks. Talk about a "living education". All week it's been hands on learning for the kids...from candle making, branding, tin-hole punching, beading, corn husking and grinding to... lessons in the original one room school house and mock court and prison time in the original courthouse and jail of the old west! Old structures in the museum that are usually only viewable through the windows were open for all of the students to see and experience. It was a bit weird leaving Christian there for the day, totally not used to that, but parents are encouraged to stay and help as much as possible. But a few hours for me a day was all little sis would allow!

I really can't believe all that he's learned in 3 short days...more than any history lessons could cover in an entire book. And the best part? I know he'll never forget most of it... all with out one single test! Tomorrow they are bussing in 900 public school kids to come tour the museum and our kids get to work the stations and teach the visitors. That too is a priceless experience. It's funny really, when I think back to the reaction that I got from Justin when I first told him of my desire to homeschool. "What?! You want our kids to be total nerds?!" But now, he proclaims with pride this lifestyle that we've embraced, fully understanding my passion and drive... And supporting and encouraging me 100%. I guess my problem is that I was just born in the wrong century... ?! Maybe I'm a pioneer at heart... Of course, I never would have made it past my 20th birthday with the appendicitis and all...and indoor plumbing is pretty fantastic...not to mention hair weaves, couldn't live without that. Ok, so no time machines for me. But I'll still school like a pioneer... right at home where we belong...

"I believe it would be much better for everyone if children were given their start at home. No one understands a child as well as his mother, and children are so different that they need individual training and study. A teacher with a roomful of pupils cannot do this. At home, too, they are in their mother's care. She can keep them from learning immoral things from other children."

~ Laura Ingalls Wilder