Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve

 

We really must come up with a better word than homeschooling. Very little of our learning actually takes place at home. We love a good adventure and use every opportunity we can to provide hands-on learning. We are a firm believers in show, don't tell!

 

Our latest adventure took us to Dripping Springs, Texas, where we discovered Hamilton Pool Nature Preserve, the perfect spot to put our new botany knowledge to the test and to seek refuge from the brutal Texas heat.

 

 

Hamilton Pool is a historic swimming hole, located 3/4 mile upstream from the Pedernales River. Hamilton Creek spills over the edges of the collapsed grotto to create a beautiful 50ft waterfall, although the lack of rain had slowed it to a trickle during our visit.

 

The pool, grotto and canyon were formed by thousands of years of water erosion. Lush plant communities, a wide variety of wildlife and a natural shelter attracted the area's first inhabitants. Cultural remains date back over 8,000 years. This is a science and history nerd's paradise! We were only there for a few hours, but we could have easily spent a week exploring.

 

 

The kids got up close and personal with EVERYTHING we have been studying in our botany class. They pointed out angiosperms, dissected gymnosperms, compared vascular and non-vascular plants. They squeezed water out of moss, they felt lichen, observed different methods of seed dispersal...it all became real for them. When we read about all this stuff in class, it's just a bunch of boring words, but when they see it, feel it, smell it, it all starts to make sense. It's so fun to watch!

 

Their newly found excitement for learning continually amazes me and reaffirms my decision to take this homeschooling journey with them. I know a lot of you still think I'm crazy, but so far I have NO REGRETS!

Botany Immersion

 

I can't say enough good things about the science curriculum that we chose. The kids love it and so do I! Apologia's Young Explorer Series focuses on science immersion, taking an entire school year to focus on one area of science. Most children only get exposed to bits and pieces of science during their elementary years, randomly touching on different areas. This curriculum digs wide and deep. Not only is the text interesting and informative, there is also a WONDERFUL student journal that is full of great experiments and places for the kids to write, draw and collect. In the short time we've used this book, I've already learned more about science than I did during all of my formal education! The kids are always excited when it's time to do science, so that makes this series a big winner in my book!

 

K'nex Taxonomy

 

Building a light hut for the classroom.

 

Growing basil in the light hut.

*Apologia has no idea who I am and has not paid me for my endorsement. I just like to share good things when I find them.

 

T-Ballin'

Congratulations to the undefeated ORANGE CRUSH!!!

Football Camp

I'm happy to report that we survived another year of youth football camp! Coach and I had a wonderful time working with all the kids and our children were excited to hang out with all their buddies for the week. It was HOT and exhausting, but so worth it!

Thankfully we are blessed with a wonderful group of coaches, who sacrifice their first week of summer every year to help us pull off an awesome camp. They tend to gripe and grumble a bit, but I know they secretly enjoy it as much as we do (at least I hope so). If nothing else, a week with 70 kids serves as wonderful birth control for all our young coaches!

The kids really do make all the hard work worthwhile. They are so fun and so funny. With that many little knuckleheads confined to one football field, there is never a dull a moment...oh the things they say and do! Parents, be careful what you say in front of your children, because they will repeat it. I now know some pretty funny secrets, but I'm not telling!

It was fun while it lasted, but it's time to put away the pigskin for awhile and get ready to finish off another great year of baseball/softball and then get ready to head off to basketball camp!

What's that again about homeschoolers being unsocialized? ;-)

New Beginnings

Ben in a school production of Mighty Minds

"Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it."
~Goethe~

The last few days of public school were a blur of field trips, parties, productions, water days, award ceremonies and quick goodbyes. The kids were so tired and ready to be done, that they hit the door as fast as they could! I got a little emotional as we were saying our final fairwells, but overall it was an uneventful exit. Most everyone has been extremely supportive of our decision to homeschool and the withdrawl process was a piece of cake. I'm so happy to have all of that behind us and I'm excited to get started on our new normal...whatever that may be.

Daisy Scouts at East Texas Arboretum

Being a Daisy Scout has been a wonderful experience for Clary. She has made lots of new friends and they have shared many fun adventures together.

Catching baby frogs at the edge of the pond

Our latest outing took us to the beautiful East Texas Arboretum. I often do photo sessions there, but rarely take time to stop and smell the flowers. I was happy to have a relaxing evening with the girls to enjoy all the hidden treasures that the arboretum has to offer.

Hanging out at the hive

On the day we visited, we got the opportunity to observe the bees in full honey making mode and hundreds of tiny frogs hopping among the lilypads in the pond. There were also snakes and tadpoles and dragonflies, lots of birds and butterflies, and unfortunately, lots of destruction thanks to all the wild hogs that live in the nearby woods. All the gorgeous flowers were putting on quite a show, and the vegetable garden was equally as impressive.

Getting a closer look at the action

Itty bitty frog

The scout leader gave an informative ladybug lesson and the girls were able to closely observe some ladybugs and then release them in the garden. Squeals and giggles commenced and there was much debate regarding which flowers were the most perfect on which to release the bugs.

Learning all about ladybugs

Lucky me, two for the price of one

Releasing ladybugs in the garden

I'm happy to report that no ladybugs were injured during this adventure!

Family Fun at Baylor Ballpark

We recently made the short drive over to Waco to take in a Baylor baseball game on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. It's been a great couple of years to be a Bears fan! Robert Griffin III, Britney Griner and many other wonderful student athletes have given Baylor Nation a lot to get excited about! During our visit, the Bears continued their winning streak and a great time was had by all.

The kids love visiting Baylor. We always stop by to visit Joy and Lady (the bear mascots) and usually take a stroll around campus. And of course, we have to stop by Taco Cabana for Super Nachos! We always tell the stories about when Coach climbed to the top of the ALACO building or how we loved to go out dancing, even though it wasn't allowed at Baylor at the time... all the fun parties we had and the great friends we made. Coach and I have so many great memories of our time in Waco. I'm so happy to share those stories with our kids and make new memories with them.

When the time comes, we will certainly allow our children to make their own decisions about what colleges to attend, but we wouldn't be mad if they chose Baylor. ;-) And yes, I've already checked Baylor's admission requirements for homeschoolers.

Sic 'em, Bears!