New words

When Scout has a new word it is usually associated with the animals. She says "whoa" when the kids are here riding the horses. Yesterday she and I went for a ride on Satinka. Her new word was "walk" which she repeated as we rode along. She is also using her sign for "up" frequently throughout the day. She also does a lot of singing and can copy many parts of the songs in her music class.

Scout and Mommy getting ready for a ride.

Scout on horse day. Just about each week some homeschool kids come over for horsemanship classes. In exchange they help clean the paddock. On this day we had fun with Mardi Gras beads. I hung them in the trees along the rail. They had to practice stopping close enough to the beads to take them off. They are getting much better horse control now that I have incorporated different games into the lessons.

We got some 5x5 timbers for free off craigslist. We are building Scout a BIG sandbox with them. This was her first "dig" in the sandbox (still under construction).

Mackenzie gave Scout her old playground. We put it together this spring and added the playhouse (built from all found materials) under the slide.

All for free

I know I have mentioned before how amazed I am with what people throw away. This time I have tried to show you! I walked around the yard the other day and snapped these shots of things we have mostly gotten from the dump. Some we have gotten free on craigslist. People can be so wasteful, not only is it wrong to be filling up landfills with pefrctly good stuff. But, there are so many people who would gladly reuse what someone else no longer wants. We almost never buy anything new. We are able to find most of what we need for free or at a bargain price. That means we have to often wait for what we want (it took a year to find the kindershuttle sled we wanted for Scout) and we have a collection of stuff waiting for its day to become something refurbished. But, we enjoy the thrill of finding treasures and are happy that we are helping the planet. These photos are just some things we found for Scout and just a small sampling!

Baby mouse

Since we are homeschooling I think in terms of education each time Scout is learning something new. She is only 15 months old but she is learning everyday. Yesterday we ment a mom ( a doctor) who said she was interested in homeschooling. She was shocked when we said Scout was being homeschooled (shocked because of her age). I told her that our job at this point is to instill some critical qualities, creativity, independant play, a love of learning, curiosity and a vivid imagination. We think we are successful in fostering these since she aready posess each of them.

We definately are not a structured family, in fact we seem to thrive on "in the moment" type of living. Not wanting to miss out on a great adventure because of being forced into some sort of structure. Scout definately wants to follow this type of lifestyle. We move through our day following what needs to be done and what we find interesting along the way. As I think about what we accomplish it is very satisfying. We work independently for most of the day, projects in the yard need to be done. While we are working on that Scout is happy to explore the yard. Science is big. She plays with the animals, she loves to listen and then look for the birds, finding treasures on the ground, digging in her dirt pile (we have added water for her). We found this mouse a few days ago. It was orphaned (by use taking stuff to the dump) so it lives in the house now and we feed it goats milk (bought by Daddy at the health food store). It looks like its eyes are just starting to open this morning. Scout loves it and is so gentle, petting it with one finger.

Throughout the day we stop and play together, when she shows us a treasure, when we walk on the path in the woods, when she wants to climb, slide and swing on her playground. She will help with a project, handing us nail, carrying pieces of bricks we are piling, she loves to be helpful. It is a graceful dance between working independantly and then together throughout the day.

Math- she is fascinated by her nesting cups. She plays with them in the house every day. Learning how they fit together, taking them apart and getting them together again. She is also very interested in her blocks, stacking them, carrying the stacks and relocating them to other places.

Art- she is interested in coloring now, though not for long periods. We usually stop when she starts to taste he crayons!

Music- she loves her music class. We have a CD in the car of the same songs from class. She will use these songs for 10 weeks and then get a new collection. It is amazing how she loves this CD in the car. She is starting to repeat rhythms, clap her hands and pat her legs to the beat, and starting to sing some of the words. Even if you can't understand her words you can tell which song she is singing by her rhythm and tone. Speaking of music it is time to leave for class now. We have a special treat, Daddy has the day off so we are all going together! More later!

Playing outside

You'll be seeing lots of these "outside" pictures. We spend most of our time here. School, for us, will also be primarily be outside. She is learning so much already, I can't imagine her being happy if she couldn't be outside for most of her day.

This is her new watering can we found, at the dump, where we find lots of great toys. So sad how much perfectly good stuff ends up in the landfill. People are so wastful. We make the best of it though, it is amazing how many things we have gotten there for all of us!

Putting the chickens to bed. We just yell "come on girls" and where ever they are they all come running.

Scout in the horse shed...looking for her helmet.

She found it. She loves to where this, I guess she knows it means fun stuff to follow!

This was Zach's hat when he was little. She found it that morning and wanted to wear it.

She is interested in coloring now.

Petting one of the girls.

Saying "hi" is one of here favorite words. She especially likes saying it to the animals.

You can see here her mouth is open, saying hi to Tonto, her pony.

This is our compost pile. The area closest to Scout was the oldest. We have already dug it out to make our new raised beds. In back the chickens are scratching in the newer stuff that we will use next year.

Zach's demo and banquet

Zach had his St Michaels FD demo and banquet last weekend. It was the 40th anniversary of the St Mikes FD, which has always been staffed entirely by ther students. Zach is the outgoing Captain, which is the highest ranking student position.

Scout and Daddy listening to the speeches at the banquet.

Scout went out on the dance floor after dinner. She stayed out there for at least 30 minutes dancing away!

Zach, Sam, Michelle, Scout and Murph at the banquet

Michelle and Scout in there party dresses!

Zach gave a speech as he introduced the new Captain. His speech was very impressive, we are very proud of the man he has become.

Zach and his girlfriend Sam, also a graduating senior and on the FD. We are so happy for Zach to have such a wonderful girlfriend. They have been friends for a 4 years and that is the best way to start a relationship. Sam was one of Zach's friends who helped run our wedding so smoothly.

Scout was ready for dinner, the bracelet was substituting while she waited. She is always so good, even though she was very hungry she still hung in there.

A car was set on fire for the demo. Zach is driving the fire truck in the background.

Zach is not allowed to do a lot yet, but he is healed enough to be able to drive the truck and run the pump.

The graduating seniors.

Sam and Zach

Our good Captain.

Itty bitty watching her big brother.

Goofing around with Daddy.

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