Unschoolers Rock the Campground

Last weekend, after leaving Lake George, we headed for Pinewood Lodge camp ground in Plymouth. There was an unschoolers camping trip and we wanted to join in. We had a blast and meet some really great people. Some came from Canada, NY , CT and MA. Scout was in her element, living outside!

We brought her potty along and things progressed there really well. Yesterday she used the potty exclusively all day long, no accidents at all!!! As lone as we are home in the house she has it down pat. She even wakes up dry in the morning frequently.

Fort Ticondaroga

On our way to Lake George we stopped at Fort Ticonderoga. We arrived early in the morning taking a small ferry from VT into NY. We had a really nice time and will go back back when Scout is older.

Lake George Vacation

Last week we had a nice family vacation together. We started the week with a trip to Lake George NY. Murph was teaching and Scout and I tagged along. We left in the middle of the night so Scout could sleep (Such a great Daddy to do that!). 

On the day that Murph was teaching Scout and I traveled to Blue Mountain Lake, NY to visit the Adirondack museum. Who would have thought that we would have had such a fabulous time!! We spent 5 hours there, we both had a ball. If you are ever in the area it is not to be missed. There was so much interesting stuff to see and Scout could run and climb and touch everywhere. The grounds were beautiful and the museum store was the only place I could find THE MAP. Before leaving for NY I decided that I wanted to find a canoe map of the Adirondacks. Someday we will go back and spent time canoe camping the Adirondack lakes. In the meantime we will enjoy planning our trip and dreaming of the fun we will have.

One of the many building moved to the site. It is an original not a reproduction.

I discovered that Scout is not afraid of heights! She climbed this fire tower, asshe climbed she stopped to peak thru the stairs half way up and then looked out over the rail on top.

Scout spotted something interesting....

a beautiful butterfly.

After watching the butterfly she spotted these yellow flowers. She stopped in her tracks and proclaimed "OOOOO  WOOOW"  then she looked, touched and smelled them.

Every display had things that encouraged touching. Here we found a trunk full of hats to try on. Scout had such a belly laugh when I was trying them on!

In the center of the grounds was this beautiful pond.

One of our favorite critters!!

Good friends

We were leaving for vacation in just a few hours and still needed to pack...for two different trips. It could all wait though because not one but two of our dearest families came to visit. Being unschoolers reminds us to keep what is important in perspective. Since moving to the Cape we don't get to see some of our old friends as often as we would like. We were so lucky last Monday that not one, but two would be coming to visit on the same day!!

Mackenzie and Scout playing with bubbles.

We spent a couple hours at Sandy Neck beach, Mackenzie and Tracy soaking in the sun.

The water was warm and calm, perfect for Scout's first dip in the ocean!!

Zach was working and that made the day all the better. Stephanie was so

impressed at how beautifully he had grown up (not that anyone ever had any doubts!).

The day ended with Scout's first haircut.

Thank you Tracy...I just LOVE IT!!!

Summer happenings

Summer is in full bloom...some recent happenings

A local shop gives us, almost daily fruit scraps for the animals.

Scout loves finding anything long to drag behind her!

Ace always patiently waiting for the next throw.

Who can resist a chair just my size!

Zach and Scout spending time together.

Sam spent July 4th week with us to babysit Scout while everyone was working overtime. Here they are at Sandy Neck Beach.

A baby bird flew into the bathroom one night through an open window.

Little helper

We are always working around here. The "to do list" is always growing. We try to get as much done as we can each day. Scout is always with us and we balance getting tasks done with caring for her needs. She likes to help and we take the time to foster her interests and let her help. She has a lot of pride in what she does and it is important for her development to feel she is part of the process. Some of the things that she INSISTS on doing each day are: leading the horses in and out of the paddock (she holds the end of the lead line and walks them to where they need to be), drags their halters back to the shed, brings hand fulls of hay to the gate when we feed them, drag her little manure rake around the paddock when we are cleaning up, takes out a brush and brushes her pony when she is out grazing,  throws trash away, puts things back after she takes them out, puts her cup on the table instead of throwing it on the floor, uses a rag to wipe the floor if she spills something, wipes her face, takes hand fulls of kibble out of Stennis's food bin and puts them into his bowl and picks up the empty dog dishes and stacks them up after they eat.

We don't believe in paying children to do "chores". We want her to grow up wanting to pitch in and do her share because we are a family and work together to get things done. Right now we take the time to encourage her and help her anytime she wants to join in and help.

Potty training!

We have been using the potty, for about a month, as a place for Scout to sit while she brushes her teeth. The goal was to make the potty a place she liked and felt comfortable. She usually pees in the morning after waking up so we have been letting her be naked as we got ready in the morning. She likes to copy our morning routines and also use this as an opportunity to instill some good habits. She like to shower, brush AND floss and then put her sunscreen on.

On July 5th, while brushing her teeth she peed in the potty!!! Of course, we had a big celebration and we were all home to join in and congratulate her. From here on we kept a sun dress on her and let here keep the diaper off all day. She has used her potty, at least once, each day since. On the second day she came to me once to let me know she needed to go. On the third night she asked to take her diaper off to go potty. Last night she went poop in the potty while brushing her teeth after a shower!

She is 18 months old.