Coming Soon - 8 Months of Review!

Hello. I've missed you. We had BIG plans for our summer vacation. However, life had different plans for our family. Our lives have been crazy busy. Little Miss Shell came in contact with an environmental bacterium somewhere around July. The bacterium took a toll on her health for several months. We are still attempting to rid her tiny body of this horrible monster. 

I decided to teach myself how to sew a baby's hospital gown 

the night before Shell's surgery.

We made a few changes to our educational plan for 2011-2012. We chose a virtual company for Sea's 1st grade year. Thank GOD this opportunity fell into our lap at the very last minute. We needed an organized and structured lesson plan (completed) in order to survive our days with Little Miss and her new medical journey. 

Life is a daily lesson. The world is our classroom. I've learned family comes before blogging. I promise to post a virtual school review before the end of the year. I'll be sure to post photos of our home school adventures, too. 

Until then, make it a learning day!

PEACE ~ LOVE ~ LIFE SCHOOL HAPPINESS

Coming Soon: Back to School!

We've been missing in action this summer. Our lives have been one fast roller coaster ride. I'll post a catch up blog by Monday. We have so many surprises to share and tell!

Intrinsic Motivation & One Confused Blogging Mommy!

I feel a million light years away from 2011. Back in the day, I was on top of the computer know-how. In my business life I was an executive administrator and a full time college student at a top-notch private college. At work when the top dog was out of the office, it was my responsibility to be on top of things and that included the computer database.

Fast forward eight years, and now my nine year old neighbor is throwing blogging terms my way and I feel the need to dodge them like flying bullets. Call 911 I need a refresher course on computers STAT!

I love looking at all the home school blogs, but I have no idea where to start when it comes to my own. I feel like it's a good old country blog - eggs and grits is all you get! *lol*

Well, I'll start off with today's upside down and crazy lesson plan. I'm not sure about you, but when it comes to school in our home - you never know what you will wake up to next. I had great plans for today. And then my daughter surprised me by taking over the classroom and holding her own lecture on A to Z, crafts, cooking, physical education, and positive reinforcements. I hope you enjoy the snap shots from today's intrinsic motivation day!

She turned the classroom into her own private leadership studio.

The students had their own desks (my curriculum cubbies turned upside down)

Sea decided Jessi needed a course in Elementary Math 101.

It's everything from A to Z.

Well, that's all for today folks! I'll be sure to pop back in to give you a peek at our Usborne Books Easter Celebration! No lesson plan is complete without an Usborne book in hand!

Stetson University - Earth Day Family Day

Who says a Tar cannot secretly wish to become a Hatter? This Rollins' Momma is never disappointed when it comes to a Stetson family event. Let's just say, I wish for Sea and Shell to be proud Hatters one day, too. As you know from browsing our blog, we love everything Earth related. This family event fit in perfectly with everything we are learning in life this year.  

This seed says to wear gloves when handling. We are planning to research this seed on Monday.

Nope, it's not 2010. It's 2011. I assume these are leftover from last year.

Sea was thrilled to have the opportunity to make her own necklace.

Each child was given the opportunity to bring home five of their discovery pieces.

We know all too much about the creatures who live in the grasslands. They all live in our neighborhood! Mr. Raccoon continues to leave droppings in our backyard.

Yes, it really was sparkling clean!

Just lift the flap and learn what made the item in your home!

I loved this cave. Sea wasn't so thrilled to be in the dark.

Last night, Sea ended up having a nightmare about the bats in the cave. I'm not sure I'll be able to talk her into going into the cave on our next visit. However, in the middle of the night we discussed how bats help our planet and how they eat berries and flying bugs, too. 

Sea was so excited to fill the cups with soil. We later learned there was a craft table with biodegradable cups. *lol* We ended up at the craft table at the end of the event, but the wind was extremely strong. I couldn't hold down the stickers, much less take a picture. She loves to be a leader and wanted to be the soil person for the day.

Mommy was taking notes! It was a great time to learn what to incorporate in our garden.

Unfortunately, we have to remove a tree from our yard next week. It's going on 50+ years and showing signs of decay. We plan to name the new tree, Hatter!

I love this sign!

This was Sea's favorite part of the day. She learned to color with oil pastels.

I have to say, she did a FANTASTIC job!

 Proudly displaying her artwork. *Butterfly, bottom left*

Her daddy is a professional artist. I'm sure she's working towards a colorful future.

In honor of the tree we will say goodbye to this week.

Free Shirts, too! Yippee! We love Hatters!

2nd Orlando Turkish Festival

Nope, we are not Turkish or from Turkey. We are Floridians who love culture!

We enjoyed listening to the music in the park.

A beautiful learning day!

We loved the colors in this divider. 

We picked up several educational brochures. We look forward to learning about Turkey.

It's WaCkY wEdNeSdAy, Mr. Butterfly!

It's that time again...BUTTERFLY TIME!

We love to start off our Spring Time with a trip to the local butterfly exhibit. We always bring home five caterpillars. Our butterfly tree house is ready for some new housemates. We will be sure to post their progress.

They asked us to leave the food on the bottom for the next 48 hours. The caterpillars are so small they do not have the energy to climb to the top...so we will make it easy for a few days.

Until next time...