BIG Announcement

Cal can FINALLY ride a bike without training wheels!!!! I know, I know, he's 8 yrs. old, but we live on a 40-mile/hour road. He learned to ride in the driveway and on the grass in the backyard. He's been riding everyday and does great. He can even make tight turns! He's so proud of himself!!!
And.....do you think it's time to potty train the 2 year old when she sits on the potty seat, with clothes and diaper on, to go to the bathroom? Or maybe it's just time to teach her to take off her own diaper.

Plymouth Vacation - part 5 - Sturbridge

On Sunday we headed to Sturbridge for the Massachusetts Outdoor Exposition. The kids were able to try fly-fishing, shoot guns, use bows and arrows, go kayaking, learn about making bows, feel various animal pelts, and make crafts. The big bonus of the day - James had the winning raffle ticket for a $100 gift certificate to LLBean.

James and Cal in a kayak.
Where's Waldo?? Can you find Charlie and Leah's kayak? And Cal and James?
James shooting a rifle.
Pocahantes' turn.

Cal shooting an air pistol.
The new Pocahantes.
Cal shooting a shotgun.
James trying out a compound bow.
Pocahantes with her bow.

Plymouth Vacation - Part 4

We spent most of Saturday on the beach. It was very windy in the morning and chilly. The kids didn't care!! They play in the sand and yes, even went in the water!! We had a relaxing day at the beach.

Lily, the bathing beauty.
The kids semi-buried in the sand....look at Lily's hair to see how windy it was.
This is how they first went in, with their sweatshirts over the bathing suits.
Playing in the water and sand.

Plymouth Vacation - Part 3

The next morning we went for a walk on the stone breakers walkway. It was VERY windy and a rather narrow walkway - I think it seems narrower if you've got little ones.

This is the walkway....isn't it narrow? It wasn't a vertical drop on the sides, but it was all rocks and a rather steep incline.
Here you can see the rope to hold onto on the left side.
Cal's picture of the bay in the morning.
Proof that Mommy was on vacation....the only picture of me from the weekend.

Plymouth Vacation - Part 2

On the gangplank to the Mayflower II

The "crew" on board the ship.
Lily was so tired....she completely missed the boat! Get it?!

After visiting the Plimoth Plantation we went into Plymouth to go aboard the MayflowerII - a recreation of the original Mayflower ship. James and I didn't care for being below deck, we felt a little uneasy. Did you know that the Mayflower left England in April 1620 and arrived in America in June of 1620??

Plymouth Vacation - Part 1

This weekend we went to Plymouth and had a great time! The first day we went to Plimoth Plantation for a Home School Day. They had extra activities for homeschoolers such as making cheese and writing with a quill and ink. We visited the 17th century village and experienced what life was like then. The characters were very good, never breaking out of their role. Cal helped repair a fence, Leah and James learned to play a 17th century game, and we all listened to Governor Bradford read the Bible. We also visited the Wampanoag village. We felt many hides, talked with a woman in her longhouse, and learned about dug-out canoes. Here are some pictures from the first day.


Writing 17th century letters with quills and ink.
One of the several village cannons. Lily loved these and wanted her picture taken with all of them.
Cal was put to work helping to fix this man's fence.
Inside the Wampanoag longhouse. It wasn't raining, not sure what the spots are - time to clean the camera?