Field Trip to Fort Nisqually

Put those kids to work!

They were digging up carrots - white, orange and pink.

Yes, that's the outhouse.

One thing I have loved about moving all around has been learning so much about history. So now we're all learning about the West Coast and Puget Sound Region history. Fort Nisqually was the first permanent European settlement on the Puget Sound and was founded by the Hudson's Bay Company for the purpose of trading beaver pelts. For years both British and Natives, plus French Canadians and Hawaiians worked and lived together here.

The original site was located right here in DuPont. In the 1930's when DuPont Company owned the land and was making explosives here in DuPont they requested that the last two buildings from Fort Nisqually be moved somewhere else to keep the tourists safe. The city of Tacoma purchased the buildings and moved them to Point Defiance Park, building a replica of the rest of the fort around them. This is where we went on our first official field trip. We saw the general store, the manager's house, the blacksmith shop, the laborers' quarters, the kitchen, the towers and the outhouses. There was a garden and an area of kids' toys.

Things that are Red

Wait, I'm homeschooling a second grader, right? I guess those little ones nearby can't help but learn. I had no idea there was this whole thing out there called "lapbooks". If I had known this sooner, I might have tried them sooner, with or without homeschooling. I already can't remember where I found out about them but we've tried a couple. I was trying to find something to fulfill that craft project desire in us all.

Gabby's first book was on Creation. I haven't taken pics of that one yet but I will. Sam watched her do it and said he wanted a red one. So we made a red one. I found a things that are red worksheet, printed it, he colored it, and we cut those things out. That's what he glued down inside the book. Then we went through the sticker bin and pulled out all the things that were red and he put the stickers in there. I cut the letters for the front on the Cricut and glued them down. That was the only part I really did for him. Now they both want to make one about blue. For the record, red is Sam's favorite color and blue is Gabby's.

My lunchroom

We don't eat like this every day but this day they needed a little downtime so we put in a movie and they got comfy and ate. Don't worry - we were watching Bill Nye the Science Guy.

Charlotte's Web

Gabby is a creative kid. She loves to draw and write and sing and dance. One thing I was hoping to bring back to our house was the creativity. I felt like the creativity had gotten shoved into a very small amount of time. This day was so sunny and nice so I sent the kids out to play. They actually complained, which is unusual for my kids but after a while I looked out and there was creating going on. I love it.

Charlotte's Web was our first read aloud book. In first grade they read the book and saw the play but she wanted to read it again so we did. This is her web and barnyard. Gabby and Sam are washing up to spin the web. Then Gabby is Fern talking to Wilbur. There was a dance that went with the whole thing as well. Too bad it rained that night.

Sam writes his name

My little guy is 3. Starting preschool. Sweet boy. I bought both kids those small white board tiles for school. I figured one-on-one we could use that in place of a big board. I knew Sam would have to have one if big sister had one. Sure enough, he grabs his and wants to write like Sissy. So here is Sam's first readable attempt at writing his name. He's been practicing a few weeks now and is getting better. For some reason he has decided to add a "5" to the end. Now it's S-A-M-5. Not sure where that came from. Too bad it's not a "3". He is writing his name and picking out other letters as well so we'll just go with it!

Alaska Package

A super HUGE thanks to Katrina and her family for sending the kids this awesome package from Alaska when all I asked for was a postcard. There were postcards, an activity book, two little stuffed animals, salmon jerky and yummy chocolates. Oh, and I did subject Gabby to stories of when she was a baby and we lived in the same place. We'd love to come visit if we can ever get any time with Robert home with time off!