State Capitol Tour

This week we joined in on a field trip to our state capitol. The tour was geared beautifully to the children's ages, not too overwhelming yet interesting. They were invited throughout the facility, asked many questions, learned about the history of our capitol building as well as a brief introduction to our government. A really nice balance.

Lattin's Cider Mill

Last week we visited one of my favorite fall farms, Lattin's Cider Mill. We started a tour in the market house to learn about the apple cider they make and sample both cider and an apple cider donut... good stuff! Then we headed outdoors to take in the farm, feed and pet animals, enjoy some fun with friends and finish up with a little animal train tractor ride! It was a wonderful day and a perfect ending to the week - a week packed with several field trips, outdoor adventures and fall fun.

Pumpkin Patch

We visited two different pumpkin patches last week, however I only brought my camera to one. This was a home school field trip with many friends, making it a very large group. Last year we enjoyed this farm as well. The weather was a bit damp, but it did not slow the kids down in the least.

They started with a hay ride out to a pumpkin patch, a real pumpkin patch that was not all groomed down. Each kiddo enjoyed exploring for their favorite pumpkin. Hudson did not appreciate the sloppy ground though as he still tumbles pretty easily, I guess that happens at two and a half.

After the pumpkin patch the group then ventured over to the animals barns and the hay maze, offering much fun for both kids! We finished up visiting with friends while playing about the farm. It was a really fun day and a wonderful way to enjoy the fall weather.

Woodland Park Zoo

We enjoyed our annual field trip to Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle during their homeschool days program. The theme this year was 'mammals' throughout the day. They sponsored many different hosts throughout the zoo sharing carts to learn from, an early day room of various mammal activities with many skulls and pelts to touch, a couple of presentations on mammals, a little toddler puppet presentation, an animal observation activity and more!

We spent the entire day up at the zoo and still did not cover the whole thing. Through the years we have visited this zoo and have never once seen ever exhibit. I am okay with this though, as I rather they take their time and learn a little along the way through the reading and guides on site. Yesterday for instance we spent about an hour in the rain forest exhibit with a personal guide walking through with us and talking with Holly about all the animals as well as his own experience visiting the Amazon for a few months, his journeys, what he saw and experienced, how she might enjoy it and asked her questions along the way to keep her engaged completely -- she LOVED it!! (Later you'll see she is doing a rain forest unit this year).

A slow experience around the zoo today offered up a quality experience!!