Cleveland Metroparks Zoo

As you might have guessed by now our kids love animals. Since we have the membership to the Erie Zoo we have the luxury of going to the reciprocal zoos as well. One of my goals for the summer is to visit all of the free zoos within 2 hours of us, my parents house and Drew's parent's house. First on our list was the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. It's much larger than our zoo here in Erie. It was well kept but for our first time there, confusing.

At first, I felt like I was in the labyrinth. After we went further into the zoo it got better. Exhibits that stood out were the elephants, the Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine, the sharks, and the seals. Something else that we loved was the African drumming and dancing in the Elephant's Crossing area. Benjamin was so intrigued with that that when we tried to leave he grabbed onto a pole and wouldn't let go. As we went through the exhibits we read about the animals; where they live, what they eat and other random facts. I am sure that we missed some animals but at least we'll have something to look forward to the next time we go. One thing that I am sure we missed was the rain forest. We actually didn't see the building until on our drive out of the zoo.

The Sarah Allison Steffee Center for Zoological Medicine- Looking at x-rays of a turtle and a snake carrying eggs.

The surgical room that you can actually sit and watch them do procedures. We thought that was awesome! Emma would like to be a zoologist and so we thought this was great for her!

Colobus Monkey Statue- The kids are pretending to pick bugs off of it :)

The Elephants- Emma was so excited to see "real elephants"!

Benjamin feeling how an elephant's tusk is heavy.

The African Drum and Dance group.

P.S.- You can usually tell when I (Kristin) am posting because of the surplus of photos :). I hope you enjoy!

Names, Pizza and Zoo

The kids and their friend Cooper coloring the letters in their names. Then I had them lay out their letters to spell their names. Emma learned how to spell our last name that day.

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Making pizza for dinner. The kids were learning how to stretch and press the dough.

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Socializing in front of the tiger's cage. There was a daycare group there also and the kids were being loud. For the first time we heard and saw a tiger in action. It was roaring and pouncing on the window. I have to say, it was awesome hearing the powerful roar of the tiger, but at the same time, we didn't want to stick around to allow the kids to be frightened by it.

Little buddies. In nursery, these two are usually sitting together.

Friday was my first venture taking the kids to the zoo to meet friends without Drew. Much to our surprise, it worked out very well. All of our kids were well behaved and we all had a great time! We will definitely be doing that again!

Early Father's Day

Friday, the kids and I worked on getting gifts ready for Father's Day. Little did I know that Father's Day is next Sunday instead of today. So, since the kids can't keep secrets yet, we celebrated Father's Day early. As soon as Drew came home Friday from work the kids spilled the beans. There was no waiting. Within minutes Drew was on the couch being showered with gifts.

Emma painted an American Kestrel (her favorite bird)

Benjamin painted an Eastern Bluebird

Hannah just painted

Emma's finished project. Framed and ready to be hung on Drew's wall at work.

Benjamin's Bluebird completed.

Hannah's abstract bird completed.


Squeeze hugs!!!


Daddy Pile!!!

Presidents and Plasticware

...written by Drew

Children these days spend far too much time in front of a tv or computer screen, and not nearly enough time in disease bearing, lyme disease breeding, mosquito infested woods. Why should these young minds be indoctrinated with the imminent threat of nuclear annihilation (evening news) or some gruesome mass murdering sycophant (CSI), when they can find fear in the simple residents of a local wood?

This change in our culture is exacerbated by a disturbing lack of educational materials connecting our presidents with their eating utensils. With the plethora of fundamentally flawed curriculum accessible, and the continued proliferation of books of mass delusion, it is truly befuddling that we do not have an elementary school edition of an authoritative compendium on presidents and plasticware.

Fear not, for our children shall have both, even if we need to use million dollar satellites to do it!

Week of May 28th Through June 4th's Random Activities

Firefighter teaching the kids about the color coordination for the hoses and the levers at the Big Equipment day at the Zoo.

Benjamin on a big piece of equipment (I don't know what it was called)

Emma's turn on the same thing.

Benjamin's first trip to the Library! He got his own card and took out a few books and DVDs.

Practicing her writing!!!

Making our official LIBRARY bag

Side One- Finished!

If You... Last Time... Look at the... Making a Cake at Home!

...written by Drew

I was born on the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille, so I've grown fond of peasant revolts - especially when there is cake involved. In a cataclysmic collapse of common sense, in the midst of a minor post-lunch living room revolution, my "keep them engaged" paradigm temporarily overthrew my "Kristin isn't home, must simply survive" tactics. Watch, enjoy, and then imagine all that I cut out...

Surround Sound Stereotypes

...written by Drew

Friends, family, acquaintances, strangers and nine out of ten dentists agree that homeschooled children are socially weird. This stereotyping, though not completely unfounded, is well documented. Until now, I have always attempt to respond to this with reason, logic, and situational argumentation to illustrate the irrationality of the discourse. No longer. No, from now on, I will apply what I have learned so well from the Master - tell a story, and let it be with those that have ears to hear. This will be my story:

A family went to a park one day to give their three young children a chance to play outdoors and enjoy the company of fellow youngsters. Upon arrival, they found the park devoid of others, save two boys around the age of ten.

For a few moments all of the children stand staring at each other as if stuck in a cliche western movie, each frozen while internally sizing up the opponents. They stare. The sun beats down on the hot playground, and they stare. Those glancing seconds feel like an eternity as everyone waits for a first move. As if realizing that the young ones are not worth their reproach, the older boys continue back into their conversation with the smaller of the two saying "Yeah, when I turn 21, I'm going to get drunk and shoot off my pistol."