Helping Homeless and Horseshoe Bend

On Thursday, the children at our church homeschool co-op prepared 100 snack bags to give to the homeless. 

Then on Friday we took a field trip to Horseshoe Bend National Park, we had just learned about that battle in Alabama History so it was very timely!

It's the site of the bloodiest battle with Native Americans in U.S. history.  Andrew Jackson, along with Cherokee and Lower Creeks, led a charge against the Red Stick Creeks who had bunkered down in the bend of the Tallapoosa river. 

About 1/2 our group-

We watched a movie and toured the museum and learned all about the battle that essentially ended the Creek Civil wars. 

A very interesting musket demonstration and talk on military life-

The battlefield- it was very solemn-

The river behind the settlement.  A Cherokee warrior, who they later called The Whale, swam across the river and stole some canoes.  Then they started crossing the river to attack from the water side.

After tours of the fields and village we went back and made pottery like the Creek would have done-

Then our guide taught the children how to play a stick and ball game the Creeks liked to play- it was a little like Lacrosse. 

It was a fascinating day and step back in time, although there was definitely a somber feel to it all.  I am so glad we went!  I don't think we'll ever forget the details of this battle. 

This and that....

We have had a busy week!  Charlie is doing a little speech therapy to learn his "r's", and while I was there I had Tucker tested just to make sure all his letters were clear.  The therapist said, "did you know he has a pretty significant tongue tie?"  What?! 

Little buddy has had trouble eating his whole life- in fact he had his tonsils taken out at age 4 partly because of his trouble with swallowing.  How we all missed this fact about the tongue tie is crazy!  He literally couldn't touch his tongue to the roof of his mouth.  The good news is that it's a quick and easy fix.  We went to a pediatric dentist for laser surgery Wednesday morning.   

It was a quick procedure, but Tuck Tuck screamed at the top of his lungs for several minutes.  I am thankful that the dentist was kind!

That afternoon we went out to have ice cream for lunch.  :)  He said he was "too sore" to do his math work, but he wasn't too sore to go to church choir.  :) 

 After choir practice we ran by Daddy's office where he surprised Tucker with a gift he's been wanting for ages!  Last year he used his own money to buy a small plasma ball, which was quickly broken.  We've been meaning to replace it for a while. 

He was so excited to get a new and improved ball- much bigger than the broken one!

He blinded me with science...♫♪♫

This is a happy little boy and we could IMMEDIATELY see the difference.  He can even sing two notes higher!

Charliebear has to borrow my sunglasses if the sun is at a bad angle.  Mr. Cool-

Wednesday night Marc and Marky went to the Fraternus commitment ceremony at church.  Over 140 men and boys vowed to strive for heroic virtue in their lives. 

Sweet Sissybug went to her first official American Heritage Girls meeting.  It is just a great fit for her- almost all of the girls are homeschooled and already her friends.  She loves it!

Charliebear enjoyed his soccer game this past weekend. 

It should surprise no one that Tucker made signs for the game!!

Our gym has free classes for the children to go to while the parents workout.  Along with gymnastics they offer martial arts, and the boys love it!

A little deer wandered through the gate into the back yard the other day.  We had to help her find her way out. 

We try to pray the rosary every day as a family.  Tuesday night after supper I saw the family praying and took a picture so I remember these precious nights together. 

Monday was the feast day of the guardian angels.  We read about angels and I made a cake to celebrate. Then we watched My Secret Friend, not my favorite, but it is about guardian angels. 

Also on Monday morning Marc and Julia went to Julia's close friend's birthday party at Break-Out!  They LOVED it!  They solved the clues to escape with literally one second to spare!  The girls invited Marc to help them solve the clues- ha!

Her friend (with the same name) had the coolest cake!  They had it at Mellow Mushroom after the breakout!

We had our co-op today.  I just love teaching- the children are so interested, involved and can tell the difference between Constantine, Clovis and Charlemagne.  We let them have free time between classes to play outside.  Today they played four corners. 

Tucker is really getting into history this year.  I always buy supplemental books to read to go along with our chapters.  We've recently read all about Leif Ericson and the Vikings coming to North America long before Columbus.

Yesterday we read about the journeys of Marco Polo and colored a map with the different ways to go-

And we watched this movie-

And we just read as a family, A Tree for Peter.  I highly recommend it for everyone.  It's a story of faith and community coming together to resurrect an old shantytown into something lovely. 

Julia's writing teacher had her working with Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot and she loves it and rereads it often.  Apparently it is what inspired Andrew Lloyd Webber to write Cats the musical. 

Marc read the Phantom Tollbooth yesterday- I had gotten it for Tucker, but if it's sitting around Marky will read it quickly.

So both he and Julia read the latest two books I got for Julia, Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankwelier and Island of the Blue Dolphin (the latter being sadder than I would have guessed). 

Now I think I need to do a post on all the books I have been reading.  That's all for now!