Field Trip~ Imagine Child's Museum

Yesterday I traveled north to Everett with Joseph's class to the Imagine Children's Museum. What a wonderful museum! 

There are 3 floors. The roof has a great area where children can run, make music and pretend to dig dino bones. The main floor has a ferry that houses water play, a firetruck climbing area, a bus, a farm where the kids can milk a cow (harder than it looks!) a bank, a pizza place and a wildlife center. There were more cool places but once we found the model trains Joseph's exploring came to a stop! The basement has an art studio, construction zone and small and I do mean small lunch area.

Joseph spent most of his time between the model railroad and Imagine Air. An airplane that really looked real on the inside but the aisle was wider! I think both of us had a really good time. :0)

Digging for dino bones.

Roof top play area.

Indoor Tree House has a reading room, play room and bridge.

Sarah Elizabeth wins the Washington State Thespian Festival!

Sarah Elizabeth has been extremely active in the Edmond Heights theater program. She has always loved being part of theater. When we lived in Charleston, WV she was very active with Children's Theater of Charleston and Kanawha Players.. In addition to that she was in so many performances with River City Youth Ballet and Academy of Arts at January's, I have lost track.

This year Sarah Elizabeth has been in the productions of the Drowsy Chaperon and Into the Woods. She had a principle role in the up coming production of Pride and Prejudice, The Musical with the role as Charlotte. In addition to being part of the theater productions, she took part an improve workshop and in the One Acts workshop.

Sarah Elizabeth and her co-star Poppy Taylor were invited to attend the Washington State Thespian Festival that took place at Western Washington University in Bellingham. There she attended workshops and performed their one act called Fireworks. They took first place!!!!
No one from her school has never won an award! Now they are eligible to attend the national thespian competition.

We are sooooo proud of her. <3

A leap of faith~Joseph steps

Last month we moved Joseph to part time status at Lynnwood Elementary. In doing so Joseph was able to begin taking classes at Edmond Heights k12. This is the same school the girls attend.

Joseph is participating in a gym class that kicks his butt every week! It wears him out so much that he could easily fall asleep in his next 2 classes, Lego's and a math.

He is attending Lynnwood Elementary M, W, Th 1/2 day and a full day on Friday. Joseph is at Edmond Heights 1/2 day Tuesday am and for martial arts on Thursday afternoon.

Joseph calls his martial arts class HI-YAH!

As far as I can tell, it seems to be going alright. He now had therapy 3-4 days a weeks. For about 1.5-2 hours a day.
On Mondays in addition to therapy he is also participating in s social skills class that last for 2.5 hours. He is exhausted on Monday and Tuesday nights.
Waiting for baseball season to start. He has been seeing a lot of baseball on tv and has been talking about it. I hope that there will be a team for him.

Praying that this is a good fit for Joseph.
~b

Ferry Field Trip

Recently Joseph's class went on a field trip to ride the Edmonds/Kingston Ferry across the Puget Sound. It is a relatively short trip for ferries, about 30 mins one way. The theme for Joseph's class has been oceans. transportation was the month before. The way I see it they got a 2 for 1 bargain. (transportation: ferry and bus, beach: ocean)

Riding the bus!

This is Izzy. She and Joseph are great friends. :0)

With this being a class trip the fare round trip was $2 for everyone, Score! The kids also received free bus passes when the community transit came for a class discovery. Grand total for the entire day $2! I have never been on a class field trip with Joseph. It was great just hanging out with Joseph. The bus trip to and from was a lot fun.

Waiting to board.

On the gangway.

The kids were so excited to be riding the ferry. Joseph loves to ride them! His favorite thing is to watch the vehicles load and unload (especially motorcycles) and stand on the front of the ferry feeling the wind. Can you say massive sensory input?!

All the children had a great time. 

Happy boy!

Some were a little disappointed that due to homeland security they could not see the engine room or the bridge. Anyway, the kids got to talk to a few crew members and ask questions. I even learned a thing or two!  

Docking in Kingston.

After the ferry began to head back to Edmonds the kids had lunch. It was so cool! I have never had lunch on a ferry before nor had Joseph. With the trip being just under 30 mins we all had to eat quick!

Here comes the motorcycles!

Watching the motorcycles, cars and trucks load on the ferry.

After we debarked the ferry the kids went to South Brackett's beach, located beside the ferry. The kids had a wonderful time looking for animals and shells. It was a bit chilly when the day began but the sun warmed everything up. It was so nice to sit in the sun! The kids had a great time running up and down the beach playing tag and digging. One class mate told me he was digging to China! 

Great day was had by all!

Everyone was well worn out when it was time to board the bus and head back to school. Several kids fell asleep including Joseph. Looking forward to the next field trip: the Seattle Aquarium.

So much going on......

I have not seen very much of Sarah Elizabeth lately, as in past 6-8 weeks.

Sarah Elizabeth:
One Act plays was in 3 shows
Improv class
Into the Woods-
The Drowsy Chaperone-
Vera Project asked to submit work for consideration on her own show
teaching assistant in an art class
Hiking  Club
Thespian Festival


I love all the things our kiddo's can do at Edmond Heights K12 Center.

Hiking

We are so blessed to live in the Pacific Northwest.

The girls attend a wonderful resource center for home schoolers called Edmond Heights K12. I know that I have mentioned this several times but I just love to talk about the center. There are so many opportunities that they would not have the opportunity if they attended public school. Any who, last month one of the seniors started a hiking group. This group is definitely not for beginners. In the 4 weeks they have been going, they have hiked over 25 miles!

Heather has been going with Sarah Elizabeth. Heather said that they are doing some of the best hiking she has ever done. They have been to Wallace Falls in the foot hills of the Cascade Mountains, Monte Cristo, Lorde Hill State Park and a local hike that ended at a beach by the Puget Sound. Waterfalls, ghost towns, forging rivers, and stunning beauty what more could they ask for? Sarah Elizabeth and Heather have taken some breath photo's. You will find a sampling through out this page.

Hope you enjoy that photo's~Blair

Yes folks, that is snow in early October.

There were leaves even bigger than this!

Will be posting more pictures of their hikes as they become available.

Salmon Hatchery and Snoquamie Falls

Salmon trying to get over the dam.

Our field trip this week found us at the Issaquah Salmon Hatchery. I had no idea that salmon could get that big! The Issaquah Creek was brimming with Salmon. The redish colored are the male. They develop a hump and hook looking mouth during spawning season.

Rainbow trout is raised at the Hatchery. Emily and I got to feed the trout. Can you say feeding frenzy?!

Emily was facinated by fish ladder. When we were at the observation area for the fish ladder, one little boy beside me must have been about 5 years old. He stretched his arms out and could not reach wide enough to be the length of the salmon in front of him. I told you these salmon are bigger than small children! :0)

After the Hatchery, we headed a little further North to Snoquamie Falls.

 It is soooo beautiful there. Our drive was lovely. eventhough the weather was not at it's best, I think it enhanced the feel of autum. The trees are beginning to change. Fall begins next week. I think someone forgot to the mountains to wait a little longer.

Wow were the falls beautiful! I have never been here in the fall. I wish that we would be able to go back in a few weeks. It will be stellar with color.
The have been serious renovations to the park that surrounds the falls. There is a new observation area, you can no longer hike down the mountain to the river. This is a bummer. The hike is hard but so worth it when you are able to look at the falls from the bottom. When I lived here many years ago with my parents, the are a was suffering from severe drought. The was just a trickle of a water. You could safely behind or even stand in the falls.

This was a great field trip. We discussed renewable resources as well as the impact of logging in the region.

Cannot wait for our next adventure.....as my favorite guys on Ghost Hunters say, "On to the next!"