Ziplining @ TreeUmph

Today's motley crew...

Our homeschool group decided to go ziplining today at a place that recently opened up in Brooksville, FL, TreeUmph. We got an awesome rate, as we went on the day of their first "homeschool day"...yay!! There is another well known ziplining establishment in Dade City - I've never been there, but my youngest daughter (Sophia) went with a birthday party and she said it was amazing. Sophia didn't come with us today (she doesn't homeschool), so I couldn't compare the 2 places, but "I" thought this place was amazing! I don't think that any of the teens that went today, had ever been ziplining before, so there was some serious nervousness on everyone's part, but thankfully, they all got through it in one piece...Amen!

Claudia and Helaina - haven't started yet...just getting hooked up

Look at her go...

She looks like a pro!!

And there she goes...

Teen Progressive Dinner

Tonight was fun! Our homeschool group put together a "Teen Progressive Dinner". I had never heard of this, but the kids had a great time!! Details: there were 3 host homes involved. All the kids started out at the first house, where they were provided with an appetizer. At the second house, the kids were provided with dinner. The third house (our house), you guessed it...we provided dessert. Aside from the food, each host came up with 3-4 Minute to Win it Games that the kids all participated in. I was so busy taking pics of "everyone", that I forgot to take pics of Claudia alone, so I had to block out some faces (for privacy). There were some really fun games played this night. It was an opportunity for the teens in our group to get together OUTSIDE of Co-op and really get to know each other. Everyone went home happy...Success!

Minute To Win It Cookie Game: you had to start with the cookie on your forehead and maneuver it down to your mouth, only using your facial muscles - no hands...it was a trip!!

I think this was the Minute To Win It Stack Attack Game...it was crazy - it was harder than it looked!!

Strawberry Picking at Upicktopia

Today, our homeschool group went strawberry picking at Upicktopia in Masaryktown, FL. We've lived in this County for over 6 years now and I'm still finding these, out of the way, super cool places that I didn't know existed. We've been blueberry picking before and typically, these places sell other fruits/veggies as well, but this place was amazing! They have a crazy long list of fruits/veggies that they grow and sell on site. We walked through the rows of carrots, cabbage, broccoli and of course...strawberries. We didn't walk through the entire property, as some of the fruits/veggies aren't in season yet OR the recent rains had not been good to them. Upicktopia has quite the selection, if anyone wants to check them out.

Showing off her first great strawberry...notice the empty bucket, lol

Open field, with rows of goodies, just waiting to be picked.

The blueberries weren't ready for picking yet.

Nice sized chicken coop...about 2x the size of ours.

Actual strawberry picking in progress...

Helaina and Claudia with their baskets full of the tasty strawberries that they picked with their very own hands. Next week, they'll be making jam with some of these at Co-op. The rest will be used in our smoothies at home...Yum!!

Making Dinner...

Just an ordinary evening, making dinner at home. What's on the menu for tonight, you ask? She made yellow rice with red beans, pork chops and hand made tortillas...it was GOOD!!

Tortillas are made with a mixture of Maseca and water. You roll them into a ball, then flatten out (either by hand or using a tortilla maker). She flattens them by hand most of the time.

Use a flat skillet to warm up more than 1 tortilla at a time, otherwise, you'll never finish.

Come and get it...dinner is done! Yum!!

1st Official Dad/Daughter Date

Tonight, Claudia went out on her 1st official date with Dad. They had dinner at the Chinese buffet and went clothes shopping. It may not sound like an over the top evening for some, but Claudia loved having her dad all to herself. They both dressed up a little for the occasion, but unfortunately, I didn't get any pics of them. This pic is of Claudia and dad the day before.

Gingerbread Houses 2017

Our homeschool group got together to have a little holiday fun, building Gingerbread Houses - even Claudia's cousin went along for the fun!

and so it begins...

Hmmm...now what?

That's all I got, folks...

Bowling fun with Helaina

Claudia is having some bowling fun with her friend Helaina.

Claudia

Helaina

Cookie Baking...

Claudia had a great time today, baking cookies with her friend Helaina. They made Rice Krispie Treats, Peanut Butter Blossoms, Snickerdoodles and Sugar Cookies.

Rice Krispie Treats in the making...

Snickerdoodles in the process...

 

I LOVE the look on her face as she
attacks the big, bad mixer, lol

Clearly, she's having fun!

Rolling out the dough...

Sugar Cookies getting started...

Christmas shapes...cute!

About to start decorating...

Decorating fun!

Ready to bake...

Peanut Butter Blossoms & Snickerdoodles...YUM!

Fall Co-op - Week 5 - CPR Class

The mom in charge of this week's class chose to do something awesome! She brought in an EMT to teach the middle high/high school kids CPR - they all got certified...yay!! I would love to post her CPR card but, in this day and age, I'm a little paranoid about showing off signatures and totally personal info. Here's my muffin, with her usual chipper expression, lol.

Slime Day...science project fun!

Claudia made slime today using: a bottle of glue, a Tbsp of baking soda and contact solution. She had a good time, lol.

Playdoh Day!!

It's time to make 5 different kinds of Playdoh, thanks to New Young Mum. I found her pin on Pinterest.

Claudia had a great time making her playdoh. This is a project she's been wanting to do for awhile. She was like a little kid again...it was super cute to watch, lol.

                                  

           

                   

And who was the winner, you ask? Which one did she like best? Glitter Playdoh won!!

Baseball Game - Field Trip with Funcation Academy

I'm going to admit it...I don't care for baseball, I'm sorry, but I don't. My girls, on the other hand, were all over it when I asked if they wanted to go see a live game. We went to see the Tampa Bay Yankees vs. The Blue Crabs (who knew we had a Yankees team here...I'm so pitiful, lol).

Here's our baseball adventure...

Sophia wanted the pic with the mascot...she hunted him down - it was funny.

The stadium is beautiful. Sadly, there weren't a whole lot of folks watching that night, which was perfect for us, because we could sit wherever we wanted...yay for us!

There were fly balls all over the place. Sophia was DETERMINED that she was going to have one. She kept moving around from section to section waiting for her chance. Finally, a ball comes flying into her section and what happens...a grown man goes after it, even though he sees her ALSO going after it. Seriously?! Well fate stepped in...the man was about to grab the ball, when it dropped down a row and slid practically right into HER hands...yay!! She was CRAZY excited!

In true fashion...the child won't sit still for a pic...sheesh!

At the end of the game, Sophia was able to get her ball signed by one of the players...Success!!