Izzy's Native American Project

 Several weeks ago we learned that one of 4th grade's topics is the Native Americans.  They actually spent close to 3 months on the topic.  The students were asked to list three tribes of interest.  Ms. Gallagher would then assign them a tribe from that list.  They were to research as much as they can in six different areas such as clothing, homes, religion, etc.  They would research books and the internet to help with their essay.  This was to be done only during school hours.  In addition to this, the students were asked to recreate an artifact that represented their tribe.

Izzy struggled at the beginning choosing a tribe.  She was torn by her friends being able work in groups, as they wanted the same tribe, and wanting an interesting tribe.  Her class in particular liked the Inuits.  Not Izzy.  We spent many nights brainstorming at home with her eventually identifying liking the Great Plains Indians.  It was now up to her to decide.  The day Ms. Gallagher announced the tribes, she gleefully came home proclaiming she had been assigned the Pawnee.  A fun discovery for her was learning they settled in the same location as the farm. 

After sifting through her books on the Pawnee, the artifact she wanted to recreate was an animal skin drawing.  This took skills from Izzy, John and I to create the image that she had in her mind.  She definitely wanted fur on the back and wanted everyone to see both sides.  After coming up with the idea of stringing this up in a frame, it was up to John to create a frame.  Izzy and him worked together putting in the screws with all three of us needed to string it up.  When the project was done and we stepped back to admire its magnitude, both literally and figuratively.

 The day the projects were due, Izzy's 4th grade held a family work share allowing us to see how much work the students put into their essays and artifacts.  Izzy was so proud to bring her artifact into the classroom that morning.  I found it humorous the instruction card she has premade for this day.

 Izzy's essay about the Pawnee.  I so enjoyed reading what she wrote and how it flowed with the story she wanted to tell on her animal skin painting.  I am simply amazed at her drawing skills and especially her writing mind.  She is truly a storyteller.

 We also had the opportunity to walk around checking out the other projects.  Here is a sampling of Izzy's classmates artifacts.  John and I both enjoyed the totem pole the most.  Micah liked a clay diorama of a typical scheme from that particular tribe.  Victoria liked the pueblo house as the interior was furnished.

Fat Tuesday

Throughout the year there are fun opportunities to partake in various celebrations or traditions.  Mardi Gras (French for Fat Tuesday) is one such example.  We discussed why Mardi Gras falls on the calendar when it does heralding in the next holiday, Easter.  We learned what each of the Mardi Gras colors stood for; gold represents power, green represents faith and purple represents justice.

 That morning Izzy came out of her bedroom dressed in the three Mardi Gras colors.  I do enjoy her personality and willingness to be her own soul.  I pointed out that her Disney ears that we brought home last month were those colors.  After promising to take care of the ears at school, she was tickled to wear them as a statement piece.

 Mardi Gras was also the day Izzy was scheduled to have braces.  She has been thinking about what colors to choose for the bands.  Why not the Mardi Gras colors!  She's been scheming about her next color choice after learning she can change them every 6 weeks. 

As Micah found the baby last year, he was responsible for hosting this years celebration.  Thinking he wasn't a fan of cooking, we settled for the closest Creole restaurant.  We headed to the Shaking Crab.  There are no utensils unless you order something like soup or pasta.  Your food is shaken in the flavors and style you choose and served in the bag on the table.  No plates.  No forks.  Only bibs and gloves.

 John ordered crawfish while Izzy and I shared shrimp and snow crab.

 Izzy and I make our own king cake the day prior during the snow day.  I hid the baby without anyone knowing where it was.  Once the frosting and sprinkles went on, even I couldn't recall where was the baby.  The cake was cut into 5 pieces.  Everyone chose which piece they wanted with me taking the final one to avoid claims of me knowingly choosing the baby.  Much to my surprise, I had the baby!  Looks like I'll have to host next year's party.

1st Snow Day 2019

 We've been lucky this winter with only having a few flurries here and there.  This however was our first significant snow fall which left us with 10 inches and no school.  Everyone in the courtyard was thrilled to have a snow day... finally.  Up till now none of had the opportunity to enjoy one of winter's simple pleasures... sledding.  On top of the plentiful snow, the weather was amazing allowing us to be outside for 3 hours before our bellies told us it was time for lunch.  Micah and Fox played happily together while the girls worked on building a snowman. 

 Instead of buttons, carrots or rocks adorning our snowman, we used colored water.  A bit messy but it certainly brightened up the courtyard.  Over time the colors have sunk in leaving him a bit fuzzy appearing.

 Other snow creations in the courtyard.  I loved the panda.

 We were then off to Pierce Park for some much wanted sledding.... us and the entire neighborhood.  Nevertheless, all seemed to have a good time including sharing and waiting turns to sled down the hill.

 Sledding with friends is always better than solo in a toboggan.

 The hill slide makes sledding down it more daring.  Over time kids build up a ramp at the bottom which sends you soaring for a brief period of time.  The higher the ramp, the longer you are air born. 

 

Victoria was only brave when accompanied by Izzy.  Her facial expressions changed the closer to the ramp they came.  Afterwards she went down one more time with mommy and then was done.  I'm sometimes baffled by her bravery which seems to be situational.

 

The finale was a snow ball fight with Fox's dad after a fort was built for protection.

Castaway Cay

 The following morning we awoke to docking at Disney's Castaway Cay.  We were all ready for a day of fun in the sand and sun.

 Our first stop was to feed the sting rays.  None of us quite knew what we were getting ourselves into.  We learned that all but one of the sting rays are females and they have preference for which feeding station to join.

 As they swam through the horseshoe station, they sucked up many morsels of squid and fish from our fingers.  Along the way we could pet anywhere except near their eyes.  All of us feed and touched the sting rays except Victoria.  Nonetheless, she was excited to share in the experience.  She remains true to her nature.

 Afterwards we had the opportunity to snorkel with the sting rays.  Several attempts at diving down to touch them always ended up in failure.  They are well designed for water life and we are not.

 Izzy, my snorkeling buddy.

 The remainder of the crew preferred to play in the sand for a variety of personal reasons.

 The majority of the day was enjoying the simple pleasures of the island... sun, building sand castles, rafts, inner tubes and cold island drinks.  Unfortunately we didn't get back to snorkeling.  Buried are two of the submarines from the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sear ride that has now been closed.  Oh what a fun memory to see one of them as I have memories of that ride from when I was a child.

Rowan, Micah & Victoria had a blast together.

 Quinn and Izzy... like two peas in a pod.

After lunch we headed to the other end of the beach area to try our hand at the slides.  The younger three swam out there only to return because they didn't want to wait in line.  I accompanied them back and played several rounds of I Spy to pass the time before it was our turn.  Everyone like the slides but no one liked the salt water in the eyes.

Nassau, Bahamas

 Our first port stop was to Nassau.  How exciting was it to go to sleep only to wake up docking in a foreign country!   I particularly enjoyed checking out the other cruise ships docked there with us.  All the rest were from Royal Caribbean.  One in particular was reminiscent of the cruise ship we went on when I was in college.  While sitting on our deck mid-ship we faced the end of that cruise ship.  Here is when I realized how massive of a ship we were on.

 Welcome to Nassau!

 We decided to take a Disney adventure while in Nassau electing to visit the Graycliff Chocolatier Factory, a subset of Graycliff Hotel & Cigar company.  Once a colonial mansion, Graycliff's history spans 300 years.  Impressive is its wine cellar... having an inventory of over 250,000 bottles from 20 countries.  One of their oldest bottles dates back to 1727!  I also do believe it is one of the most expensive as well at $200,000.

 Our adventure started with tasting the three different chocolates... milk, dark and white.  The adults favored the dark chocolate while the younger crew enjoyed the milk chocolate better.

 We were each given a Graycliff mold and fixings to add if desired.  The strawberries were for dipping.  Most didn't make it past that as they were gobbled up while making the chocolate bars.  Fixing choices included strawberry crisps, pecans and coconut.  I put all three in my bar while others stuck to a solid chocolate creation.

 Any extra chocolate you could "draw" on the paper which they would then cool for you to take home with your chocolate bar.  Many different versions of Mickey Mouse were made.  The girls liked that I could write our names with the chocolate.  Only after the fact did I notice my dyslexic writing of Victoria's name.  None of these goodies lasted very long.  All the paper drawings were ate on the cruise ship.  The chocolate bars made it home but quickly were eaten.  Very tasty treats and experience.

 Afterwards we headed to the Straw Market on our way to lunch.  Here we were greeted by many sales pitches.  When offered to have their hair braided, the girls were more than pleased that I agreed.  I think nearly every girl who goes to the Caribbean gets their hair styled this way at least once.  They kept those braids in for an entire week after our return delighting in showing their friends. 

My favorite sales person was Henrietta.  She latched on to Micah and Victoria as she too was a twin.  After doing some negotiations with other venders knowing full well we probably paid too much, Henrietta gave the girls each a beaded bracelet and Micah a wooden shark.