Government Springs Park ~Enid, OK

atrailDSC_7554

There is a park in Enid where the Oklahoma Land Run and Chisholm Trail meet!

That alone would be a fun reason to go and just think about all the Oklahoma history that went through there but it also has some fun educational plaques about the history, a garden, and a nice walking path.

atrailDSC_7556 atrailDSC_7560 atrailDSC_7562 atrailDSC_7564

It was a fun way to introduce my girls to some Oklahoma history.

The boys have learned this before but it is always good to remind them.

atrailDSC_7569 atrailDSC_7571 atrailDSC_7575 atrailDSC_7580 atrailDSC_7584

We talked about what the man had with him and if they would want to spend the night like that.

He had just staked his claim.

atrailDSC_7589 atrailDSC_7591

There are also some silhouettes of a cattle drive.

atrailDSC_7592 atrailDSC_7593

Geese freak anyone else out?

Just me?

Ok

atrailDSC_7597 atrailDSC_7605 atrailDSC_7613

The Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center is right next to the park and looks amazing!

It was closed on the day we went but I definitely want to go back and check it out!

We were on our way to the Gloss Mountains State Park so this was just a quick break from driving.

Such a fun historic place though.

Wouldn’t it be fun to get some books about the land run and cattle drives to read while there!

It would definitely help history come to life!

Gloss Mountains State Park in the Winter ~Fairview, OK

This place is magic.

You are driving along in terrain as flat as can be and suddenly there are these amazing buttes right in front of you.

Totally unexpected and amazing.

agloss7922_01

To add to the magic, the day was moody, cold, windy, and ice lingered in spots.

The sun would suddenly light up the ice making it seem like you were in a different world.

agloss7925 aglossDSC_7626 aglossDSC_7628 aglossDSC_7630 aglossDSC_7631 aglossDSC_7633 aglossDSC_7634

I could look all day.

You can hike along the top of Gloss Mountain.

It is a bit of a climb to get to the top but has amazing views.

aglossDSC_7636 aglossDSC_7638

It was also cold and windy.

At first that seemed like it would make the whole trip uncomfortable.

aglossDSC_7640 aglossDSC_7642 aglossDSC_7649 aglossDSC_7652 aglossDSC_7653

But the cold wind and cloudy skies made it even more breathtaking.

Figuratively and literally 🙂

aglossDSC_7660 aglossDSC_7665 aglossDSC_7667

This was my girls first time here.

I did not think we would be able to go because of the steep drops but my husband said we could do it.

We kept little ones close.

aglossDSC_7669 aglossDSC_7698 aglossDSC_7704 aglossDSC_7709 aglossDSC_7713 aglossDSC_7715

We told the kids it looked like Elsa had been here…

aglossDSC_7716 aglossDSC_7733 aglossDSC_7738

It feels like you can see for miles.

aglossDSC_7739 aglossDSC_7741 aglossDSC_7743 aglossDSC_7746 aglossDSC_7752 aglossDSC_7760 aglossDSC_7787

The mud coated our shoes and made it hard to walk.

It also kept the wind from blowing us off.

Ha

aglossDSC_7791

My youngest son climbed up with a GoPro strapped to his head.

I was not sure about what kind of video we would get but I ended up loving it.

It is like we are being introduced to his world.

A world where every sight has to be taken in at once and bouncing is constant.

aglossDSC_7796 aglossDSC_7803 aglossDSC_7807 aglossDSC_7817 aglossDSC_7819

I brought a little handheld microscope along so they could look at one of the rocks that give the mountain it’s name.

It was pretty cool, so sparkly.

aglossDSC_7828 aglossDSC_7831

My youngest boy kept his arms in his coat.

He and his brother thought it was going to be a lot warmer out and were happy to be in the car.

aglossDSC_7841 aglossDSC_7845 aglossDSC_7851 aglossDSC_7852 aglossDSC_7854

Little bit thought dropping ice on herself was funny.

aglossDSC_7868

Pretty sure she is trying to lick dad…

aglossDSC_7879 aglossDSC_7889 aglossDSC_7897 aglossDSC_7899 aglossDSC_7902 aglossDSC_7911 aglossDSC_7917 aglossDSC_7919 aUntitled

It was an amazing adventure!

I need to remember to go more often, it is worth the drive.

We actually stopped at the Little Sahara State Park to check out the sand dunes after we were done.

I have so many pics though I decided to break it up into different posts!

Do you have a favorite spot in Oklahoma?

Our Homeschool Day~January 2017

The last Homeschool Day I shared was January of 2015.

I only had two kids to teach.

I now teach 4 (and a half).

Ha

My 2yr old does not like being left out so I do a little lesson with her on most days.

aschoolDSC_7079 aschoolDSC_7065

I  am trying to start our day with a short story or poem with all of my kids.

Then one of the boys plays with the 2yr old and the other starts his math.

aschoolDSC_5600_01

 

I do reading with one of the girls.

The other does an independent reading project, like word matching cards.

aschoolDSC_6923

I then switch and my other daughter reads to me while the other does independent work.

aschoolDSC_6935

aschoolDSC_7085

When I am done with both of the twins it is my youngest’s turn.

aschoolDSC_6955 aschoolDSC_7159 aschoolDSC_7164 aschoolDSC_7169

We work on letter sounds, numbers, and simple things like farm animals or butterflies.

After I am done with her lesson we usually go for a walk.

aschoolDSC_3129 aschoolDSC_3141

The boys can do most of their work independently.

They just need writing assignments, new books for their school shelf, and their work monitored.

I also will give them science or history projects.

For our current study they are researching the Erie Canal with the knowledge they will have to build a working canal with a lock.

I tie together the boys history, geography, science, and literature by time period.

aschoolDSC_7553

For instance, they are studying the war of 1812, the Erie Canal, Francis Scott Key, Peter Cartwright, Steamboats, Mark Twain, and Beethoven at the same time.

I put all their books on one shelf.

aschoolDSC_3572

Here are steamboats that they made.

I actually had them research and make their own prototypes first.

Then I gave them some sites with directions and needed to help them troubleshoot.

aschoolDSC_7096

We eat lunch and have quiet time.

The boys do their reading during quiet time.

aschoolDSC_6938

I am usually correcting in the midst of working with one.

aschoolDSC_7100

After quiet time and snack I start the twins math lessons.

They do not learn well together so even though they are learning the same thing I do the lesson with one at a time.

Sometimes they are able to finish their math lesson, but often they need extra help to pay attention and need to wait for Nick to get home.

aschoolDSC_7116

This is probably a pretty honest picture of how our lessons go.

I have found holding a hot cup of tea calms me.

Sometimes I just need to hold my cup of tea, breath, and think of how I can explain something so that it is understood.

aschoolDSC_7192 aschoolDSC_7202

The boys and girls both do the same math curriculum (RightStart Math).

aschoolDSC_5629 aschoolDSC_5644 aschoolDSC_5666 aschoolDSC_5670

Once in a while we do projects all together.

Most of the time the boys do projects independently.

aschoolDSC_7244

I like how calm these pictures make it look.

It was not calm.

It was a thousand questions and a toddler that kept spilling things.

Not questions about the science of it by the way.

Ha

aschoolDSC_7241 aschoolDSC_7297 aschoolDSC_7267

If you follow me on Instagram, you have probably seen these.

I took the first group of pictures at the same time to show what everyone does at a given moment.

IMG_20170112_144205_834

This one shows the aftermath of our math lessons…

IMG_20170105_140012_313

Hope you liked getting a peek into what our day might look like.

Ha

I have found I have to be flexible most days.