Milkseed Pods

McKenzey found a Milkseed  Pod and this is what we found out... We first thought it was a banana but was sure it wasn't, so with a little more research we found out what it was...Out goal is to find another one and see if we can plant the seeds and grow some flowers.  We tore apart the first one to see what was inside the pod.

The seed pods themselves come or form from the flower blossoms if the blossom is pollinated.

After the Milkweed flower has finished blossoming, it begins its 'seeding' process. The Silky Gold blossom on the left hasn't finished flowering yet the two on the right are 'done' and have begun to go to seed. They look like two little teardrops in the picture.

Here is a picture showing how one stem has four seed pods, some blossoming flowers, and one flower going to seed, all at the same time!

Now, in order to gather seeds from the seed pods, the best thing to do is to wait until the seed pod is beginning to 'crack' open. Do not take the seed pod off of the plant early or the seeds just won't be viable (won't germinate when planted).

Keep an eye on the pods-they will soon begin to change colour. A hint is to gently squeeze the pod and when you feel it begin to give a little, you will know that the time for the seeds to be ready is coming soon! A long line will soon show and this crack will open up to expose the brown Milkweed seeds. If you get the pod just as it is splitting, it is really easy to gather the seeds.

Here is the link if you find any...http://www.mymonarchguide.com/2007/07/what-is-seed-pod-how-can-i-collect.html

Tennis anyone, so far the girls can bounce the ball and hit with there racket over the net.  We play a game where they hit the ball to me and then I have to hit ir back or run around the court - I miss a lot and they think its funny for some reason - if they miss when I hit to them they have to run, McKenzey plays along Belle just sits down and refusses  - its funny too...

Chief Isabelle

While McKenzey went to gymnastics Isabelle helped Michael make dinner.  She made mini hamburger seasoned with onion soup with a side of asparagus.  Isabelle made all the hamburger patties herself and Daddy cooked them and then she put the canned asparagus in the pot and watch them cook.  Then when we got home she put everything together for us and served.

Here are are plants they have babies - Yea!  We have been watering them everyday and hopefully we will have flowers soon!!

We made some origami - a ring and a fish.  The fish did not turn out so great but the ring actually turned out and even fit our fingers.  The girls were so excited that we made it out of a dollar and gave it to our waitress because she was so nice to us.

Friday..

The kids woke up about 9:30 and we got dressed and went and played tennis. We decided to make the rice-crispy eggs with m&m's inside.  McKenzey melted the butter and belle measured the marshmallows and cereal. Then we coated pam on the inside of the eggs and started putting the mixture in the eggs and made a pocket with our thumb - man was it messy - my advise let it cool a put and use lots of pam so your fingers don't get sticky - it was pretty tuff and didn't hold up well put fun to make and eat.

Next we went to meet a homeschool group - no one showed up so we played on the playground and found really cool catipillars that we played with, talked about  and looked at for an hour. They were tussock moth caterpillar...and a diamond back moth (I think??)

Saturday ..

Started off the same but today we decided to make fairyies out of pipecleaner, yarn, and fake flowers - they turned out really cute.  After I showed them how to make one both girls we to town making a lot... which turned into just making mummy, jewerly and then using them a wristbands to get into their pet show...

We planted our seeds that we got last time we were at Disney - many moons ago - they are supposed to attract butterflyies...

and then of course the pet show - the girls set up there littlest pet shop in there room and made tickets for Michael and I and we had to play games they came up with - Buy items, which they had to give us the right change and then we had watch a show about the pet it was pretty funny....

Fun Facts

I started having the girls do a book report about 2 weeks ago.  The girls each looked up facts on the Internet and then we wrote them down and drew pictures or found more pictures on the Internet.

Belle did facts about fairies...and drew pictures at the top of each page...
 Cover...(Made from flower leaves)...
Fairies are widely known as the magical little people who are beautiful, charming, and clever...
While they do enjoy pranks and riddles there are tales of some faeries who are not as generous and good natured
Many fairies have wings and are known to fly about through the woods at particular times of the day.
In Celtic legends, the fairies are depicted as very mischievous and loving.
Almost every culture has its tales of fairies, elves and other magic creatures.

McKenzey made a poster and wrote her facts about pirates and then went and got pictures of pirate stuff off the Internet....

Blackbeard's peg leg was a medical necessity, he lost his leg to diabetes but all the other pirates got wooden legs as a fashion choice.

The combination to Davy Jones' Locker was right 32, left 17, right 26.

The golden age of pirates was 1764-1856, but there are still pirates today.

Gilbert and Sullivan were the two most dangerous pirates to ever live. Born conjoined twins, they were finally blown apart during a vicious sea battle with a British Major General when an errant cannonball struck their shared hip.

While it was perfectly fine to use an enemies skull as a goblet, it was considered rude to use their entire vivisected head as a puppet. Especially if you mocked them by making their own head talk in a high-pitched voice.

Once we finished are reports us the girls decided to do a shop.. I thought they could work on giving out change....Mac did a flower and stuff toy and Tea shop.  Belle did a pet shop, pet wash shop and beer and cupcake shop.  They played shop till lunch or so...

After lunch we went and played tennis I am hoping we can do that in the morning too - will see.



Chef McKenzey

McKenzey decided to help me make dinner and then we took pictures of her food creations.  She came up with the menu (with some help) and then helped me cook the whole thing...

Meatball sandwich with melted cheese on a wheat sandwich round with squash dipped in eggs fried in olive oil and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and pepper.

Mac cut all the squash - made some food still life for us to take pictures of and then helped me dip the squash. I cooked it  and she heavily sprinkled the squash with the Parmesan and pepper. Then Belle got involved and toasted all the buns and put mayo on them and we made the plate for each person.  Here are some of the food still life pictures she took....

Earlier in the day we read the Earth Kids Discover Magazine The girls drew pictures while Michael and I read and here is what they came up with - and the facts that they learned.. 

Belle art work.... and Mac's art work....



  

Sports Rock Sping Fling- gymnastics

The girls had there first gymnastic competition (sort of...). They basically learned a routine, practiced for  2 weeks and then did it for a judge.  Anyway very laid back all the kids that take from Mrs. Jamie competed and then the cheerleaders showed us there routines.  Everyone got ribbons, metal and goody bag. 

So here are some videos and pictures of all the stuff they did.... Bars...Floor....Vault... then Balance Beam..

Mac started off crying not wanting to do it - but ended up smiling once she got out there with the other kids and got 9's and one 8  - not bad for first time

Belle was so excited she couldn't stand it - needed lots of hugs during the day because it too four hours to let everyone do there thing and made 8's on everything - which is awesome for her age...

This was the senior cheerleaders showing off - pretty cool....

math?!?Reading?!? No Tests YEA!!!!!!!

We went to the library to meet some other  homeschool kids and oh yea maybe learn something.... So when we got there they said that we couldn't join because the book they were working on (around the world in 80 days) they started 2 weeks ago.  So as unschoolers we decided that it wasn't for us... the whole reason we are not going to regular school is so we don't have to do book reports, worksheets and test.  So in the long run it worked out great - but hey we might try it again in the fall.  The other good news is we found an even nicer library than ours but its 45 minutes away, ohwell.

So here is what we did instead - of course this is the last couple days because I am slack so enjoy....

We decide to go to the park - I asked the girls what were 4 words that popped into your head when I said winter and swimming... here is what we came up with....

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McKenzey reporting about all the facts she found out about airplanes -



Breaking news about the rainforest - still lots to learn but very funny....

We made two marshmellow bridges - one little one and one made from bigger marshmellows and longer sticks - first one broke right away second one did much better - next time we are trying different material...

Math addingand subtracting by jumping on numbers we made - and practicing counting by 2 3 and 5's

And finally this is Nibbles the squirrel that will come and get a peanut out of mine, Belle or Mac's hand -

We feed her everyday...