My Week in Review/THMJ/Weekly Wrap-Up- April 2

Spring may finally, finally be here!

On Monday, I grabbed some photos of the kids sparring.  Kiddos 3 and 4 also earned their leadership trophy.  To earn the trophy, they had to demonstrate leadership abilities 50 times (the parents write down what occurred on an index card and it is announced at the end of class.  The child is awarded a leadership card.  When they receive 15 cards, they are awarded a medal.  When the earn 50 more, they receive the trophy)

Tuesday was Homeschool Day at The Hershey Story museum in Hershey, PA.  Homeschooling and chocolate!  How could you go wrong? 

What a wonderful program!  The theme was "Maya- the first lovers of chocolate."  The kids (and mom!) got to make Mexican chocolate, we learned how the Mayans made a chocolate drink for very special occasions, made their names in hieroglyphics and do some weaving.

In addition, there was a scavenger hunt that took us throughout the museum (and the high school version was tough!).  The kids learned so much about Milton Hershey and the incredible legacy he left behind for the children who attend the Milton Hershey School that is funded by the company's chocolate sales.  In addition, he was always serving the community, being a fair employer, even building and selling homes to his employees with minimal interest rates.  He built Hershey Park as an entertainment venue for his employees and their families in addition to theatres, community centers and other cultural sites.  During the height of the depression, he paid off the debts of the 5 churches in the area (of all different denominations) and those churches continue to thrive today.  I could go on and on.  It never ceases to amaze me that people like that did exist in the world and he and his wife's kindness continues to bless so many today.....

Of course, no trip to Hershey would be complete with going to Chocolate World.  We never tire of the factory tour ride.

Wednesday was April Fool's Day.  What better way to celebrate than to do some kooky and wacky science experiments!  We made an "explosion" with vinegar, baking soda and food coloring and had pepper scatter instantly with the touch of our finger (with a dab of dish soap on it)

Thursday brought spring weather, FINALLY!  The kids all had their bikes out and enjoyed the lovely weather!

Remember the ceramics they made a few weeks back?  We picked them up today and they are just beautiful!  :-)

I hope you have a beautiful and blessed Easter (and Happy Passover to those who celebrate!)

Linking up today with:  My Week in Review,  Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Friday Connection and Family Fun Friday and T.G.I.F. Linky Party and Let's Homeschool High School and This Week and Collage Friday

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Homeschool Mother's Journal/Weekly Wrap-up December 7

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  :-)  I didn't post a weekly-wrap up last week, as we were away for the holiday.

So, this will be a 2-week wrap-up!  :-)

Last week-

We were in Hershey, PA.  Got to see and do all kinds of wonderful things include see how chocolate is made, make our own, have fun in Hersheypark, make our own personal flavor of Turkey Hill ice cream, see beautiful Christmas lights, make our chocolate Christmas ornaments, visit ZooAmerica and so much more.  I will write specific posts on many of these things, as to do them justice and to give more information (and great photos!) to others if they may be interested in visiting those places as well.  It was also Kiddo #4's birthday while we were there.  What a great place to celebrate a birthday!  :-)

Posts from last week-

Homemade Fudge
$250 Timberdoodle Giveaway
Try a New Recipe Tuesday
Lots of Great Deals Going On
Happy Thanksgiving

This week, we have been doing our regular math work, for example, but have completely changed our focus to Advent.  We are reading special books, lighting our Advent wreath, making our Jesse Tree ornaments, taking the rings off of our Advent chain, memorizing Scripture verses, making crafts and doing baking.  It is wonderful to be able to put our focus where it belongs this time of year.  A highlight of our week was attending the Hits Deep Tour Concert with tobyMac, Mandisa, Chris August and many others.  I am so grateful to have been given the money to buy the tickets. Kiddos 1 and 4 attended with hubby and I and were dancing, singing and with thousands of others. Truly a fun, invigorating and uplifting evening!  We are all still hoarse!  :-)

Posts from this week-

Keep Christ in Christmas- our Advent traditions
O Christmas Tree Linkup
Some favorite cookie recipes for Christmas
Christmas Freebies
Try a New Recipe Tuesday
Hearts for Home Blog Hop
Celebrating being 10 at Chocolate World

What we are looking forward to:
4H meeting and activities on Saturday
Advent prayer service at church on Tuesday
Kiddo #3's birthday on Thursday
Decorating our Christmas Tree


Linking up today with:  Homeschool Mother's Journal, Weekly Wrap-Up, NOBH, Show-Off Friday, Learn and Link and It's a Wrap, Friendship Friday and Friday Connection and Family Fun Friday and T.G.I.F. Linky Party and Let's Homeschool High School and This Week

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Celebrating being 10 at Chocolate World

Our precious baby girl turned 10 last week.  She got to spend her special day at Hershey's Chocolate World.  My parents took us all to Hershey for a week over Thanksgiving.  :-)  What a wonderful day for a truly wonderful child.  She is sweet, kind, smart and about as creative as one can get-- she sews, cooks, bakes and makes all kinds of crafts and projects.  :-)

Born at 10 pounds, 2 ounces (she was my 2nd smallest baby!), her daddy heard her cries all the way from Tikrit, Iraq.  She has been delighting us every since (well, almost all the time, lol!)  :-)

The day started with gift giving and breakfast at the hotel.

In Chocolate World, we went on the Great American Chocolate Tour that shows the process of making chocolate from the bean to the bar.  It is a ride that is entertaining, educational and fun.

We also watched their brand new 4D movie- a fun and engaging "mystery."  One of the characters in the film actually wished Kiddo a happy birthday and had a brief conversation with her.  How absolutely awesome is that?

The Kiddos then got to create their own chocolate bars.  You get to completely design your own bar, choosing type of chocolate, ingredients to add on the "inside" (rice krispies, butterscotch, pretzels, etc.) and toppings.  You watch the bar go down the conveyor belt, being made to your specifications.  It is cooled, then packaged and sealed with your own special design that you chose during the process. (so much fun!)

Back at the hotel was swimming, dinner and singing to the birthday girl.  I think it was a fun birthday indeed.

We love you, sweetheart!  :-)



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Weekend in Hershey and Halloween

We spent last weekend in Hershey.  It is a lot of fun at any time of year, but we especially enjoyed visiting with all of the fall decorations. 

They had a lot of trick or treat stations for the kids in an area called Treatville. 

The highlight had to be their zoo, Zoo America, being open at night.  Everyone brings flashlights and you get to see the animals active at night!  They had all kinds of live animals to see, learn about and touch, as well.  Lucky we brought our winter coats and hats to brave the cold, but had so much fun!

Who would have thought that on October 29th, we'd be snowed in?  We were blessed that the hotel had an indoor pool.  So, the kids swam, soaked in the hot tub,

played in the arcade, played cards, rested, played dominos and swam some more! 

lol.  We did make it out for dinner at a lovely local restaurant.

On Sunday, after Church, we decided to try to make up for the day stuck inside and drove to the Railroad Museum of PA in Strasburg.  The kids loved climbing in and out of centuries old locomotives and other cars. 

Some of it was truly like walking back in time.  We are finishing up the Little House books and I loved hearing the kids squeal "wow, this train was built when Laura was alive!"  :-)  We ended our weekend excursion with a visit to an all-you-can-eat smorgasbord in Amish Country.  Nothing like the food or the scenery.  :-)

And, that brings us to Halloween.  In our house, we try to focus on the fact that All Hallow's Eve means the night before All Saints' Day, a day we remember the saints and martyrs who have gone before us to Heaven.  And, as long as we dress modestly and in something that is not in anyway ghoulish or scary, we can give glory to God and still enjoy trick or treating.  We made a craft today and started our morning with the "Pumpkin Prayer." 

The oldest kiddo chose not to dress up this year, but accompanied my husband and I in walking the kids through the neighborhood.  Kiddo #2 was a king, Kiddo #3 was a bat and Kiddo #4 was a little piglet.

Happy Halloween!
Happy All Saints' Day!