Dino Live

Field Trip

Time for another cool field trip. And we are both really ready for this show...

DinoLive is a cool puppet adventure that goes through pre-historic Australia. We were right near the front, so we got to really interact with the actors and the cool life-like dinosaurs and other creatures presented in a theatrical performance.

Time to say goodbye...

Nothing like a few moments to yourself before you head back home... to reality!

Good-bye quiet peaceful relaxing beach...

Fort Morgan

Education meets vacation...

We decided to visit a nearby historic location, Fort Morgan. My son (and father) love history, so this should be a fun outing for both of them.

Located in Gulf Shores the area has fishing, beaches, and picnic areas, as well as the ability to visit Fort Morgan. There are a ton of learning opportunities here. And even a few opportunities to just hang out with your family and have fun.

There is a lot to see and there are a lot of stairs, especially if you want to really check everything out. So, some of the trip was harder for my dad. Check out my son helping my dad down the stairs... pretty sweet.

Yet, we have a wonderful sense of adventure which lead to our discovery of a Hobbit Hole - well, it actually wasn't a hobbit hole, it was door that looked a lot like a hobbit hole. Of course, my mom had to investigate which eventually brought my son into the mix of investigating. The rest of us just watched as they tried to open the locked door. It didn't...

Did I mention my kids? My adorable kids... actually getting along. And both are happy... simultaneously...

We all wandered around looking at history and taking in the beautiful day. Education + Vacation = Edvacation! Ok, this is not the normal thing to do for my parents, but has become common for us since we started homeschooling. Plus, it is always good to do something different (well, for us... it's just part of homeschooling way... making adventure and education in fun exciting ways).

Look at this crazy group of people...

 

Also, I got a great picture of my mom and daughter, as well as one of three generations of women in my family!

All-in-all - a good homeschooling, vacation adventure!

Behind the Scenes:

A little history behind our visit to Fort Morgan:

Fort Morgan is a Third System masonry fort built between 1819 and 1833. Standing guard where the bay meets the Gulf of Mexico, the fort played a significant role in the Battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. Used intermittently through the Spanish American War, World War I and World War II, the site showcases the evolution of seacoast fortifications and adaptations made by the U.S. Army for the defense of the country. Learn more about Fort Morgan.

Interesting history we learned about the fort: The fort was built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mostly through the use of African-American slaves. They even have pictures inside the main building showing the men that built the fort. And that they used brick and mortar because they were the only materials that could be obtained locally.

Fort Morgan is covered in historical markers and information. Not only do they have a main museum area, there are information signs all over the fort.

The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo

We were looking for fun things to do around Orange Beach and opted to visit the local zoo. The Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo offers a lot of personal animal encounters... but for a price. Since, I cannot afford them all we decided to visit with the lemurs (I really thought hard about the sloth encounter... but knew lemurs would be more active).

After watching a couple in front of us, we knew exactly what we were in for. The lemurs were busy and playful... and we were just going to sit and let them do their thing.

Callie loves animals and was super excited and slightly nervous about the experience. They loved her braids... and wanted to eat her shoes. The person running the encounter was very knowledgeable and told us a lot about lemurs. However, we really spent the minutes inside a small enclosure having them jump and play all around us. We even got to touch them... when they were slightly still.

One even landed on me...

The zoo is very small. We were not sure if it was because it was off-season or just if we were expecting more... but it was pricey for what you get. Between the admission and encounter fees... it was not a low-cost trip.

We did get an hour or two to view some lovely animals... and even see a T-Rex too!

All in all... it was about the time I get to spend with my girl... and the crazy memories we are making.

Beach Walking

My parents were trying out a new location to "winter". Located on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, Orange Beach is a new February destination for them. I decided to bombard their peaceful get-a-way by bring the kids down for a few weeks. I am sure they are thrilled... (they did ask us to visit... I promise.)

Even though it is windy and slightly overcast, we all wanted to get out and enjoy the beach. And it was a very quiet beach especially since it is off season. A great time to go! It is like we have it to ourselves.

A quick walk down the beach with my kids and parents!