Posted in homeschooling

Success!!!

We finished our first official week of 2nd grade and Mackenzie did great!  We got everything done that I had planned and we got a bit a head in somethings.

Here's our run down...

Bible: We reviewed creation and starting reading The Awesome Book of Bible Facts.  Mackenzie just loves that book.  She prefers to read that one to me.  So it's gone from read aloud to reader.  

Another favorite was Window on the World.  I have to say wow!  It's a book of short stories about different people groups all over the world.  It gives you facts about the country, cultural information and ways that we can pray for each people group.  Trust Sonlight to find another book to touch our hearts.  I just love the way Sonlight gets us thinking and praying for people all over the world

Social Studies: 

For history, we mainly just reviewed what we'd covered in Core 1, which wasn't that exciting, but we did get to start reading Explorers News.  I knew that would be a big hit because Mackenzie loved The Greek News in core 1.

We both can't wait to get into the meatier history. Sonlight never lets us down!

We're using The Story of the World Activity Guide 2 to add some hands-on to our history this year.  A little more work for me then the History Pockets we use last year but I'm making do.  I'm only picking the simplest of activities. I think I might need to get the 3rd guide to finish up the time periods we're covering this year. 

SOTW has some really neat map assignments too.  Mackenzie really liked those.

We also started using Geography Songs.  Can you say fun?  Mackenzie learned her continents and oceans in about 3 minutes.  And she can find them on the map.  I like how their is a book with blackline maps for us to copy and color. We'll be putting those in our notebook. Plus it came with a large blackline world map.  And even Kayleigh likes the music. LOL

We're also reviewing in Language Arts.  Nouns this week.  And she's working on memorizing the poem, The Goops.  Spelling was a breeze she aced the pretest.  And she even did her handwriting without complaint.

Our real aloud is Red Sails to Capri. So far we're loving it.  I'm getting a little confused while reading because I always try to read with accents and voices.  This book has Italians, French, British, and Russian or German.  I'm pretty much butchering them all.   Thankfully, Kenzie doesn't seem to mind.

Mackenzie is finishing up the last of the intermediate readers and is reading The House on Walenska Street.  I have to say that she has given the  mother in the story an accent too.  Although she hails from Russia, she seems to have a Brooklyn accent. LOL Good stuff!  And it's cute to hear Mackenzie try and read the yiddish words.  I have no doubts she does better with them then I would.

She finished a week and a half's worth of math in 2 days.  The first lesson in Beta was place value review so it was pretty easy. Since we finished MUS early we moved on to Singapore 2A, which was also place value.  Funny how that works out. 

We haven't started science yet but we did start our art curriculum, I Can Do All Things.  It is fabulous.  It will teach us drawing, painting, colored pencils, and markers.  It's perfect for artistically challenged people like me.  Very simple and easy to implement and it has a video.  I'll let a real artist doing the teaching on this one.  Kenzie and I are doing it together.  She is really enjoying it.  So is mommy.

Kayleigh is working on sitting up.  We are using this as a motivater. It is my hope that she will sit up as well as this baby soon.  It will really make her 6 month portraits a lot easier.

Posted in homeschooling

I know it's been a while but it's not my fault.  I had a huge post typed out a few weeks ago and HSB "ate it".  I'll try a few short ones to catch you up and see if HSB behaves better.

We started school yesterday.  Mackenzie is now an official 2nd grader.  Boo-hoo! 

Kayleigh also turned 6 months old yesterday.  Double boo-hoo.

It only took me 6 months to get her to take a bottle  LOL

 ETA: What we are using for second grade

Social Studies:

Sonlight Core 2, Intro to World History Part 2 w/advanced readers and bible program

Weekly Readers

Math:

Math-U-See Beta and Singapore Primary 2a and b

Science:

Sonlight Science 1

Language Arts:

First Language Lessons, A Reason for Spelling level B, A Reason for Handwriting , and Writing A-Z

Extras:

I Can Do All Things art curriculum, Brownies, soccer, and dance

Posted in homeschooling

As we finished our regularly scheduled science, we raised painted lady butterflies.  Here is Kenzie releasing them, 9 out of 10 survived.

We had some stubborn ones that didn't want to leave.

Can you see it hiding?  Kenzie was excited about see God's camoflauge plan in action.

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Try, try as we might Kayleigh refuses to take a bottle (or a paci for that matter.)   Kevin really enjoyed giving Mackenzie a bottle once a day and there's nothing like a milk-moustashed little smile grinning up at you during feeding time.  He is disappointed not being able to share that with Kayleigh.

Not to mention the fact that I am not able to leave the house without her or better yet, have her leave the house without me.    My husband just came home from Iraq and we haven't been able to go out for a date and it isn't looking likely anytime soon.

So in our quest for alone time, we decided to try her out on some rice cereal.  A big deal because after Mackenzie's first disasterous rice cereal incident we swore we weren't giving any more babies anything but breastmilk before 6/7 months.

(Grandmas said 4 month baby will sleep through the night if you give her cereal.  Baby Mack lapped up the cereal but woke up EVERY HOUR for the 3 nights that we gave it to her.  We dumped the cereal and any further advice from the grandmas. LOL)

As Kayleigh already sleeps through the night we decided to give it a try.  Baby K also laps it up and it hasn't affected her sleep in anyway, so we continue on with the cereal, although not consistently every day.

Here's the fun...

And the happy ending...Kayleigh was so excited that she....

pooped herself!!!!!!!  

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We went on a field trip to the Cultural Heritage Center and learned about life in the "old days".

Practicing their listening skills

Collecting eggs from "chickens"

Making butter

Washing the clothes

Weighing produce

Milking the "cow"

At the park afterward with some of our friends

Kayleigh and her fiancee Holden.  I have marriages arranged for both the girls now. ROFL

Uh-oh...someone's making a move

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We spent our weekend at Colonial Williamsburg. 

We went for 2 reasons...

1) It was free to military. Our family motto "If it's free, it's for me."  (Of course the free didn't extend to the cost of gas driving out there twice. LOL)

2) Mackenzie can earn a brownie page for going.  Her troop is a total dud.  This year they've earned one patch as a troop and done nothing.  Not one trip or outing. We're moving on for next year.

Plantation Life at the Great Hope Plantation exhibit

The Govenor's Palace

Outer Buildings...

In town

Capital Building

We had to drag Kayleigh out of the fountain

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Today we had another outing at Hunt Club Farm.  This time we enjoyed a hayride and a trip through the pumpkin "patch."

It was alright.  The weather man said cloudy, rainy, high about 75.  So that's how we dressed.  Try sunny and 93.  Yea, that was hot.

No outing would be complete without Pouty McPout Pout griping about getting her picture taken.  However, the rule is if mommy doesn't get to take pictures we go home.  It took her a while to give me a real smile. 

That was really too bad because we had some great backgrounds to work with.  We could've gotten a really frameworthy shot. 

Posted in homeschooling

I meant to review our week last  but life got in the way.  So I guess I'll do it now.

We actually completed everything I had planned.  (As opposed to today where we did NOTHING. LOL)

In history, we are continuing on with the ancient Greeks.  Mackenzie did not get to do her beloved "notes" because the computer that is hooked up to the printer isn't working, so we had to skip that.  She says that she wants to go back and complete them when I finally get it up and running. This from the child who hates to write.

In LA we started reading The Year of Miss Agnes which we both LOVE!  Such a good book.  She's also read Clara and the Bookwagon and A Long Way to a New Land for her readers.  

We started learning about the writing process using Sonlight's Diamond Notes.  We haven't gotten too far into it to really have an opinion. This weeks lessons look more interesting.

 And we learned about onomatopoeia. Say that 5 times fast. I can't even say it one time correctly. 

We also started using Modern Curriculum Press Phonics and Wordly Wise, which she loves.  Spelling was a review week. Words that she knew perfectly for the last 4 weeks she can no longer spell.

In math she learned her -9's.  Those came as easily as the +9's.  We always like it when that happens.  Mr. Demme and his tricks that promote understanding are soooo cool.

In Bible we are continuing on in Genesis and reading about Joseph.  She always loves this story.

Since we haven't had time to get back into AWANA we've been using the Sing the Word: A New Commandment cd that came with the core.  She's working on the entire 1st Psalm.  It's supposed to take 6 weeks to learn but she's only got 2 more verses until she has it totally memorized.

I have to say I truely dislike this particular cd.  All the verses are either KJV or NKJV.  I much prefer the one in core C that used NIV verses. Neither one of us has a clue as to what they are talking about on this cd, being modern english speakers ourselves. We, of course, reread the Psalm in a different translation but it would be nice to have them "hidden in our heart" using a language we comprehend. LOL  As Mackenzie said when we read it in NIV, "Why can't they just say that on the cd?"  Why indeed my dear daughter?

In science, we're learning about water and the water cycle.  We are also adding in our own unit about the body and we started that.  Lots of fun.

For "art" she spent hours making pictures for her daddy.  We finally have an address so we can send him things and she wanted to make sure he had lots of pictures.  How sweet is she?

Posted in homeschooling

in the same week.  Yes it's true!  We completed a week of school in one week.  I'm hoping we're on a roll now.

We started subtracting twos in Math-U-See.  That is going pretty fast for her.   We're always happy when she picks up a concept quickly.

In history, we are continuing to study ancient Greece.  We took a break from CHOW and Usborne's world history and started reading The Greek News.  Mackenzie is loving the Greek News.  She insisted on "taking notes" for this book just like we've been doing for CHOW.  (We're doing this in place of notebooking for now.  Less writing for her.)  I believe we'll be finishing The Greek News next week, then taking a short break from Greece for a couple of weeks.

We've also finished reading Greek Myth's for our read aloud.  She liked it, I was getting tired of it. The reading each day was a lot so my I was getting Sonlighter's throat. LOL  We'll start reading The Year of Miss Agnes next.  We're both excited as we love starting new books.

Since I hadn't ordered LA yet, we just did A Reason for Handwriting and A Reason for Spelling.  Handwriting, as always, takes forever.  She hates writing.   I did order LA, and science, Wednesday so we should be adding that in next week. 

We'll be doing Sonlight's LA for grade 3 readers and Mackenzie is excited. We've had the readers on the shelf for a while now and she's itching to read them.  I'm interested to see how I'll like the newly re-vamped SL LA, seeing as how I DID NOT like the old version at all.  I am a bit excited about the new creative writing program they've added to it.  Creative writing is something I've largely ignored.  I imagine I'll be letting her do a lot of dictating to me for that.

Since I just ordered science, we haven't been doing it.  All in good time right?  She's been to several ultrasounds now so that's way cooler science then she'd ever get in public school.

In other news, I closed on our new house.  We still don't have a move date.  I'm hoping to hear today so I can book my movers. I really need to give them a date.

We're still missing Daddy but we're hanging in there, with God's grace.  He calls when he can and we send emails.  We're dying to send a package but they still don't have an address yet.  It's driving Mackenzie nuts.

Blessings to all our you out in cyberland!

Posted in homeschooling

Mmmm, mmmm good!  This was one yummy field trip. 

We enjoyed a tour of the bakery then had a wonderful tea.  Well, Kenzie and I didn't care for the tea, but the finger sandwiches and sweets.  Can you say lemon pound cake?? 

My little super model in front of the bakery

One of the many mermaids hanging around Norfolk

Modeling the lovely hats with Ava and Devlin

And mommy too! Such a lovely picture of her. LOL

Time for Tea!

The kid-friendly tea tray.  Mommy's had better stuff.

Posing with Carrot-Jam the Bunny

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We had a little family fun at the Portsmouth Children's Museum a few weeks ago...

Wearing daddy's armor, which weighs at least as much as she does.  Tough girl!

Princess day at the water park.

 Homeschool field trip to the Young Chefs Academy.  Cheesy breadsticks was the menu item.

What Mackenzie would be like in public school.  She finished reading well before the teacher. ROFL

Finally the good stuff.

The finished breadstick, or in this case, bread HEART.

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soccer star.

You have no idea how amusing it was for me to see my dress-loving princess wearing these clothes.

Our church  and the YMCA hosted a soccer team from Jamaica to come and do a 3 day clinic last week.  It gave Mackenzie a chance to try something new and hear the gospel from another source.  She had a great time, despite her intial leariness.  She even took being the only girl in stride.

Despite the clothes, she's still a girl. LOL

Getting her award.

The "little guys" with coach Franklin

And of course we counted this as PE.

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Let's see.  Our crazy life has been keeping us busy.  Here's some of what you missed.

The end of the spring Homeschooler's bowling league.

The Pink Princesses are winners!  That's Mackenzie with her teammate, Olivia.

The pizza party.

We went on a fieldtrip today.  We took a river cruise on the Spirit of Norfolk to learn about the Elizabeth River Eco system.

Listening to the speaker tell us about the river.  He was boring and his program was not well thought out.  Even I zoned out.  (I probably zoned out before the kids. LOL)  It was one long lecture.  Mackenzie is the green/yellow bow toward the front .

He was also supposed to bring a portable touch tank.  Yeah, that was great.  An igloo cooler with one horseshoe crab.  Nice...

Homeschoolers (and private schoolers) like to boogie

Our friends Devlin and Ava.  Devlin loves him some Mackenzie. LOL

On our way back to the car, we visited some of the mermaids scattered around Norfolk.

A real anchor

A view of the river

Poor little wounded birdie in our driveway.

Mackenzie was upset that she was hurt but don't worry, we got the birdie some help.

Our new firepit.  And I'd like it to be known that it was 90 degrees that morning. But the minute we hit the beach the temp dropped 30 degrees.  We were really freezing. So we bought the pit. (And grandpa Mike and Grandma Sally were visiting.)

Mackenzie and Miranda joyriding

Mmmm, s'mores

Hot

Posted in homeschooling

Another week gone by and we actually did school this week.  LOL No visitors, no babysitting, just us.

We finished up doubles +1 in MUS.  Next week we begin addition, making 10.  We touched on that in the Primer level and she seemed to grasp it fairly quickly.  I'm hoping she'll remember it.

We started reading Understood Betsy.  It started out slow but it got good fast.  I think this one will be a favorite.  We added a little hands-on to this book by making butter out of whipping cream.  We both like country crock better. LOL

Mackenzie finished reading The Sword in the Tree.  She didn't even want to start that one because it looked like a "boy book" but she loved it.  How could she ever doubt Sonlight's selections? LOL 

We have one more reader and then we are finished with the grade 2s.  We have the grade 3 readers waiting but I think I'm going to hold off on those until fall.  I'm going to try SL's improved LA again and I want to save the readers to go along with it. I'm pretty sure that I'm going to order the grade 3 level LA and I'd like the readers to match.  And I'll still have the 3-5 readers/LA for when we start core 2 in January.

We have about 9 more weeks of LLATL left before we're finished but I've been alternating that with Explode the Code.  Trying to make things last longer before we have to shell out more money.  Being back in the states has made money tighter then ever.

We have finally gotten our handwriting program caught up with our spelling program.  We had stopped doing spelling so that handwriting could catch up.  We wanted out lessons to match up so the story we read in spelling matched up with the verse we're doing for handwriting.  It's our school and that's how we like it. LOL

Seriously, Mackenzie was thrilled this week when she realized the girl in the story was "doing" the same handwriting as she was and learning the same verse.  It's the little things in life that make us happy. LOL

In science we studied Uranus and Neptune.  We also caught up with some experiments that we had missed from the last time we did science.  (Which incidently, I can't recall. LOL)

We are still studying Egypt in history.  Mackenzie is in love with Egypt.  She checked out 10 more books on Egypt from the library.  So far this has been her favorite.

I also found, on my computer, files for lapbooks on ancient Egypt, Greece, Mesopotamia, and Rome.  I had forgotten I had bought them from Hands of a Child for a steal.  A couple bucks each.

Anyhow, I'm going to add them in.  We won't be making lapbooks but we will do some of the activities and add them to our History Pockets.

Daddy leaves for more training this weekend, so we are going to go strawberry picking with some friends to distract ourselves.  Maybe I'll have to learn how to make something with the strawberries. LOL

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Seriously, we're still alive.  I've tried posting but I'm still having problems with HSB since the "upgrades."  Almost everytime I go to post, it  gets lost/times out/insert other terrible glitch here.  I am beyond frusterated.  But here I am to try again.

Mackenzie's picked up a new daddy/daughter hobby, fishing...

Mackenzie had a taste of "life with a sibling" this week.  We watched a 3 yo girl, Kaitlyn, for a co-worker of Kevin's.  Day 1: "Are little sisters always this annoying?"  Uh-huh! LOL

In this next picture, I asked Mackenzie what she was drawing.  "The Nile River with a crocodile and fish."  I was impressed since we're currently studying ancient Egypt.  I was even more impressed when we looked at the picture on the computer.  "Look mom.  It looks like Kaitlyn is trying to catch a fish with a spear like the Egyptians."  One more reason why I'm convinced that every penny I spend (and I spend lots LOL) on Sonlight Curriculum is money well spent.

Today we went on a field trip to Hunt Club Farm.  We had a great time learning about various animals, insects, and plants.  We even had a chance to, GASP, socialize. LOL

Learning about birds with our guide, Ms. Renee.

Planting sunflowers

Digging for worms in a compost bed

These eggs are really popular.  All the hens want to sit on them.  Renee says it's common for more then one hen to sit on the same eggs. LOL

Check out the tadpoles.  Our friend is going to get us some for free so we can "grow some froggies."

Even Kaitlyn sat nicely and listened.  Just like in "real school." (Some family members are concerned that my dd wouldn't be able to do that. Here's proof that she can.)

Posing with Daisy the calf.  See how patient Daisy was when Clara and Kaitlyn put her in a choke hold? LOL

Goat time

Mackenzie with the Rancorts (fellow SLers) Kyle, Lauren, and Clara

Posted in homeschooling

Another week gone by.  We got teased by some really nice weather.  It was in the 80's for a couple of days and then it dipped back down into the 40's.  That was kind of mean. LOL

I am also eagerly anticipating the arrival of my Sonlight catalog.  It's started appearing in some mailboxes but not mine.  Wahhhh!!!

We're doing well with school.  We're all caught up, so that's nice. Playing "catch up" helped keep Mackenzie's mind off her daddy leaving.   He's here enjoying life "marine" style.  NOT!  I think he's a tad annoyed with his brother for not telling him just how much "fun" he'd really be having. LOL  He'll survive I'm sure.

In history, we studied ancient Mesopotamia.  Mackenzie really seems to be enjoying the Usborne Book of World History.  I'm not sure on her take on The Child's History of the World.   And she's is thoroughly loving the History Pockets.  Best extra purchase ever.

We finished lesson 8, Space Rocks, in Exploring Creation with Astronomy.  We're looking forward to watching the next meteor shower in the beginning of April.

LA is going to be a tad screwy until our household goods arrive.  I forgot to pack our next reader, in Learning Language Arts Through Literature, in our suitcases.  So we're just working on handwriting, Sonlight readers and Explode the Code until our stuff arrives.  It's just as well since we're almost done with LLATL and I'm holding off on buying the next level until after I see the changes made to SL LA.

Math was a breeze. Since we finished up our MUS lesson in one day last week, we just worked in her Singapore Math book and she played the online drill on the MUS website.

We had a fun time meeting up with some other homeschoolers in the area at a local park.  We're working on setting up a regular park day for whomever would like to attend.  That was lots of fun.

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend!!!!

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Well here it is Friday and we have survived another week without real furniture.  LOL  Hopefully only a few more to go.

We managed to get almost all of our school work done, except for today.  Today we had the carpets cleaned so that interrupted school.  It's hard to do work when the carpets are wet and you have to work on the floor. LOL  But the carpet cleaners had a sense of humor.

It was an easy week for math.  She reviewed circles, triangles and skip counting by 2's.  She finished up a week and a half's worth in one sitting.

We studied Mercury in science.  Mackenzie has decided that she does not want to live on Mercury, if and when the scientist actually build suitable housing there. LOL

We studied archaeologists and started ancient Mesopotamia in history/social studies.  Mackenzie LOVED the book Archaeologists Dig for Clues.  I think she liked it as much as she liked Living Long Ago in core K.  And we're both enjoying the activities in History Pockets.  How convenient that they line up with core 1 so nicely. LOL

We signed Mackenzie up for a homeschool bowling league on Thursday.  Mackenzie is teamed up with another 6 year old named Olivia.  They seem to get along really well and have a lot in common.  It took them only a minute to come up a name for the team.  The "Pink Princesses." It would seem they were made for each other. LOL

This weekend Kevin is off for is first leg of an 8 month training session.  He's going to be sooo tired when he comes home. LOL  He's starting to wonder what he's gotten himself into with these orders.   Kevin's new job. Be sure to watch the video.  This isn't his unit, his will replace this one.  But that is his job.  I'll definately be asking for a lot of prayers for him over the next year and a half.

Posted in homeschooling

We're living large here in the Smith household.

The mover's came last week and packed up our belongings.  Here's what were were left with.

That's my husband up top, playing his xbox 360.  Yes he's sitting in a beach chairs.  Our movers took so long packing (despite the fact we really don't own a lot of stuff) and the navy couldn't drop off our loaner furniture.  So we lived like that for the weekend.  Honestly, the beach chairs and air mattresses are way more comfy then what they dropped off. LOL  Smell better too. 

We also have lots of school books and a laptop.  We have our priorities you know. LOL  Oh and a few dishes.  Next week they come and take the rest. So we'll have our clothes, books, laptop/xbox.  I guess we'll be eating out a lot.  LOL

We have 12 more days until we leave Guam.  Still doesn't seem real, despite our lack of "stuff."

Last week we had the pleasure of meeting another Sonlight family.  I "met" Magdeline on the SL boards and we started up a little email friendship.  Her and her family were contemplating moving to Guam.  Well they're moving to Guam in a couple of weeks.  They were in town last week looking for housing so we got to meet up.  They are such a nice family.  And their little daughters are so cute! Kevin and I are bummed that we won't really have much time to really get to know them because they are really nice and we would've had a lot of fun hanging out with them. 

I forgot my camera, so I didn't get any pictures this time. But I won't forget next time.  I want to introduce Mag to some other homeschool friends so they won't be lonely.

As far as school goes, we lost 2 days due to the packers last week.  But Mackenzie was really in school mode this week so we caught up.  And here I was prepared to not worry about "catching up."

In math she finished her +9's in MUS and we finished the week working in Singapore 1A.  Next week we start the +8's.  I hope it goes as easily as the 9's.  And I'm happy to report that I remembered to move the MUS dvd away from the packers packing hands. LOL

In LA we're about half-way through Charlotte's Web . Mackenzie is really enjoying it and we take turns reading it.  She's a week shy finishing up The Beginner's Bible as her reader.  She's really likes that book and has been reading it double time.  We worked on Explode the Code 4 this week.  We've been alternating between that and Learning Language Arts through Literature.

We studied Mercury in science.  Mackenzie had fun simulating making craters by dropping asteroids (rocks) into a bowl of flour.  Today or tomorrow, we'll make a model of Mercury out of salt dough.

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After The Australia Zoo and Sea World, this was my favorite place we visited. 

We went and  participated in their breakfast with the birds program.  What fun!!!  There was a delicious breakfast with all kinds of tropical fruits and pasteries, eggs, meat.  Yummy!  And you eat in the bird area where they're all flying around.  Some of the bigger birds like to swoop down and steal your food. LOL  Or they'll sit on you table and watch you eat.  We got some great video.

Table hopping bird

These Bacon-loving Birds were the ones who'd steal your food while you were still eating it.  They're particularly fond of bacon.  Click on the link to watch them in action.

This little owl is what I imagine Ron Weasley's owl, from Harry Potter, to look like.  This one doesn't seem so hyper.

 The boys are red and the girls are green.  Made me happy because green is my favorite color. LOL

 The termite mounds made Mackenzie very happy because she learned about them in Core K.  She was fascinated that little bugs could make something so big.

Somebody's trying to hide.

The Big Red Kangroos.  Boy do they have big shoulders and tails.

They're also bossy, as you can see by this video.  (And the little ones have no sense of personal space. LOL)

Wallebies

And check out what we found... Awww....

Cool duck

We did get a couple of koala pictures but I'm not sure they're fit to post outright.  Mackenzie discovered him.  If you'd like to see the naughty koala, click the link.  This picture also proves just how lazy koala's are. 

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Sorry that it's been a while.  These new "improvements" (and a I use the word loosely since I think they're terrible) have put a damper on my interest in blogging.

But here is our next adventure in Australia.  We went to check out the rainforest and Kuranda Village.  We took a train up to the village. The village is a total waste of time, total tourist trap, we spent our time in the Butterfly Sanctuary.  Then we did a tour through the rainforest in an army duck.  And back down the mountain on the sky rail.  Enjoy!

Train Station

Barron Falls

There is a flower on her headband.  Apparently it was realistic enough to fool this butterfly. LOL

My attempt at catching a blue ulysses butterfly.  You can only get the blue when they're in motion, because only the black shows when they've landed. (Wings are closed of course.)  You'll just have to take my word that they were amazing!  We even saw some out in "nature" when we were riding the sky rail back down the mountain.  They like to be in the upper level of the canopy.

There isn't a lot going on in the rainforest during the day, so we didn't see much wild life. But here's some of the interesting plant life we saw.

Termite mound.  Termites are very helpful in the making of the Aboriginal instrument, the didgerorydoo.  (And I most definately spelled that wrong because I'm too lazy to look it up.)

Our Guide, Steve-o.  Seems almost every mans name in Oz is Steve. LOL

That's us in the back.

Ginger Plant

Some views from the skyrail