Posts Tagged ‘vacation’

(BIG) Field Trip-The White Mountains

{ June 21, 2008 @ 6:34 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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Well, I found my memory stick so I can post about our trip now!

First the hotel we stayed at, which was the Hampton Inn in North Conway.  I was very impressed!  It managed to be a nice place without making you feel like you were too *white trash* to be there, if you know what I mean.  Very comfortable and the staff (except for a rather hard line pool attendant the second day who argued with DH about homeschooling) was very attentive and polite and friendly.  The continental breakfast was pretty good too considering it was free.  We were even cheerfully shown the ingredients (to check because of M’s food allergies) of various foods when we asked!  I definitely give it a thumbs up and probably 3.5 stars (knocking off 1/2 a star for the icky frozen scrambled eggs and the pool attendant). 

Here are some pics of the kids on the water slide:

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Next was our trip to the Polar Caves. I had been there a few times as a kid and wanted to bring the kids. Like many things it didn’t live up to my memories. It was cool though! The kids really enjoyed themselves and B even wants to go back.

Here they are at the sign (everyone but M who refused to get in the picture):

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This is the view from the platform you start your cave tour on:

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and we descend…dscf1055.jpg

This sign was in the first cave, or the *Ice Cave*
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And here are some pics from the petting zoo there:
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In order to get from North Conway to Plymouth you have to travel the scenic Kangamangus Highway. Unfortunately it was all that scenic since there was a very bad fog that morning! For some of the trip we actually couldn’t see more then 10ft in front of us which was pretty darn scary, but I did snap this before we got high enough to be in the fog:
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We also spent an afternoon shopping in North Conway which has tons of stores!  We went to the downtown area and shopped the tourist shops; the highlight being a trip to Zeb’s General store , as well as going to the outlet stores and getting us some good deals :)  

Nobody slept very well (despite the excellent accomadations) and we had to return home really early so that we could make it to our homeschooling review so the whole experience was rather exhausting but we did have a lot of fun! I’m really glad to be home though.

and nearly a month later……

{ June 19, 2008 @ 1:02 am } · { Uncategorized }
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I finally post something! Sorry for the long break with no blogging!

Yes, the school down the lane is back from break.  I suppose I should have said something before I left, but I didn’t think it wise to announce in advance I’d be out of town for a couple days, doing some day trips and generally not being around much on the Internet.  :)

I officially ended our school year on May 30th and took the next week as a family vacation.  We went to the White Mountains and spent a few days at a very nice hotel that had it’s own water slides.  While we were there we visited the Polar Caves, traveled the Kangamangus Highway and shopped at Zeb’s General Store.  We also ate at an excellent Mexican restaurant.  I highly recommend the White Mountains during the first week in June, we were the only ones in most of the places we went…it was awesome! I do have some pictures and more details but I’ll post them separately when I find my memory stick.

Before we left we went and signed the kids up for summer dance classes.  While I was there I had offered to help the owner with her cheer teams since she (in her own words) “Just don’t know cheer”  ;)   To my great surprise she offered me the Jr. team (ages 9-13) coaching position.  I was so surprised that I didn’t really answer her but I did e-mail her and said I would love to do it before we left.  When I got back there was an e-mail saying had the job if I wanted it.  This is very exciting for me!  I’ve wanted to start my own team for awhile but don’t have the resources and this is a perfect solution.  A chance to be part of a wonderful program that has the resources and clientele already.  Woohoo! K and I have been looking at uniforms and planning dances and stunts for the last two weeks.  I start in September and will be paid in free dance lessons :) K will be helping me as well as assistant coaching the *mini* team (ages 5-8 ) and taking a Modern Lyrical class.  B will be taking break dancing and (hopefully, if we can fit it in) soccer and M will be taking ballet. 

Speaking of summer dance….B started break dancing tonight and is loving it!  I knew he would and I’m really glad I talked him into…er I mean he decided to take it. It’s a 8-10 year old class and they all had a blast!  It’s really fun to watch them.

K is taking Jazz technique and really enjoyed it, which kind of surprised me.  She had been taking a hip hop class at a cheer gym but wasn’t impressed with what she called their “stripper moves” and the lack of organization in the class itself so we decided to cut our losses and go with the class she started last night.  So far it seem like a much better fit. 

M started Ballet technique and did well according to W.  I didn’t see her because I took the other kids home to start supper.  I was worried about how she would take having a new teacher and  being corrected but I guess she did fine.

Oh, and we had our yearly assessments done…at 10AM on the day we got back from our trip *yawn*.  They went well and I am now in possession of some really good suggestions and my *proof of progress*.  I sent off my subsequent NOI on Monday so we’re all set to start on 7/7.  I’m really excited to start doing biology with the kids! 

Thus ends my update!  I will be back to regular posting, I promise!