CurrClick.com

Since beginning our homeschool Odyssey, I have spent many hours online researching ideas, materials, curricula, programs, websites, and activities to do with the kids.  There are many great free and for-charge websites out there.  I discussed one a while back:

IXL

I have recently, in my search for Lego-related school resources, discovered CurrClick.com.  CurrClick is a website that offers some free and some for-charge classes...LIVE classes where your children can interact with the instructor. One of which is Lego Club.  Membership is free.  There are 3 - 4 classes each month (same class repeated) which follow a monthly theme.  If you miss the live class one week, you can attend that live class the following week.  Or, you can watch the recording at your own time.  The past years' meetings are also archived to be viewed.

I have just started checking this website out, but it looks to be a great place where many publishers sell or give away their content and materials, and which offers other choices for home schooling lessons.

Today's lesson was about snow and snowflakes.  It included a video about Ken Libbrecht who collects snowflakes and creates snowflakes.  The class discussed the different types of structures snowflakes form and then created a multi-step Lego snowflake.  Roni Bergerson is the instructor and does a wonderful job.  She is live as she teaches and all the participants chat through a text chat room.  
The class lasted about an hour and was engaging.

Looking forward to seeing what else CurrClick.com.

Did you know SNOT is an official, or maybe unofficial yet to be confirmed, LEGO term?

Studs Not On Top

Young Chefs Academy

*~* Salt and Vinegar Chips and Green Beans *~*

Chef Brendan made these at Young Chefs Academy in Baton Rouge, LA.  Mom and Dad got the class for him for Christmas and he really enjoyed it.  The class was under $30 and lasted about 2 hours.  He was only one of 5 kids there that night, but that can change depending on the night.

Sour was the theme, so the group made Salt & Vinegar Chips and Green Beans, Savory Kraut Strudel, and Sour Patch Cupcakes.  Amazingly, Brendan ate all of it once the meal was ready.

Our wanna-be chef had fun and has not stopped talking about the class since that night.  The place was clean, bright, and the staff was attentive and friendly.  Young Chefs Academy has locations in several states.
You can find them in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia.  And I believe they are looking for more franchises.

Tonight, we remade the Salt and Vinegar Chips and Green Beans. If you like vinegar, you'll like these.

Cut potatoes thinly (a mandolin is best), cover potatoes and fresh green beans in vinegar, bring to a boil then cook for 5 minutes,  cover and let sit for 30 minutes off heat.

Drain and pat dry on paper towel.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

Bake on sheet for 10 minutes or until crispy.  (Different thicknesses for the potatoes may have some burn and some undercooked.)

Eat.  If you like vinegar, you'll like these.  The green beans burst with flavor.

Chef Brendan filling the cupcake tins and cutting apple for the strudel.

Campground Review: Camp Inn, Frostproof, Florida

Camp Inn RV Resort

Not to be confused with Camp Inn Florida, a bit more north on route 27.  

We stayed here for one month in a full hook-up site. We paid $525, which included 50 amp service and 30 days worth of Wi-Fi. The site we had (R-28) was a wide, corner site having some palm trees. It took some maneuvering to get our 40+' fifth wheel in, but, we managed. This park is 90% manufactured homes and/or trailers converted into homes (i.e. carports; sheds; residential AC units; etc). Some lots are kept up better than others. The transient sites are scattered throughout the park; the bulk of them being in front near the entrance. They have two pools (one which was heated to 80+ degrees). The laundry facilities were dated; but, adequate. The interior roads are level and paved (everyone uses golf carts to get around). We encountered many friendly people (most of whom were over 60).  

Being more of a retirement community, there is no playground.  They have planned activities, but they are for adults...bingo, exercise classes, etc.

Frostproof is pretty much in the middle of nowhere.  If you are interested in the racing in Sebring, Camp Inn is about a 25 minute ride.  Disney was about 45 minutes.  Legoland, 30.

You have to travel north or south to get to any real shopping.  But, the weather was awesome!  Worth a stay especially if you are staying a month at a time.

http://www.campinnrvresort.com

LegoLand

In early December, we visited LegoLand Florida.  I have to say, awesome place!  We originally were going to head there in late November but realized they had Homeschool Days at a fraction of the price...$8 for each student and $25 per adult.   We saved over $90 for the 6 people that went.  They do require home school verification of some sort.

Now, if you do not homeschool, you still will enjoy a LegoLand visit and there are plenty of coupons out there to save money.  Life Cereal as well as Lego Magazine, and sources online, give coupons for one free child per adult.  Adults are $64, children are $59 (online).  So, if you have the coupons, which you WILL find, you are really only paying for the adults and any extra children.

It's a great park.  Very clean.  And, here's a tip...get there at least 20 minutes or so before the park opens.  Get right in line.  Have your kid(s) charm the turnstile-ladies and maybe, just maybe, your children will get chosen to open the park.  A thrill for them, free lunch for 4 and a free picture for you.

At the very least, there are some fun rides, and some really awesome Lego sculptures.

But, one thing you HAVE to plan for, that we didn't save enough time for, is the Lego Imagination Center, most importantly the Lego Build & Test.  Here, kids play with Legos to create wheeled structures and then test them on various types of ramps.  This activity coincides with STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

Besides this activity, you can also sign your children up for a science lesson with Legos. Right there at the Imagination Center.  Worth it.  Look into it.

Homeschool Florida Days:  

Feb 11, 2013

March 11, 2013

April 15, 2013

May 13, 2013

Homeschool California Days:  

Feb 11, 2013

March 11, 2013

April 15, 2013

May 20, 2013

   Large groups can also get concierge tours.

Facebook

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Rving Across America

https://www.facebook.com/pages/RVing-North-America/123196821242

New Orleans...worth the visit

We visited New Orleans two days...once traveling through in our huge truck and never parking, and the other renting a car and enjoying the city for a day.  We WILL be back.  And you should plan to visit.

If you do, book the VIP tours.  http://www.vipcitytours.com/


We had Henry, who was wonderful.  The tour takes you through the French Quarter, the 9th Ward, a Louisiana cemetery, and areas surrounding.  It's a two-hour tour, and worth it.

So far, we know Henry and Dino are superb, but I guess all the tour guides are great.

In the short time we spent in the city, Café du Monde is a must.  Well, when we went it was obviously in the process of getting ready for Mardi Gras-Superbowl-Mardi Gras...the, I believe, Vietnamese waitstaff was less than sociable...but you go there for the tradition and the coffee and the beignets.  Don't sneeze or breathe in suddenly.  LOTS of powdered (or Powdahed if you are from RI) sugar.

While you are there you need to have a Po' Boy, and a Muffaletta.  Johnny's is supposed to be a good place.  And then there's plenty of places to grab a drink to-go, as there is an open container law in N.O. and you can walk around with whatever drink you choose.  

Beyond the food and the drink there is the art and the architecture.  

Plenty to see and do, to buy and eat, to drink and inhale.  Best to stay more than a day...

We'll be back for sure.

Making the News

Our little legacy in Livingston, LA

                     

http://theadvocate.com/news/livingston/

My Plate: Eating Right

Choose My Plate

We attended a nice presentation Friday at the local library.  It was a presentation for kids (although we stayed and learned a thing or two) about healthy eating.  Remember what we all grew up knowing as The Food Pyramid?  Well, things have changed (thank Goodness).  The FDA has now presented to the eating public: My Plate.

http://www.choosemyplate.gov/

The presentation was informative and, since it was at the local library, (a beautiful new building in Livingston, LA), free!  My kids were the only ones to attend and were lucky enough to be the sole subjects of the local Advocate Newspaper article due out next Thursday!  But, I digress...

The idea behind My Plate is simple...fill your plate with the right amounts of the different food groups.  Half of the plate should be fruits and vegetables.   The other half grains and protein.  Be honest.  How many of YOU fill your plates this way?  (I sure don't!)  Dairy is a side "circle" and thus not as large a quantity.

Vegetables and Fruits

Canned (with reduced salt) and frozen veggies, as well as, of course, fresh veggies are great.  Farmers' markets will assure you the freshest...probably more so than any supermarket.  Canned fruit, as long as it is packed in juice and not syrup, can be a great component to your meals.  But fresh fruit, with the skin on (for fiber) is best.  Raw is best for both.

Of course, my brain started to spin for the possibilities this, somewhat new, program can provide...but someone out there already had my idea.

Take The Time and Get Involved

If you think your kids will balk at this...well, you may be right, especially if you have not been following this rule on your own.  We try to get veggies and fruits into almost every meal, but, I have to say it is usually raw carrots, celery, and broccoli for dipping.  Fruits are easier.  But to fill half a plate??  I'd need much smaller plates.

It's not easy so take time to get into a routine.  Plan meals ahead.  Allow yourself to try new foods and learn to like them.  Maybe even use it as an excuse to go to a restaurant to try some new vegetable dishes.  Research how to cook new foods.  Enlist your kids to help look up recipes, shop, prepare, and cook.

Hey, you can even include some Math in with your dinner.

If you are searching for a goal this year, set a goal to eat healthier.

We hope to begin and continue a new food regimen...

Meatless Mondays

Wok Wednesdays

Fish Fridays

We are starting there.  Any ideas for Tuesdays and Thursdays?

Stay tuned for recipes and reviews.

Filling in the Gaps

We have had this space behind our couch between that and the window.  A good space for items to fall down into.  So after talking about it for several months, Steve finally created a little table/shelf for the space.  The whole project cost about $4.20.  He used scrap wood from Home Depot and 2 dowels to create a very narrow table which slides in behind the couch and sort of wedges into the space  between the window valances.  He may paint it.  It is just short of touching the couch so we'll keep our eyes open for a slightly wider piece.  The quick, cheap project is working out quite nicely.

space

construction

  

very simple

fits nicely

add a plant and weather system, and done

Liquor, Liquor Everywhere

Growing up in Rhode Island, one grows accustomed to driving to the local liquor store for all our libation needs.  You are not allowed to drink them until you get home, of course.  You cannot even buy a single beer; only a six-pack or larger.  And, when you get to the store, you have to get out of your car to go inside to make the purchase.


Well, Rhode Island being adjacent to Connecticut, we knew that you could also purchase wine and beer at grocery stores in that state.  But, once we hit Ohio, we got our first taste of Drive-Thru Liquor stores.  Yes, drive-thru.  You don't even need to get out of your car.  Now, of course, that doesn't mean that the person driving will start to drink in the car.  Just as it doesn't mean the person walking in to buy liquor will drink when he gets back to his car.  However, it was still a bit of a shock to see.

While we stayed in Florida, I was amazed, if not pleased, to see that even CVS and Walgreens sold beer and wine in their stores.  Not a huge selection or high quality choices, but, nice in a pinch.

Then, we hit Louisiana.  Just across from our campground is Crazy Dave's Daiquiri Bar and Grill...with a drive-up daiquiri window.  Here's the window below, and the row of daiquiri selections.  Of course, Louisiana has an open-container law, meaning, you aren't allowed to have an open container in your vehicle.  And, of course, the bartender just hands the driver the closed cup with the straw, and of course, you, the driver would never puncture said cover with the straw in order to sip whilst driving.  

Or would you?  The temptation is certainly there.  It is hard to believe that, in this day and age, the opportunity to drink and drive is so readily available and legal.  I don't quite get the reasoning behind it.  I had one of the daiquiris and they taste more like a Dunkin' Donuts Fruit Coolatta than a daiquiri.  Too sweet.  

But, if you decide to venture into Crazy Dave's, and you've had a bit too much to drink, and want to camouflage that fact, just drop into the restroom for some complimentary 

mouthwash.