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Our Summer So Far



How is your summer coming along?  I can hardly believe that June is over--that half of 2012 is over!  We are really enjoying our summer so far though and are looking forward to more of it (even if the temps are ridiculously high).  We have already been able to check off lots of things on our summer fun list and several places on my own personal *field-trips-I-want-to-take-this-summer* list.  Another place we checked off this month was Nashville's very own full-scale replica of the Parthenon.    

While we chose not to tour the art museum the day we went (our day was just too full), we did have a great time simply walking around the grounds and the adjoining park area.  A visit to Greece is at the tip-tip of my own personal bucket list, so I really did enjoy looking at the architecture.  


Mostly I just loved spending time with my family though.  Often when we go on a field trip, I don't necessarily announce it as such--at least not when it's summertime :)  Sometimes a little subversive education is good, right?  My kiddos are normal, just like everyone else's, and don't get excited about doing school work in the summertime (even though I've been requiring them to do some exercises this summer to keep their brains fresh).  However, they can get excited about going to fun and exciting places.  They're all about exploring! 

Thus field trips are a huge part of our learning process year-round.  And I love being able to start our next school year (books-wise, that is) with several educational days already under our belt!  


This sort of thing is not new to me though.  I was raised by parents who constantly were taking me to interesting places where I was always learning about new things, people and places.  I have wonderful memories of our family vacations going to historical sites all over.  We've explored US history in DC, Baltimore and Boston, visited more National Parks than I can count, climbed to the top of Diamond Head on Oahu, gazed upon the beauty of Mt. Rushmore ...and those are just the trips within the United States.  My parents are travelers, so we definitely traveled.  It has been an education in itself for me and I'm blessed to have had the opportunities! 


But even when I'm not traveling to far away and exotic places, I LOVE being a tourist in my own hometown and region.  I am always searching for fun ( & free or cheap!) things to do and places to visit near our home. Doing this I am constantly finding out about special events and places to go that I would otherwise have known nothing about.  And sometimes those little out-of-the-way places are really hidden treasures!


My kids like to go to Chuck E. Cheese just as much as the next kid, but how much more fun is it to pack your own picnic lunch and find a great new park to explore!  


Anything to do with animals is always a hit with them as well.  Even if it's just a duck family or a baby turtle swimming around.  They are still able to observe nature and even possibly remember a great book they've read (in this case, Make Way for Duckling).


So, July is nearly here and I'm looking forward to checking off some more things on our List!  What have you got planned for July?  Are you having fun this summer exploring where you live?
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Comments

Modest Mama said…
We are also taking our kids to places like this. When traveling with anothe family recently, we went to two local museums while they went to an amusement park. Sure, my kids would have loved the amusement park, but we can do that around home!
June 30, 2012 at 7:07 AM
Mary said…
What a fun outing! Love the turtle.
June 30, 2012 at 10:08 AM
Amy B said…
I love taking fieldtrips too! I just did a guest post over at how to homeschool my child all about finding things in our hometown. Sadly, Often the places nearest us are the ones we overlook...

Amy B
June 30, 2012 at 6:03 PM
Jennifer said…
It is fun to find the "hidden treasures" close to home.
July 2, 2012 at 11:57 AM
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