Have I mentioned lately the “freedom” of homeschooling? If I haven’t, let me just start this post off with what maybe my favorite part of homeschooling my children-Freedom. The freedom to go on field trips weekly to some of the best locations out there and the resulting joy of watching their faces as they learn things “hands-on.” Last month, the kids and I were so excited when their grandparents gave them the gift of season passes to one of our favorite spots – Colonial Williamsburg! How fun that we only live an hour away! We joke that it is like the Disney World of Virginia. You have to take a bus to get from place to place, meet people from all over the country, and everyone working there always seems so darn happy :-)
The first time we ventured into the town, Adam looks up at me with these big eyes and declares “This is so cool! It is like we are living back then! I want to learn about everything, Mom!” So we have been going back every other week or so and we still have yet to see everything. The Christmas season is there is truly amazing. They go out of their way to really teach the kids what the holidays were like in Colonial times.
Last week we learned about what foods they would have been eating for the season. Poor Haley…I don’t think she was happy with the cow tongue they were cooking? She thought for a second she saw something on the table she recognized, deviled eggs. Once she found out that the eggs were laying on a bed of creamed spinach she quickly said “yuck” and moved on to asking what every dish was. They even had kidney stew on the table. It was great for the kids to hear all about what foods they would have been eating back then and then to actually see them. “What no pizza?!”
The one thing that we all loved though had to be the Living Wreaths and other natural decorations. They told us all about how the families would have decorated back then with found plants, seeds and other organic items. The natural wreaths and garlands are decorating the colony right now!
The kids and I loved them so much, that we thought it would make for a great craft for us to make here at home. We had so much fun going out and collecting branches, berries, seed pods etc. We sliced oranges and dried them out on a plate. Granted, I cheated a bit and used a wreath form and wire from the craft store ;-) I mean, hey,no reason to do it the absolute hard way if I don’t have to. I still can’t get over how easy it was to just tie everything onto the mold with the wire. We even had enough branches left over to make garland as well!
We can’t wait to head back on Christmas Eve to their Community Christmas tree illumination and the traditional retelling of the city’s first Christmas tree! The story telling and reenactors just bring it all to life. If you get a chance, check it out or find a historic holiday celebration near you.
