FIELD TRIP - HENRY DOORLY ZOO

Today was perfect weather to visit the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha. Laramie loved the carousel. The brightly colored animals made it difficult to choose which one to ride on.

The llama did not seem to be too interested in us and certainly did not seem to appreciate my attempts at finding words that rhyme with llama. (Silly momma!)

The baby goats were adorable. Just two months old. Laramie was fascinated at how they ate straw right out of her hand.

Field Trip - Kearney, Nebraska

When people think of Nebraska, which is not often if you are not from here, they tend to think flat, boring, corn etc. Driving for five hours on Interstate 80 this past week I tend to agree. I 80 is a flat asphalt ribbon that cuts a rather straight path entirely through Nebraska. This wide expanse does not vary much in scenery but at exit 272 is something to see. The Great River Road Archway cannot be missed. The structure is built over the four lanes of I 80. Due to the speed limit being 75 mph and that it is a well known fact that hardly anyone goes just 75 mph the exit for the museum is approximately a mile from it. Exiting safely and winding your way back towards the museum you will pass life size metal buffalo sculptures with vines growing on them. My first impression was that they looked like random Midwestern Chia Pets. The parking lot of the museum is ample and well laid out with a maze and a giant buffalo sculpture that you surely will want your picture taken in front of.

Inside the museum we were greeted by authentic looking ''mountain men'' who played their parts very well. Adding a touch of authenticity with their throwback pioneer dialog and prop guns.

I was completely surprised at the size of the museum. From the outside it does not appear that large. The museum is home to the second largest escalator in Nebraska. Ok, that fact did not surprise me. Where in Nebraska would one need a mammoth escalator? Getting back on track, the museum has wonderful exhibits with twenty four life size figures along with paintings, quilts, lights, video and vehicles depicting a span of 150 years in America such as goldrushers, pioneers and drive in movie theaters. The museum is built at the only place where the Oregon, California and Mormon trails intersect. Those trails were the ones most often used by westward heading pioneers.

The museum is open seven days a week and also boasts a large and eclectic gift shop. Inside the museum is the Chuckwagon restaurant which is open six days a week.

Socialization

To any homeschooler the term ''socialization'' is like fingernails screeching down a chalkboard. People who make assumptions about what social needs homeschooled children might have are of the same ilk of those who don't have children themselves but know all about parenting. They don't have the personal experience to back up what they are talking about. After having my son in the public school system until the beginning of ninth grade I saw first hand the type of ''socializing '' he had access to in school.

This past week we went on a ''Homeschoolers Field Trip'' hosted by the Durham Museum in Omaha. We have gone on these field trips before and have always had an enjoyable time meeting other homeschoolers from the area and learning more about history. This week though a public school group (for reasons unbeknownst to me) joined our homeschool group. There were six children and three chaperons. The very patient Durham employee who led the field trip repeatedly had to keep those kids in check. Constant reminders to not climb on exhibits, to not crowd in front of the other children, let other children look at the display case, take turns to touch the hands on display, keep quiet while she was talking, not touch the displays that were labeled ''do not touch '' , stay with the group and I seriously could go on and on. Meanwhile the three chaperons rarely corrected their children and mostly talked amongst themselves. They were such a distraction that after the field trip three of the homeschool families (including myself) went back through the exhibits so our children could see what they had missed out on.

I wish I had a video tape of this field trip. I would show it to anyone who ever misused the word ''socialization'' with me again.

Field Trip!

There are many positive reasons to homeschool and definitely one of them for me is taking field trips. This past week we went to the annual auto show at the Qwest Center in Omaha. The very nice gentleman at the ticket booth didn't charge me for my sweet smiling six year old so I just had to pay admission for Luke and I. Being sixteen Luke enjoyed the day more than Laramie and I but we all had a great time. We sat in incredibly small vehicles and Hummers. Ooohed and ahhhhed over the Mercedes and BMWs. It wasn't just a good time, we learned about sticker prices and options and the difference between economy and luxury cars. We enjoyed speaking to the representatives of the Smart Car and hybrid cars. The current economy has greatly affected the automotive industry and many of the representatives held different opinions as to where it was headed. Only one dealer questioned why mine were the only children there that day. When I explained to him that we homeschool and this was a field trip he asked if he could show me a minivan. I guess many people have that stereotype of homeschoolers as the uber-evangelicals with a passel of conservatively dressed kids.

So we learned about more than cars that day, we learned how funny and inaccurate stereotypes can be.

IMPERIAL NUTCRACKER

Last week the kids and I took a field trip to Omaha to see the Imperial Nutcracker at the Orpheum Theatre. The theatre itself was worth the trip. Built in 1927 and later restored in 2002 the Orpheum is breathtakingly wonderful. Gorgeous velvet curtains, ornate lighting fixtures. What a grand theatre. Its beauty just adds to the experience.

While waiting for the performance to begin I took the opportunity to discuss the architecture with my son and daughter. I wanted them to see and appreciate the difference between the Orpheum and the typical cramped movie theaters they are more accustomed to.

We enjoyed the Imperial Nutcracker very much. The set designers did a fantastic job and the costumes were perfect. We were all enchanted with the dancers, their costumes were a perfect compliment to the set and storyline. We had a fantastic experience that afternoon, one we won't soon forget.