Games class was definitely a favorite! Big guys, little people and even flatties like to play Trench, Dodgeball and Kickball.

Billings Bear, Flat Stanley, Crazy Monkey and Flat Dude were good students in CAP's Minnesota class.

At our homeschool cooperative our flat friends learned about Minnesota history and glaciers, then they attended yearbook class with Reeb.

Crazy Monkey is surrounded by crazy people. He fits right in and enjoys all the attention. Cousin Jady carries him around for a bit and tried to take Crazy Monkey for a walk.

Billings Bear meets another sweet baby girl. Cousin Jady likes Billing's bright fur.

Our cousin, Jady, meest Flat Stanley. She studied him for quite a while. At least she didn't try to eat him!

CAP and our flat guests get a group piano lesson. Our piano teacher, Mrs. Mac, is wonderful to be around. They worked on a song called, "Stealing Second Base." It was difficult and will take a lot of practice.

We have been busy, after supper we made chocolate chip cookies with walnuts, man were they big and yummy!
Then we played baseball on the computer with Nicka. Nicka is pretty good and he won... THIS time.
Flat Dude was able to beat him though, don't know how he did that!
Tomorrow Riss has violin lessons and we may join in. The Parks said we could take piano while we're visiting. They have a very kind teacher who also homeschools.
They have this really cute baby and she likes travelers. She did try to eat all the travelers, except Flat Dude, she just danced him around a bit.
The Parks' homeschool is called Lakeview Christian Academy and Boarding School, they are currently studying biology, general science, Minnesota History and literature. CAP likes to do critical thinking problems.
On Thursday they will attend their learning co-op called Partnership.
Mrs. Parks is setting up a Flat Travel Blog on the Homeschool Blog so more homeschoolers might see it.
Her other Blog is
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/flattraveler/

Tips and Ideas about Flat Traveling

We have had a terrific time hosting and sending travelers. For us it has been about the fun of it, although many travelers do so for educational purposes. Some things we have learned along the way:
I would have two maps, one for when we return from somewhere and one showing who we hosted from where.
If we hosted a flattie and are not reciprocating, I would look up their city on a map and read about their state in the encyclopedia, that way we have a better understanding of where our visitor came from.
If you have a digital camera, take LOTS of pictures! It doesn't matter if you are doing just everyday things, we can learn much from each other's daily events. You can make a CD of pictures, get some printed out, post them on your site, email them, and/or make a digital scrapbook.
If you don't have a digital camera, please take photos anyway and get some developed to send home.
Remember to jot things down often as it will help when you are compiling your travelers journal. Take your traveler EVERYWHERE! I don't know how many times we forgot our traveler at home. It was so disappointing to be doing something fun or unique and not have the traveler with us.
Take a picture of your traveler BEFORE you send him/her out. You may never see it again and it would be nice to remember which traveler it was that you lost.
Pick up brochures and pamphlets everywhere you go.
Be sure to laminate your traveler to make it sturdier and a bit water resistent.
Email back and forth between host and traveler now and then, just to keep in touch. This is especially important when it has been a while since your traveler has been gone.
Please try to get your traveler home within a month, two weeks is probably even better.
Have links and information about your hometown on your computer so it will be handy to print out.
I also like to have maps, postcards, and brochures on hand, in case I forget.
Send home a family snapshot, this is especially nice if the flat traveler is in the photo.

Do you have any tips or ideas to share?

Cyrus Goes to Japan

This is Cyber Cyrus. He is presently visiting a classroom in Japan. We can;t wait to hear about his adventures!

Eastern Flatties Head West of the Mighty Mississippi

Look who has come to visit us: Flat Stanley from Maine and Crazy Monkey from West Virginia. WELCOME, we hope you enjoy your stay in Minnesota.

Flat Billings Bear gets acquainted with Norlee who thinks he looks like a cherry gummi bear!

Norlee tells us, "Billings Bear is just ADORABLE!"

Lego at the Mall of America

Flat Max and CAP check out the Bionical display. Then they proceeded to the hands-on area where they built Lego cars to race down a ramp.

The Lego store has lots of fun stuff to look at.

We visit the Lego store at Mall of America.

Flat Max makes new friends at Partnership, our homeschool co-op.

Flat Max attends our homeschool group. He learned about Minnesota geography, the importance of measuring in science, and how to keep in shape with daily exercises.

Norlee checks out Flat Dude, luckily she didn't try to eat him.

Flat Dude arrives from Virginia! We admire his unique style.

Billings Bear from Tennessee arrived yesterday.

More Minnesota Links

A concise page containing information about Minnesota with some links to learn more
http://www.ipl.org/youth/stateknow/mn1.html

A Minnesota State page for kids, look at the symbols, flags, and a link to coloring pages
http://www.state.mn.us/portal/mn/jsp/content.do?subchannel=null&programid=536888073&sc3=null&sc2=null&id=-536881315&agency=NorthStar

Listen to a Loon, look at the current gas prices, read the local news, and view some pictures.
http://www.deckernet.com/minn/

Fall resources and links to autumn in Minnesota
http://minneapolis.about.com/cs/attractions/a/fallreseources.htm

Max Meets Smeagol

Max is our Flat Traveler from British Columbia. We played with our very sweet hamster, Smeagol.
Smeagol kindly shared a spin on his wheel and a yogurt treat with Max.
We used to have another hamster named Gollum and just like in the movie Gollom was the bad guy. He bit, he didn't like people and when he died, sad to say, we were relieved.

Learn About Minnesota

Links and information about Minnesota:

Minnesota Historical Society
345 Kellogg Blvd W
St. Paul, MN 55102-1906
www.mnhs.org
Request brochure of state historical sites.

Minnesota Conservation Volunteer
DNR
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4010
www.dnr.state.mn.us/magazine
Free subscription for monthly magazine.

Minnesota Office of Tourism
100 Metro Square
121 Seventh Place E
St. Paul, MN 55101
http://www.exploreminnesota.com
Request travel info including Minnesota 2005 Travel Guide and state map

State government and cool facts: www.governor.state.mn.us/kids/Minnesota_Fun_Facts_page.asp

Famous Minnesotans: www.leg.state.mn.us/LEG/youth/famousfolks.asp

History of MN: www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/history/mnstatehistory/index.shtml

This is the official website for the State of Minnesota: www.state.mn.us

Minnesota State Parks: www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/index.html

50states.com: Minnesota: www.50states.com
The site provides a wealth of information about Minnesota. It includes everything from the highest point to county profile to climate.

Things To Do in Minnesota: www.thingstodo.com/states/MN/index.htm ThingsToDo.com is an online guide to information about Minnesota's entertainment, recreation, and travel, and includes the state's interesting facts, famous people, and special events.

Roadside America : Minnesota Attractions: www.roadsideamerica.com/map/mn.html Roadside America describes itself as an online guide to offbeat attractions. This site offers reviews of "weird sites along the highway" in Minnesota.

The Woodshed : The MINNESOTA Page: www.deckernet.com/minn/
In existence since 1994, this site is a collection of Web pages about Minnesota with links to almost anything "Minnesotan" on the Web. Use it to find out all kinds of information about the state, or even take a virtual tour.

Birds in Our Backyard

It is common for us to see (or hear) all of these birds in our yard.

Chickadee, such a cute bird with a pretty song. House Wren, very common.

Great Horned Owl, often heard rather than seen, there are many varieties of owls in Minnesota.

The pesky, piggy Bluejay will chase all other birds away. Lovely Bluebirds. We like to watch them preen and puff out their feathers. They like to sunbathe in the early morning sunshine.

Killdeer, gets its name from the sound it makes. It nests in gravel and runs pretty fast.
The Common Loon, is Minnesota's State Bird. It has a beautiful sound. It is hard to spot, but easy to recogonize its unique call. We have a pair on our lake every spring.
This is our buddy, the Great Blue Heron. He lives near our pond and lake and is often feeding on fish.
We see him most every day and have for the past ten years!
The Canadian Goose comes in the spring when the ice is off the lake. It nests here, has babies and when the chicks are old enough to fly, off they all go.
The American Robin is a favorite bird to see because it often signals the coming of spring. These birds do migrate, but come back to Minnesota come springtime.
These Red-Winged Blackbirds are a greedy breed, whenever we put up a feeder, they try to monopolize it and chase the other birds away. These birds like our pond and swamp and are here all year long.

Minnesota Map

Can we go for a spin?

This was a snazzy recumbent 4-wheel cycle that Flat Jacob and CAP sat on at the Minnesota State Fair. We had never seen anything like this.

Everyone, even travelers, like to play with clay.

Redemption card game

CAP and Nicka Bob play a card game called Redemption, they taught our Texan visitors how to play.
http://www.redemptioncardgame.com/

Texan Traveler

Flat Jacob is impressed with CAP's first lapbook.

Our flat visitors even get to celebrate special occasions with us.

Flat Andrew helped Nicka Bob with his electrical circuit board.

The Fundamentals of Play

Flat Andrew and Flat Jacob from Texas were a lot of fun. They loved to play blocks and army guys with Nicka Bob, CAP and our cousin.

At our learning co-op Boy Scout Bob studied Greek history. He even made a toga.

Boy Scout Bob attended a Christian seminar by Os Guiness

Boy Scout Bob had many adventures at our home as we kept him around for a few months. OOPS! His family didn't mind and it was educational for us. He helped Nicka Bob with his AWANA verses.

Flat Max is from Kamloop, British Columbia. He is here checking out the Minnesota Science Museum with CAP.
The featured display was the Grossology exhibit and it was definitely GROSS!

Flat Andrew from Texas

This is Flat Andrew visiting us from Texas. We had a great time learning about Greek Roman history together.

Looking for Travellers/Travelers

We’re a MN homeschool family studying Minnesota history and geography. I got to thinking how great it would be to connect with other homeschoolers across the state. I'd like to coommunicate w/ other homeschoolers via email or Blogs. Hoping to learn about your area of MN and get to know other homeschoolers!
We're also interested in exchanging a flat traveler, local information or penpals.
We have six kids in various stages of their education and we have been home educating about 13 years.
Would you be interested in connecting with our family? I'd love to hear from you!