notes from the trip

We were in this area in October-November. We hiked to the hanging gardens and emerald pools in Zion. I bet it's even more striking this time of year. We visited the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, but my kids were more impressed with Canyon de Chelly[pronounced shay] in eastern AZ. Also, Hubbell trading post is "near" de Chelly. We camped on the Hopi reservation and did laundry in a town there. Great culture study! Near Zion, we camped in the Virgin river recreational area...what views! We live in upstate NY so it was all new and exciting. Oh, in St. George there are dinosaur tracks you can see. Ask some locals for directions. Pipesprings National monument is really cool. [south of Utah in AZ] There is a massacre site near St. George, but many of the locals would rather forget it...Kit Carson had been in the wagon train attacked...he was 7. If you are interested, I could find more info on that.
We did a ton of History and Environmental Science there! And saw our first tarantula and Jerusalem cricket.
We just got home in February from a major around the U.S. excursion. This is where my introduction begins, because this trip was really defining for us. My elder son and I started homeschooling 9th grade just before we left last July. My younger son started 6th grade at the same time, and is in 7th now. We've seen ourselves as homeschoolers since the older son was 3. We use Boy Scouts heavily, and now Civil Air Patrol as well, for my older son. We tend to be borderline unschooling relaxed eclectic homeschoolers. ;-)
I am homeschooling college-doing some credit by evaluation based largely on my homeschooling experiences and some on-line courses. My sons are dyslexic, but against all forecasts [by evaluators] are readers[the elder son at grade level, the younger way beyond]. My limited time with my boys is scaring me to death...they're not near "done" yet!!!!