The Hills Are Alive With The Hunger Games

So I finally was able to go on my long overdue vacation!  Me and the hubs took the girls and headed up to Brevard, NC with the rest of my family.  This is better known as the land of waterfalls.  It is home to over 200 waterfalls!  We stayed at at awesome mountain rental house my mom found.  

It was perfect!

We spent time hiking in DuPont State Forest which is where scenes for the Hunger Games were filmed!!!!!  I imagined I was Katniss running through the arena and could imagine she and Rue moving about the forest.  I even saw a meadow where I could imagine her laying Rue when she decorated her with flowers.  

Triple Falls was one of the waterfalls seen during the scene when Katniss almost steps on Peeta when he is disguised.  

Bridal Veil is where Katniss found relief from her burns right before the Careers found her.  I love the hunger games and can't get over the fact that it was filmed right here in my home state! 

The Whole Fam at High Falls

Check out that Power!

While up in Brevard, we also visited Pisgah National.  I LOVE history and any time I can visit historic sites, I'm there!  We visited The Cradle of Forestry which is where George Vanderbilt (Biltmore House guy) started the first forestry school.  They had several historic buildings including a commissary, lodge house, school house, and a logging train!  They even had the original railroad which was built in the early 1900's. 

Raegan was ready to go logging!

Kenley in her logging gear

Me and the hubs on the logging train

Original Railroad Bridge

Driving the equipment

The Hubs

We also visited a picnic area that was right by the river where the girls could enjoy some creek stomping.  They loved getting their toes wet, but the water was FREEZING!  I did not get it!  

I was very sad to come back to reality and to top it all, I have to present all week at our districts Common Core Trainings....UGH!  I love presenting and helping in my district, but I do not like getting up way early especially when I cant fall asleep before 12!  

What vacations have you guys been on so far????

Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry

I still have 2 more weeks left of school and while I am sad about my kids moving on, I can't wait to start summer vacay!  I am so jealous of those of you who are already out.  I got a little taste of summer life this past weekend when I spent the weekend away in Virginia camping at Hungry Mother State Park (isn't that a great name!) It was so nice to have a relaxing weekend away enjoying God's beautiful workmanship.  We went biking on the Virginia Creeper Trail and nothing could be better than riding with friends and being surrounded by nature.  My girls even enjoyed riding in their trailer!

Then I had to come back to reality.

It has been over a week since my last post, did ya miss me?  Let me start by saying that I am a Harry Potter fanatic!  I have read each book and seen each movie numerous times.  I even have the text books!

So it was no question that I would complete a novel study of the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, to end my awesome school year.  Each day my students read a chapter and complete a portion of our lapbook.  I am hoping to have the lapbook ready to go in my TpT and TN stores soon!  Hopefully you can use it next year. 

Each student was first sorted into their perspective houses and given a Hogwarts student they would become.  (familiar if you saw my Titanic lapbook!) It was neat because we used video clips from the movies to announce which house they would be in.  

Then it was on to Olivander's Wand Shop to have our wands "choose us" Students chose between 3 stain colors to create their wand.  

Students had to use their wizard money to pay for their wands.  That is a Goblin, AKA my teammate Erica, from Gringotts taking their money.

The highlight of this week has definitely Snape's Potion class!  Students were able to make 3 potions and even took one home!  

First they made Exploding Elixir.  This used Elixir of life (water), Ground Bezoar (Baking Soda), Dragon's Blood (vinegar), Troll Slime (dish soap)

Check out our Exploding Elixir!!!!

Next we made Snape's Slime.  We started with Unicorn Blood (white glue) and added Elixir of Life (water)

Next a few drops of phoenix tears, pond slime, jumping spider venom, eel juice (food coloring)

Add in some Powdered Unicorn Horn (Borax) with more Elixir of Life

Add some magic words and Voila!  Snape's Slime!

Our last potion was Flesh Eating Slug Repellent.  It started with Elixir of light, added a small amount of Goblin Crystals (Pop Rocks) and a splash of Liquefied Fairy Wings (Vinegar) It had a little fizzle. 

And of course no Potion Class is complete with various odd ingredients found only in the wizarding world.

Happy Hump Day Everyone!!!!!