Field Trip!

It wasn't until I went to post that I realized exactly how long it has been since I had a post on my blog!  I guess the snowstorm, - temps and a nasty virus in the family just wasn't much to post about! 

Any guess as to where our President's Day field trip was?!

As it was a holiday, J was able to join us.  It was great to have him along!

We all "got" to wear this beautiful accessory - which about ended the trip for M.  I think the only thing saving this experience for him was the knowledge of chocolate to come! (And how does my sister look good - even in a hair net?!)

Our tour began with the history and processing of chocolate . . .

And then on to the good stuff!  Making our own chocolate dipped spoons!

A quick, humorous video about chocolate . . . (that is M in the middle - the only pic with the hair net!)

Today, they were making chocolate covered pretzels!  In they go . . .

and out they come!  Yummy! (Yes, we did get a fresh sample!)

Here we were shown some of the molded chocolates they make - a dinosaur tooth!

Yay!  We can finally take the hair net off!!  A goodie bag and a golden ticket!

Day 275-281

Day 275, Sunday, October 3rd

No picture - boo! Sundays!

Day 276, Monday, October 4th

We have recently joined a science co-op with some friends and this was our first project.  Chicken bones in vinegar!  After 3 days they turn rubbery - very fun, but dangerous?!  I don't think L really likes the results (or else it was the vinegar smell!).

Day 277, Tuesday, October 5th

No picture, but a very busy day!  BSF, science co-op, work! 

Day 278, Wednesday October 6th

Our history lesson today was about Egyptian mummies and pyramids.  Time to build a sugar-cube pyramid!  They were disappointed that we didn't allow them to use icing for the glue so they could eat them!  Seriously?!  Where do they get these expectations? 

Day 279, Thursday, October 7th

Karate day - and a belt test too!  It was a little tough keeping Baby Girl quiet and occupied.  Thankfully, a little friend was generous enough to share her new crayons!  Can you see Baby Girl's bottom lip sticking out?  So intent!

My favorite part of the test - dropping the old to accept the new!

Great job L!

Day 280, Friday, October 8th

Some of our pumpkin crop.  For 3 nights this past week we had a frost, so the garden is officially done, though I think we were all done about a month ago!  There is something nice about seeing it all plowed under and cleaned up.

Day 281, Saturday, October 9th

Happy Birthday to my mother!  We thought since she is leaving on J's birthday to visit her siblings in Florida, we could celebrate his birthday on hers!  What a serious group of boys - NOT!  J will be turning 13 on Wednesday!  How did that happen?!

Days 261-267

Day 261, Sunday, September 19th

Saying good-night!  Since Baby Girl has the earlier bedtime it has become a ritual to give night-kisses to everyone before bed.  I usually carry her from Dad to boys for this, but then I couldn't catch how cute it is!

Day 262, Monday, September 20th

It is official - we have a cub scout in the family!  Isn't he handsome?!  Lovin' the uniform!!  And quite the popcorn salesman!  Check it out here if you are interested!



And for science today - make your own edible cell!!

I loved the fact that the boys were so excited to make and eat these - mainly because of all the candy they stuffed inside the Jell-O - but couldn't quite finish them because of all the candy they stuffed inside the Jell-)!

Day 263, Tuesday, September 21st

My sister picked these up for Baby Girl.  Who knew something could be so cute just because it is pink!

Day 264, Wednesday, September 22nd
This has been a long week for J because of cross-country.  He has had 4 meets in 5 days!
Here they are right before the race - Go Jimmies!

Day 265, Thursday, September 23rd

Can you guess what J is getting?  Contacts!  He has wanted them for the last year and we finally decided it was time.  He is doing great with them.  But boy, did it bring back some memories for me!  Those first days of trying to get my contacts in, how I never thought I would be able to do it and I wanted to so bad! 

Ta-da!  Doesn't it make him look older? 

Or maybe, I'm just a mom having a hard time knowing that her son

will be turning 13 next month!

Day 266, Friday, September 24th

M and L were at their Grandparents for the night and Hubby and J went to the high school football game, so Baby Girl and I did some stuffin' and savin' at Old Navy. You gotta love Stuff  & Save!

Day 267, Saturday, September 25th

J's last cross-country meet of the week.  Can you tell by the look on his face, he is wearing out? 

Day 254-260

Day 254, Sunday, September 12th

After staying up all night to get these done - what else would I take a picture of?!

Day 255, Monday, September 13th

Baby Girl's favorite toy - the laundry basket!  And what a great big brother to push her around in it!

It took me 2 shots to get smiles, just not both at the same time!

Day 256, Tuesday, September 14th

Baby Girl at J's cross-country meet modeling her new outfit made by Grandma Gorbics - too cute!  And almost walking!

Day 257, Wednesday, September 15th

Caught - reading!

Day 258, Thursday, September 16th

Oops!  No picture?!

Day 259, Friday, September 17th

Homeschool skate!  I love watching friendships grow - and hearing boys whisper and giggle in the van!  I guess I just assumed it was only girls that did those - definitely not just a girl thing!

On the move!

Day 260, Saturday, September 18th

Our 4th future pianist!

Day 247-253

Day 247, Saturday, September 5th

Our first full day at family camp.  Ok, so we didn't exactly "camp", but we did stay at a campground!  Our humble abode for the weekend . . .

How did they all live together in "Little House Days"?!

Day 248, Monday, September 6th

The family camp had a Labor Day 5K that D and J participated in.  Gettin ready to go!

D won overall and J took first in his age group!

Day 249, Tuesday, September 7th

Back home and back to the garden!  Things are winding down out there - but we still have plenty of tomatoes! 

Day 250, Wednesday, September 8th

My sis and her kiddos came over for our mini history co-op.  We learned about archeology and got to do our own dig!  Cousin S finding an "artifact" from the 2000's!

M was a little disappointed we didn't go out in the woods and find bones!

Baby Girl and Cousin C joined in the fun too!

Day 251, Thursday, September 9th

J had his first cross country meet and did great!  I loved this shot from the starting line.

Day 252, Friday, September 10th

Field Day for our homeschool group!  I was so proud of M, this was his third year attending and first year participating.  He is very self-conscious and afraid of drawing attention to himself, but then behaves in a way that draws more attention to himself than if he just did what everyone else was doing.  All that to say, that we discussed trying to participate this field day and he might have fun, and he did - both!  Here is him and his new buddy - they won the 3-legged race! 

L and his friend trying the wheelbarrel!

And well, J had a night at church for SPAZ - basically, playing in Jell-O with all your buddies!

Day 253, Saturday, September 11th

Still dealing with tomatoes . . . made sauce (still making sauce - waiting for it to cook down) and canned some diced tomatoes.  I will appreciate this in the winter, right?

Day 233-239

Day 233, Sunday, August 22nd

Well, no picture again . . . Baby Girl was not feeling well all weekend :(. 

Day 234, Monday, August 23rd

This is a common site now - J doing homework!  Notice the ice pack on his legs for his shins.  He is participating in cross-country along with adjusting to school - busy boy!

Day 235, Tuesday, August 24th

Baby Girl "helping" M empty the dishwasher. 

Day 236, Wednesday, August 25th

We had a visitor for the afternoon - my best friend's daughter!  I'm excited that these two are going to be growing up together! 

Day 237, Thursday, August 26th

Baby Girl was finally feeling good enough to get out of the house!  And boy, was it needed!  What a gorgeous day to enjoy the park!

Sometimes, they are so cooperative - look at them posing for this pic!

She loves the swing!

One blessing that has come out of J being at school, L and M's relationship has really blossomed!  I love watching them play together!

Ending the day with Karate dodge-ball!

Day 238, Friday, August 27th

The garden has been full of butterflies this week!  The boys have spent a few afternoons out catching them - here is my catch!

Day 239, Saturday, August 28th

See - sometimes they can be so uncooperative!  It sure was nice having J home all day today!