Fall "learning events"

Last month we took a field trip to Jamestown Settlement with the homeschool hybrid class of the eldest two (plus parents and siblings). Gorgeous day - fun time… Despite the fact that Goose had sprained her ankle the evening before and was in a stroller and otherwise hobbling the entire time. (Never a dull moment).

Ten days ago HF got his first deer in a decade in our back field. Our friend Ricky from church is a professional butcher and came over within two hours of the kill to butcher it for us in our backyard. Homeschool biology class for Monkey and Roo!

Monday we went to Luray Caverns, again with the homeschool crew from Monkey and Roo's "school." Amazing sights there! Well enjoyed.

(Though I must say… I'm glad to now have 8 total hours of solo field-trip-driving with 4 kids in the car behind me! All in a 3-week time period, to boot. Whew.)

Friday Fun

Monkey and his friend Sammy found this guy on the trail out to the back-field fort this afternoon:

Here is sweet Davery being held by Roo:

This evening our friends the Roles had a birthday party for their third child who turns 1 next week. Fun evening hanging out with new friends (thankful to have them!)--

Odds and ends in October

Fall weather is finally here! Mouse and I took Jack for a walk in the back fields… Light is gorgeous.

Rainy Saturday caused us to opt out of the fall festival parade. Instead we stayed home and HF made donuts for the first time - delicious apple-cider flavored. Monkey was his main helper this time:

Baby lambs born this week! And we didn't even realize that our ewe was pregnant. Came home to find them born and well… and they're adorable - Roo named them Davery and Luke (after Skywalker). Our total sheep count is now at 9.

Second to last game for Monkey's soccer team (still undefeated). Here he is playing goalie, which he's really been enjoying.

This and that

I've instituted a new chore practice with the three oldest kids which I so far adore. Lots more work being done (and with more enthusiasm); added regularity and accountability. Who could complain? Yesterday they were cleaning out the car, and here is how I found Monkey hanging:

Goose is a big kindergartener learning to read and comport herself (more) like a young lady. Her spunk and ability to carry an outfit continues to be a winning asset, as you can see in this photo, just before church on Sunday. 

She and her little sis started a tumbling class this week which is a nice big-kid-ish thing for them. 

Meanwhile big sister Roo lost her front tooth last week! And started horse back riding lessons up the road, about which she is ecstatic…

Summer, belatedly

Here's a post I prepped on July 27 and see now that I never posted. Better late than never, I guess! Pictoral journey of our July days (largely in VA/DC but a few in CT and MA during our 48-hr turnaround trip to pick up our new dog Jack), many with our Project 143 host son who was with us till Aug 3.

Museum of Natural History in DC

Twins James & Kathryn above, Davis & Winslow below

Richmond zoo with VA friends and their Latvian host son

New dog Jack!

Roo with school bestie Hope on Hope's birthday

Mouse with pal Kate in the baby pool

Roo on the blocks at one of many swim meets

How much chuck can a woodchuck…?

We have some woodchucks in our fields. They bother the fence posts and dig holes into which sheep and lambs are apt to fall. They are nemeses. Monkey has been after them with his gun any number of times -- some close calls, but no success. But this week, HF got one. Here it is, skin still on:

And here it is off -- while HF is gutting and preparing it (it is now all cooked up in a stew). Quite a science lesson, I assure you:

Mouse started her swim lessons this week. The girl adores swimming and is happy as all get out to be in the water; however, she's not a huge fan of the lessons. The first day she was fine and went right down the (tall) slide with no coaxing. See?

But every day after she's cried. Poor girl. Roo has gone in as a lesson 'helper' several days, as Mouse is not the only reluctant 3-year-old in the class…

The other, and most vocal, beginning swimmer who is disenchanted, is our friend Kate. Here she and Mouse hang out on the sidelines during their older siblings' first official swim meet (they did great!). Too sweet.

Our friends the Eaddys - the other family hosting a Latvian orphan - have access to a neighborhood lake and invited us to come swim there with them this week. So fun:

Monkey had his end-of-year cub scout ceremony on Thursday night, a barbecue most notable for the sheets of rain that were falling just outside the pavilion for most of it. They pressed on nonetheless, however, and Monkey promoted to Weebelo. New hat and new neckerchief to go with that new rank!

Here's the den

Today HF took Monkey out on the nearby Rappahannock River for his first canoe paddle. Very exciting! They both loved it.

Schumans and other friends

We had a great visit last week from the fantastic Schumans, among our dearest and oldest friends. They came for 1 1/2 days during both of our spring breaks, and we had a great and low-key time. We made pizza. Andrew learned he likes chickens and enjoys holding them (for more information about the sad fate that happened to this hen the following week, go here):

We flew kites on (seemingly) the windiest day of the year:

Then girls made jewelry out of beach shells and beads, and the boys fashioned weapons out of sticks using hot glue guns (in some cases). They then held a creative- and lucrative- sale:

The Schumans (sadly) had to leave, but we do have another friend. Pedro the peacock from up the road keeps coming down to hang out:

We also got four more sheep, a mother ewe (Agnes) and her three nursing lambs, two weeks old:

Speaking of babies: the youngest two and I went up to DC to visit sweet baby Charlie Weld on Monday, just 7 weeks old. What a dream! So much fun