Carving fun . . .

Well, I still like having carved pumpkins out front to look at, but not all the kids like to partake in the carving.  Apparently Cassie has decided she is too old to participate, and well, Zack just doesn’t like to get his hands dirty.

We already had one pumpkin we had picked up a while back at Schacht Farm -so Mackenzie and I picked up one more the other day at the grocery store.  Which I’m glad I waited because it was only $3.99 and not the advertised $5.99.  I have to admit I was a little shocked at the $8.99 price at Sam’s Club.

So, while Cassie was babysitting at the neighbors, Mackenzie & I gutted our two pumpkins. 

Those lovely pumpkin seeds did not get wasted.  I made some roasted pumpkin seeds and Grandma took a few to dry and save for planting in the garden next year. 

After they were cleaned out, Mackenzie drew a face on hers and began carving.  She did a fine job.

Later in the evening, Zack came in from hanging out with the neighbor friends and carved while he ate some pumpkin pie.

Mackenzie’s masterpiece.

Zack did a very nice job, too on his work of art. 

What’s in store for us today

Well, we have been going non-stop since we got back to Ohio.  We have had a great time immersing ourselves in so much – co-op, Girl Scouts, social outings, field trips - BUT I think our bodies are finally telling us to SLOW DOWN!!!

Cassie has not felt well the last couple of  days – she is fighting a head cold.  Mackenzie was exhausted the other day and her stomach didn’t tolerate all the junk she had eaten.  Zack is currently down the  worst running a 101 temp and not feeling well at all.  I have just felt so run down and exhausted.

So, today . . . some much needed R&R!!! Hopefully we can all get re-energized today.

It’s OFFICIAL . . .

Don’t they make a cute couple??

Well, they are no longer just a cute couple.  My baby sister is officially engaged to marry Chad Nation. I am so happy and excited for her!!!

CONGRATULATIONS to you, oh and you too, Chad!!

Down South

Before we moved away last year, we made a list of things we would have liked to do if time and money permitted.  There were several things we did and saw as a family before our move north, but there were several things we didn’t get to - like The Creation Museum, Newport Aquarium, and The Farm at Walnut Creek to just name a few. 

Well, yesterday we took advantage of Homeschool Days at Newport Aquarium – over the last year, we have missed such opportunities – it’s a vital part of homeschooling successfully!!).

We went down to Kentucky with some friends – motivated by the half price tickets.  There were A LOT of people – a big crowd!! 

Our morning started off early.  I was so happy everyone got out of bed, got dressed and was ready to walk out the door on time at 8:00 a.m.  We had a quick sugar breakfast of doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, and danishes at the Millers before we headed south.  The boys went in one van and the little girls in the other.

The kids were excited about the river!

Aside from the crowd, the aquarium was a pretty neat place. 

After venturing into the aquarium, we took in a dive show.

The first fifteen minutes a diver read Dr. Seuss’s One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish INSIDE the tank!!

Then she spent some time telling us about all the habitants in the tank.  This is Denver and apparently he likes to bite. 

The kids enjoyed the touch pool.  Yes, they ALL got to pet a shark.

I thought this was a freaky picture.  I was trying to take a picture of the piranhas and you can see part of Mackenzie’s reflection in the glass.

 

CHECK OUT that snapping turtle!!

We tried to feed the lorikeets, but apparently they weren’t hungry.

Cassie climbed up the column and they would eat, but they would not come down to eat.

We all loved the jellyfish . . .

 

We had a great time at the aquarium and hanging out with our friends.

A new look . . .

Zack wanted to go with a new look.  So, what the heck -

 

he’s still my handsome young man!!!

Fun Filled Food Drive

The Girl Scouts spent the day collecting food for the local food pantry.  Mrs. Miller, the troop leader, passes out fliers in her neighborhood a few days before the meeting and neighbors have been wonderful over the years.  This year 75 fliers went out and the girls, a Junior troop and a Daisy troop, were divided up and headed in four different directions.

The older girls have done this for several years, so the Daisies were divided up amongst the four patrols so the older girls could show them the ropes.  It was a wonderful warm and sunny day to be out walking. 

Many homes had left bags of food on their front porches for collection.  The girls would go up and collect the bags and then leave a thank you card.

Even if there wasn’t a bag waiting on the porch, the girls took turns going up to the doors and asking if they would like to make a food donation for the pantry.

 

Several made donations!!

All four patrols returned back at the house at the same time.  So, we carried all the food in, got some refreshing water, and then started sorting.

The girls had to check the expiration dates on all the cans and boxes to make sure the donated food had not expired.  Mrs. Miller will finalize everything and take the items to the local pantry. 

The girls showing off the many items they collected.

Time to celebrate!!  Juliette Low, the founder of Girl Scouts, was born on October 31, 1860.  So the troops celebrated her birthday at the October meeting.  What better way to celebrate but with cake & cupcakes!!!  They even sang happy birthday to Juliette.  You may notice the troop number on the sash is 1912.  Well, that’s not the number for the Juniors nor the Daisies that were there, but that number represents the year Juliette Low had the first Girl Scout meeting. 

 

Game time . . . Mrs. Miller had the girls gather in a circle for a quick game.  She read a story that gave some history about Juliette Low.  As the story was read, if she said ‘Juliette Low’ the girls were to hold hands, if she said ‘scout’ they had to salute, if she said ‘world’ they spun around in a circle, and if she said ‘fund’ they were to yell ‘cha-ching.’ 

“Juliette Low”

“scout”

 

“CHA-CHING!!!!”

To close the meeting, the girls did the ‘friendship squeeze’ to close the meeting, and then they were off for free play!!