Sept 29 trip to the zoo

Sept 29, we took the late morning/ early afternoon to head to the St. Louis Zoo for a field trip to see the animatronic dinosaurs that were there for a special exhibit.


I think this is probably the best picture of J we took all day.



V and B liked to pretend they were running away from the dinosaurs. These dinosaurs not only growled, but moved also. No, they didn't chase you, but they would move parts of their bodies. This one, for example, moved it's head and front arms.


The "dinosaur prints" were made by V and B while they were waiting on us to catch up.

M and J both thought this one was really neat.

I believe Daddy and J read every word on every sign throughout the entire exhibit!

Everyone seemed to like this guy.
I believe this is the one M liked the best.


And this one was my favorite!

This is my favorite picture from the entire day! After the kids sat on this guy, and got to feel his "skin", we went on a 3-D simulator ride called Dino Island II. It was so much fun! It was similar to a roller coaster ride, except if the screen shook, so did your chair. It also was not on rails. It all took place inside a vehicle about the size of a Dodge Sprinter, maybe a little bigger. We rode it four times, and finally decided to go "dig" for dinosaur bones.




While the younger three were digging up bones, these two took a shot at tooth "fighting". The man in charge wouldn't let them really sword fight with them, but the idea was definetly there.

A very hard day, indeed.

Today my DH did something he has never done before. He preached a memorial service. It was a close friend of the family that we have known for about 8 or 9 years now. She was young, just 31, and her, her husband, and her two kids were /are very special to us. He did a good job, didn't even race while he was talking! (For those of you that know him, you know that alone was a miracle!) Please remember Krista, Damon, and Bud in your prayers. We love them, and know they would appreciate your prayers. After you pray, go hug your own kiddos a little extra.

School pictures, group

This year our co-op leader hired a photographer to come in and take pictures of the kids for school pictures. (Face it, most homeschoolers really fail in the area of getting school pictures done!) Since we had already taken the kids school pictures in Tennessee, we decided to do a group picture of them. Martie dropped them off last night, and I must say, I think they are great!


Today is officially the end of our first quarter of school!! Woo hoo!!!! I am so thrilled to be able to say that. The kids are still doing great on their work, getting it done in a good amount of time, getting it done pretty well. They are enjoying the classes/activities they are in, and I'm enjoying them getting to be involved in them. I did not realize until this year just how great homeschooling could be! I'm thankful for that!

A great start.

This morning my hubby called me and told me to go make my coffee. I told him it was already brewing, in fact it was done, I just hadn't had time to make a cup yet. He told me to go make a cup, and be sure I got my sugar and creamer down. (I do not drink coffee without them, so I thought that a little odd.)

I squealed when I looked on the shelf and there sat my keys!!!!!! They have been gone for about three weeks now, and he found them last night. He knew I would get in that cabinet, so he put them there. This is such a huge relief! The only key we have for the Pontiac is on that keyring, and it costs about $75 to replace, the key to the new van is one of those key fob things, and it costs about twice that amount. I knew we did not have the money to go buy new keys. He was looking under the driver's seat in the new van to get something and they were under the seat. Do you know how many times I have looked under there!!!!

I'm praising God to a great start for the week!

School pictures (taken in Tennessee)

Aren't they cute!

Best Friends!

This is my best friend, T. We've been friends for as long as we can remember. She's a true gem!


T's husband, T, me and DH. See those "bushes" behind us? Those are the TOPS of trees!

More pictures from Tennesse

DH took C, V, and B up in the Space Needle in Gatlinberg.
They absolutely loved it!


C's favorite face to make.


T playing Vana (Those are her initials, you know!)



This is all of us.
(DH wanted us to be oldest to youngest. Sweet ain't he?)

I'm not in Tennessee.

Ok, so I was supposed to go to Bill Rice Ranch for their ladies' retreat with some ladies from our church today, but I didn't. I was so sick yesterday I went to bed at 1:30 in the afternoon, and got out about 7 pm. I was back in bed about 10:30, and got up at 9 this morning. My big Sis called me at 7:30, and I remember talking to her for a while, but went back to sleep after we got off the phone. So, I'm home, and the kids are enjoying a free day with no school work. I'm supposed to be catching up on what I didn't get done yesterday, but thought I would update here first. (Gotta do the important things first!)

Happy 14th Birthday J!

My little J is 14 years old today! Wow how fast he is growing up! I got to see him in Awana today, and I realized just how much of a natural leader he is. He handles himself very well, and seems to get along with all of the kids. We took him to Aeropastale to buy him a hoodie, but they were out of his size. Instead, we are going to order it online. But the point is he will have a hoodie from Aeropastale, a red one to boot! Happy Birthday J! We love you!!