WaVaHo Field trip!

For those of you who don't know... (drum roll please...) we HOME SCHOOL! (Gasp!) I know, I know. but don't worry... it's perfectly legal and we DO socialize. One of the things we do for school is a weekly History Co-op. This is where all the stir crazy homeschooling moms get their kids together and have hands-on activities that have to do with the history subject for the year. (As if schooling our children and regular household chores wasn't enough right?) Any way, this year is all about American History. So, our entire group of homeschoolers went on a field trip to Dobbs Park last Tuesday, to visit their Native American History Center.

This is what happened while we were there...

Even Abbie got in on the fun!!!

The director of the Center had a nice activity planned for the kids.

When the kiddos were done slathering paint on their sticks (and in some cases themselves) they were given a tour of the History center and then we went outside to eat under the pavilion. Sorry there are no pictures of this, I had left my camera inside.

Many thanks to April for arranging everything! All the kids had a blast making their coup sticks and sand art! I tried to get more pictures of the older kids but they all came out really blurry.

A Star is born...

Well we did end up loosing 3 babies but we still have 6 that are healthy and strong! They will be two weeks old tomorrow. This is the little one that we bottle fed for a few days. She is doing very well (I say she but it really is to early to tell). We have named it Estrella. It means "star" in Spanish. It might end up being show qualitybut not breedable. He has to much black, blue, and grey in her genes.
I'll put up some more pics of the other bunnies soon but I thought you guys would like an update!

A Little Bunny Heartbreak...

As I posted last week Ebony Had 9 bouncy baby bunnies. Sadly, three of them passed away on day 4. Today is day 6 and I think we might loose another one. He is pretty weak but has a big personality. I have begun supplementing it's feeds with a homemade formula (recommended by our vet) and it has a very vigorous appetite. All of the others are very healthy and strong! Most of them are twice the size of this little one, and are rapidly becoming the cute little rabbits I was hoping to see!

I'm not sure that my stepping in is going to save this little guy but I figure that not helping at all... well... won't help. So here's hoping! Updates soon!

Goin' on a hike...

Monday was Labor day and john had the day off. Abbie actually woke up sick so we took her to Aunt Missy for the afternoon and took the rest of the seemingly healthy children on a hike at McComick's Creek State Park. We hiked trail 3 down to the creek and followed the creek up to the water falls.

Gabriel decided to scale a cliff just for the fun of it. John and I had to actually stop him because I think the little stinker would have actually made it to the top!

John pointed out a snake on the path...

and it took quite a bit of convincing to get the kids to leave it be and not take it home as a pet!

About 3 minutes into the hike we discovered that Abbie wasn't the only one feeling under the weather! We carried Maggie most of the time. She would perk up every now and then but most of the time this is how she felt!

I don't think the boys appreciate my need to do a photo shoot on nearly every hike we take. But some of my favorite pictures of them are during times like this!

Hannah thought this was the Water fall we were looking for and was very excited to point it out to Maggie! I was nearly ready to turn back just so I didn't have to disappoint her!

You should have seen how excited she got when we got to this set of falls! She was sure we were there!

Malachi found some fossils of some kind of shells. I tried to get a good picture but they just didn't come out very clear

Ammon and Chi got to show off their agility by crossing this fallen tree.

When we finally reached the falls and the pool at the bottom we all rolled up our pants and waded a little. It was really to cold to get really wet. Poor Gabie fell twice and ended up soaked!

John opted NOT to get in the water (shocking!) So he sat on a nearby fallen tree...

and took these wonderful pictures!

When Rose and Sarah climbed up to the very same cave that I remember sitting in when I was their age I HAD to get a picture! John wasn't to happy about them being out so far on the ledge of a cliff. This picture doesn't do the height justice because I was actually on a stair case leading up the cliff.

This picture shows it a little better.

Funny thing... We didn't get a single picture of the actual falls while we were at the foot! Oh well, Guess we'll just have to go again! This is the view from the top of the cliff that we climbed via the stairs. (Now maybe you understand Johns concerns with the cave!)

Just some pictures...

Malachi the wizard!

Malachi made a swing out of a couple of jump ropes and a log! It's actually pretty strong. The boys have been enjoying it for a few days now.

Gabie taking his turn!

Abbie-snail loves to draw on our patio.

This is Sarahs latest artwork... she loves to draw with chalk pastels... sidwalk chalk is the next best thing!

Rose's has begun training Dreamer. He is doing really well!

Hangin' out in the barn...

Yesterday, we spent the day outside enjoying the fall weather! While we were out there, we decided to clean out the barn and enjoy some cuddle time with the rabbits.

The little ones were so sweet about it that I had to run inside and get the camera!

Abbie has been calling Sarah's baby mini-lop "my bunny" for a couple of days now and she says it's name is Mommy. Don't ask me where she got that from.

This is Ammon's Emily. He is very excited to breed her in a couple of months!

This is Gabriel's Wanda. She's a sandy.

Even John got in on the bunny cuddling. Poppie, is the father of the babies that were just born today!

I love those spontaneous happy moments!