what a weekend!!

The zoo trip was just perfect! The weather was great, the zoo was way more than we expected and there were so many bonus' to the trip that we know for certain God had it all planned for us.

We started out by arriving at the zoo and heading up the escalator to the entrance. You have to know Pittsburgh and understand that everything there is built on a hill. Most of the children have never been on an escalator so you can imaging the craziness getting everyone on and then watching them as we go up. They were falling all over themselves and Tom and I were doubled over laughing at the sight of it all.

Next, we watched in amazement as the children light up all over at the sight of all the animals we saw. The elephants and the penguins were some of the favorites. We came at just the right time for feeding for several of the animals so we were able to watch them eat. We watched a show that had small animals (hedgehog, skenk lizard and others) and the children were able to pet them and really see them up close.

Then we visited the African area and had our picture taken with a 3 year old elephant. We were petting her afterwards and the children thought they had just died and gone to animal heaven.

As if that was not enough, we watched the polar bear eating, the penguins interact with the children, and the seals interacting too. The kangaroos so close you could touch them, the stingray petting area (yes, you can actually pet stingrays and these ones loved to be touched)and the sharks swimming over the heads of the children in the water tunnels.

We went to my parents afterwards and the next day it was kite flying, the slip-n-slide and a fire with marshmallows.

God knew that we have a busy school year ahead for the children and for me and we felt so blessed to be able to have this little slice of fun before finishing the canning season, starting homeschool and starting back to college.

The children were so overwhelmed by the weekend they just begged to go back soon. Fortunately the ticket sales person at the zoo suggested we buy a year membership and saved us about $30 off admission so now we can visit as much as we want in the next year. Did I mention how blessed we felt.

Canning this week so I will post the results, good and bad and how my college classes measure up to my liking and of course the homeschool happenings!

leaving one zoo for another!

After days of canning everything possible we are retreating for the weekend to visit my parents and to take the children to the Pittsburgh Zoo.

I cannot believe all the wonderful jars of goodness that are bursting out of the pantry. More beans, blackberry jams, and salsa along with dried nectarines rounded out this week. I will have more to do next week including peaches, more corn, lots more salsa and some zucchini made into crushed pineapple. I know sound weird but it tastes just like it!

My dear sweetie made supper tonight (BLTs) so I was able to get stuff together for the weekend and tie up some loose ends.

The children all packed their backpacks with goodies to keep them busy for the trip and then the older ones helped the Little's pack their clothes. They also worked on laundry and did all the house chores so we can come home to a tidy house.

Next week is official homeschooling and I start back to college. I am hoping for a better semester than last and count it as one more down.

some of the children are finishing their shower, some are already in bed and my hubby is waiting for some wife time :) and all extra produce was just picked up so off for an early start on a fun weekend.

This is the day that the Lord has made...

A much needed refreshing Lord's day here at the Big House. Tom has worked so much he decided on a family worship day.

Yesterday I went with him on a loonngg ride on the motorbike. We put in well over 300 miles and it was a great ride to de-stress him after so many 16 hour working days. I often just watch the stress melt away off his back and see his muscles relax as we ride. I was ever so thankful for the children letting us go. Hannah had them all bathed and in bed when we came home. Garrett graciously picked up our produce order and now I have salsa and pickling to look forward to for this week.

The large Rhino beetle is still a visitor here even though he did manage to escape his quarters for a brief time. Miriam brought me a roly poly bug as I was having some bible study time on the porch. I told her to just feed him to our bearded dragon lizard but she was not too happy about my suggestion. Hannah is under the weather today so I think some game playing will be in order instead of swimming.

I also plan on working in some knitting time. I joined the hat of the month club (at Millicents yarns) in March and I am behind a hat. I like the fact that they are portable so I can take them places to work on. There has only been one that I do not care for and I plan on replacing that pattern with a Tam style. I figure that if I do one hat a month until next March I will have a hat made for everyone in the family!

Winding down...for now!

My life is not only full but also very interesting and at times down right amazing! The last several weeks were full of canning peaches, tomato sauce, pickles and relish. Freezing corn and 28 loaves of zucchini bread rounded out the list. Hannah decided to make some little pizzas for the freezer and at 13 she did a super job. There are several little pizzas tucked away now awaiting to be pulled out and topped. She also tried her hand out at making sauce for them as did super on that as well. Now before anyone thinks she is just such a super child notice the added picture of her with the brown substance on her finger and the light brown curly items sticking out of it. Well... she came to me and said "mom, Oscar (our pug puppy) has worms" then she proceeds to lick her finger to which I am now permanently grossed out!

Today it is cookies and brownies as the cookie jar has been empty for way to long! I also want to make some rolls and bread but we shall see what time permits.

Tom has been working some tremendous overtime for the last three weeks and most days were 16 hour ones. I was was sitting in bed last night watching something on my laptop when my dear son Garrett decides to show me his new found friend. Now what part of this bug is not something you want to see before you go to bed? I think I might need therapy after this one!