A new member of the family!

Introducing - Will's new bird Xerxes. This name, by the way, was suggested by Wayne. He originally wanted to name Will this when I was pregnant and since that didn't happen he finally got his wish. He thought it would be cool for a kid to have this name and sign his name with a big X. I don't get it.

Fall in New England

The beginning of October we went with Wayne to New England for a pastor's conference. While Daddy was in meetings the kids and I explored a children's museum in Providence, Rhode Island followed by a trip to the mall. I thought that was fair - something for the kids, something for Mommy - haha! After spending two night there and after Wayne was done with his conference, we drove up to Boston the spend the next two nights.
Wayne had found our hotel online by bidding on it. We stayed at the Hilton airport hotel which was lovely - and at a decent price. We were then given a room on the top floor with access to complimentary appetizers in the evening and breakfast in the morning! We felt so special!! We had a blast exploring Boston via the subway. This was a huge thrill for the kids! We did it all - the subway, bus and even a ferry across the harbor!

We walked the Freedom Trail that included seeing sights as the Old North Church, Paul Revere's house and more and ended with a guided tour of the USS Constitution. We visited the Museum of Science and enjoyed a lunch of New England clam chowder and some yummy beer from a Boston micro-brewery. (I had the Pumpkin ale!) We stopped at the park featured in the popular kid's book "Make Way for Ducklings" where the kids had a ride on the bronze ducks. The drive was lovely both directions as the fall colors were breathtaking. We had such a fun time!

Stepping back in time

Upper Canada in the 1860's - a step back in time. Will got an opportunity to experience this at Upper Canada Village with our home school group in September. For 2 days and 2 nights he and 20 other children lived as they would have in the 1860's. They dressed the part, did chores, attended a one-room schoolhouse, square-danced and more.
While I could not personally be there to witness all this, my dear friends and chaperone's of the trip did an excellent job in the photos that they took.
I just love the photo of the girls twirling in their dresses! Their straw hats were precious. They were taught much about the difficult kitchen work over a fire, preparing for winter and storing seeds for spring. They combed out wool and did some hand sewing. All the kids fed the animals, milked the cows and pumped water. The boys were taught to work with tin and made a candle sconce to hang on the wall. They also make a candle holder at the blacksmith. All children attended the one room schoolhouse. There they had to memorize and recite lessons, have spelling and math bees and follow the "rules" of the schoolroom minus the whipping they would have received if in trouble!

The children were challenged and much was expected of them and yet there was such a sense of innocence to it all. I enjoyed the images captured of the girls holding hands as they walked through the village, the kids playing games, the fun on the tire swing; the boys taking hostage a toad and observing it in their hat! What a wonderful experience with many memories made!