A Variety of Random Photos

One of the fun spots of our week is when Eliana has music/developmental therapy.  She loves it.  I love seeing her participating and having fun.  I did Kindermusik classes with my other children and she has missed out on this (no free mornings in our current schedule to do this).  I love that she has this opportunity. 

We learn songs and play instruments.  Is this one cute or what?



Eliana's favorite instrument is the cabasa.  A close second is this big drum which doubles as a fun ride. 



Isaiah received a pirate excavation kit for his birthday.  He loved it!



I love his focus on this project (and all the dust on his face!).



We've had a lovely fall so far and I really enjoy being outside this time of year (as opposed to the summer when it is just so hot).  We took advantage of one of our nice afternoons to go on a nature scavenger hunt in our backyard. 



We used a form I got from a recent field trip and went out to see what we could find.



They found most of the things on the list - including mushrooms.



This is a "natural" see-saw that they took turns on.

I love pictures from behind and in this one I love that the boys are looking all around in different places to see what treasures they can find.



We walked down to the small creek and of course a couple of them wanted to cross it. 



It was a fun way to spend some time and it's something I need to do more often.  Fall is my favorite season and I'm hoping we'll get out and do this more often!

We saw Eliana's ped recently at a visit and she requested a picture of Eliana and Joshua.  She is giving a talk about caring for kids with medical issues (her specialty is children with chronic and complex medical conditions).  She likes putting faces in front of people when she is talking.  She has used a pictures from Eliana's heart surgery in the past too.  I think she is right.  Hearing something and then adding a face to it certainly gets to your heart.  It makes it something that is happening to a person and not just medical facts.

Anyway, as I looked through my pics I realized that I didnt have any good ones of just these two, so I snapped a few and love what I got!





Blessings
Leslie

FIAR Co-op: Cowboy Charlie

It was time again for our co-op.  We are meeting every other week.  We go on field trips during the alternate weeks with our FIAR group.  So each week we look forward to this day as a fun hands-on day of learning with our friends.

Our book for this co-op was Cowboy Charlie.  It is a true story of an artist who painted beautiful pictures of the West.  The story tells of how he went out west, learned to be a cowboy and was friends with the Native American people. 

Our day was wet and cool, but that did not dampen the fun had by all.  Some of the children dressed up.



Can you see the teepee made from branches?  The circles on the photo are raindrops.



We read the story to start the day.



The children were then given passports of various historical characters. 



There were pictures and some facts on the front and more details on the back.



It was fun to hear the stories of the people from the past. 



Sometimes the characters were a really good match.  lol



They travelled around the yard and listened to stories about these people.



They came to a table filled with interesting things ... a turtle's shell, claws from a hawk and an owl, various bones, precious stones including fool's gold and amethyst.  My boys really loved seeing and touching these things!









Eliana and her friend Julianna always have fun playing together.



The children took turns trying to rope the steer. 



This was supposed to be our snack site complete with water to pour from the kettle, but the weather drove us inside. 



The children learned about the stars and God's story behind the constellations.  They each had a hands-on poster to work with as they were learning.



We finished the morning with a yummy snack from our sweet hostess! 



Thank you Lynn and Vivian for a wonderful morning!  I love this co-op and can't wait until we meet again.

Blessings
Leslie

Buddy Walk 2009

We attended our local Buddy Walk which was this past Sunday.  I've really enjoyed this event and especially the opportunity to see so many people with Down Syndrome.  I still remember the first year when we pulled up to a very full parking area.  I cried.  I was overwhelmed with the number of people there supporting the Buddy Walk and the many beautiful faces that I saw with Down syndrome.

On our way to the event this year, Isaiah got sick in the car.  I was so bummed for him and for all of us.  He had gotten dressed with his Buddy Walk shirt from last year because he was excited about going to the event.  I hated that he would miss it.  Roger dropped the rest of us off and he and Isaiah went home.

We were able to enjoy more of the games and activities this year.  Some of the fun included a large inflatable slide.  Eliana LOVED this and was happy to go again and again on it.



Mini golf was fun too.





Fun firetruck ride.





We enjoyed a beautiful sunny day.  After the forecasts for rain, we were very happy to see the sun. 



We enjoyed lunch there (bbq) and treats too.  Joshua's numbers were good and he managed to have a few treats too.  :-)



Daniel loved the art table.  I need to do more of this in our days. 



It is on a nice canvas that I need to hang up soon.  Daniel was very proud of his work and I really like it too!



Hanging out with my dear friend Rebecca.



Sisters.  (One of my favorite kinds of pictures - from the back.)



Going on the walk.  This year Eliana was big enough (and willing enough) to do the whole walk herself.  It isn't a super long walk, but she is still small.  She seems to enjoy the walking and seeing the many posters along the route.





Just loved Eliana's sweet face in this way.

As we were walking and looking at the signs, we were keeping an eye out for Eliana's sign.  It was towards the end of the walk, and there was a lot of excitement to see her cute little self looking back at us.



Don't you wonder what she is thinking?



We ran into my friend AJ and her cute daughter Janna.  It's fun to see friends at these events.  I wish we lived closer and could see each other more often.



It was a fun day.  I look forward to going again next year.

Blessings
Leslie

Occoneechi Indian Village

We had a wonderful field trip last week with our FIAR group to learn from the people of the Occaneechi Tribe of the Saponi Nation.  This is a field trip that I was very excited about coordinating and it fully lived up to my expectations and then some!!!  I highly recommend a trip if you are in this area.

We visited with the link and learned more about their life in the past and their contributions to our culture.  It was a fascinating day.  It was made all the richer for the many wonderful men and women that took part in the day.  They were kind, patient, interesting and informative. 

We learned about the archeological work that is going in excavating an old Indian village (thought to be Occaneechi).  (Click on links to read more.) 



Some local university students talked with us about foods that were native to the Americas.  We also heard from a man representing the Trading Path Association that is working to locate and preserve old trading paths.

Next we watched a tribal dance.



Then we participated as a group in a large circle.  (I'm carrying Eliana in a bright pink sling and holding Daniel's hand.)









There was a run-down shell of a home on the land and the man that was there told us that he lived in this house many years ago.  It was just part of the original home where he lived with his 10 siblings.  He told us about what life on the farm was like.  He also demonstrated using a saw, splitting wood and shucking corn as he told about the chores he did before school started.





Some of the children taking a turn at getting the dried corn off of the cob.



Playing at the well - which still worked!



Just a picture of my little cutie just hanging out.



We listened to some storytelling which was fun and heard the story behind this dress.  It weighs 45 pounds!!!  Can you imagine wearing that?



We learned about tools used in farming and fishing.



We also learned about weapons.  This table was fascinating for the children - especially the little boys!!! 





The interpreter had made all of the weapons on display. 



He told about each one and patiently answered questions. 



He also demonstrated making a dart out of a thistle.  I thought this was so cool!



He shot the dart many times so I could get this picture.  Can you see the dart to the right?





Here is the target and many darts.











A cricket holder is fascinating.



Or maybe it is just playing with a bigger friend.



We also learned about foods and cooking.







Above are some tools and things used in daily life.

Below, we learned about dream catchers.



This gal was so very patient and had a sweet chat with my little Daniel.



Just another shot of my little cutie pie.  I can't resist.



We had an awesome day.  The weather was beautiful!  The site was interesting and fun.  The company was sweet.  What more could we ask for!

Blessings
Leslie