An amazing field trip

I know I post a lot about field trips.  I do love them!  Hands-on learning where you can see and touch and experience just seem like the best way to learn.  I know experiencing something is so much better for me to learn something!  I know it has been great for my children too!

We finished up rowing the Beyond book, Cricket in Times Square, and then set off on a field trip.  It started with me hinting about it to some friends in the co-op.  One then told me later that if I was serious, that she was in.  Soon, it grew and 5 families were in!

I bet you are already guessing our destination, right?  I wondered if it was crazy.  Not sure how it would be to take my younger ones, but knew that this would be a great experience!  We decided to go for it.  I would not have done it on my own, but with friends going, it seemed manageable.  Then Roger decided to join us too which made it even easier.  Well, maybe easy isn't the right word.  Doable.

We have studied so much about this site this year.  Really delving into the history, sites and locations.  This was a natural way to end the book in so many ways.  (Not that we have done this in the past, but the timing was good.)  I'm so glad we did this!!!

So have you guessed?  Or maybe you have seen the pictures already?

I've been wanting to post more about this, but since I was late in my posts, by the time I got close to being ready to post, disaster had hit and it just didn't seem right to post anything then.  We were so thankful to be able to visit and our hearts were so touched by all that went on there since we had just been there too.

You've probably guessed by now.

New York City!

We headed out to see Times Square.  To look at the subway station where the story takes place.  To explore the city.

We drove to NYC on a Friday morning.  When we arrived at our hotel and got settled, we were ready to do some exploring.  We stayed in NJ and there was a bus stop right in front of our hotel.  Very convenient!

We hopped on the bus and headed in.

 It took a long time to get in due to rush hour traffic.

 Arriving at the bus station and then working to find out way out into the city.  Thankfully we had a few people in the group that had been here before and knew their way around.

 Excited and ready to see Times Square at night!

 LOTS of lights.

 Lots of people.

 Some we even recognized.

 So much to see and yet also hold tightly to little hands.

 We made it to Times Square - to the big red bleachers and met more of our friends there!

 We saw ourselves on the Jumbotron.  Can you see me there?  I'm in the center near the bottom - with a camera in front of my face.  LOL

 We decided just to spend the evening walking around.  It was so much fun to be there with friends.

 These two little buddies enjoyed hanging out.

 And I still love pictures from the back.  Aren't they cute?!

 We walked from Times Square toward Rockefeller Center.  And saw some sites along the way.

 Seeing the Lego store was on the list for some in our group.  This sign was made from lots of mini figures!  Lots of them!

 Picture of the group - there were just 3 families with us this night.  Cracked me up how they lined up.  Almost by height!

 The statue and soon to be ice rink.

 Loved all the flags and lights.

 This is a replica of the Rockefeller Center made from Legos.

 It was fun and the details were great.  They enjoyed spotting some of the superheroes in various spots too!  Inside the store was a copy of the statue Atlas made from Legos.  I couldn't get a picture because we arrived just as they were closing.  (We made it the next day.)

 We walked a little farther to Saint Patrick's Cathedral.  I couldn't get a good picture of the outside because they are renovating and there was a lot of scaffolding around.  Here is a link if you want to see a  picture.

 We went inside and looked around a bit before they closed.  What a beautiful and huge church.

 Just some silliness outside.

Daniel nudged me when we were walking outside to show me what he had found just across the street from the church.  Do you see it?  

Its the statue of Atlas.  Just like the one in the Lego store!  He was so excited.  I thought it was pretty neat too!

 We walked down 5th Avenue and did some window shopping.  It was so tempting to go into the American Girl store!  Maybe on another trip!  We made it back to the bus station and some of the guys posed for a photo for me.  I wanted one in front of a newsstand!  Though this is a much larger stand than the one we read about in our book.

Due to the volume of photos, I'm going to split up this trip into several posts.  I hope you enjoy seeing some of our fun in the Big Apple.

We loved our visit there.  We were there just two weeks before Sandy hit the area.  We are still praying for the many affected by this storm.

I'll post more tomorrow (or soon) about our next day in the city!

Blessings
Leslie

NC Botanical Garden - field trip

We have been so blessed to have so many beautiful days for our field trips.  This one was no exception!  We visited the NC Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill.  They have grown a lot since the last time that we were here.  More trails, a huge education center and some neat areas for younger children too.  The only challenge was parking as there was not enough of it for all the people there to enjoy it that day.  We parked at a nearby location and walked which wasn't a problem.

We were divided into small groups of 10 or less children.  This is one of the groups - all boys!  :-)  

 They spent time exploring the different types of soil in North Carolina as they walked through the gardens.  They were also able to dissect a Pitcher plant (a carnivorous plant) in order to see what it had eaten?  Pretty neat, huh?  I have no pictures of that though as I was trailing a busy girl at that time.

 The youngest children explored on their own.  There were a number of interesting statues and pieces of art distributed throughout the garden.  This was part of a movable piece near the entrance to the garden.

 I love pictures of paths.  So much symbolism.  So many thoughts swirl through my mind as I ponder beginnings and traveling.  Life is a journey and its sweetest when travelled with those that you love.

 Checking out the map - up close.  Its always good to know where you are and where you are heading. True in a new place and also in a literal was as we walk through our daily lives.

 This is part of the children's area with the new education building in the background.

 Couldn't get these two to look and smile at the same time.  Reminds me of life too.  How it can be hard to get things lined up just the way that you want them.  Sometimes you just have to move on.  Or change your perspectives.  Or just accept that this is the way that things are and give thanks in that moment.

 My little princess doesn't mind the obstacles that she can skirt under and I think rather fancies that she can fit into small places.

 This is a fun game.  The large pieces are always intriguing to kids of all ages.

 She just looks like she is getting so big to me in this photo.

 I love fall skies.  Beautiful clear blues.  Leaves not yet changed.  (This is early Oct.)

 We wandered around the garden looking at various plants, flowers and other interesting things.  We caught up with the boys and were with them for the end of their program.

 This was one of my favorite parts of the garden.  Love the tall flowers on both sides of the path.

 Sweet group - even with the rabbit ears.

 This is a bigger shot of the entry way to the garden and the art piece there.  The children loved spinning it around.

We stayed for lunch and were surprised by a visit from Roger.  :-)  After eating, we headed home to pack up for our next big outing.  :-)

More soon!

Blessings

Leslie

Slow times

For a few days in October ... things were slow.  And sweet.  And fun.  Its not that I don't enjoy some of our fast paced days, I do.  But I also relish the days that are unplanned and that take on a life of their own.  So much of our time is spent waiting for the next big thing.  We take pictures and celebrate the big events.  But life is made up of the little things.  The random days.  The people that we love.

Its important to take time to relax and just hang out.  I love this time of year.  Fall is definitely my favorite season and the one in which I most love to be outside!  I love the cooler days.  The changing leaves.  All of it.

I love having my whole family under one roof.  I can't explain how it delights my mama's heart to have everyone here.  I love seeing my children playing together and having fun and pray that it extends into adulthood and that they will be close for the rest of their lives.  Family is a precious gift.

Silliness.  Laughter.  None of that can be scheduled or planned.  It just happens.  It takes time.  I'm thankful for the times we have had and that we continue to have.

Time can sometimes separate.  Distance can pull people apart.  When the ties are strong though, the bonds remain.  In Christ, we have a bond that won't be broken and for that I am thankful too!

I love seeing my younger ones following in the steps of their older siblings.  Well, most of the time.  LOL  This scene reminds me of an accident with one of the older siblings many years ago.  A "Legolas" move that seemed better in the imagination than it played out in real life.

I'm thankful when we have time and margin in our lives because we can then include friends and fold them into the things that we are doing.  I love having Christopher's friends over.  Its fun to learn more about them and their lives and also to just wrap them into our family.  One of his friends from summer project came and hung out with us for the day.  (Loved having you here Lia!)

Can I just say that it does always tickle me that the younger boys think that they can beat Christopher in these physical games!  One day maybe, but he has a great advantage now.  Maybe if they worked together ...

My cute little girl just watching what is going on from the safety of the fort.

More of Christopher's friends come over to make a cake.  Its fall break so not many on campus and it fun to have them here!  (Natalie and Nate loved having you visit!)  Nate did a great job in grilling our dinner!  I was thankful for the help.

Cute little mouse birthday cake made from rice krispy treats.

I am thankful too for weeks when our schedule is not so full because it allows us time to plan fun family nights.  This was our celebration meal as we were finishing up the book Cricket in Times Square.  We decided to purchase Chinese food and it was yummy.

A less structured week also gives more room for creativity.  Time to explore.  Invent.  Create.  Daniel came up with a show all on his own.  It wasn't just a show either.  There was soooo much more to it!  I couldn't get a good picture of his show - it was a light/shadow show under a blanket.  I can show you all of the extras though.

Here is a partial look at the set-up in our family room.  To say that it took over is an understatement.  He worked SO hard in making signs and setting everything up!  Below is the booth that collects the tickets for the show.

While we were waiting for the show, there were all sorts of things to keep us busy - games, books to read, stamps to play with and more!  And in the picture below you can see some of the rules for his show including ... no iPhone, no iPad, no iPod, no talking and my favorite ... no gas.

Popcorn for our snacks!

More games available to play.

Can you just see all of the work that went into building, sign making and more!  He really spent a lot of time thinking through the details.  He set up blankets and pillows to make a comfortable area in which to watch the show.  He really did think of it all!

When the time was ready, we paid for our tickets.

Then let the show begin.

Thank you Daniel for a fun afternoon.  Thank you for letting us share in your creativity.

I'm thankful for this time.  This was a sweet time of rest before what would be a busy time also full of fun memories.  I'm glad to have the balance of both.  I enjoy the fast pace - for awhile - but not all of the time.  Without the days that are empty, there is not often the time to pretend, relax, create and explore that we have when our days are open.  A canvas waiting to be painted on.

This fall has gone by so quickly in so many ways and I'm thankful for much.  Thankful for time with my family and friends.  Thankful for the reminders to slow down, relax and enjoy!

Blessings
Leslie