MId-Atlantic Reptile Show

We attended the Mid-Atlantic Reptile Show last weekend. My kids loved it, they are big time animal people, and love all creatures. I had never seen so many snakes, lizards,and frogs in one place before. There was much to see and much to learn. WE all enjoyed the adventure.There where many interesting people to talk to as well.







looking at some of the many many snakes that where there with the breeders so many beautiful creatures I had no idea of all the colors and sizes in the world. Shawn liked seeing them since most where moving and at his eye level. I will say all the breeders where so interesting to talk to and answered endless questions from my kids. and many let them hold whatever they wanted.there of course where also booths with toys, and books, and shirts for sale. Grace an Madeline's favorite attraction- shopping!;-)







How about this huge tortoise, who was only$799, WOW!! Adam and Grace thought it was 7.99, no not even close. Should have seen their faces when I said no it was almost 800$.He was a sweet guy though an let us touch him all over and feed him some carrots.



This was Grace's favorite trip of the year, she is my no fear of anything child. She loves all creatures, great and small and wanted to hold everything.

We are now reading up and studying the bearded dragon all the kids feel in love with those little lizards, and want one. However , they and I are researching them out first, reptiles are so sensitive to changes in the environment and need very special care. We have to understand all that is involved before we bring one to live with us.

illustrating our names

In our monthly art class , we talked about illustration. And made illustrations of our names. We also talked about how we each had a unique name and we are all unique to God, he knows each of us by name :-)

We first drew names in big puffy letters.





The puffy letters where colored with bright colors and/or illustrated with things the kids liked, see how Grace's c is a caterpillar, and the dot on Madeline's i is a guinea pig:-)




we brought them home to finish and since Shawn did not make one there we helped him make one at home. the plan is to hang them on their doors.

Fort McHenry

ON the Wedensday before Labor Day, our homeschool group took a fieldtrip to our local jewel, Fort McHenry birthplace of the Star Spangeled Banner. It was a lovely day, for a great trip.








we did this as a self-guided visit since field trips don;t officially start till after Labor Day. But the rangers do a talk everyday, and usually don;t have anyone to listen. Well today they where thrilled to have 5o kids eagerly follow and listen to the story of the battle of 1814. They asked great questions, and the ranger, was glad to have such an eager group.- he said the ps kids rarely ask a question at all, and tend to be a bit disruptive to the program,-.







the soldiers quarters, and the jail for prisoners of war. We had a few ourselves that day:-)




Since we had a huge group with us- over 5o kids plus adults- the rangers brought out the big flag 42'x33', for the flag program it was a lot of fun. The ranger told many interesting facts about the flag that was flown over the fort during the battle of 1814- it was the same size as this one-. I wondered about the lady- Mary Pickersgill- who made it in her small Baltimore townhouse, and the logistics of fitting such ahuge flag inside and working on it. Had to be quite a challenge.And the fact she and her helpers never gave up and did this huge flag by hand in two months is amazing.





we had a wonderful time exploring the fort and learning about its history. we are hoping to go again for Defenders Day when they reenact the battle at the fort.

Happy 42nd Birthday My Love

My sweetheart turned 42 yesterday:-) We had a wonderful time celebrating. He is a wonderful father and hubby who is the glue of our family. He works tirelesly to provide for us, and always has time for a game of tickle wrestling. He thinks I am still pretty with 40 extra baby pounds, and my wrinkles.Happy Birthday to a guy we love so much, and who we'd be lost with out. I thak God everyday for our wonderful union and our family.


WE had a small group of very good friends come and enjoy the day with us laughing and being silly. they are a great group of folks, very down to earth, and a lot of fun. We swam ate yummy ribs and corn on the cob, listened to loud 80's music- shows how old we are,lol- laughed alot and relaxed.










we had yummy Ravens colored cupcakes. We are a football family:-)Everyone loved them,







Shawn provided some entertainment, the kids painted themselves up with some facepaint markers given to them by sunday school- I will get even with that teacher:-)And Shawn in his rocker look jammed on guitar.




It was a fun day, filled with lots of love for daddy. he is our rock and my best friend. Have a wonderful year sweetheart:-)

Monster Truck Jam

Grace, Adam, and Doug are headed up to Lancaster Pennsylvania for a monster truck jamboree, at Bucks Motorsports. It should be a fun time it has drizzled all day and poured last night so should be a very muddy show- it is all outside-. Adam's favorite truck is Grave Digger though he won;t be there tonight, but Bounty Hunter will and he likes him to . They are going to get there in time for the pit party, where they can go around and meet the drivers and see the trucks very up close. I hope they have a fab time.Then they are going to Willow Valley to stay the night, should be a fun date for dad for those two.

Madeline,Shawn and I are going to my moms for a Ravens pep rally, they have a preseason game tonight,so we will be all purple and black hurrah:-)So we should all have a wonderful night.

Hope all of you are having fun this weekend too.

taking on the jellies

Yesterday I took the kids to The National Aquarium right here in downtown Baltimore. It was Adam's birthday and we always do something fun on birthdays. And thanks to generous grandparents we have a yearly membership to go, so off we went. The new exhibit was the jelly fish and we wanted to see them. So off we went. The kids stopped by the dolphin Fountain outside for a pose.




of course one of the biggest attractions- for my kids anyhow- is the rows of bubble tubes as you come in these are part of the filter system of the aquarium.Shawn sett there for over 20 minutes just in awe of them.





the jellie fish exhibit was breath taking, I had no idea how wonderful they where, I only knew of getting stung every year when we went to the shore home my grandmother had by the bay.- those little nettles where there too-. My kids where awestruck by them, it was a fun visit.Shawn loved that the tanks where floor to ceiling so he could see everything very easily.