Spring and Rondeau

Even though as I write this it is drizzly and rainy, spring is here and it is wonderful.
After a couple warm days, Mom tells us to come outside and do some yard work. We always do the front first, because it is seen from the road.

Our full wheelbarrow waiting for someone to come and empty it. 

Kind of blurry, but Ellia took a cattail and waved it around the yard, creating a snow-like atmosphere. It was beautiful.

Another thing we do once it is warm out (and even if it isn't) is to go to a provincial park near us, Rondeau. We will often convince our cousins to come with us, and sometimes take a picnic lunch. So, last Monday, we did.

The kids playing at the park. We normally play Grounders or Sandman.

All the mothers eating lunch. Us kids had already eaten, but they were still sitting and talking.

After lunch and playing for a while, we began walking in the campground, choosing our spots for camping. Mom said that I should put this picture on because there is lots of action in it. It is amazing the things that you capture when you take a picture! I've looked over it three times and am yet finding new things in it. (Hint: Look in the left-hand corner. My little cousin is taking a fighting stance.) 

The rest of these pictures were taken yesterday.

Joel wearing ear muffs

Alicia wearing the same ear muffs ten minutes later

Ellia laying in the grass

Moriah was shooting some hoops!

Spring is truly on its way! Our grass is getting greener, our indoor plants (namely kale and arugula lettuce) are growing taller, and the days are getting longer. It makes me so excited for camping season and doing school outside, and mostly, just being outside and enjoying the fine weather.

But, even though I like the warm weather, "April showers bring May flowers."

(And I love May flowers!)

Kentucky-Bound

Well, this is the latest I have been in a while with a blog post! Hard to believe that almost a month has passed since our quick family trip to Kentucky to visit the Creation Museum and the Ark.
We left after church on Sunday, March 17, and headed down south.
We went from beautiful weather at home to snowy, wet weather in Ohio, and back to nice, albeit cloudy, weather.

This was taken in Cincinnati, OH, just before the OH/KY border.

All the layers of rock were really cool to see as we drove. This was taken from our hotel, which was right off the 275 in the middle of nowhere. It was great!

Ellia jumping on the footstool. After a 5 and a half hour trip, everyone needed to get some energy out. So we half unpacked, and then went swimming. We had both the pool and hot tub to ourselves, so that was great. Then we ate supper and watched TV before falling asleep.

The next morning we headed to the Creation Museum.

Everybody in the Creation part, reading about the Fall. I stuck to the back of the group to take pictures, mostly.

Cassia and the ark

While waiting for some who were taking washroom breaks, we stopped by a large fountain. I tried to get pictures of Joel, but he was always moving. So I think this one turned out pretty good. (Don't know what he was looking at though!😊)

After the Creation Museum, we played outside. Then we headed back to the hotel and swam some more, then watched more TV. 

The next day, we packed up and headed to the Ark. After we parked, you had to take a bus to get down to the Ark. That was a lot of fun!

Everyone walking. The picture is a little fuzzy because my camera isn't the best. ;) 

The woodworking of the Ark. That was really cool!

Looking at the animals. There were a lot of cages.

On the left is one of the many stores of food on the first floor.

Looking up into the Ark. Pictures don't show how great it looks.

Looking across before we went down.

All in all, the Ark was really cool. Some of it was an overlap of the Creation Museum, so we took it all in twice. We were also able to watch a couple of movies. We went through a small petting zoo, and the 3 youngest enjoyed that.

After, we ate lunch and headed home.

It was a pretty quick trip, just there and back again. We made it home at about 8pm Tuesday night, tired and happy from our trip. Hopefully, we will go back that way someday, whether to the Ark or not. I do love the scenery and mountains out that way!!!

Meanwhile, we are finishing up school and enjoying the nice spring weather that is hopefully finally coming our way.

When It Has Been Nice

Last Monday or Tuesday it was really nice outside. And we were playing outside. Cassia, Ellia and I would jump rope while V and Moriah played a game with a ball. I'm not sure what it was called. 

I also would sometimes throw the ball with V and Moriah.

V threw the ball over the van & the truck! 

Unfortunately, the grass isn't long enough, or dry enough, for me to cut grass (😒), which is something I really enjoy, unlike most people I know (it's really easy ... since I use a riding lawn mower)!

Later on, while we were still playing ball. Joel got out the bat and tried to hit the ball before we caught it. Although, he would also hit the ball back to me. Hmmm...

While we were in the front, Cass and Ellia were in the back on the trampoline skipping rope. They find that its easier to skip rope on the trampoline, which is true, but you get more exercise if you do it on the ground (which is what I do)!

Cassia has now been able to skip rope backwards! Ellia does really well on the trampoline. I prefer to do it on the ground, because its harder to do!

Unfortunately, the next day (or two?)  that was supposed to be like 12 degrees was rainy and wet instead. But it was ok since we already got our outside time the day (or two?) before.

Today also was a great day for playing outside! We went for a walk in Rondeau with Noah, Hannah & Silas to check out our campsite(s) for homeschool & September camping! I don't have any pictures since Mom didn't bring the camera, if I did, I'd put them on!

I hope you all are enjoying the great weather that we are getting! 

Alicia M.