All dressed up

Eliana - the princess

Joanna - Lucy Pevensie from Narnia

Caleb - Anakin from Star Wars

Karis trying to share Cousin Chloe's lollipop

Matching girls

Wearing their matching shirts.

Eisenhower hometown

We went to the hometown of Dwight Eisenhower this week. There were some neat things to see and do there. We visited the Eisenhower Presidential museum and his family home. The museum was large and had more than we could take in.

We went to the Museum of Independent Telephony, which showcased the development of the telephone.

The kids rode on a wooden carousel that was over 100 years old. At one time, there were over 5,000 wooden carousels in the US, but now there are just about 150.

We also went for a ride on the Smoky Valley Railroad. We enjoyed our picnic lunch in a 100-year-old coach/diner pulled by a 1945 diesel-electric locomotive. Some of the kids braved the cold in the open-air observation railcar during the return trip.

The Smoky Valley Railroad

Crayfish

We dissected crayfish in our homeschool group last week. There were a couple of crayfish left so we were able to bring some home and dissect a crayfish with dad.

He's kind of cute.

Caleb finding all the different parts

The underside - You can see the chelipeds, walking legs and swimmerets.

Eliana looking up close

Caleb did a good job peeling off the exoskeleton. He said it was fun.

Caramel Apple Time

The kids enjoying their caramel apples.

Karis didn't get as much caramel on her apple, but it was enough. She was pretty messy too.

Pumpkin Carving

We went to Uncle Scott & Aunt Beka's annual pumpkin carving party this past weekend and had a good time. Can you tell which pumpkin Joel carved? (It's a little hard to see in the first picture.)

This is a Citation 10. It's one of the planes he's helping with right now. It even has winglets!

Caleb enjoys climbing their tree since we don't have any that he's able to climb.

They had "Scooby" to bounce in. Here's Caleb, Joanna, Cousin Sam & Eliana.

Joanna, Caleb & Joel in "Scooby"

Eliana still loves "Scooby"

Eliana hard at work.

Joanna getting started.

What concentration - Caleb picked a hard pattern this year.

Caleb's pirate is done.

Western Movie Night Under the Stars

Tonight one of Joel's coworkers invited a bunch of people to their family ranch for hayrack rides, grass snake rides, cider & smores 'round the campfire and then a movie on the big screen (a big piece of canvas rigged up on a trailer-It worked really nice). A good time had by all and a beautiful sunset too.

What does a kitty cat say?

Check out Karis' tongue.

Trying to work

It's hard to get my work done these days - Karis wants to be in the middle of what I'm doing as soon as I sit down.

She even wants my pen.

Alright, time to find something for her to do.

Yay for playdough!

A toddler & blocks

Karis likes to build towers!

She built this one herself and was very proud.

Look at those eyes - I bet you know what she's thinking.

Watch out. Here she comes!

And again, and again...

Squish face

Karis having fun with the magnifying glass.

Happy Birthday Eliana!

Happy Birthday to Eliana!! We celebrated this weekend, and she had some friends over for a jewelry-themed party.

Her cake was a jewelry box filled with rings and yummy candy necklaces.

She's 5!

The girls made bead bracelets and also played pin the jewelry on the doll.

Eliana got some fun gifts and quite a few were crafts! She started painting her little piggy bank right away.

She also worked on her stained glass paintings and some more bracelets and necklaces of course!

Karis' favorite joke

Karis loves to laugh at the kids and they found a joke that she loves!!

Check out her wrinkled up nose and head nodding when she laughs. She definitely approves!

Pump it up - Library days

The kids got to go to Pump-It-Up with their reading rewards again this summer. What a great prize - The kids just love going!

Eliana on the slide

Caleb ready to race

Caleb flying down the slide!

Joanna, our neighbor, and Eliana