Manic Monday

Its so rare I make plans on Mondays because its usually our day to recover from the weekend, clean up the house, and get back into our routine. This week though, we had an opportunity too good to pass up! We visited the Charlotte Museum of History for Revolutionary Charlotte Day. It was a really well structured, information packed day. Rebecca very much enjoyed all the lectures and hands on activities......the boys liked the first one. We had to leave before the end, because the boys were just exhausted, but making it through 2 1/2 hours of history was pretty good for them. After the museum we stopped at Sonic for 'happy hour', the library to pick up requested books, and then a new farmer's market we spotted on our way to church. The farmer's market has been ongoing for a while, but since we are going to a new church we just discovered it....only 2 more Mondays before they shut for the season. ;( It was quite a day! Then just as we were winding down and putting on PJ's our pastors came to visit. It was surprise, but after recovering from being caught off guard, it was a pleasant visit. I have loved the church we spent our first year and a half in, but I think this smaller congregation is going to truly feel like a home church. The associate pastor is also friends with some of our friends from Columbus, Ga...SMALL WORLD! The pastors also gave us a music CD from the church....its beautiful! Here is a link to listen to the talented musicians of Grace church. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/gracehymns

 Oh yeah, on Sunday evening we had a bonfire and friends over to smores!

 I don't know if it was the late nap or the sugar from the marshmallows, but Isaiah was up playing trains until past 11pm!!!

 Museum of History

 He insisted on helping sew his haversack.

 Training to be militia with their dowel 'guns'.

 Levi liked this part of the experience.

 Isaiah got creative with his stroller while the big kids drilled.

 Quill and Ink

 Signing the Declaration of Independence.

 Alexander home....2500 sq. ft. plus another 2500 in attic and cellar space...quite a place for 1774!

 Freedom Bell

 Last lecture on the lawn.

 We parked at the library and followed the trails through the woods to come out to the farmer's market. What a setting!

Cute little historic store/museum thing.

 Inside the store.

 Farmer's market out back. Small, but it included non-homogenized dairy, grass fed beef and pork, local produce, and local honey!

 Creamed Cylon Cinnamon honey to put in the tea my mom brought down for me! We also got apples from Hendersonville orchards.

Today would have been Aaron's grandpa's 91st Birthday. Aaron's mom posted this picture on Facebook in memory of Charles....the resemblance to Aaron is striking!

Our Little Pumpkins

Homeschool group trip to the pumpkin patch. This is an annual tradition for the group and Isaiah already said he wants to "go 'gain". Beautiful setting, although it was a bit warm to feel like fall.

 Awesome play areas for kids!

 Big tractor to climb on...

 ...spinning pumpkin.....

 This country store wasn't open today, but how cute is it?!

 More tractors and the barn was full of turkeys, chickens, and pigs.

 If only I could freeze time, this little guy would stay two forever!!!!

 We were quite a group today.

 Isaiah chose the very first pumpkin he spotted.

 Levi took much longer to find the perfect one.

 The picnic area was surrounded by amazing, huge slides, built from old silos and corn cribs, and such.

 Isaiah coming down superman style.

 Everytime he went down hands/head first.

 Just a beautiful farm!

 The newest slide was all shiny!

 Our homeschool group.....just a fraction of them that is!

Best bunch of pumpkins I know!

Nascar Week

Another big Nascar race at the speedway this coming weekend. This time around I have learned a lot more about the racers and cars. I may be a Nascar fan yet! We went to a free event last night to watch the haulers parade down the drag strip and then we saw some cool drag races. A nitro motorcycle hit 156 mph in just under 8 seconds! A go-kart ran the drag at 98 mph and the fastest car was around 140? It was pretty cool! Levi liked it for a while, then the noise got to him. Isaiah was pressed against the rail in awe of the hot rods. During the hauler parade Isaiah was also tickled to hear that some of the trucks horns sounds like diesel and steam engine train horns.

 Bowing his head while they prayed to open the night!

 Joey Lagano....Uncle David's favorite driver.

 Jeff Gordon....this one's for Uncle Jeffrey

 Becca claims her favorite is the one from 'daddy's work'. Aaron has met Ryan Newman, when he was out at Ryan's house working on his generator.

 Zay was loving the sounds of the horns!

 This truck could really get up and go!

 Not as fast as I hoped.

 Dragsters are cool!

Nitro bikes.