A really fun day...

Today was a lot of fun.  We started the day at our homeschool group.  This time we dissected owl pellets.  Not quite as fascinating as the frog, but fun and informative nonetheless.

 Each of the kids got their own pellet along with an identification chart so they could identify the type of creature whose bones they discovered inside the pellet.

 I used to think the pellets were dung.  They're not.  They are actually sort of like a cat's hairball.  It's a "wad" (for lack of a better term) of undigestible material that the owl regurgitates.  Interesting.

 Don't you love how involved the kids are in this?  As with the frog dissection, they were really interested and engaged.

Here's a picture of the bone identification chart.  I think this one was Jonas'.

 

Lena's age group does an art project while the older kids do the biology labs.  Today they used glue and colored sand to "paint" designs.

After homeschool group, we headed off to Paintsville Lake for a picnic lunch.

Cody got a chance to commune with the fish.

William and Lena spent some time swinging.

Jonas was monkeying around.

And John Wesley and I were planning our garden.  Now, if it ever comes to be or not we shall see.  But it's fun to dream.

While we were at the lake, a helicopter landed to transfer a patient to another hospital.  I'm not sure why they landed at the lake, but it was fun to watch the helicopter.  Just glad that this time it wasn't us having to get in it.

After the lake, we headed off to music lessons.  John Wesley had drum lessons, Cody had guitar lessons, and William had trumpet (cornet) lessons.  After lessons it was time to hurry home and head up to Camp Caleb where the Workfest activities are taking place.  A bluegrass band, "5 Miles From Nowhere" played tonight.  Several of the volunteers danced with the four youngest kids.  My four oldest boys are way too cool to dance!  So they sit back and enjoy the music and watch everyone else.

Matthew had fun dancing!!!

Another great example of how Jared's wheelchair has opened up his world....Every time a "dancing" song would start, he would grab his wheels and head toward the front.  Invariably, one of the volunteers would join him and dance with him!  That was so fun to watch.

And of course Lena and MaKenzie wore out the floor!  They danced and danced and danced!  Now they're all sleeping quite soundly--all tired out from the day's activity.  Tomorrow will be a home day.