Wolf Run Wildlife Refuge

In May we had the opportunity to visit Wolf Run Wildlife Refuge with our homeschool co-op, BHLC. It was so interesting and the kids loved it! Instead of gifts for her 7th birthday, Reagan had requested donations for Wolf Run so we took those with us when we visited.

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The first animals we had the opportunity to see and interact with were some wolf pups that had recently been rescued. The kids loved having the opportunity to pet the pups and they were pretty adorable! Having said that, I can't think who in their right mind would think it was a good idea to adopt or try to raise wolves...

 

 

 McKinley loves "puppies"

 Many of the adult wolves or wolf dogs (I can't remember which these were anymore) were quite friendly and interested in having attention from the kids.

 They also had a number of other animals that had been rescued including deer. They also had a mountain lion, pigs, coyotes and a number of other animals.

 This was one of their tamer wolves and one of the ones they use for education purposes when the visit events throughout the year. What a gorgeous animal!

 If you have any interest in learning more about or supporting Wolf Run Wild Life Refuge, please visit their website at http://www.wolfrun.org/ .

Easter 2014 - Good Friday

Grammy had Good Friday off from school so she and Grand-Dad came up on Maundy Thursday to celebrate Easter weekend with  us. We began our Good Friday by heading to Shilito Park where one of the homeschool co-ops we belong too, BHLC, was having an Easter Egg hunt. It was a beautiful day and the kids had a lots of fun with all their friends.

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McKinley enjoyed time with Grammy while the big kids played on the playground

 One of my best homeschooling friends - so sad she's moved away to Tennessee!

 McKinley was pretty excited about her first Easter Egg hunt

 Kennedy and Jackson busy hunting

 Four of the big girls checking out what their treats

 

After our egg hunt and picnic in the park we came home to dye our Easter eggs. This is so much easier to accomplish with a couple of extra adults. Thank you for your assistance - Grammy and Grand-Dad!

 Dying Easter eggs is hard work for a baby! Thank goodness for a Grand-Dad to snuggle with! :)

What a fun way to begin our Easter weekend festivities! :)

Girl Scout Cookie Sales

While we all do personal sales, our Girl Scout Troop has realized that as a homeschool group we have a great opportunity to sell cookies to college kids. We have taken advantage of this the last two years at UK and at Transylvania University. We send a group of girls to both universities (the campuses are both in downtown Lexington) around lunch time and sell between 300-400 boxes in 2-3 hours. It is amazing! College kids rock!!! :)

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Here is our crew (or cookie parade?) heading out to sell cookies with a couple of wagons overflowing with these delicious treats! :)

   Here is the Transy crew - ready and open for business!

Younger siblings get to join in the "fun" cookie sales as well - these two are at least good buddies and in the same Classical Conversations class. :)

 Brothers making better use of the wagon...

 Cookie salesmen or cookie thieves??? Judging by the smiles I'm sure you correctly guessed the latter... :)

Halloween Fun 2013

We had a Monster's University theme for Halloween this year. The idea was that Jackson would be Mike and Holden would be Sully. The big girls were all sorority girls and McKinley was Boo. Unfortunately Jackson decided he wasn't happy with the idea a little too late to change it. Here's the only picture I was able to capture of my 4 together at the BHLC Halloween party.

At least my sweet girls cooperated! Thanks so much to Grammy for making the fur skirts and feet and to Jordan and Rachel for doing all three girl's t-shirts. So cute! :)

 BHLC fun

 The girls sure do love Zoe! :)

 After the BHLC party our homeschool crew headed over to the nursing home to go Trick-Or-Treating. I'm including two pictures since Jackson refused to be in the bigger group photo op.

 Love my sweet little Boo and sure appreciated Miss Leanna keeping her busy while I struggled with Jackson. :)

 

 The three sorority girls 

 Sully and his not so happy little buddy Mike

 Does is it count as a group picture if we have Mike's costume?

 As well as Heidi and Holden our best neighborhood buddies the Veloudis' and Skinners' came to join our fun. Unfortunately the weather was so bad on Halloween they cancelled Trick-Or-Treating in Lexington. We decided to have an impromptu Halloween celebration at our house anyway and the following night everyone came back so we could Trick-Or-Treat together. :)

 Some of our Monster's University fun - thanks to Aunt Jolene for the molds

Happy Halloween baby! :)

 Second night and ready to get some candy! :)

 Most of our crew

The plus to the weather being bad was Aunt Arla, Uncle Scott, Grammy and Grand-Dad were able to participate in our festivities the second night. Such a sweet picture of Miss McKinley and Aunt Arla :)

 Part of Jackson's Mike issue was he decided he wanted to ride his dinosaur Grammy gave him shortly before Halloween. I have to admit this is pretty cute and fun, just didn't fit our theme! lol :)

 Holden was a fabulous Sully though! :)

 All the girls in our happy Halloween crew

 Thanks to everyone who helped make our Halloween so much fun!