Field Trip!

When Carter was in preschool we were part of a homeschool co-op.  One of the coolest parts was the field trips.  Julia was too young to remember and attend some of them.  When I was at the homeschool convention, some other moms and I were talking about how much we all enjoyed the field trips two years ago.  The decision was made to do it again.  Yay!

Last week was our first of many trips this year.  One of the greatest perks of homeschooling is the freedom to learn anywhere and any time.  The number of families we know who are homeschooling is continuing to grow.  The families are growing, too :) Our first trip was to...

We pass this dairy all the time right here in town.  I had no idea how busy this place is! These milk silos...

process and package all the milk and ice cream for ALL the Harris Teeter stores in the country! (and the Wendy's frosty mix, too!)

(soon to add yogurt and sour cream.)

We started in the classroom where the kids listened to a presentation and asked questions.  Then they watched a movie about where the milk comes from (family-owned farms of jersey cows nearby), how it arrives here, and how milk is processed and tested.  They have very high standards and will sell only the best product.  The ice cream sandwich machine was very cool, too.    This was a great follow up to the trip we did to Homeland Dairy in the past.

The kids did good answering the follow up questions.  Did you know each cow gives 7 gallons of milk a day? And the ice cream-making room is kept at -40 degrees! The workers wear parkas and are covered in frost in no time.  They have to thaw out every two hours.

After the lesson it was time to suit up to head in to the factory.  Hair nets are a big hit with preschoolers.  They didn't know the trip was going to include costumes :)

We were able to watch the machines run.  Boy, was it loud! (Only the kids over age two are allowed to go into the actual factory because the noise is very loud and constant.)

and so many working parts.  The empty jugs were flying by above our heads...

The trip was top off with some yummy sampling.  Mmmm....

It was a great morning.  We can't wait for the next one.
    
On the other days we found places to go to keep ourselves busy and out of the house.

Some time at the zoo with Julia's girls...

...playing in the rain.  Yes, Julia is not wearing pants.  That's just how we roll around here...

At the end of the week it was time for an annual tradition, the Ice Cream Social with friends from church.  We have been with this group of couples since we were all childless, newlyweds.  A few years and over a hundred kids later, these are still some of our favorite people in the world to hang out with, so every August as summer rolls into fall, we break out the ice cream makers, grab some chairs and eat ice cream for dinner!

The kids love the playtime...

Carter and his little twin, Josh had a rousing game of football against their dads...

The dads better enjoy the touchdowns now before these boys gain a few more inches :)

and there's always time for some toddler mayhem :) Who needs toys and sports when you have cups, water, and puddles?

And so our week and weekend have come racing to a close and we start a new week.  Unfortunately, the plans for this one aren't quite as fun.  We head back to Brenners early in the morning for Julia's anorectal manometry testing.  please pray she is cooperative and comfortable for the procedure and we can avoid sedation.  We pray they are successful in gathering data and helping to diagnose and treat her issues.  Tomorrow we will schedule an appointment with a new doctor who will review the results of tomorrow.  On Thursday morning we will repeat her chest x-ray to look at the lung spots.  Later that day we will meet with Dr. McMullen (radiation oncology) to discuss the results of the x-ray, his feelings on further scans, and get his input on her persistent bowel issues.

There are many questions up in the air right now and we hope to make progress in some areas this week.  I must confess I say that with a tentative spirit.  Once again we are stepping out in faith having no idea what the week will hold and what news we will hear.    We pray for clean scans, definitive answers, discernment and wisdom in choices, and grace for each day that lay ahead.