And it is May...

Life has been busy for us here in Virginia; thus the lack of posts.  We are finishing up our last week at co op.  Jack is glad it is over, and the girls are sad to see it end.  It has been a great experience for us all, and I have enjoyed teaching high school history.  This week there are reports due, exams to study for.

Ivy had a science project with a couple of eggs and an incubator.  We noticed last night that the egg was cracked and could hear some chirping.

(Bad phone picture)

We headed off to the soccer games thinking we had another day before it hatched.  But, instead, we got home and found Ernest.  He is now 24 hours old and seems to be doing well and is very social.

He (Ivy named him...I don't even know if he is a boy or a girl) chirps loudly when he wants us to hold him.  I take him out for a few minutes to play.

Moxie has been very gentle and curious.  I know she could take Ernest out with just one swipe or chomp.  Still no change on the 2nd egg.  I am thinking Ernest will be an only chick.  Well, Mike says we cannot keep him.  But I have to admit...in just 24 hours, I've felt the mothering instinct swoop over me.  We will see.

My first born son had a birthday last month.

Happy Birthday Seth!

 Oh, to have those curls!  (He shaved his head a week later...)

We had a nice dinner and some angel food cake...his favorite.  The girls had fun playing with Seth and Tia's dog, Chip.

The girls and I headed north to the Cleveland area.  We took my mom to visit her family.  We moved away over 30 years ago and had not been back.  It was great to see family and places that have crept into my dreams for so long.  I showed the girls where I went to school, lived, and played.  It was a short, but great time, especially for my mom.

I used to play in this field behind our apartments.  I actually have a picture of me when I was 2 years old sitting on this same rail.

The girls walked the shores of the lake even though we had some rain.

All places from my past...

And, since we're a home schooling family, we added a little education to the trip.  I didn't realize this until our visit, but I lived on the same street that President James Garfield lived on.  We visited his house and memorial.  He was president only 4 months before he was shot by an assassin.  He died 80 days later.  He had an interesting life story.  The girls learned a lot and will always know who the 20th president was.  I could get into a history lesson...but I'm done until August.

Garfield's Home

Memorial and place of burial

Surprisingly, many people tour this cemetery.  The guide gave us a map of the cemetery:  John D. Rockefeller, Elliot Ness to name a few.

I had to get a picture of my mom (in front) with her cousins.  She loved seeing everyone.

And, I have some special memories of my cousin, Lisa.  When I was very young, I loved staying the weekend at her house.  She had more Barbies than I could count.

Until next time....