Get Together in the Gorge

 
 Earlier in April, we headed over to the New River Gorge to visit with our friends, the Sangers, for a couple of days. We had all planned to get together back in February, but they ended up really sick so we weren't able to get together then. We started planning back then for a get together in April. Finally, it was time to get together in the Gorge!
 
 We met up for supper the first night and then headed to the cabin Randy and Melissa had gotten for us all.We had a great time just all spending time at the cabin and catching up together.
There was lots of coloring and drawing.

 

Look how big these two look! Can't believe they are coloring like the big kids already!

There was lots of reading (maybe the same 2 or 3 books over and over...)

 
Lots of laughs and giggles
and lots of hugs from these girls
 

 
 

and even a dance party or two...

  We did get outside and enjoy the Gorge some as well.
 

We stopped by the New River Gorge Vistors Center and the big girls began work on their Junior Ranger badges for the New River Gorge.
 
The little ones enjoyed sharing a chair while the big girls worked on their badges.
 
We did a little chasing waterfalls and chasing the light as well. Check out Bekah's rock collecting pouch that she made of her shirt.
 
We hiked to a nearby waterfall and spend some time on the nearby creek there. Hannah looked so big hiking with the big girls.

 

We did a little hiking for sunset and we were not hoping for much since it had been drizzling on and off all day.

 

However, a little break in the clouds at just the right time can make all the difference in a sunset. God ended up giving us a beautiful sunset to enjoy!

We did let the girls stay up a little later on the last night and have a campfire. The cabin had a firepit in the yard and we had some much fun with a campfire and S'mores. Brent had his work cut out for him getting the fire going after the rain earlier in the day.

Before we all headed back to our homes, we did get a picture of these 4 little ladies. They are all growing so fast and it was so fun to see them all play together. Next year's gathering will be fun as we will have big girl 2 year olds then.
Hannah, Melissa and Randy, we had the best time with you all. Can't wait to get together again soon!

Homeschool Day at the VA Safari Park

 Earlier in April, we headed to the Virginia Safari Park for their Homeschool Day.  The Safari Park offered a great deal on the wagon rides for the day. We even saw some friends from Colonial Heights who had come up for the day.
 The big girls were beyond excited and this was the first year Bethany actually was old enough to notice and interact with the animals.

 The big girls had been before with family and were ready to feed the animals. They each had their own bucket of feed for the animals this time and rationed it out to last for almost the whole wagon ride.

 This little one wasn't quite sure what she thought about the llamas (La-Na's in Bethany's words) being eye level with her at first. She loved to help me try to hold the feed bucket for them though. The llamas were thrilled to see our wagon coming by this time too. They just swarmed around it from all sides.

 This elk about took the bucket of feed right out of my hands!

 And then there was this...very long horned steer! We all backed up a bit and gave him plenty of room to move around

 
We did feed one of the steers from a little further back in the wagon.

 This was a first. In the times we have been here before with family or church, we have never had an emu come up to the wagon. There were 2 or 3 times this trip when the emus came right  up to the wagon. We actually got to feed one too. You had to hold the bucket pretty tight as they reached into the buckets really fast.

 The big girls had a plan for which animal they wanted to feed next.

 Bethany looks like she was using her sign language here to tell this big elk that he was "all done" eating.

 We did get to ride right by the zebras, but no feeding them. Apparently, they get pretty cranky!

 I think Bekah was giving some of her feed to the small deer that couldn't reach up to the wagon here.

 We did get to see Mama and Baby Llama :-)

 Right as we got off the wagon ride, a staff member brought over an animal for the kids to learn about and touch.

 Yes, a corn snake. Little Miss was right there with her sisters wanting to touch the snake.



We headed to the giraffe overlook right after the wagon ride and meeting the snake. I think this was another first. Usually, when we have been, the giraffes have not come up close to the platform. Wow, on this day, they sure did!

 We dug around in my wallet for a little bit and did find two quarters for the special giraffe feed and then they really did come up closer!

 Bekah just wanted to watch but Rachel gave it a try. We talked about how the giraffe's tongue is blue and she said the giraffe looked like it had a mustache.
Rachel was in charge of reading us each of the signs at the animal habitats so we could learn more about where the animals would live, what they would eat and other facts about them.

 Bekah wanted to see the flamingos so we headed to one of the bird habitats.

They wanted their picture made on he giant turtle

and with the kangaroo

 


Bethany was fascinated by the real turtles. She kept walking beside them waving and talking to them.

We had a great afternoon learning and visiting the animals at the Virginia Safari  Park Homeschool Day. Thanks to the Safari Park for this great event!

VA Safari Park April 2016