Chehaw (zoo) Field Trip

We attended a field trip to the Chehaw zoo with our Classical Conversations group on January 20th. My mom kindly stayed an extra day to help, and Gregg ended up being able to go, which was a HUGE blessing!  We cherish the time we get to spend as a family.

I didn't know much about Chehaw, so here is the description from their website:

Originally developed as Chehaw State Park in 1937, the property consisted of 586 acres donated to the state of Georgia by private landowners in Dougherty and Lee Counties. It is enclosed on two sides by a large, clear water bayou formed by the conjoining of the Kinchafoonee and Muckalee Creeks. The property has expanded to nearly 800 acres and consists of moss-covered cypress swamps, hardwood forests, and a well-maintained wiregrass habitat.The park was named after the Chiha, or Chehaw, a tribe of Creek Indians who lived throughout the property and befriended white settlers. Artifacts such as arrowheads, spearheads, tomahawks, hoes, drill, scrapers, clay pipes and stone celts were commonly found during original park development. Variations in artifact design show the land was used by distinctly different tribes over several hundreds of years.

Presentation

After everyone arrived, we went to a little amphitheatre to watch a presentation about vertebrates.  The children got to touch a Madagascar cockroach (not a vertebrate), baby alligator, and hedgehog.  They got to see an owl as well.  It was fun learning about some of the animals we'd talked about while learning about the major groups of vertebrates at school.

The bright son helped keep us warm on this cold day!

I'm glad Gregg's jacket fit around my pregnant belly!

Zeke with Bowden, Callie, and Allie (parents in the background)

Zeke touching the hedgehog

Taking it all in!

That owl is actually full grown (about 10 years old)

Adalynn touching the hedgehog

Zoo tour

After the presentation, we toured the zoo and finished the morning with a yummy lunch at Chick-fil-a!  It was a fun day!

Look at that black bear!

He was lounging

A very large camel

The rhinoceros

 We didn't get a photo of all the other children that were there or Wynna, but I do have an adorable selfie Wynna and Adalynn took yesterday!

Love these two!

Zeke turns 6!!!

Isaiah 54:13 ~ "All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children."

Blessings 

We pray blessings upon Zeke as he begins his 6th year. We are so thankful God entrusted us to raise and train him up in the Lord.  We pray Zeke would come to know God as His personal Lord and Savior and walk with Him all of his days.  We appreciate your prayers for Zeke as well!

Wynna visits

We celebrated Zeke's birthday this week with a visit from Wynna and a party with his friends.  We are so thankful to have so many people in our lives that love Zeke and pour into his life.

Headed to church

Bedtime

Reading our devotion before bed in the new (used) rocker we bought for baby girl

Organization

While my mom worked hour upon hour to finish the curtains for the children's room, Gregg put together Adalynn's new toddler bed.  I cleaned out and organized closets.  It was a great team effort!

Happy girl!

A glimpse of the gorgeous curtains!

Party Time

On Zeke's birthday, we woke up and went to school as we normally do on Tuesdays.  Later, my mom and Gregg (and Adalynn) headed to The 1800 Mexican Restaurant to set up the decorations for Zeke's lunch party.  He wanted a "Hot Wheels" party with an oatmeal raisin cookie cake.  After school, we, along with his classmates, headed over to the restaurant for the party.  Cherian, Sheeba, Joshua, and Nikita came as well, which was such a gift.  I am sad I didn't get any pictures of them.  Papa planned to come, but ended up getting there at the end of the party.  It was great to see him and Zeke really appreciated him coming for a short time.  Papa even gave him a toy Tesla car!

Headed to school

Decorating

The birthday boy

Ready for guests!

The balloons kept Adalynn entertained

Lunch

Gage and Hallie (brother and sister in our homeschool group)

Miss Kayla and Mrs. Elisia (friends from church)

Gifts

Fun bath time Hot Wheels from Bowden and Callie

He sees his bow (and arrow)

  

Now Daddy can teach him to shoot a bow and arrow

Cake

His homemade, freshly milled oatmeal raisin cookie cake.  It turned out to be delicious!

It was a great time for us all!

I'll close with this little poem written by the author of Winnie the Pooh.  This is the first year I remember Zeke being truly thrilled with turning his age.  He told everyone we met from December through now that his birthday was January 19th and he'd be 6.  I think all of Americus knows...ha!  He continues to bless us with his joy and zest for life.  We're thankful for our little 6 year old!  The verse on my calendar today was Pslam 98:4, "Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises."  This is fitting for Zeke's special day!

Tessa visits!

We don't know how to express our thankfulness that Tessa (the sister of my heart, Teresa) made the drive to come down and stay with us for a few days.  She drove all the way from West Virginia (after Christmas with Todd's family) to be here. 

After several delays, it took her about 12 hours instead of 10!  She was such a light to us and we enjoyed every minute of our time together.  The kids love Tessa.  I'm so grateful for her presence in my life and theirs!

The "Green Truck" dump trucks she gave them.  They were so excited!

Lunch at Sweet Georgia Baking Co. in Americus

Doing puzzles at a local coffee house after lunch

Gregg was gracious to watch the children while Teresa and I enjoyed a night out for dinner at The Station.  I also brought her over to the Cherian's house to meet them.  It was a wonderful treat, ending with Sheeba praying blessings over Teresa!

Girls dinner out the night before she left

Adalynn wanted to join in on the picture fun!

The morning Tessa left, we set the house up for potty training "boot camp!"  We covered the furniture and moved the rug.  There was no turning back!  We also transitioned Adalynn's bed into a toddler bed so she'd be able to get up more easily to go potty!  Our baby girl is becoming a little girl!

Hopefully I'll have an update about her potty training success the next time I post!  We're on day 2 and she's starting to get the hang of it.

Zeke is looking forward to turning 6, and tells everyone he meets!  We'll celebrate over lunch with friends and family on his birthday, January 19th, after our homeschool group meeting.  Stay tuned for pictures of his special day!