Heinz National Wildlife Refuge~

The day after our trip to the National Constitution Center was spent at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge for their Cradle of Birding Festival...another great day of learning and fun!  

We're here~

 This event is on the "favorite field trip" list for Bella and Sophia...they absolutely love it!

The day is full of all sorts of activities and seminars...from fly-tying workshops to bird watching walks...from talks complete with animals from the Philadelphia Zoo to visits with woodcarvers.  But I think both girls would agree that the exotic birds and birds of prey are their favorite parts of this event.  

Here are some of our birds of prey pictures...they are so cool, powerful, beautiful...

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting...

The girls enjoyed finding crickets for this guy to eat...but don't worry...the handler did the feeding~

Then we headed over to enjoy some of the exotic birds.  They are so beautiful and colorful...they really are wonderful.  And they are noisy...Gracia did not enjoy the noise...sad baby...but she was okay once I picked her up :)

I do not like those noisy birds!

Last year Sophia was a bit scared by the big birds...this year she loved them!

Proud of you, Sophia!

Four birdies...and no poop!

This was Bella's favorite bird...he's an Eclectus Parrot~

He got all cozy with Sophia~

This guy was so fun...he liked to dance on his perch!

All in all, it was a great day at the bird festival...and a day of science checked off my school calendar :)

Hope you get a chance to enjoy some of God's creation soon~
Rach

The National Constitution Center~

I love taking my kiddos on field trips!  We recently had two trips back to back...we had a blast and the girls learned so much.

Our first trip was to the National Constitution Center to celebrate Constitution Day.  

National Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA~

Constitution Day is September 17th...this was the 224th birthday of the signing of the Constitution.  Every year the Constitution Center in Philadelphia opens their doors to the public for free.  This museum is beautiful, wonderful, interesting...and definitely strengthens my love for this country.  They have all sorts of special events and activities to celebrate...like this guy, who cut out silhouettes...way cool!

Bella, getting her silhouette cut~

And this neato set up...we learned how old printing presses worked.

Sophia, printing her copy of the Constitution~

We watched calligraphers, walked the hall of flags, watched a naturalization ceremony (which was a bit hard for the girls to follow, but it brought tears to my eyes), enjoyed the sculptures in Signer's Hall, saw an original newspaper from 1787 (the Constitution was printed on the front page for all to read), ate Happy Birthday Constitution cake...and lots of other fun stuff.  One of my favorites parts of this museum is a theater presentation called Freedom Rising...it's wonderful...I just love it!  

Hall of Flags, in the order that they became states~

Our soon-to-be state flag~

Learning when Texas became a state~

Pretending to debate in Signer's Hall~

Both big girls signed the Constitution~

Signer's Hall~

Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson were there~

Sophia's calligraphy bookmark~

Happy birthday, Constitution!

I didn't get to eat cake, but I still had fun!

Mommy didn't dress me in red, white, and blue...but my bunny feet were mighty cute!

Have a great day...God bless~
Rach

Heading to the BIG D

Where to even start?

Well, first, with praise...Steve has a job!  

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High."
Psalm 92: 1

"Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!"
Psalm 94:2

It is a wonderful thing to be able to share this news!  Thank you to so many who have prayed for us, encouraged us, and helped us...we thank God for you!

Where?  What?  When?

So glad you asked :)

Steve has been offered a position as a Research Scientist (Senior Research Investigator is his official job name) at UTSW Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.  Yep, we're heading to the BIG D!  We expect he'll begin his new job in January.  Now he just has to finish his thesis and defend :)

We are so very thankful for how God is leading us and providing for us.  I will admit, though, that it has taken me (us) a couple of weeks to process everything and get used to the idea of being on the go again.  Wow, who would've thought that I would desperately want to stay in PA?  The Lord has done so much for us here...the people He has brought into our lives...the church we love...I have few words to describe how hard it will be to leave here...so I cry instead. 

Yet, we are excited...a great job for Steve, a sister church in the Dallas area we are very hopeful to connect with...God is definitely leading us.


And we get to wear cowboy boots :)

His and Hers~

The girls are taking the news in stride.  Bella is sad because she will miss her friends, but she is already "on board" with the move and has chosen to look on the bright side...like she might not have to share a room with her sister once we get settled again :)  She also has an attitude of faith that I am thankful for.  She remembers leaving CO and her friends there and sees how God has provided her with great friends here, so she expects that He'll do it again:)  Sophia is trying hard to be optimistic, but is having a harder time with the thought of moving...PA is the only place she can remember living, so she's a bit more sad...but she is coming around.  I realize that my attitude about it all is very important to how the bigger girls handle it all.  We talk a lot, pray a lot.

Oh, Gracia seems fine with it...as a matter of fact, she flashed us the Hook 'em Horns sign when she heard the news :)

Hook 'em Horns~

Well, that's it for now...lots to do, lots to do~
Rach

Look Who's Talking Now

Here's a little video of Gracia.  She is almost 4 months old now :)  I have more I want to share, but for now, enjoy this snippet.  And just ignore me...I sound like a dork...oh well~



God bless~
Rach

George Washington's Headquarters

We enjoyed another great day at Valley Forge a couple of weeks ago (on Labor Day).  This time we visited George Washington's Headquarters.

Here we are at the train depot (now a museum).  Back in the day, before cars were common, people traveled by train to Valley Forge.  This is where they began their visit.

The old ticket window inside the depot~

Inside the train depot...now a museum~

Pretty girl~

At the depot~

The train depot~

Valley Forge Train Depot...a pretty place for wedding pics?

And here is George Washington's home, which was rented from Isaac Potts.  Mr. Washington had a log cabin "wing" added while he was there to accommodate his staff.  That wing is now gone.  

Washington's Headquarters~

Washington's Headquarters...pretty nice~

The kitchen~

Other side of the kitchen~

One of the downstairs rooms in the house~

The other side of the room~

The other downstairs room~

George Washington's room~

Another upstairs bedroom~

George Washington's house~

Steve...reading up on the local fishing~

George and the girls~

Gracia enjoyed Valley Forge too...she found it nice and relaxing~

Hope you enjoyed the rest of the "photo tour"...and make a plan to visit some history near you!

God bless~
Rach