SIMPLIFY: November 2017

I usually love October and November in Virginia. As I drove north up Route 15, I was loving the views. Yep, me and a few kids in the back seat...I couldn't help but hold up my phone camera a snap a few pics along the way!

I've been wanting to go to a little zoo near Thurmont...Catoctin Zoo. The prices are outrageous though for such a small zoo. I finally snagged a groupon and took the twins and their best buddy, Sarah. These 6/7 year old were the perfect age for this little place.

Even the turtles thought this pond was gross and found refuge on the log!

Who doesn't love a good llama!

This was a HUGE white tiger. He was amazing to watch.

We spent hours outside of the peacock fence trying to grab their feathers through the fence.

Peek-a-boo!

The habitats seemed small for such big animals, but it was fun to see them so up close.

Bats. So cool.

Just as we were getting too exhausted, we found the perfect resting rock!

We used to have a bird growing up named Billy. He could say 'pretty bird'. Whenever I see a pretty bird, his 'voice' comes into my head. I mean...look at these cool things!

Two thumbs up from these critics. Glad we went, but it will probably be a one-time deal!

November is also my favorite time to go to Great Country Farm. We have 2 teacher workdays in November. The farm has a festival where they let you pick the leftover pumpkins and smash them at different stations throughout the farm. We usually smuggle a few home for porch decorations. Another beautiful November day!

This November we also got a fun visit from Grandma Linda!

With all her many talents, I thought it would be fun for her to teach the kids how to sculpt.
As a kid, she used to sculpt elephants in descending sizes, so she and the boys gave their best attempt at re-creating her childhood memories.

My mom, David, and I got to sneak away on a school day and enjoy a tour of the Library of Congress. Our good friend, Angela Knoll, is a docent there and gave us a personal tour. It was amazing. We jumped across the street for a few pics of the Capital afterwards...it was windy and freezing!!!

I also made an appointment with a local pottery maker. He has a cool studio behind his farm house in Purcellville. Cache, Easton, and my Mom all had a little turn making a bowl. The rest of us watched. It was harder than it looked. He has a kiln there too where he will fire the pieces.

Just to keep her busy, I also asked my mom to complete a second t-shirt quilt. This time for Xander.

It turned out awesome!

Xander's paper from school...When Xander got home we got banana bread from our neighbor and we....

(When are schools going to teach spelling besides phonetics?!?)

This stuff is called air dry clay and it's one of my favorite mediums. How many crafts can you take to church and not make a mess? Cache made this vase and container.