Soup kitchen, Sunday pics, et al

On Thursday the children went with Marc to the shelter to feed the homeless.  They really love it, and Marc says they work very hard.

On Friday the children and I went to ballroom dance, lunch and then to the science center.  We say the National Parks Adventure Imax  movie that we had been looking forward to seeing.  It was a great movie with gorgeous cinematography, but the shocking thing was how they didn't talk about the Great Smokey Mountains National Park at all.  Many people don't realize that the Great Smokey Mountain National Park receives over double the visitors than any other national park in the country receives.  The park receives more visitors each year than the Grand Canyon and Yosemetie Parks put together.  I just feel like I need to stick up for the park we love.  :)

After the movie we looked around the center and saw the new superhero exhibit that Charlie had been dying to see.  Tucker and Marky rode the tight rope bicycle-
 

 

 

 

Saturday morning Marc and Marky drove to Tennessee for the Fraternus summer ranch.   They are apparently having the time of their life.  They will be white water rafting, horseback riding, playing paint ball, and all the other camp games and activities.  They arrived last night and had Mass and a Eucharistic procession through the camp.  They played really fun games on a dark field with glow-in-the-dark gear.  I did hear they are in a 30-man cabin with bunks three high, one bathroom and no air conditioning!  It's not for the faint-hearted!  They are with over 230 men and boys from all over the country!

Meanwhile I am here with my sweeties taking it easy.  Saturday we went to the gym and when we came home everyone had work to do.  Julia took her standardized test (we take them every year).  Tucker decided he wanted to write a paper on the periodic table.  He worked on it all afternoon and then woke up this morning and added to it.  It's a VERY slow process because he types with one finger and is a stickler about it looking perfect- font sizes, italics, spacing, etc.  He doesn't want any help.  Quirky little guy that Tuck Tuck. 

While I made dinner Charlie worked on the Flashmaster.  

He helped me make dessert.  We ate it on the porch as usual.  

 

And finally, a few Sunday pictures.  I had gotten out of the habit of taking them!  I want to keep the tradition going.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soup Kitchen and Southern Environmental Center

Thursday night Marc took the oldest three children to serve at the soup kitchen.  It was Tucker's first time to go- he did a great job.  All the men loved him.  :)

Testing a cookie.  :)

Tuck Tuck buttered the bread-

 
On Friday we had a field trip to the campus of Birmingham Southern College to see the Southern Environmental Center.  We had two speakers take us around and teach us about recycling and conservation.  We all really enjoyed the trip.

We made rings out of old telephone wires.  :)

That display on the wall can be turned on, and it moves balls around.  

Everyone loved the potty slide.  :)  The museum is built over an old pool you so slide into the deep end of the pool!

We went to their beautiful garden area and learned a lot.  They don't spray insecticides at all, but have figured out natural ways to handle bugs.  For instance- they painted the gazebo ceiling blue, and they have no wasp nests because the blue confuses them.  

We are really enjoying all these spring field trips.  :)