wordless Wednesday - chicken leg

Austin Steam Train Field Trip

My friend, Zelia was able to coordinate a field trip for some fellow homeschooling families over the weekend. After our train failure in Arizona we were sure to not miss this opportunity.
The train is run completely by volunteers.  We were in an open-aired car (no a.c.) and we were connected to the snack car.   The chairs turn around so you can face each other (2x2 -4 in a group) or face forward and two in a seat.  You can bring your own food and walk freely among the train (with an adult).
It is supposed to be a 3 hour round trip to downtown Austin and back to the station in Cedar Park.  About 20 minutes into the ride we had to stop and we sat on the tracks for forty minutes b/c a freight train farther up the line was having mechanical failure.  So, we rode backwards to Cedar Park and farther up the line to Leander, where we then proceeded forwards again.  It was not nearly the failure that we had in AZ, b/c we at least got to ride the train this time.  They gave us vouchers to ride again in November, but I think this time Mimi and PawPaw can get the steam train experience and we will keep HR home.  The kids really enjoyed themselves, thank you Miss Z for thinking of us.

6 weeks break

This past week, we take off the week of home school.  It was the end of our first six weeks of the semester.  The girls have been working so hard and finishing their assignments at a record pace.  We have decided to take a week off after each six weeks instead of one big summer break this year.  The week may come at the end of a six weeks period but it may come at another time as needed (when neighbor kids are out for spring break, or vacation bible school etc).  It was needed for me as well as for them b/c I have had the winter blues and this past week the weather was gorgeous.  We were able to schedule several play dates with friends, Daddy took the day off and we went to the zoo and Mama Teacher got to plan the next six weeks of school including gathering all of our supplies and making needed copies.  Here's to the next six weeks of school!

the big boy

My boy has turned into quite the helper.  He loves to help me in the kitchen.  This week he made biscuits.

**Potty update** R2 is now wearing big boy underwear all day.  We have a timer that goes off every 45 minutes to remind us to go, but he is now telling us when he needs to go without the reminder.  He hasn't figured out #2 yet, but we are saving a ton on diapers down to only wearing them while we are sleeping.
On the diaper note, I just purchased HR's first package of diapers this month.  We were blessed with gift cards and diapers for birthdays and at his birth, that I just cashed the last one and had to pay for them ourselves.  So, Go R2, Go!!  Praying he is on his last box of diapers!!