|
Dangerous Wonder
Oct. 7, 2008
The Best Field Trip Ever! Part 1
As homeschoolers any time we leave our home could be considered a field trip, but I don't really call getting the mail, walking the dog or swinging on a swing set truly "field trip" material.
This fall, we decided that we wanted to start our school year off with a bang! The second week of September, we packed our van with suitcases and a cooler and maps and travel books from AAA and headed off into the sunrise...yep, we headed east!
Day 1
Our first destination was 4 hours and 45 minutes away. Not bad for the first leg of vacation!
With daddy as our fearless leader and professional driver for the day, we headed out to Madison, WI. Why in the world were we heading there? My husband (who had just run a race that morning) was volunteering in the medical tent at the IRONMAN Wisconsin. He had a 4 hour slot from 4pm to 8pm. I had never been to Madison and we all were ready for some adventure! As we approached Madison, we got our first glimpse of one of many, many, many state capitols we would be seeing along the way for the next 2 weeks.
At this point we are trying to look for street signs and figure out where we were supposed to go so we could drop Daddy off. We hadn't really thought beyond this point and I really didn't know how to get to our hotel from there, however, the providential hand of God guided us and after we dropped Daddy off, we did make it safe and sound to our hotel. Later that night I had to navigate again in this "foreign to me" city to find my hubby for pick up. We did actually find each other and then he showed us the finish line for this amazing endurance event. People were crossing the line after exerting themselves for well over 13 hours! Unbelievable! These people swam 2.4 miles, biked 116 (I think) and then for added measure, ran a marathon which is 26.2 miles! I don't care who you are, if you can do this...my goodness...you are a super hero! Back at the hotel, the kids wanted to swim some more. They are truly fish!
Day 2
The next morning we got packed up and headed back onto the road again. This time we were headed more southeast to Chicago and Indianapolis and eventually Cincinnati area. We didn't stop in Chicago because we knew we would hit that on our way back.
As we were driving along, we all needed to take a bathroom break. I had vaguely noticed some large milk tankers parked in fields with writing on them, but didn't read them. My hubby had been reading them and said, "Hey let's stop here and go the bathroom." I glanced up at this huge sign that said Fair Oaks Farms next right. I thought cool, why not?
We soon began to discover that this was not just your typical potty stop, this was the BEST POTTY STOP EVER! Before you knew it, we were in a full fledged museum/interactive exhibit with a 3-D tour and everything!
Yes, my girls are trying to milk a fake cow with real tools...very cool!
We didn't take the 45 minute bus tour of the farm that was included with admission because "we weren't going to be there long," but we did go to the birthing barn. As we walked into this huge barn that had concrete bleacher seating we saw behind a large plexiglass window a mamma cow in labor. We sat there for a while, but she wasn't making much progress. So we decided to go get some fresh icecream made there!
Oh, my goodness! Unbelievably good! We also picked up some cheese and pints of milk! So yummy!!!
We peeked outside and saw the traffic light was on green, which means the heifer was in active labor/delivery. So we ran over to the barn and took our seats, ice cream in hand watching intently and quietly to the miracle of life happening before our very eyes.
The vet had to pull the calf because it was definitely stuck. She even had to get reinforcements to help her pull it.
They finally got the baby calf out and it was just fine and so was mama. The kids thought it was the coolest thing they had ever seen! Thus, this potty stop was considered THE BEST POTTY BREAK EVER!!! If you're in the Fair Oaks, IN area, you should stop and check it out! Very cool!
We reached our hotel late that night because of our unexpected bonus feature. But the kids were so tired from our adventure, they went right to sleep.
DS7 fell asleep before the lights were even out. They were tuckered out!
Day 3
This was the highly anticipated day of attending the Answers In Genesis Creation Museum! Because of the time change (we lost an hour going east) we missed the continental breakfast and each got the leftover muffins that no one really enjoyed. But we were off to have fun at the museum! I was so excited to go there just like the kids.
As we arrived we noticed that there were security guards all over the place, little did we know that we'd become well acquainted with a few of them. Intrigued yet? The first thing we did was see a really cool movie called Men In White. This is an interactive show with special effects, wind, rumble seats, water in face etc. My youngest wasn't thrilled about that part and was in my lap most of the time. Although the rest of us loved the experience.
After that show we had tickets to the Planetarium. The photo above is the last photo you'll see of my youngest until much later. While in line we saw a beautiful Amish family that was also getting into line for the show. The mother gave me a big smile and somehow that micro-second a lot was exchanged between the two of us. It was like, she knew we were homeschoolers, that we loved Jesus and that we were Creationists and us mom's had this secret club commaraderie between us. I can't really explain it, but it was great. Two of her daughters actually ended up sitting next to me in the Planetarium. They were so cute and lots of fun to talk to. I enjoyed hearing all their wonder and amazement throughout the show. I believe the Lord gave that to me as a gift for reflection on the simplicity of things and keeping our focus on what truly matters in life. I still feel the presence of God every time I think about it!
After the show, my youngest announces to me that her tummy hurts and she feels sick. Knowing she didn't eat much for breakfast and we were just in a planetarium show and it was nearing 11:45, we needed to get her either to the bathroom or to some food! Well, my husband had bee-lined with the other two to the Cafe that was right next to the planetarium and as I was explaining to him that DD5 wasn't feeling well, the food smells tipped her over and she lost it on the floor. I immediately started taking her to the closest bathroom, but inbetween she tossed her cookies 2 more times. Thankfully she hadn't just eaten and there wasn't much to be tossed. The people there were so kind and got it all cleaned up right away. I thought she would feel better outside and just let her get stable, but she threw up in the bushes and so I took her to the first aid room (which was also the security room). These big southern security guards were so gentle to her and checked her out thoroughly. I was so thankful for their kindness and knowledge in first-aid.
I'd like to tell you that she stopped throwing up and we had a great time together the rest of the day, but she didn't. My husband took over in the first aid room while I went and ate lunch. I came back and we looked at each other with the knowing glance that this was all too familiar and decided to call our Dr. back in MN.
We had paid for a special seminar for the kids and it was nearing the time so I went ahead and took the older two to that. Meanwhile my super star husband and daughter were enroute to the local Target to get a prescription for her that stops the vomiting. We aren't sure why, but ever since she was little, once she starts throwing up, she can't stop. This is something that we have made many Urgent Care and ER trips for. We hadn't planned on this happening on vacation! But that's something we need to investigate further. After she got the "magic pill" she was instantly better. It was unbelievable! Anyway, they met up with us for a little walk through the beautiful gardens there and to the petting zoo.
While my poor baby was sicker than a dog, my oldest two and I were at a Buddy Davis class!
It was about Noah's flood and dinosaurs. We sang songs, saw some pictures and then got to sculpt a head of a clay dinosaur. He made a lot of the dinosaur models in the museum. They are truly works of art! He walked the kids through how to start a sculpture. They loved it!
They did such a good job!
An artist at work!
Here is Buddy Davis and my kids. He was so nice and we got to meet his wife too! They are a really neat couple and have a fantastic ministry.
A T-Rex head...man they are big! There were so many neat fossils and dinosaurs everywhere! The kids loved every minute of it!
What a nut!
Time for an ice cream treat!
Yep, Mommy needs some too!
After our break we got a phone call from Daddy telling us that DD5 was much better and they were on their way to pick us up. They joined us in our outdoor adventure in the beautiful gardens!
Good Bye Creation Museum! We will come back and visit!
*If you haven't been to this museum yet, we can't speak enough positive things about what a quality museum this is! It is worth every dime! Take your family!
After this long day, we were all starved...especially DD5! We stopped and ate at a Frisch's Big Boy. When I was growing up, it was called Bob's Big Boy. I was just happy to see one! It brought back a lot of childhood memories and might I add the price was right!
Later that night the kids finished their sculptures. I think they all turned out great!
Even though the day didn't turn out how we thought it would, the Lord was with us and lead us through it all the way. We are truly thankful for all the experiences we have throughout our life. We love each other and we love the Lord and when we stick together it always is best!
That wraps it up for our first 3 days! What an adventure already! Stay tuned for more!
|
| • Post A Comment! • Send to a Friend!
|
Comments
|
Posted by
Anonymous 
Oct. 10, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Once we went on a suprise holiday in September, it was for a day and to spend the night with this other Christian homeschooling family near where we live. We camped in their livingroom ( lounge ) in sleeping bags it was fun.
Chezdak