Trip to Victoria - The Sternberg Museum of Natural History

In mid-June, we went for a weekend visit to Victoria, KS.  On Saturday afternoon, Dan's brother, Chuck, took us to the Sternberg Museum in Hays.  We spent several enjoyable hours there.

Starting our self-guided tour.

We watched a "man" unearthing a new fossil.

The famous "fish-within-a-fish" fossil.

Anne loved looking at a depiction of the evolution of the horse.

The next three pictures and video were from a temporary exhibit of prehistoric mammals, all of which were animated.  It was really neat.

Wooly mammoth.

Sabertooth cat attacking a giant sloth.

Ancient apes.

Then it was on to the top floor of dinosaurs!

The building is dome-shaped, so it made a nice effect on this top floor.

Approaching the T-rex.  Anthony jumped back a ways when it started moving.

It was huge!

Uncle Chuck and the kids.

Catherine, Anne, and Anthony.

The T-rex in motion:

Catherine, Anne, and Dominic.

Fishing On Our Pond

There is a pond between our property and our neighbor's, but before now, we have not really done anything with it, other than walk by it, and tell the kids to stay away from it.  There were so many trees and brush on our side of the pond, that it would have been rather difficult for one of them to get very close to it.  However, that has changed.  In the early part of June, Dan cut down a few trees to make an opening to the pond, so he could take the kids fishing.  This first time of fishing was for showing the kids how to cast the line into the water.  And teaching them safety, like "don't stand right behind the person casting, or you might get a hook in your eye."  No fish were caught this first time fishing. 

Joseph took a turn.

Daddy helped Joseph, while Dominic shimmied up the tree, and Catherine looked on.

Joseph, with his "catch."

Catherine took a turn.

Anthony played with Biscuit. 

The kids enjoyed their time down by the pond, fishing with Daddy.

Funny face!

Then Daddy helped Anthony cast the fishing line into the pond. 

Anne waited patiently for her turn.

It was a nice night for fishing!

Garden in Early June

In the first half of June, we harvested some turnips.  This was our first time growing them.  We ate them raw, cooked, grilled, in stir-fries, grated into pasta salad.  Most of the kids liked them.  They will try anything that comes out of our garden!

The boys cut the tops off of the turnips.

Anthony got a big one!

Washing off the dirt.

A few of our turnips.

We got lots of snow peas this year.  We ate them in everything!  So yummy.  

Steamed snow peas.

We have a little mint growing in one of the raised beds, but one day my friend gave me a sack full of mint, so I used it to make mint syrup (good in iced tea and mint juleps) and mint jelly (which never jelled, so it has turned into a topping for pancakes or ice cream).

Cousins

Catherine with Baby Balthaser.

Dominic, Aloysius, Joseph, and Anthony.

Catherine, Isabella, Olivia, and Anne, with Anthony.

Ready to spin!

They were going slow, so I was able to take a pic.

Fun At The Zoo

In early June, we met some friends at the zoo.  The kids have wanted to ride the zoo train for a long time, so we did that the first thing.

It was a new tram.

Anthony loved the ride.

After going all the way around the zoo, we got off and went to see some animals!

Some were not real.

Some were very real.

And close up!

The kids all had fun together.

The girls all decided these two birds were married.

The boys at lunch.

Joseph shared his popcorn with his buddy.

Anthony was more interested in walking on the big rocks than the peacock.

I think we stayed at the zoo for about 5 hours.  I had some tired kids on the way home!

Escape From The Coop!

Okay, not really an escape, but in early June, the chickens got to come out of their coop and pen for the first time.  They got free rein of the middle fenced-off area between the big field and the garden/orchard area for a couple of hours in the evening.  They were timid at first, but soon found lots of yummy bugs to chase.  The dog was penned up any time they were out.  Biscuit would just love to get one of those chickens!

Coming out of the coop!

Freedom!

Okay, the chickens still had to contend with the 3 year old!

Watching the chickens roam.

Trying to get the chickens to come and eat out of their hands.

The chickens are choosier when they have free rein of the yard!

Entertainment from Joseph.

Silly boys!

Catherine loved to take notes and draw pictures of the chickens.

A kiss from Anthony.

Time to get back to work.

This chicken is named Goldy, and she will let the kids pick her up.