Art Museum.....

Yestertay it was 100 degrees in Toledo!!!!  We decided to do something inside to try to stay cool.  We decided to go to the Toledo Art Museum.  We had been there before but I really liked it, just had to talk the boys into it.  They didn't give me to hard of a time, I think they just wanted out of the hotel room.  Since the last time we were there Michael had read "The Caulder Game" so he wanted to see the piece by Alexander Caulder.  Anthony wanted to see the traveling colored glass exhibit.  There were some really cool pieces and some not so cool pieces.  We weren't allowed to take any picture of the Caulder mobil or in the glass exhibit.  But they do allow pictures of the really old stuff so I have a few to share ;)

 The Toldeo Art Museum

 Jacob made his own art.

 The boys worked hard on putting a "broken" bowl back together with this other kid who happened to be there.

 They were very proud when they got it together!!!

Mummified cat that had been sacrificed to the gods.

I just like the way this looked from the back with the light hitting the front.

Awesome snake ring.

I loved the expression of Mary.

One of my favorite things in this museum...a courtyard.  It isn't a real courtyard but I love it.  Would love to have a house with a real courtyard!!

After the Museum we went to pick up Mike.  We headed back to the hotel to swim.  On the way back my breaks started really grinding.  It made me really nervous so I decided that when I took Mike home I would drop Alyssa off too so I wouldn't have to drive back up to her house this morning when I left.  She usually just stays the whole time with us.  I don't think anyone was happy about it but no one fussed.  The boys and I got up this morning and headed home.  We got gas but we didn't even stop to eat lunch. 

River Raisin National Battlefield and meeting Mike....

We drove up to Toledo yesterday to visit Alyssa and to meet Michael and Anthony's biological brother Mike.  We thought they may have had siblings between Alyssa and Anthony but we weren't sure until recently.  Alyssa found out about Samantha and then Samantha told her about Mike.  It has been very interesting.  Mike and Michael have almost the same eyes. 

Today we went to pick up Mike and go to the River Raisin.  He came out with his hat low over his face.  Seems he ran into a fence on his bike.  He said the fence won.

We learned a little about this battle at the Raisin River.  I was courious because there is a sign about it in our home town of Georgetown.  The war was part of the war of 1812.  A volunteer militia came up from Georegtown to try and take back towns that had been taken by the British, including Detroit.  The ranger said they fought hard and pushed the British/Native Americans back 3 times before the decision to surrender was made.  Most of the men from Kentucky were killed in the battles or murdered after the surrender.   The cry "Remember the Raisin" promted more Kentuckians to join the military.

These coats would have been what the men from Kentucky were wearing.  They didn't have uniforms since they were volunteers so they just wore their hunting coats.  Jacob loved it so much he tried to buy it from the Rangers :)

Native American head dress...made from bear.

The monument Michigan erected in honor of the men from Kentucky.



Planning our family vacation.....

Heading west again...but a little more north this time :)  Time to start some major planning!!!!

The birthplace of William H. Taft

 On the way home from Chillicothe we stopped in Cincinnati to see the Birthplace of our 27th president William Taft.  His father Alphonso bought the house for 10,000 dollars then added on to the back of it.  Most of the furnishings in the house were period pieces but not really owned by the Taft's.  All the boys seemed to enjoy this Historic Site.  Jacob especially is in his element at National Parks.  And Anthony has seemed to enjoy them more lately too, but he feels he is too old for the Junior Ranger program. 

New signs....still in the boxes!!!!

 This desk did belong to the Tafts.

 And this desk belonged to Alphonso Taft.  Apparently he worked a lot!!!

The two badges the boys got on our little trip.

Hopewell National Historical Park

This morning the boys and I got up and headed to Chillicothe Ohio.  We got here had lunch at Tumbleweed, one of our favorite places!  Then we drove over to the park.  We got the junior ranger books and talked to the Ranger for a little while.  We got to watch an archaeological dig and they boys asked great questions.  The only issue I had was the different stories we got from several different Rangers.  Never had that happen before.   The mounds were beautiful, amazing that they are over 2000 years old!!  The things they found in some of the mounds are so intricate and beautiful.   

Getting their junior ranger badges.

Legends

Georgetown Community Theatre had a fundraiser at the Legends game.  We took Kyle with us.  The Legends lost but we had a good time anyway.

 35 cent hot dog night!!!!

Last weeks field trips

Last week was a busy one!!  On Thursday we went to Blue Licks State Park.  We are trying hard to work on our Family Adventure Quest.  But silly me forgot to put my memory chip back in my camera.  Then I didn't realize it until we were along the trail and I had left my phone in the car so I couldn't even take pictures with that!!  We had a good time though.  Our friends the Southworths met us there and luckily Neysa had her phone so she took a picture for one of our challenges.  We hiked a trail visited the gift shop and had a picnic lunch near the trail where Daniel Boone escaped from his Native American captors.  He was going back to warn Fort Boonesborough of a planned attack.  The kids ran and played and had a great time.  Here are the only two pictures I took with my phone as we were getting ready to leave.

The next day we went on a tour of the ALE 8 1 factory.  Anthony even go up to go with us!!!!! 

The secret formula.......

 They also make an orange drink at this factory.  They were making that when we went through the factory.

 Enjoying the free soda at the end of the tour.

After the Ale 8 1 tour another family invited us to go to Fort Boonesborough with them.  We love this place.  And the weather was so nice we couldn't pass up the chance :) 
 

 Anthony actually on a field trip with us!!!!

 This buffalo skin was sooooooo soft

 The tiniest frog......if there is an animal around Jacob is going to spot it!!!