an afternoon at pullen park

As you can read from previous posts, we really love Fridays around here. Fridays are typically our field trip days. The week of Labor Day, we had to have school on Friday since we took Monday off. But, since we can finish school in a few hours, especially when we have tests (which we do at the end of the week), we were able to spend most of the day together as a family, just having fun.

After tests were completed, we ate lunch at Carolina Ale House. This restaurant is one of the boys' favorites because it has sports memorabilia and lots of tv's showing various sporting events. In fact, I think they walk in, fingers crossed, saying hail mary's with rosary beads in hand (and we're not even Catholic), praying that the hostess will seat us in the "NC State" section. Unfortunately, that section's booths were taken, so were relegated to the far-less-interesting, not nearly as visually appealing "Carolina" section. Ugh. The boys were not happy about that.

After lunch, we headed over to Pullen Park for some good ol' family time. The weather was beautiful--a late summer day with plenty of sunshine and temperatures which remind you that fall is indeed just a few weeks away--a truly perfect day to enjoy the outdoors.

First, we rode the train which encircles most of the park. It is the same train I loved to ride as a young girl; Actually, I still love to ride it! To be able to ride that same train with my children now brings such joy to my soul. It is the merging of my own childhood memories with the memories my boys are creating for themselves, right before my eyes. There's something so indescribably sweet and precious about that.

After the train ride, the boys and I played on the swings and monkey bars while Paul bought more tickets for the boys to ride the kiddie boats and the carousel. I was a bit sad to see that Anderson had outgrown the kiddie boats. He barely fit in them! But, he was willing to endure a cramped space with little leg room and a tinge of embarassment so that his brother could enjoy the ride. Bennett generally doesn't like to ride things like this without his big bro at his side.

We finished our day at the park with a ride on the carousel. Again, my boys enjoyed the same ancient, beautiful carousel that I rode as a child. I love that the operators allow the ride to last quite awhile. In fact, by the time the ride ended, I felt a bit queasy. Sadly, I am getting less amusement-park-ride-tolerant as I age. I want to change that!

I will probably write and say this so much that friends get tired of reading and hearing it, but I am so grateful that God led us to teach Anderson at home this year. It kinda reminds me of the credit card commercial...

The cost of homeschool materials--$300.

Weekly field trips--$25

Hours spent per week teaching and planning--20.

Number of chores left undone as a result--lots.

Good quality time with my children...

Priceless.