Rain, Snails and other Random Items

Today was Lainey's class field trip to the Peachtree Farms Pumpkin Patch. This has become an annual tradition for the kids' with their preschool classes and sometimes just as a family. We met the class at the farm and began with the hayrack ride. The day was cloudy and gray but not raining at the moment. The kids got out at a pumpkin patch to choose their own pumpkins, and about then a steady drizzle started. It quickly soaked everyone and showed no signs of relenting, so soon the class headed home. Lainey and I grabbed an umbrella and snuck a quick peak at some of the animals scattered throughout the property, then beat a retreat ourselves. Happily it is a home day for us so we got to go home, change to cozy sweats and have our picnic lunch in the play room while reading books and listening to the rain on the roof.
Ethan was thrilled last weekend to receive five big land snails Aunt Cindy found while out for a run. He has been searching for some ever since he read a library book about snails and slugs that featured these cool big snails like you see all over Europe. They are fun to watch, very active and have really long antenna with eyes at the end. They also leave slime trails worthy of Ghostbusters. We set free the two tiny frogs in the terrarium (it was high time they hopped off to hibernate anyway) and set up a snail habitat. Ethan's room is becoming a biology lab, with fish, hermit crabs, guinea pig and now snails.
Many of you will know that Andrew found the wrong way to stop a four wheeler this weekend in Nebraska. This led to a flying lesson, and a good thump on the ground that knocked the wind out of him while bruising any number of tender spots, head to tail. He was pretty stiff still the past few days, but says he can do P.E. again tomorrow which has to be a good sign. An outing for wings at Truman's tomorrow night will take his mind off those last few aches and pains.
Jordan rode Payton at lessons Monday night, and while nervous after falling off last week, she did absolutely great and did not get to taste the sand of the arena. She has a show Saturday morning. Tomorrow she is invited to the mall with her friend Kahlea after school. I predict her birthday money will find a new home by evening :-)