Spring Break in OK! First stop - Chickasaw Cultural Center

We spent our Spring Break camping in Oklahoma. On our way up to OK, we stopped at the Chickasaw Cultural Center.

This year in history we have studied from 1708 (Wars of Independence) - Modern times. We spent a lot of time talking about the Native Americans and the Trail of Tears.  

The Chickasaw Cultural Center was so neat! We were able to see and participate in a Stomp Dance, learn about their culture and hear a lot about the Trail of Tears and the relocation of the Native tribes. 

The ladies in the Stomp Dance wear shakers on their legs providing the percussion for their song and dance. 

Faith and I went down to join their dance.

This was the Trail of Tears hallway. 

Outside were huts you could walk into. 

The grounds and statues are beautiful!!

We all had a great time!  

Such a fun start to our Spring Break! 

Square Dancin'

To show their appreciation to all of the AWANA leaders, our church hosts a Square Dance and barbeque each year. This has been the first year the kids and I were able to attend.

The Middle and High School groups volunteer with the younger groups and so they are included in the appreciation dinner. 

I had just taught Gabe the Macarena the week before, so he was really excited to try it out...

I know, I know...the Macarena is not Square dancing - but this was a warm up! 

It was actually a square dance lesson - and it was SO FUN!! We are ready to go square dancing again..

Also, this was WAY better than those awkward middle school dances I attended as a kid! Everyone left with smiles! 

Chinese Lunar New Year 2019

In February we celebrated Chinese New Year. This year is the year of the pig!

How cute and grown up is our little China baby?

We celebrated with some sweet friends, including the Han family. We have celebrated CNY with them for the last 3 years. It has become tradition!

The boys really enjoyed the Chinese hacky-sack toys. 

While they played, the girls made dumplings. 

Then we were ready for our Chinese feast! 

Everything was SO delicious!

We played some more and did some calligraphy.

The Floyd family joined us this year. They adopted two little girls not long after we adopted Faith. We have grown to love them and their family!

A bunch of beautiful young faces!

These are their funny faces. Notice Gabe's "funny" face. Ha!!

It was a fun celebration of culture, togetherness, friendship and FOOD!