Stuffed Animals

I remember reading in an article once when I was a new parent, an opinion that stuffed animals were really a pretty pointless toy. Not educational enough or something.  Despite this, my home has since come to house and care for 100+ such animals.  A sanctuary, if you will, or a shelter or refuge.  Although we've lost ...a few...to the jaws of a large basset hound over the years, they are fiercely protected (from mama's 'quick to toss' hands) and dearly loved. 

It seems to be 'the thing' now to send  an animal home with a child so they can care for it, play with it, record adventures of the animal in a journal, and so forth.  In Thomas' class, each week a child is named 'star of the week'.  On that week they get to share things about themselves and read a favorite book to the class as well as, you guessed it, care for the class 'pet' Wolfie.  Catherine, on the other hand, currently has charge of Betsy this week, an assignment from Activity Days at church.

Thomas letting Wolfie take a ride on his paper airplane

Catherine with Betsy the Bear (who has just soundly beaten me at Pay Day, little bugger. I won't go so easy on her next time!) 

Below are a couple of videos that Rin and Thomas made with Wolfie.  In the first Wolfie is making his first attempt at pool.  (Despite the fact that the pool stick looks like it is going somewhere it shouldn't, no animals were harmed in the making of this video).  The bottom video is Wolfie getting interviewed.

Finally we have Henry posing with my lovely new houseplants! L-R Triangle palm,Xanadu philodendron, and Silver Dragon philodendron.  Not Pictured: Christmas Cactus and Aloe.