Sliding into Summer

Yesterday was Home School Day at Zoombezi Bay. Basically that just means the water park gives home schoolers a big discount before the rest of the world gets out of school. It's always fun despite it often being on the chilly side so early in the summer.

Last week we re-visited a favorite Metro Park: The Audubon Grange Center downtown.  Right Hand Man got to experience it for the first time, because in years past he's been stroller-bound.

Starting to Dream

I love mid-July. The frantic spring (think: recitals, tee ball, standardized testing, graduation parties) and early summer (VBS) pace slows to a crawl and the days feel long and full. There's time for the pool and the neighborhood games, time to read aloud and to just relax.

This is the time of year I read whatever I can get my hands on for inspiration and insight in training up the troops. Home education is more than just academics; it's discipleship and discipline happening right in the middle of the daily grind. (Which can be amazingly beautiful on the best days and downright overwhelming on the ones that don't go so well).

So it's always nice to pick up a book that speaks to my heart and encourages me in the journey. Right now it's Anthony Esolen's latest work entitled, Ten Ways to Destroy the Imagination of your Child.  It  bemoans "the paltry thing that childhood has become" because of our current over-schooled, over-scheduled, over-parented way of raising children.

I love that my own still prefer to run wild and free on these long summer days, leaving me notes as to their whereabouts:

Currently, my boys are building some complex, labor intensive track for their remote control cars in the back woods.  While Esolen argues this generation of children may be the first to spend more time indoors than out, we're not caving yet.

Spring Babies

We took our spring baby to see some animal babies this afternoon at a farm not too far from us. All the hayloft playing and woods wandering was straight from the Little House books. We're back there again- having read them at least twice to the girls, I'm now reading them to the boys. I wasn't sure they would get excited about these books because we've always referred to them as "Mary and Laura" and focused on the sweet domestic side (endless hours of play followed for the girls, and sometimes a poor brother was dressed up as Baby Carrie). But we're only 100 pages in to Little House in the Big Woods and we've already learned how Pa made his lead bullets, how he shot bears and panthers, how hard it was for little boys to sit still in church... There's a whole other side to these stories!

Field Trip Frenzy

It was the rainiest April on record here in central Ohio, and May hasn't started much drier. The troops have been fairly restless, so we've hit a few unexpected field trips lately. Yesterday we went to one of the great Metro Parks surrounding our city. The children got a chance to observe birds from various look out towers and with different equipment. Check out all the fabulous bird and squirrel costumes in the play area:

And Thursday we hit America's #1 zoo. With all this dreary rain, I've been feeling a lot like this guy lately:

Happy Mother's Day!

Adventuring

Enjoying another near 70 degree day in November. This may be normal for some of you, but growing up in Minnesota - and then moving to the even colder state of North Dakota - it just seems too good to be true! (These pictures were taken a few days ago on an afternoon walk - today they're out with no jackets and probably no shoes. Some things never change.)

"Mountain biking" through our backyard woods

We're going on a bear hunt!

This fallen down tree has provided hours of climbing fun

Fancy in Fur

Modeling a few of the pelts from Friday's science field trip:

Coffee, Scutes, and Trees

• The girls got to play at a coffee house last night - a fun twist on children's recitals.  

• We had a great (but cold) nature walk with a ranger this morning. We got to see or discuss a few of our current science topics (carapace, scutes, and brumation - none of which I had ever heard of before studying them this week with mes petites.)
  

• We may be winning the battle of the trees!

Second Grade Science

Science this year was a mixed bag. We began with every intention - even excitement - to tackle Apologia's Botany book. We loved Exploring God's Creation Through Astronomy the year before; we did most of the experiments and faithfully made illustrated notebooks. I'm amazed at what the girls still remember from our studies of the stars and planets. I'm a big fan of these books - not to mention the author's website and general homeschooling helps.

When we began the Botany book, though, we had a no-longer-immobile baby who enjoyed crawling all over our work. We were also preparing to move. We weren't getting to it consistently, so we boxed it up in hopes of starting again in our new home. That never happened.

But we did do a ton of nature notebooking right in our backyard, we've taken plenty of trips to the zoo, spent lots of time at a great hands on science museusm, and had quite a bit of fun with the flower fairies. (Which, by the way, is a great way to learn flower identification).

My plan for Bobo's second grade science is to use the Christian Liberty Press Nature Readers. She can do this independently, reading a selection and then making notes and drawings in her nature notebook. We will come back to the remaining three Apologia elementary books in a year or two.

The younger ones will surely get quite a bit of science through Bobo's reading - she tends to be quite effusive when it comes to her studies. I'm finding that to be one of the great benefits of home education: so much is "caught" by the little ears hanging around the school room.

Toddzilla's Toad

Toddzilla spent all day yesterday befriending "Mr. Toad." He made a habitat for him, let him crawl all over him, and chased the little guy around all over our yard. Crockett managed to enjoy the toad too, without attempting to eat him. Huge improvement.

As is becoming the custom, the children get about 24 hours to observe and play with their new found nature friends - then it's back to the woods they go. So long, Mr Toad.

Side note: I was - once again - the only family member who refused to touch this lovely part of God's creation. Toddzilla is definitely his father's son, having no qualms whatsoever about letting Mr. Slimy Guy perch on his head!

Why We Home School

I've never sat down to list our reasons for home schooling, and I'm not sure I ever will. When asked, I generally respond with a different reason every time. (Not that I keep changing my opinion; there's more than one reason, n'est pas?).

When I saw my daughter - after finishing her lessons and music - rush out to her "birding station" to work on her nature notebook, I thought of what Dawn wrote the other day about time. That's one of home schooling's greatest side effects: time for children to be children, time for learning new skills and crafts in an unrushed manner, time for afternoons outside, time to build close relationships with siblings and parents.


Unhurried time.* It's a luxury we consider ourselves blessed to have.

*Please note: this does not apply to Sunday mornings, which are about as hurried, hectic, and hair-raising as this mom can handle.

A Plot Of One's Own

Lots of planting going on around here for little hands. (Crockett's hands are trying to pull out whatever goes in, but that goes without saying). The children each picked a few flowers and a vegetable. Signs were quickly painted and added for finishing touches. Now I've just got to figure out how to waterproof them. Toddzilla wrapped his in Saran Wrap, one of his favorite artistic mediums. Time will tell how that fares...

After buying the flowers and vegetables, we were listening to Beethoven Lives Upstairs in the car. Everyone was saddened that Beethoven - being deaf - couldn't even enjoy his own music. Bobo got excited thinking that "in heaven he'll finally get to hear it!" To which Elbow promptly replied, "he might not even be in heaven, he did have quite a temper!" Big sister's response: "No, God will be extra gracious to Beethoven because he had special needs."

Not exactly sure if either argument can stand on it's own; but hey, combine the two girls and you've got the Law and the Gospel covered.

chrysemys picta

Hubby found this sweet little painted turtle in the creek this morning, on a woods walk with Crockett. The girls immediately dubbed him Tiny Tim, from a song they sing to the baby whenever he's crying: I found a little turtle, his name was Tiny Tim, I put him in the bathtub, to see if he could swim...

While we were frantically googling to find his Latin name, what he eats, etc... Crockett was promptly trying to eat him. He grabbed Tiny Tim no less than three times and plopped him into his mouth. Fully into his mouth. The three of us girls were screaming, mind you, which caused Crockett to panic and start howling himself. Hubby found it all rather amusing, as did Toddzilla. They had the nerve to laugh at our squeamishness!

The big three had a great time gathering leaves, sticks, and materials to make a wading pool for the little guy. We're going to observe him for a few days before putting him back in the creek. Don't worry, he's well out of Crockett's reach.

Still Clinging

This sweet creature had no qualms about us getting very close to her as we watched her forage for breakfast this morning. She came within about six feet of the deck we were standing on, looking at us for a few seconds, and then turning back to the task at hand. Poor thing isn't going to make it long in any woods but these if she's this bold...

Speaking of hunting -- and other gun-clinging, religion-crutching sentiments... Oh, I usually don't get into politics here, but hello? Obama? Are you serious? You "chose your words wrong?" Really? It may just be what you truly believe about folks who don't see things the way you do. And by the way, there are some of us who have Ivy League degrees too, and aren't economically frustrated, but love - yes, even cling to - our religion.

Mom, Dad, Mark: Sorry! Enough said.

Of Neighbors and Varmits

The world's come alive in our little neck of the woods; even the neighbors have come out from their "winter" hibernation. We've been wondering where is everyone, anyway? Seriously, there have been plenty of sixty degrees days since we moved in three months ago, but nary a child on a bike, no conversations on a sidewalk. Nothing. (Then there's my little brood, running in sun dresses and tee-shirts on those balmy fifty-one degree mornings).

Apparently, seventy degrees is the threshold around here. It's been warm, warm, warm in central Ohio and the neighbors are out in droves. We've met more families in the last forty-eight hours than all our days here combined.

But we've also met some critters. Outside and in. There's a real beauty to living in the woods: deer, cardinals, blue jays, and bunnies abound. But we've also spotted snakes slithering under the playset (eek!) and a few strange bugs in the house.

Enter the Orkin man.

My children were very excited to have the red-tyed bug man in our home. They ran up, grabbed Toddzilla's little clip-on church ties, and paraded around searching for bugs. Not long before they rounded up flashlights, notebooks, and backpacks and off they went, in search of critters. Toddzilla followed the real Orkin man around, yelling singing "God is bigger than the Orkin Man!" Not sure our bug man knows this particular Veggie Tales song, but he seemed quite amused at all the fuss being made over him. I'm sure it's not everyday he has four apprentices clamoring for his position.

Bugs be gone! (Because I know Mr. Orkin doesn't want to come see us again.)

Wordless Wednesday: Butterflies and Blooms

The Hagia Sophia made out of plants!

We had just finished studying Constantinople

so everyone was very excited to see such a great model.

Goodbye, Butterfly!

One of our sweet friends from church brings us caterpillars every year, and a good supply of milkweed. It's been such fun to see these beautiful creatures change before our very eyes -- from bright and creeping caterpillar to chrysalis to magnificent Monarchs.

How strange it is to look one moment and see a caterpillar and the next the chrysalis. We can't quite figure out how long this process takes, because we only check in with our little pets periodically through the day. It definitely takes less than 12 hours though.


When the Monarch is about ready to spring forth into the glorious light, the chrysalis changes color: from a bright green to an almost black. It's an amazing thing not only to watch the new formed butterfly, but the wonder and awe of children seeing one of God's great creations in action.

We skipped ahead in Flying Creatures of the Fifth Day in order to read the scienfitic explanation of this metamorphosis. We bid the beauty goodbye, hoping she'd make it all the way to Mexico. The girls wanted to tag her, like Fred Urquhart did when he made the migration discovery in the first place. Fearing we'd hurt the poor girl, we decided to let her fly free - and tagless - instead. Goodbye, butterfly!

Birth Announcement

Not for us, for them! Derek and Odette's babies have arrived. We discovered them yesterday, but we're not sure if they were born then or the day before. Apparently, it only takes finches about two and a half weeks from the building of the nest to the hatching of the babes. Not bad, if you ask me.

I've never been one to find the sight of baby birds - how shall I say this - appealing. I know, I know... they are a part of God's wonderful creation. But there's just something rather unseemly about them. Of course I've never voiced this rather unorthodox opinion (until now).

Apparently, I'm not alone. Upon seeing them for the first time, my oldest said, "They're actually kind of ugly. Is it okay to say that?"

Kids say the darndest things. Or at least the things the rest of us don't want to say out loud.

Speaking of Perching

Meet Derek and Odette - so named by my Swan Lake loving girls. We can't quite get a full identification from our bird book, it's not specific enough. Some type of finch to be sure. Derek is beautiful in his bright orange suit. Odette, a little more subtle, is striking nonetheless. They've taken up residence in one of our hanging baskets, but they also love to perch on our windows, when open. It only took one day for them to build their next, another to populate it with two eggs. The number is now up to four, but we're not sure when the last two appeared. It's been great fun to greet them throughout the day. Welcome new neighbors!

Mr. Waters got into the action too, putting up this luxury bird palace/feeder in the garden yesterday.