Creature Science

Our new location has proven to hold many creature treasures:)

We have caught/seen some of the most common and coolest creatures since moving here in July. Some of our favorites have been turtles, lizards and dragonflies:) Then we had the giant grasshopper.

A friend watched the kids one afternoon and they caught a praying mantis in their insect habitat (at her house just miles away)! Definitely cool points with this creature science family:)

But this week, as Daddy was leaving for work he found a true creature treasure;)


The kids moved the crayfish to a larger habitat with some water and vegetation (hmmm... weeds they had pulled up). We kept him there until we could investigate more about crayfish before letting him go;)

It always amazes me what we get to discuss and explore during these unplanned investigations... like invertebrates, exoskeletons, nocturnal, mating, swimmerettes, etc!

This was our favorite website resource. Definitely on our level. And then we googled more questions, like if they breathe underwater and on land??.... very interesting;)

And having the live animal there makes it super hands-on and cool:) I mean you can read about how to tell the male and female crayfish apart. But what about reading about the differences and then figuring out what gender the crayfish in the habitat is!!

Memorable!! LOL!!

After all the crayfish conversations and questions, we let the little guy go near the pond (aka... swamp) in our yard.

As usual, I learned a lot... and I'm guessing the kids did too;)

Linking to Science Sunday!

Lydia's Friendly Dragonfly

Lydia saw him... she "pet his wings".

Can you see the dragonfly she is staring at?

He landed.

Then she showed him off;)

Submitting this picture  to
 Shoot.Edit.Submit., Photo Friday, Give Me Your Best Shot, and Fabulous Friday!

Neighbors from Nature

Our property is surrounded by woods (and some seasonal wetlands... LOL!! swamp). We are in a neighborhood but kind of tucked behind everyone else!

It makes for a peaceful place;) Lots of space for the kids to run! And slowly we are starting to see more little nature friends emerge from the woods.

We brought with us these two critters:)

BTW... I was told by a friend that cats could try to get back home when they are moved to a new home. I did a little Googling and came up with a plan to keep them in their little crates when we weren't playing with them for a couple of days. I knew the cats would HATE it, but if it would keep them from traveling down the highway:/

The plans changed though once we got to the property. The kids traveled with Grandma and GRanddaddy with the cats. And once they got to the new house they let them out of the crates!! And they stuck around!! The kids showered love on them, kept them happily fed and they got plenty of attention every time we went outside...

and they stuck around;)Although Collar has scared us with his "adventures" that keep him away from the hours for hours... he always returns ready for Lydia snuggles;)

At the parsonage we had huge horse flies.... gigantic man-eating (or at least man-biting) ones. But here near the swamp the most common bug besides gnats and grasshoppers are these...

dragonflies:) I hear they eat mosquitoes:)

As far as reptiles go... it's been a slow snake year.... thank goodness!!!! With all the rain we'd had TONS of frogs! In fact at night it sounds like the "plague" outside! But we were all delighted when Daddy found this guy...

Our most exciting nature neighbors, besides the owl (we have heard but not seen yet) and the hawk & egret(some have briefly sighted), we saw one evening through the window.

We had seen their prints in the sand when the foundation was laid and in the freshly moved dirt after the septic tank was put in. But we were soo very excited they returned when we could watch them in semi-whispered conversation about how beautiful they were:) And if we should call one "Bambi"!!

It was crazy, but it seemed like they were watching us, too!

It's been too long since I publicly shared my gift counting. Maybe it's a sign that's been neglected in my heart, too, or just a busy season of non-blogging.... honestly, a little of both! :( Thankfully, it's always a great time to start;)

371. nature sounds
372. power and beauty of the visiting deer (our Creator knows beauty)
373. memories of trying to quietly watch the deer through the panes
374. Nate running through aisles with a handful of blown up helium balloons... giggling:)
375. acceptance
376. bedtime stories in bed
377. summer visits with friends
378. VBS songs
379. the giving hearts of children
380. provision - more than we require, given when we need it
381. crazy 8s and Uno with the kids:) - summer boredom busters;)
382. ceiling fans
383. the faithful from the past
384. summer berries
385. toddler cuddles
386. kitty running to the kids
387. chasing frogs
388. playing in the rain

A Wetland Walk with Dad, Turtles & Birds

To celebrate Father's Day a little, we headed to a new town to "check it out". We had heard of some fun opportunities there and thought we'd have some downtime together... leaving the "to do" lists at home;)

In this quaint little city they had a beautiful boardwalk and we found that it extended beyond the downtown and into a wetland preservation area!!

Funny how it works sometimes though. The kids and I had read through some wetland books the week before and so they knew what kinds of things to look for:)  It was fun actually seeing some of those same animals in the books as we walked!!

very outgoing turtles that followed us hoping for a bite to eat

{pretty}

red-winged black bird.... soo cool to see them!

Lily pad blossoms

{funny}

We all thought this pair was funny:)


Nate loved looking for wildlife as well:)

He definitely kept his Daddy busy:)

{happy}

And since it was chilly.... this was all that we braved the water:)

{real}

Speaking of turtles and wildlife... it sounds and looks like we might have a lot at the new house. We have found deer tracks all over the lot. Neighbors have told us that a big turtle roams the area around our house and up the street a bit. The chattering of different birds makes the property soo peaceful. And snakes... urgh... Brian helped another neighbor with a snake last Saturday... I DON't like snakes!!

We found this on the property last weekend.


We were guessing what kind of eggs they were when the neighbor told us about the big roaming turtle. Now we're trying to guess who dug them up??

Evening Fishing Trip... looks perfect, but you know better

Saturday evening we ventured out after dinner to go fishing;)

Since getting their fishing rods two Christmas' ago, the kids had really only been fishing with Grammie (Brian and I tagging along to provide extra hands!!) But we have a sweet church friend that has offered MANY times to have us over to fish in his pond. So finally, we did it:)

{pretty}

It was just a gorgeous evening. And this property and home are so very simple, natural and beautiful to visit.

{happy}

Chris getting all hooked up.... worm and a bobber;) You can't completely see his face... but his little cheeks raised show his smile... all excited to get started!

 

The kids and their rods.... fishing;) 

{funny}

What made this trip fun and unique was that we actually caught something.... our first catches!!

Just as the sky was beginning to darken, the fish began really biting! And we better explained to the kids how to detect a fish on their lines;) Of course the bobbers helped, too;)

Brian was the first:)

Brian helping Lydia reel in her catch... night blur:)

What was funny was the kids reaction... they wanted to keep the fish sooo bad. But we literally caught TWO and came totally unprepared to keep any. Plus they don't EAT fish... LOL!! They were determined to bring them home for the cats:/

{real}

It was soo beautiful and the scenes captured of the kids fishing or standing with Daddy gives the impression of a romantic and perfect evening...

but...

Have you ever taken 3 young, inexperienced kids fishing (and a little one running) after 7 at night???

Determined to cast their own lines... think hooks flying everywhere!

The fish really liking our worms... think Daddy busy with hooks and worms (because Momma is a wimp)!!

And a little one who likes to run close to the water... think Momma chasing down the little one while ducking the flying hooks!!

Oh, and the kids bummed they can't keep the TWO fish to feed to the cats... LOL!!

Getting the picture;)

Great memory! Fun pictures (even the night blurry ones)! But LOTS of WORK!!

And we'll definitely do it again... with a little more structure and earlier in the afternoon;) And maybe a harness for the little guy!

When We Finish School Early...

we venture outside:)

On Monday, after being in the house most of Saturday and Sunday (due to rain!), we needed the outdoor retreat! So we went looking for spring...

and found puddles;)

{pretty}

 

I love spring blossoms;)

{happy}

{funny}

The kids found a pecan to play "soccer'' with in the puddle;)

 

Lydia was obviously the child that enjoyed the water the MOST!

{real}

It's still only Spring;) Nate was freezing when he came out of the water... he was a walking goose bump! The poor little thing curled up in the wagon to try to stay warm :(

Since we were walking distance from home and in a semi-secluded spot, I did some quick thinking! I took off my tank top under my t-shirt and put it on Nate! He warmed up pretty quickly:)

When the older kids saw how Nate was immediately warmer decided that I need to wear 4 tank tops next time;) LOL!!

We did much more splash than hunting... but we did it all together (except for Momma not getting into the puddle... someone has to clean everyone up) ! Definitely a memory making event and it was very nice get out to enjoy the beautiful morning.

I love the flexibility of home schooling!