Outdoor Nature Hour #2

Today we continued with our Outdoor Nature Hour with the second challenge.  It was a beautiful 60 degrees outside.  The boys were up before the girls after nap today.  So we went for a short walk down the dirt road while the girls slept.  The boys did fairly well being quiet and we heard lots of birds in the pine trees overhead. 

When we arrived back in our yard, I walked with the boys to the edge of the woods.  Just a little piece into the woods was a small moss covered dirt mound.  Bo sat on this mound and listened while Boo and I started to walk back to the house to check on the girls.  As we were leaving the woods I looked down and saw a marble in the grass.  I know a marble is not a natural object, but Boo sure was excited to find it.  The marble was the source of two of his descriptions.

I returned to find Bo still listening. He had heard the dogs and cat running in the leaves.  The chickens were down in the woods scratching around as well.  We walked around a bit, checking for any hidden nests from our chickens and Bo took a picture of a fallen tree.  We thought it looked like a perfect place for a nest to be hidden.

This afternoon when we came inside I asked the boys to describe something they heard.
Bo-crunching
Boo-tweeting

Something they saw:
 Bo-black birds
Boo-little marble

Somthing they felt:
Bo-breakable soft stick (mommy did help to get the words right)
Boo-cold hard marble (mommy also helped a little)


A couple of quotes I liked from the Handbook of Nature Study.

If a teacher knows a fact in nature's realm, she is then in a position to lead her pupils to discover this fact for themselves.

Make the lesson an investigation and make the pupils feel they are investigators.  To tell the story to beign with inevitably spoils this attitude and quenches interest.

Moments...

7.  Instead of reading the next chapter in a book before bed, I lay next to little ones in the dark.

        little ones yawning...mommy singing softly in little ears...rubbing backs...smelling the scents of little heads...praying prayers over each one

8.  Instead of folding the clothes, cleaning the bathroom or reading, I chose to have a tea party with my LouLou.
       mommy and little girl...sitting on a blanket...tea cups and plates...making grass salad and tree bark tea...feeding the dolls...enjoying one anothers company..brothers and dogs quickly join in...lots of laughing...fun for all

Wisdom According To Bo

When I taught school I always made a book with my students.  I would give each child the first part of famous quote and ask them to finish the quote.  I always received some pretty funny responses.  So I thought I would give Bo a list of quotes and let him finish them.  So here is the list of quotes,  I call it Wisdom According to Bo:

• Better to be safe than......get eaten by a big 'ole monster.
• It's always darkest before.....morning time.
• Never underestimate the power of.....God!
• You can lead a horse to water but.....you can't lead it to wolves.
• Don't bite the hand that.....is poisonous.
• No news is...No News
• You can't teach an old dog...to run.
• If you lie down with dogs, you'll...get hair in your mouth.
• Love all, trust......God
• An idle mind is....resting.
• Happy the bride who.....loves.
• A penny saved is...toys.
• Two's company, three's...more
• There are none so blind as....MaMaw Ina.
• If at first you don't succeed...succeed after.
• You get out of something only what you....have to.
• When the blind leadeth the blind...they fall into wall.

Outdoor Nature Hour

Yesterday we completed the first of the Outdoor Hour Nature Challenges.  A couple of years ago I started these challenges.  We only did one official challenge.  Now that Bo has started some educational activities I wanted to include the nature challenges as part of our homeschool.

We were off for a stroll in the pasture.  We stopped by the hay barn for a look around.  The boys are always turning over logs and rocks to see what they can find.  Behind the barn Bo turns over a block and he finds several roli-polis (pill bugs).  We gather a couple for closer observation so we can draw in our nature notebooks.

We then take a stroll out to the barn.  I noticed a large black plastic mat on the ground and I decided to move it.  Much to my surprise there was a wonderful little nature study creature!  There was a little mouse sitting very still hoping not to be noticed.  Bo got a great picture.

The little ones were so excited.  We were all gathered around the mouse watching it when it ran between Boo's feet trying to get back to the mat.  I am sorry to say we were not the only ones on the nature walk.  Lucky the cat lived up to her name on this walk.  Just as the mouse ran between Boo's feet she grabbed the mouse and took off.  We were unable to rescue the little critter.  I honestly thought the cat was over beside the barn when we were looking at the mouse.  She had walked up behind me and I didn't know she  was there.

Bo was a little upset, but everyone else took it quite well.  Our nature study extension this week will be focusing on predators and their prey;-)

When we got home we did draw the mouse and roli-polis in our nature notebooks and we looked up what the footprints of mice look like.  Boo also found a branch from a pine tree the was very proud of.  We will correctly identify the tree and draw it in his notebook.

Thoughts on Thoughts

Because of God's great love for me, a love that is for my good, he has given me guidelines for the thoughts that should enter into my mind. This verse is very clear about the thoughts that should take up residence in my mind.

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and loveable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things. Philippians 4:8, Amplified

If any thought enters my mind that is not allowed by the above verse I should immediatley take it captive for Christ.

{Inasmuch as we} refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the {true} knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). II Corinthians 10:5, Amplified

I am to control my thoughts.  My thoughts are not to control me.  The things I let consume my time will ultimately consume my thoughts.  There was a point in my life that T.V. and entertainment controlled much of what was put into my mind.  Books, magazines, and television shows shaped the way I viewed my life, marriage and future plans.  Trying to live up to Hollywood's expectations will make for a sad, miserable person. 

I am so thankful that God in his great love and by his overwhelming grace freed me from the bondage of expectations I had placed on myself when I filled my mind with wordly wisdom.  God is faithful to his word. When I started focusing on his plan for me as a woman revealed through his word, I found unsurpassed peace, joy and contentment.   That is how I can be Settled In My Home.

 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart.
Pslams 37:4, Amplified

Some January Gifts...

little girl...sun shining on face...swinging...giggling

blue sky...sun warming my face and back...little laughter warming my heart

my boys...eager to learn..working together...little school house on the mountain

warm breakfast...oatmeal...butter...blueberries...comfort food

daddy...boys...playing...sword fighting...tying heart strings...together

warm apple crisp...ice cream...yum

mother hen sitting...patiently waiting...to hear the peeps of new life

Over The Top Award

My friend Sarah, just awarded me with my first blog award!  She's not only my consultant concerning all things lactation, she's also my blog design consultant. While I don't consider my blog over the top,(I guess all of the organic eating, kefir drinking and 4 littles 5 and under in a two bedroom house is slightly over the top these days) I still appreciate the award.
Thanks Sarah.
So without further ado

1. Where is your cell phone? nonexistant
(Yes, I am one of the few people in existance who doesn't own a cell phone.  I think I need an award for that:)

2. Your hair? ponytail

3. Your mother? Godly

4. Your father? lawn man
5. Your favorite food? PB&J
6. Your dream last night? Crazy

7. Your favorite drink? Kefir

8. Your dream/goal? Full House

9. What room are you in? Fireplace Room

10. Your hobby? Blogging

11. Your fear? Frown lines

12. Where do you want to be in six years? In the Midst

(of children, loving much, homeschooling, his arms)

13. Where were you last night? Home

14. Something that you aren't? Worried what others think

15. Muffins? Favorite

16. Wish list item? Farm

17. Where did you grow up? small town

18. Last thing you did? kissed my nursling

19. What are you wearing? T-shirt, shorts

20. Your TV? Signing Time

21. Your pets? 2 Dogs+1 Cat+2 Green Anoles

22. Friends? There

23. Your life? Blessed

24. Your mood? Reflective

25. Missing someone? MaMaw

26. Vehicle? Mini-Van

27. Something you're not wearing? Shoes

28. Your favorite store? thrift

29. Your favorite color? All

30. When was the last time you laughed? Tonight

31. Last time you cried? Last night
(a few tears shed last night over my lack of sleep.)

32. Your best friend? Chris

33. One place that I could go over and over? Home

34. One person who emails you regularly? Corrina

35. Favorite place to eat? My Kitchen

Do I have to award this to others?
I really don't have any blogging buddies.  I just do this to record my thoughts and memories for the little ones.
Yea, I know, I just spoiled all of the fun:(