Nature Soup

I'm a planner.  And sometimes I get to where I am more into the planning of something than actually doing it.  I need a support group, I think.  So, this is me embracing more spontaneity.  The boys wanted to go outside and explore & Eli was napping.  

Sean in his vest, and Luke...well, he dresses himself.  'Nuf said.

This little activity took almost no prep and I just got to walk around with them and talk about what they were doing.  You need a cup and a little water.  Have them find a good stirring stick.  Then just explore and add things to make "soup."  

Crunch up leaves and dried flowers.

Sprinkle on some dirt, add grass and stir it up. Take a sniff...smells like Fall!

Luke climbed up to the fort with his cup.  He's an excitable fellow.

 These are flowers and leaves we collected from our nature walk the day before.  A few carnations were leftover from flowers Jeff had left for me when he was in Cuba.  I like to extend the life of fresh flowers and pull out the ones that are not dead and make a new arrangement.  I also love walking around with the boys collecting things to display God's beauty in the season.  

Luke likes to point out what he picked.

     

Tucked it in a mason jar with rocks in the bottom.

We use these sites for great outdoor activities: Nature Detectives and Handbook of Nature Study blog.

Nature Boys

We take a walk almost every day down to the mailbox and beyond.  Here it is in pictures.

On our way down from the driveway.

View of our house from the road.

Finally big enough to open the mailbox by himself!

Yes... pajamas and boots.

Looking down the road as these 2 race along the grass.

Always have to stop at the mud spot.  

My stylish children and  their boots...

Checking out water in the ditch.  They like to look for algae (or as Luke says, "allergy.").

Pulling over to go up the "secret way."

Posing for mommy.

Well, hello there, Sunshine!

On the way up the "secret way."  This is really just a path cut through the field by a mower.

There they go!

On the way back.  It really can't be described as a walk.  More like a stop-and-go.  This little guy likes to  pick flowers along the way.

Sean keeping Eli company while Luke is getting his flowers.

This is the preferred method of getting the big wheel back up the hill.

More flowers...

Back to our driveway.

LOVE all the blooming flowers, especially along this stump.

And... more flowers.

We made it!  Budreaux resting in the shade.

Nature Table- Fall '11

Here are some of the treasures we collected during the Fall.  Sean has really gotten into collecting nature when we go out. {It only took a year of walking up and down our road pointing things out to him and gathering on my own!} And because Sean does it, Luke does too!

Lots and lots of leaves. Maybe next year we'll actually classify them.  

The pumpkins were painted at the fall Festival.

Pine cones, dried flowers and some other pod-like goodies.

Shells left over from summer and new baby pine cones.

Clean slate.. ready for winter gathering!

Note: the block of wood is compliments of Luke.  The boy loves random chunks of wood.
 This is the only one to make it inside.

Fall Nature Table



I love the variety of things in our yard!  I did not realize until we went out and started collecting.

Complete with toy race car...

Washing pumpkins from the garden:

We love Fall!