Our homeschool week in review…

Leo attended a nature camp all week, where he learned about animals and their habitats. Each morning, after drop off, Seuss, T and I would walk the gardens.

We took time to smell the flowers, but our most favorite things to smell were the herbs!

Mmmm, basil!

We snacked on blackberries growing in the field, talked to the gardeners about the various types of flowers and plants, and we watched the bees gather pollen.

Not a super shot, but you get the idea.

And, perhaps best of all, there were some silent moments with nature. There aren’t many of those around here with three kids six and under, believe me, so you have to cherish them when they happen!

T listening to birds sing.

Quiet boys.

Leo *loved* camp!! He has been attending classes and camps at this particular place since he was two years old. Leo is a kid who loves to be outdoors, in nature. He loves learning about weather and animals and plants and the environment.

Do you want to know what is even better?? Leo has known the camp instructor since he was three years old. She was his preschool teacher for two years. You know the type of teacher who can immediately see the uniqueness in each individual child, respect it, and nurture it? The type of teacher that, when people talk about great teachers, you immediately think of? The type of teacher that you will remember fondly for your entire life? Leo got that one right out of the gate. Such a lucky little guy! Schizz and I were so worried that he would have a difficult transition to preschool due to his intensity and behaviors, but we had nothing to worry about. This teacher recognized the uniqueness in Leo from the get-go and nurtured it. She understands a child’s need for play and nature. Those kids played hard and had a blast- and they were outside unless it was below 25 degrees. Leo blossomed during those two years! He was absolutely thrilled that he could be in her camp this year, as last year we had a vacation conflict.

Leo came home from camp filthy and exhausted, but with a huge smile on his face. He also came home with some fun crafts!

Bug trap

Trapped dragonfly!

That bug trap has already seen a lot of bugs, believe me!

He thought this one was cute.

Another day, he came home with a (soggy) boat made from recycled materials and recounted his many exciting frog-catching adventures.

Today I went to camp. I made a boat. It floated.

When Leo was busy at camp, Seuss, T and I enjoyed a lot of imaginative play. They love to play baby, cook in their kitchen, make forts, have snuggle parties, and play outside in their play house.

Dinosaur and owl pizza party, obviously!!

There was one special day during which Leo was at camp, T was dancing to Frozen tunes, and Seuss and I were on our own.

Tiny Dancer.

After we picked Leo up from camp each day, we would listen to him recount the day’s adventures and often he would retrace his steps and teach us what he had learned. T and Seuss especially enjoyed the day he showed us how to use the fitness trail.

“I have perfect balance” ~ Leo

Pull ups

Soooo strong!

Miss T does knees to elbows.

Push-ups.

Push ups

Step ups

This one’s for Schizz. He loves pallets.

Seuss *might* have had a compost malfunction moments after this photo. Oops!

Our family has been composting for about two years. Last week, upon returning from vacation, we discovered a composting gift in our flower bed… Pumpkins! My little poppies have been checking on and watering the pumpkins daily. Very exciting! Thank you, compost!

What are the chances we get to enjoy them before the critters do??

Together, we enjoyed many post-camp/ pre-dinner hikes.

Little hikers.

Bridges!

One afternoon, Seuss wanted to find trees that had marked/eaten by porcupines, beavers, or woodpeckers. It was a scavenger hunt of sorts!

Often, during these hikes, it is Leo or T who notice “cool” stuff for us to enjoy, but lately Seuss has been noticing a great deal. The big kids get so excited when he makes an interesting discovery. His favorite find this week was a red eft. We love these guys!! As Leo said, “I’m so sad that other animals find them tasty! I wish there were more!”

We *love* these little guys!

The kids observed him for a long time.

Throughout the week, we saw frogs…

“See him right there, Mum???”

Seuss spooked that guy!

… and toads. Some of whom were camouflaged extremely well!

Leo found this one!

Soon the little guy went back in his nook. He needed some personal space.

And we observed many, many other living creatures.

Dragonflies.

Butterflies.

Oodles of ant and ant hills.

Mushrooms

Beehives.

And also animal evidence including feathers and horse manure. I’ll spare you the poop shot even though the kids begged me to take a photo!

Toward the end of the week, Leo proudly showed us the site of the fort he had been working on throughout the week. We had some difficulty finding it, but it was worth it in the end. He was so proud!!

Fort!!

And then we hung out in a Wigwam that Leo thought smelled like ham (???). Kids can be weird.

“Do you smell the ham, guys???”

Another afternoon, Leo showed us a fairy house he had been working on with fellow campers.

Testing the structural integrity of his fairy house.

They float!

Fairy canoes.

One afternoon, we stumbled upon a peace garden and had a sweet discussion about what peace means and what we would write on a piece of cloth if we had one. It didn’t surprise me one bit that Miss T wanted to read every single one.

Messages of peace were written on the cloth, surrounding this cool tree face.

Leo likes to say that God made him a good climber. Truer words were never spoken.

Randomly, we stumbled upon a mortar and pestle that was probably used by one of the nature classes. We talked about what it is used for and the kids tried it out.

Seuss’ turn!

We also had the opportunity to view a bird exhibit. So cool!!

And participate in a bird-themed scavenger hunt!

Owl!!

Birds, birds, birds!

And, of course, there were oodles and oodles of books.

Leo rests after a busy day at camp earlier this week.

Leo has expressed an interest in learning “everything” about sharks (coincidentally- just in time for shark week!), so a trip to the library was also in order.

That should do it. Please ignore my dirty piggies. Sediment in the tub, people!

And how was I able to write this blog post during the famous witching-hour, you wonder?? If you can believe it, my little poppies are watching television. Yes, you read that correctly. I enticed them with a Fish documentary while we were at the library.

Six thumbs up!!!

In keeping with the ocean-fish-shark theme, we are off to the ocean this week. I’m sure we’ll have lots of adventures to share. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

Stay tuned for a blog post about Leo’s uncanny ability to lose things (like a shoe, or a sock while he is wearing it). It is a little known fact that Leo was the inspiration for his school’s Instagram Lost & Found. During camp this week, he lost** the following: a lunch box, a hat, sunblock, bug spray, and two water bottles. All items were reclaimed thanks to a wonderful teacher (see above) who knows this boy very well!