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Friday, April 29, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
I have my boots, Mom. Can we go outside?
This spring, we're going to be making a concerted effort toward more outside learning. When we began homeschooling in September, there were several warm weeks which made it possible for us to walk to the local conservation areas.
We have many, world-class nature areas here. For example, the oldest fossil reef on the planet is a 15-minute walk from our door. Scientists come from around the country to study our fossilized reef. How can you pass up a learning opportunity like that?
Today's kids are nature-starved. Even in our rural town, the lack of sidewalks makes it difficult for kids and families to walk to parks and fishing areas easily. In the winter, (especially this winter with weeks of below-zero temperatures and heavy snows), it was easy to stay inside watching documentaries and reading books, but our moods suffered for it. Everyone was more irritable. I even heard the dreaded B-word... "bored."
We did indeed go outside today. With the temperatures finally reaching the low 50s, Gavin even decided that the boots were optional. We played in the last of the snow and tidied up all of the detritus that ends up on the deck and around the house over the winter (like an old cardboard circle from a pizza buried under two feet of snow). If it's anywhere above fifty near you... see you outside!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Snow Cap
Our hotel room had a photo of the Snow Cap Drive In in Seligman, AZ out front. We'll be there in 7 days, so that's a good omen!
Outside Time
I have my boots, Mom. Can we go outside?
This spring, we're going to be making a concerted effort toward more outside learning. When we began homeschooling in September, there were several warm weeks which made it possible for us to walk to the local conservation areas.
We have many, world-class nature areas here. For example, the oldest fossil reef on the planet is a 15-minute walk from our door. Scientists come from around the country to study our fossilized reef. How can you pass up a learning opportunity like that?
Today's kids are nature-starved. Even in our rural town, the lack of sidewalks makes it difficult for kids and families to walk to parks and fishing areas easily. In the winter, (especially this winter with weeks of below-zero temperatures and heavy snows), it was easy to stay inside watching documentaries and reading books, but our moods suffered for it. Everyone was more irritable. I even heard the dreaded B-word... "bored."
We did indeed go outside today. With the temperatures finally reaching the low 50s, Gavin even decided that the boots were optional. We played in the last of the snow and tidied up all of the detritus that ends up on the deck and around the house over the winter (like an old cardboard circle from a pizza buried under two feet of snow). If it's anywhere above fifty near you... see you outside!
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Maple Ice
Before the rain washes away our three feet of snow, we had to have bowls of maple slush. Gavin was going outside every few minutes anyway to grab handfuls of snow to suck on, we just added some syrup on top.
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Snow Play
About thirty seconds after I took this picture, Gavin did a face-plant into the snow and decided it was time to go inside. Immediately.
We've learned that under twenty degrees Fahrenheit is too cold to play outside comfortably... and that Gavin can't put his arms down if he has on more than five layers.
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Lemon Meringue
Today felt like a day for lemon meringue pie. A little sunny citrus on yet another frigid, blustery day.
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