Sparklers

Tonight before bed we went outside and did sparklers. We had some left over from the 4th of July and the kids had been asking to do them. Nice way to end the evening. 

Nature Walk

The kids have been asking over and over this week to take a nature walk, but it has been so hot that I have not really wanted to go on one. Today was only 92 degrees compared to the usual 100 this week. So, we went. Bethany, Piper, Tess and Bella wanted to go and they all took their nature journals to write and draw in as we walked around. I decided on a place near the river that we had not previously visited, hoping it would not be crowded. It was great. We only passed about 5 people the entire time we walked and we were there several hours. 

This ended up being such a great place to walk and there were so many things they could do. They loved the creeks and all the muddy, marshy places. They were running and playing in the water and hoping to find a few frogs. They did not find any frogs but there was plenty of other stuff to watch and try to catch - butterflies, dragonflies, and tons of bugs and minnows.

They had so much fun that they didn't even stop to write in their journals. They usually at least like to draw what they have seen, but today was so much running and playing that they saved journal writing for later. It was a great place and they were already asking to go back before we left.

They told me it reminded them of the book Gone Away Lake that we read this spring - the bugs, butterflies and all the mud that they claimed sucked them in and would not let them move. Bethany actually lost her shoe in all the mud and went home without her shoes. At least they were only flip flops.

It was a great day and we will definitely go back. We left and got Happy Meals and ice cream on the way home which is Piper and Tess's favorite. They will always remember that I bought them Happy Meals in China almost every night and they absolutely loved it. They still love to get a Happy Meal and ice cream.

This Week

We haven't done a lot this week, but the kids always find something they enjoy doing. We stay home a lot and we have been doing a unit study on pioneers that the kids are enjoying. It is something fun to do when the weather is just so hot in the middle of the day and they do love to do history units.  We just take about an hour each day and read and talk and then some days do a small project. 

One week ago on Thursday we bought 50 pounds of Georgia peaches. We ordered them and then picked them up curbside. They were so good. Believe it or not we have none left just 8 days later. We ate them and made pie and gave a few away and now we have none. They really were delicious, but they will not be back our way unfortunately. 

I took a few of the girls with me to visit my mom this week and they ate dinner outside in her back yard -- Happy Meals! Their favorite. They played around in the yard and then I decided to take them for a short walk around the neighborhood. I haven't walked it in a long time and just kind of wanted to look around a little since I pretty much grew up there. So, we walked and the girls looked at every flower and bush and tree. I guess we have done so many nature walks they just naturally start trying to figure out what different plants are and want to look up the name and read about them. It was a nice walk and I took a few pictures as I feel like I have been lacking in the picture taking area lately. I just haven't had much to take pictures of it seems. 

Bethany stayed home to do an afternoon vest since we had to do her spirometer afterwards and get her numbers sent to her pulmonologist before it got really late. She usually knits or paints or reads as she does her vest. She has really started reading a lot more this summer. She has always loved books but this summer something changed and she has probably doubled her reading time. We still read tons together as she and all the kids love read aloud time. It is a time we know we always have together everyday and I enjoy that, also. 

It was a quiet but nice week. The kids missed going to Bible School this year but their Sunday school teacher actually sent them the CD with all the music on it and they were thrilled. I know now that my days will be filled with Bible School songs - more often than I want to hear.