A BUGGY AFTERNOON

 This afternoon we had some fun with our Flying Creatures studies.  This is a science book from Apologia.  It's full of interesting facts and best of all focuses on our Creator.  Today we took a break from reading and dove into some hands-on activities.

 First we made hand print birds.

 Boo is a big help to me.  And yes, she is making that face on purpose.  Lol.

 First pink, then purple.

 Last was blue.  After they dry we will add googly eyes & beaks.

 Next were dragonflies.

 Pipe cleaners and beads for our creations.

 Ta dah!

 And lastly Princess wanted to make butterflies.  We haven't reached them in our book yet but that's okay.  Butterflies are always welcome.  =)

 Beautiful!

I made one too.  It was fun.  I think I'm going to hang them in the windows.  I am feeling the need for spring.

CUBBIES RENEWED!

Some of you may remember when Dave made these cubbies. I've used them for Princess's school & fun stuff. The past several months, (okay more like a year), the same items have been in them.  My original ideas of changing them up every week were pushed to the side while life happened.  Today that all changed.  Hooray!  In my quest to get organized & start the year fresh I tackled these cubbies this morning.  They are no longer calling my name in jest reminding me of my failure.  Today, (at least), they are a success.  

 The bins have all been cleaned out, organized and several hold "new" items.

 Math cubby

 Crafts with Mama or older sibling

 Sewing cards & beads

 ( I thought she might be too old for these but she played with them for almost an hour.)

 Indoor hopscotch puzzle.

After she was finished with her handwriting assignment she immediately went to her cubbies.  She put together puzzles, played with these bears & worked on her sewing cards.  SUCCESS!

TREEHOUSES AT CHEEKWOOD

What a fun day we had at the Cheekwood Homeschool Day! This was our first time attending though we have been there 2 other times as a family. The last time was the glass sculptures. This time the main exhibit was a group of themed treehouses. We met up with friends which made it all the more fun.

This was the first treehouse.  The slide was very popular.

This treehouse was called "The Giver".  The quote on the sign read, "Things could change....Things could be different.  I don't know how, but there must be some way for things to be different.  There could be colors."  ~ Lois Lowry, The Giver, 1993

Treehouse #2 ~ Walden Treehouse

Me peeking inside the window at Bugsy.

Up in the loft.

I love how whimsical it is.

The stairway was really neat.

I wanted to get one with the door closed.

The side view.

The back.

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.  Now put the foundations under them." ~ Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854

Underneath was a place to play, swing and sit.

The Jolly Roger

Ahoy, mate Elvis!

Bugsy climbing out on the far deck.

Princess of the Jolly Roger.

Mate Boo

Conquering the fierce alligator!

"One green light squinting over Kidd's Creek, which is near the mouth of the pirate river, marked where the brig, the Jolly Roger, lay, low in the water; a rakish-looking craft foul to the hull.......She was the cannibal of the seas, and scarce needed that watchful eye, for she floated immune in the horror of her name."  ~ J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy, 1911

UP AND DOWN AGAIN, A HOBBIT'S TALE

"There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something."  ~ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit 1937

Wheeee!

My little buddies

THE RAINBOW FISH

"The Rainbow Fish shared his scales left and right, and the more he gave away, the more delighted he became.  When the water around him filled with glimmering scales, he at last felt at home among the other fish."  ~ Marcus Pfister, The Rainbow Fish, 1992

OCEAN OF NOTIONS

"He looked into the water and saw that it was made up of a thousand thousand thousand and one different currents, each one a different colour, weaving in and out of one another like a liquid tapestry of breathtaking complexity; and Iff explained that these were the Streams of Story, that each coloured strand represented and contained a single tale." ~ Salman Rushdie, Haroun and the Sea of Stories, 1991

The views are absolutely spectacular there.

It is a botanical garden full of themed gardens.  

The children all entering the Japanese Garden.

Bamboo

Looking up in the bamboo garden.

How I would love to have this in my own yard.

A fine looking crew!

Peaceful

Elvis found this set of seeds on the ground.  Don't worry he put them back after observing them.  =)

Another gorgeous view.

God has given me a new friendship.

Dragonflies.

Friends!

They found a snapping turtle & fed the minnows.

Boo Bear!

Back to the Walden Treehouse one last time.

Last but not least.........

THE CONCH HOUSE

Playing inside.

See me, Mommy?

"His ordinary voice sounded like a whisper after the harsh note of the conch.  He laid the conch against his lips, took a deep breath and blew once more.  The note boomed again: and then at his firmer pressure, the note, fluking up an octave, became a strident blare more penetrating than before."  ~ William Golding, Lord of the Flies, 1954

And of course the beautiful flowers & foliage........

Time to go home....

Good-bye, Cheekwood.  Thank you for an amazing day.