Posted in Family Time

First off I know it is not spring yet but I was tired of looking at the winter theme on here . It's beautiful weather right now down here in the good ol' south and so I thought now would be a good time to get ready for the season that is approaching...Spring.  Okay so it rained and we had a good sized thunderstorm last night nevertheless, I am ready for a change . Thus the reason for my template change tonight.

I think I had cabin fever! So this past weekend (Friday included) we stayed outdoors most of the time.  Well first on Thursday we did our co-op with the local homeschool group. It was service/activity day and the theme  was "Free Enterprise". The children were to make something to sale at the co-op. So we made rice crispy treats and cupcakes that my middle son decorated by drawing clovres on them with green icing. The girls cut and pinned cloth napkins then I sewed them. They sold as sets of two for 15 cents a set.They each made a beaded, hand painted bracelet to sale also. The prices for each item, as I was told, was to stay between 1-15 cents. I gave them each a combination of coins equaling $2.00 and that was the budget each of them had to work with once they arrived to the co-op. They all did well but of course no one came home with extra money saved . Sugar rushes, yes . Money from the $ 2.00, no. There were just too many goodies there to spend on .
 
Then Friday we did a few lessons here at the house. We did a lesson I found on about.com about Leap year and of course everyone that uses www.aleks.com did their hour of math and then we were off to the park for our science and a little play time for the little ones. This was the start of our Great Outdoors weekend. 


Journaling for Science                              I just love that look on Z's face!


   a penny for those thoughts there!           My oldest had fun too. I love these kind of days!

 We enjoyed it so much that we have designated Friday as out Park day. We will do www.aleks.com for math and then head to the park for science and free time!
Was that enough for us? No way. Saturday we drove into Louisiana and went on a nature walk at a National Wildlife Refuge in search of the Endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker
We didn't see this bird but we sure had fun watching for it.  We did see a few other things like these turtles
 
Oh yeah and this strange monkey :

Okay it's no monkey, it's my fearless middle son. He loves to climb. When he was a bit younger he helped me to understand the true meaning of "climbing the walls'. This child loves to climb!
 
This is an excellent spot for nature journaling. I know we will go back. I tell you, this section of the Apologia Science unit has really intrigued us. The bird watching has become something the whole family has gotten into. They all want the camera, they all want to take pictures and each one is now pointing out the birds and asking, "What kind is that one?" or "Let's look it up in that guide".  Who knew something of this sort would ever bring this family together the way it has! It has got to be the Lord! Thank You Jesus!
So then what did we do once the trail came to an end? Well we headed to the Lakefront. Did I happen to mention we had been suffering from cabin fever? LOL . Really, it was a beautiful day and there was still daylight left so why waste it on the drive home? We weren't ready for the cabin yet. There's a park out there right on the Lake front so the children played, 
  the older boys loved being out by the water,
 
 
and we enjoyed the view!

 


As the sun was going down the wind picked up and it started getting a little chilly out. It was time to head home. There was no complaining as we had all had a very fun filled day outside. The drive home was peaceful. Now you must understand that a long drive with six children (my four plus two more) isn't usually a quiet, peace filled one. This one however was not the usual. The car was filled with a peace and calm that I can not explain.
As I reflect on this past weekend, I am so grateful to God for this family. For my husband and my children and the children that God sends our way. Even though we are not perfect and we have those days that seem like there is a  WW about to break out in the home, we have the Love of God here and that will prevail. I want to take the time to thank God, even though it is not Thankful Thursday, for allowing my family to enjoy this time together the way we did.
Be blessed,
Stacy