This week we've had the pleasure of watching a spider wrap it's prey, a praying mantis masticate - boy can they eat fast with such a tiny little head- and a black swallowtail take flight.  That last one I was the only one to witness as it "hatched" while the kids were at grandma's house.  That's ok though, they got to set a yellow swallowtail free last week.  Grandma finds the best caterpillars out at her place!

My eldest caught two bullfrogs this summer- up from one last year.  He also caught a really large lizard- ugly!  My daughter has been chasing butterflies and today unfortunately got a sting from a wasp.  But she's a trooper and ready to go outside and catch some new critters.  Even the not-quite 3 year old has found a caterpillar or two.  He's got good eyes and can find the really tiny ones. 

This spring after a flood we got to take a quick look at a deceased beaver.  I had no idea how big their tails really were!  And the kids have been able to see a racoon (caught and released in a 'humane' trap) after witnesses it's footprints for several weeks.  They were happy to finally see the feet that match those tracks.

Yesterday, the kids harvested over 100 tomatoes at grandma's house and have shared in several ears of corn from our own garden.  A robin placed her nest in a tree right outside our front window so we were able to watch her little family progress from start to finish and we have a wild rabbit who has decided that our back yard is the place to be.  

That's just a little of the wonderful things the children have been able to see and share this spring and summer.  I can't begin to name it all.  We are so very blessed to not only have our own little yard with it's peeks at nature but grandma's garden full of all kinds of plants and animal to visit.  Her yard is actually a certified wildlife habitat- how cool is that!  So if you have some land, start planting some flowers and trees.  You could create a wildflower field that the birds will love.  Have bushes that give small animals and burns cover from predators or just plant a small butterfly and hummingbird garden.   If you have no yard at all- consider a small terrarium or container garden.  Just a few beetles or crickets and a spider or two (definitely contained!) can teach you and your child a lot about the little creatures living all around us. 

It is amazing to be able to see and show your children how God provides for all his creatures.