Nature Walks - these are what homeschooling is built around! Getting out into nature to explore! Bring those nature journals, sketch some wildlife, write a poem...

OK, here's for reality of nature walks for our house! Right now Cody is 6 and doesn't really like to draw - at least nothing recognizable. So forget the nature journal. Nor does he like to write. We don't really have time with twin 2 year-olds, an active 4 year-old girl, and an 8 mo. old baby who likes motion, to sit and contemplate nature. BUT, we can still learn a lot from it!

Today's walk included:

Lessons in sharing a stroller. Couldn't bring the triple stroller with seats for the youngest 3 hikers so they had to take turns!

Observation of "schools" of baby catfish and minnows, water striders and snails. Also many painted turtles. "I didn't see that one" (crying accompanying comment).

Observation of poison ivy! Thankfully none were infected with it.

Lessons in dodging other families toddlers/strollers in a small space.

Observation of signs of a beaver cutting trees/wood.

2 train sightings, one missed by 2yo Derek. ("I can't see the train, I need another train")

Lunch on the boardwalk over the pond - who knows how many pond creatures will appreciate eating someone's PBJ sandwich...

Sighting of a small snake by Cody & I. 4yo Cora saying "I didn't see that one" (crying accompanying comment).

Capture of first land snail ever. Loss of first land snail ever as we didn't bring enough bug containers and it dropped out of the diaper bag.

Multiple dumpings of jar of water containing water striders and pond snails due to lack of level surface to keep container on.

Identification of goldenrod, bee balm, and no touch 'em (something like that) plants. The no touch 'em plant will develop a pod that when you touch it it bursts open with a pop! Fun to play with - will definitely have to check that one out another time when they're ready! These plants are also good for treating poison ivy! Will have to remember that one too!

So that rounds up the highlights (and lowlights) of our adventure. Thankfully 8 month old Judah sat happily in the backpack on mom's back the entire time. And yes, it was a very worthwhile trip!

Thank you God for nature and all we truly can learn and enjoy about it! Thank you also for this picture-perfect day.

Melanie and company!