Stumbling through Nature

I have several posts started and saved and unpublished.  I get so much typed out, and it is not what I had intended to share.  My brain is currently flooded with so many things that I'm more scattered than usual.  So before I get off topic and away from the intent of this post I will just get it started.

NATURE STUDIES

We are trying to implement nature studies into our school days.  For the most part the outdoors is not my thing; I don't like being hot, attacked by bugs, or being wet (unless I'm at the pool).  I'm also not very knowledgeable, but exposing my kids to the outdoors is important.  Our backyard is not full of hidden wonders other than the clover that have taken over.  Did you see my IG?  Intentionally letting them explore never crossed my mind as something to do as a family until lately while studying of education philosophies.  Actually it was other people's ideas that I have just adopted.  Since we started school, we have gone on a few nature walks where we specifically try to absorb the world we live in.  Regardless as to how awkward it may be.

Yesterday, we hit the trails that Chris sometimes has to run for PT.  Kinda woodsie.  I brought a bag to collect things for us to examine more closely later.  It wasn't too long into the walk that Simon gave up by laying in the middle of the trail.  Chris picked him up.  Luckily he was not carried the whole time, but we probably should have taken his peaceful protest as a sign.  At one point we had to choose the long or the short trail...we choose the long trail.  We found lots of great things, but 2.3 miles was probably a little more than the little Lockhart legs could handle.

I accidentally stepped in a fire ant hill (attacked by bugs!), but the kids got to see the ants come out and protect their eggs. Silver-lining?  Chris knew some of the plants' names and how they can be used should they need to make a rope.  He found yucca plants which can be eaten.  Amelia and Simon tried the plant yesterday and Owen got the nerve this morning.

The little white things are eggs.

Chewing on a yucca plant.

He tried it too.

A day later.

We observed some really beautiful things yesterday.

This morning I laid out what we collected so we could take a closer look.  While I did that, the kids recalled what they saw yesterday.  They even remembered some of the facts that Chris shared with them.  Owen pulled out the nature journals so everyone could draw some of their observations.  I was so pleased with their efforts.

The things we gathered.

The cypress tree branch had as strong delightful smell.

This sassafras root smelled like licorice.

Journaling

Sorry for the picture overload, but I'm really happy with the whole process.  It felt a little forced in the beginning, but at some point it was no longer awkward and the whole experience was very organic.  Other than exhaustion toward the end of our 2.3 mile walk, there wasn't any complaining just enjoying time spent together and taking in the world around us.  

North Carolina

There is soooo much I want to share!!!  So if you can bear with me while I try to organize the thoughts in my crazy brain.

The kids and I went to North Carolina for my brother's wedding.  I have the cutest sister-in-law ever.  It's okay to be jealous.

The cutest!

While we were there Amelia, Owen, and I went to a masquerade ball for the charity Kisses 4 Kate.  My mom is on the board, and they do some great things for the families at Brenner's Hospital.  My brother, sister, and niece were there too.  We had a great time!

Extended family started trickling in on Sunday, and we had the best week.  Or at least I had the best week I can't really speak for them.  A lot of work went into getting the patio ready for the rehearsal dinner.  My aunt and mom had Amelia and Owen raking leaves and pouring mulch.  My dad was doing finishing touches on the added room in the basement.  I was told Owen wimped out, but Amelia really pulled her own weight.

My mom and aunt also let me head to Concord so that I could attend the Kindred Gathering at the CiRCE Institute.  It kinda felt like I was sitting with celebrities.  Or people who knew celebrities.  I may or may not have had a few glasses of wine when I got home because I got chatty and weird like I tend to do.  My weirdness aside, it was great!  Kindred Gathering is a book club that was reviewing Consider This by Karen Glass.  I bought the book and Teaching from Rest: A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace  by Sarah Mackenzie while I was there. So stoked to begin both books.

Shaking off my weirdness.

On Wednesday we went on a wine tour.  We tasted some delicious wine while the kids had some grape juice.  Before we left the kids were able to feed the catfish. It was interesting (another word for sweaty and loud), but fun.  Only of few looks from the wine drinkers as we were leaving.  I'm not sure if they were amused or happy to see us leave.  We will say it was the former. That evening we did some finishing touches for the dinner and enjoyed the patio.

Thursday more people arrived and that evening the rain began. I think it is still raining.  It let up just enough for the rehearsal so that eating outside, under canopies, wasn't completely miserable.  The day of the wedding it was raining.  My cousin did my hair and it looked AWESOME.  And I did NOT get a picture!!!  Seriously with my hair and my fake eyelashes, I felt like a rock star.

The wedding was beautiful.  We had a wonderful time.  I just wish it could have lasted longer and that I had gotten more pictures.  But here's some of them...though I'm sure you saw them on Facebook.

Eyelashes!!!

Babe!

We were excited that our hair match Charlie's Angels.

Sunday was Becket's birthday.  We had cake and Donut World donuts.  THE BEST DONUTS EVER!  Several of my friends were able to stop by, and didn't seem to mind that it was still raining.

He's ONE!

Monday we headed out later than I had wanted.  And it rained the whole time that I was driving.  And I made a stop in Atlanta to purchase My Book House Books from Craigslist.  BUT we did make it back just in time to sing to Becket as a family and for me to head to the local book club for classical educators.  Seriously guys, I have hit the homeschooling jackpot here in Alabama.  I don't want to think about the fact that we will eventually have to leave....

Until next time friends.  I have some fun pictures from our nature walk today. I'm sure you're on the edge of your seats.

How I Survived SERE

If you do not know, SERE is a three week survival course for soldiers. Not all soldiers receive this training, but Chris has to have it. It's like some super secret training. The soldiers have to sign a contract stating they will not disclose details about their training. Not even to their wives.  Since I am not sure what it took for Chris to survive SERE, I will give you a detailed account of how the kids and I barely survived.  Because we all know I'm the weakest and the most dramatic.

The day Chris left set the tone for the three weeks that would follow. Kids were crabby. My house was a wreck. (My house is ALWAYS a wreck when Chris leaves. I don't understand why, but it is).  The children were less than stellar at church and the quick trip to the store. We were eating lunch before I dropped him off and Simon and Becket were screaming. Amelia and Owen were bickering. Blood pressures were rising. I turned to him and said "bugs and rattlesnakes sounds pretty good right now, huh?" He chuckled and said "yeah".  That first week really was challenging.  It took several days for us to find a groove.  The house was out of control! 

Our poor school room is still recovering.

Once I got this cleaned up we moved our school day to here.

This room felt worse when I took this picture.

I have NEVER claimed to be an organized person.  With every bone in my body, I wish I was.  I'm in awe of those with natural organizational skills.  The kids had soccer and dance to keep us busy.  It helped, though slowing down Friday, Saturday, and Sunday was nice too.  

The second week I ended up with a low grade fever.  ME!  I was completely thrown for a loop.  All I wanted to do was sleep.  Super Why on Netflix and snacks while I did my best keep my insides down.  Owen and Amelia did a great job helping me with the babes by fetching diapers and what not.  It was another reminder that I have some really great kids that I take for granted more often than I would ever want to admit.

Even though a sore throat and cough remained, things did turn around about halfway through.  We managed to do some school work.  The kids asked for and received a poetry tea party.  We pulled out our nature journals.  

A little bit of Morning Time.

Poetry Tea Party as promised.

Owen is reading without being told to do so.  First and only time so far, but worth documenting.

The week smoothed out, but you can see the chaos and Netflix were not completely eliminated, sadly. 

We finished out the three weeks by reading The Adventures of Reddy Fox by Thornton W. Burgess. We just finished it and started The Adventures of Chatterer The Red Squirrel.  I'm having a hard time gauging how my kids are handling chapter books as read alouds.  My kids ask for more chapters when I read.  I'm not sure if it is to delay bedtime or if they are really enjoying them, but they were thrilled to start the next book.  

The Friday before Chris returned the kids were drawing for two hours.  I was shocked!  They were working their fine motor skills so I called it school while I tried to catch up on house work.  They really impressed me with their work.  

On a whim I decided to take the kids grocery shopping.  I was going to wait until Chris was home so I could do it alone, but I must have felt ambitious.  It went really well! One lady stopped me to tell me how well behaved they were.  And they were well behaved.  The last 20 minutes Simon was getting bored so it started to get iffy.  He was calmed by giving him a pack of hot dog buns that he later used to beat his sister with.  She didn't seem to mind, it got us out of the store without a scene, and we were still able to eat the buns.  A win, I say!

Sunday we collected Chris.  He wasn't as famished as I had expected.  He had lost some weight, but not as bad as I had built up in my head.  Ya know sunken eyes and visible rib cage.  I told you I'm the dramatic one.  He was covered in chigger bite and was clearly sore.  Poor guy.  But he was in good spirits.  I think he was just glad to be home.

Now we are just waiting for the next phase of flight school.  It will be a new type of stress.  Lots of studying on his part.  The kids and I finding ways to give him space so he can get things done.  So prayers are always appreciated.   

Click for the pics!

Yes, I still need to change the pictures on the blog...maybe tomorrow. Procrastinator probs.

You may have seen my IG/FB post.  We started the 2015-2016 school year today.  We had been schooling lightly, but I made it official by taking first day of school pictures.  Yesterday, I realized that I had not used my fancy camera in a very long time. Poor Becket's (and Simon's to some degree) first year of life has been documented by the camera on my phone almost exclusively.  The woes of the third and fourth borns.

This ginger snap has it rough.

Last year I took pictures through the school year, when I remembered.  Most of them are dark, grainy camera phone pictures of my kids playing with a math manipulative or practicing their handwriting.  This year my goal is to take better pictures for our year book.  So, I got the camera out to see if I still knew how to work the auto setting.  Barely by the way.  In my humble opinion, I have some stellar looking kids!!!

This crew!

When did she grow up?

He just wanted to ride.

My wild man!

Copper Penny

Time, please stand still...sigh.

At about 8:00 am this morning we stepped outside and took those obligatory first day of school pictures.  

Owen is really beginning to emerge as a reader.  My goal for him is to really make the most of this time.  He is recognizing that he can read, and he is pointing out words and phonographs everywhere we go.  I am going to try and maximize this time.  He's moving to the next level in math, which is long overdue.  Handwriting needs improvement.  Strengthening his muscles is what he needs.  He fatigues quickly.

Amelia is being gently introduced to reading and writing.  She's really strong at listening to stories and narrating back what she has heard.  Phonics and sight words are going to need gentle, consistent repetition.  Once it clicks I think she will take off.  We are going to continue with math as is.  It seems to be working so no need to change it.

 My goal for Simon is to read to him often, give him opportunities to use his fine motor skills, but mostly let him PLAY!

Becket....I expect calculus. Do all the derivatives!!! :)

So the first day went really well.  I'm really excited about the possibilities this year.  Watching these kids grow up and learn is really an honor.  I'm not entirely sure how we got here.  Becoming a homeschooling family of six.  I never would have thought homeschooling would be our path.  But it is, and it's a joy.

Owen relating his earthly father to his heavenly Father. Swoon!