Peaking at Nature

Our backyard is a little weedy and we're trying to not use spray this year. With such a lovely sunny day we headed to a particularly clover filled section to pull some weeds. She has enjoyed laying here in the little white flowers watching the clouds float through the sky. While we were digging around we found this furry caterpillar. What fun it was to watch it crawl around and around. After we finished pulling the weeds we returned our fuzzy little friend back to it's home.

St Patrick's day

A memorial breakfast of green milk and mint cookies was followed by some stories about St Patrick. We read Tomie dePalo's, Patrick, Patron Saint of Ireland, and The Story of Saint Patrick's Day by Pamela Levy. And for the fun of it we read The Leprechaun who lost his rainbow by Sean Callahan. I also tried to pull the 'leprachan's made everything a mess routine', but she's just not up for any nonsense these days.... She said, "Ok, well who did it you or daddy? " Sooo, the lessons on truthfulness and what's pretend and real have really taken root in our little five year old. 

3.14 National Pi Day

She's a long way off from measuring with Pi but understanding that it measures circles and making an edible circle is something she does understand:) For the fun of it we made our very first chocolate pie for National Pi day.

Chrysalis

Wonderful News! All 5 of our butterflies have made their  chrysalis. And interestingly, so have the ladybugs in sorts.... The lady bugs did not make use of  a fancy case, They just used their last exoskeleton to change inside of. They also hung upside down like the caterpillars, but they still looked like the pupa stage. The Doll is taking very careful notes on this discovery. Also, since the butterflies have now all made their chrysalis, we moved them into the net habitat. So in about 7 more days we'll have butterflies and lady bugs

Sunshine gardening +bird watching

With some mild sun protection applied, we headed outside to enjoy a spring day. We started with a  little bird watching and noting. Then did some earth exploring. She found lots of critters digging in the ground. It was the first time she had seen a centipede. She held the worm so gently when she found it. Digging in the earth inspired her to want to plant some flowers. So we started some in little egg cartons and also picked up a few pansies at the grocer.
How do you spread curiosity? How do you guide your little chick in the direction you are hoping? How do you fill their minds with questions then fill in the blanks with answers? I've been investigating idea in an educational model called Leadership Education. It's interesting to see how our country's historical leaders  and founding peoples were educated. I feel like we're both learning so much together and this time of exploration and questioning is so valuable to both of us. 

Celebrating life

Great Granny turned 93 today! We had a ladies day out with taking her out to lunch. After lunch we went with Aunt GG to visit the Tractor Supply store where they had new baby chicks and ducklings, while Great Granny and Granny had their beauty appointment.  When we returned home we had some coconut cake and strawberries. 

Dr Seuss birthday

Our truffula tree cupcake

We enjoyed talking about the beloved Dr Seuss today in memory of his birthday. Did you know that Dr. Seuss had several pen names? Read more about Dr. Seuss here.We recently found two old books (come over to my house)&(maybe you should fly a jet)that I don't remember reading at the fabulous half price book store:)We had a long day of chatting about one of our favorite authors.  At the end of our day we even baked up some truffula tree peanut butter cupcakes from the book The Lorax. 

Great finds at half price book store.