Messy Science Day

This afternoon we met up with some of our new friends at our favorite park for a messy science day. One of the mama's organized and reserved a shelter and we all brought a project of some sort to share with the group. It was SO much fun! I think I enjoyed seeing things, fizzle, explode, melt, and bubble as much as the kids. So thankful to have found a couple of very active home school groups already!

We took a tub full of water beads with ocean animals hidden. More of a sensory thing, but after the kids were done mashing them it certainly counted as "messy."

 They were a hit with all the kids.

 Isaiah likes being with the big kids.

 Rebecca's "team" for mentos and diet coke.

 Pretty cool.

 Isaiah was amazed with this one too!

 Oh yeah, now that is how its done!

 "that was so awesome!"

 Oobleck.....ewwww!

 Isaiah drinking the experiments. ( no worries this was just water)

 Levi's favorite activity of the day....I couldn't keep him out of the water!

 Milk and dish soap.....you gotta try it!

 Levi's mad face when I made him get out of the water.

 Guess who else liked the water.....boys. :)

 Elephant toothpaste demo.

 Getting in the mess.

 We tried to dump enough water in the shelter house to kind of clean it out. Isaiah thoroughly enjoyed himself.

All packed up and time to go home. He slept so good this afternoon!

Routines?

So five weeks in Charlotte now and life is settling into a smooth groove. We started school up again this week after a long break and Rebecca went back to her workbooks with gusto! Multiplication here we come! We had a couple more playdates last week at the park and Chik-fil-a, dinner at our pastor's house, trips to the library, and grocery shopping. Nice and normal! I feel pretty well settled into the area already! A few pics of not too much, normal day kinda stuff.

 Isaiah walked in woodchips with his moccassin sandals.

 Rebecca did the monkey bars.

 Levi pouted at the end of the slide.

 We played on the new playground equipment and watched a storm roll over the apartments.

Mama made soap.

 Rebecca made stained glass by melting plastic beads in cook cutter shapes.

 Levi poured out sprinkles under his bed.

Isaiah took a nap.

Nature Explorers

Over the Summer Rebecca and I plan to continue her math work and sharpen her reading skills, then this Fall, when the new school year begins, I'm going in a new direction. We're going to begin following Charlotte Mason's theories of education for at least the next couple of years. It makes it easier for me to incorporate the boys into our school day and also I love the ideas of this 19th century educator. Already we've begun reading different books to Rebecca, heavier reading, old original fairy tales and even some abridged Shakespeare, and we are both enjoying them so much! One of the big things Charlotte pushes for young students is lots of time exploring, journaling, observing, and soaking up nature. Today we found just the place to help us practice! Reedy Creek Park is over 700 acres of woods, a nature preserve, nature center, ruins of an old plantation, playgrounds, lakes ,etc. They offer lots and lots of free and inexpensive classes for children. Things like journaling and sketching nature, identifying trees, and classes devoted to just insects or butterflies etc. Storytimes too! I can't wait to get Rebecca and Levi into some of these classes! So here are some pictures from today with more to come over the year I'm sure.

 Lunch after church from Cook Out, Isaiah likes his chili and fries.

 Let's go this way mama.

 Dusting off his hands after a tumble....Levi fell that is, not Aaron. ;)

 Giddyup!

 I can't believe she used to fit so nicely in this stroller. Getting too big!

 Can you ever have too many tall pines, I can't!

 I wish I knew enough people to plan a party, these shelters were so great!

 Wonder what's down this trail......

 Just the coolest treehouse EVER!

 There were several xylophones in the park. This one was old wrenches, but my favorite was the wooden one....great sounds.

 I'm coming back to this bench with a book someday.

Betting bracer these days.

 Look, a snake.

 Little naturalist.

Have to go home sometime...we'll be back!