Rags to Riches

After several weeks of a nasty stomach bug we finally got out of the house for a field trip! I was looking forward to visiting Latta Plantation again. They do some great programs for kids! Today's theme was rags to riches. The children started at a small farmer's cabin where they learned about the crops raised that would be worth trading. They picked a handful of wool, corn, or sorghum to take to the next stop, a traveling merchant's wagon. They traded their crops at the wagon for fabric or candle wick, which was traded up at the blacksmith for nails or horseshoes, and last at the mercantile they traded for cash. It was really fun and informative. We also stopped at the garden, barn and outdoor kitchen for more demonstrations of life from the 1790s. We were all shocked to find that a trip from the plantation to the nearest town was three days ride, making a trip to town a week long ordeal! Thank goodness for my Wal-mart neighborhood market around the corner!

 Liked the stinky piggies!

 Enthralled by the chickens.

 The turkey's were making quite a racket!

 Trading with the traveling merchant.

 The lunch cooked on an open hearth smelt divine!

 Some brotherly love....

 Our 'babies' helping each other out....LOL

 Friends

 My friend Julie and I have a great crew of kiddos!

Proud of his money with the train.

The Nature of Children

August 30th, I could wait no longer, we pulled out the fall decor. Bring on apples, pumpkins, and changing leaves. I've read they expect the color this year to be the best in recent history......Blue Ridge Parkway is on the top of our 'must do' list! This week we also went to a nature center we haven't visited before. It was a really fun morning with the kids! They enjoyed playing and exploring the center and then we went for a real hike. The trail was rough and it was up and down hills in the woods in 94 degrees for a mile. It took us almost an hour, but Isaiah made it for all but about 20 paces and the big kids did great! I love seeing them enjoying the outdoors.

 A mantle is the single best place to display seasonal decor, in my opinion!

 Becca's artwork....I was impressed, this took her all of five minutes to whip up.

 Thursday morning turned into a sensory/science morning with water beads, vinegar, baking soda, and finger paints.

 Isaiah's reaction to see the vinegar hit the baking soda was priceless.

 Why not go all in and get the messiness done in a single setting, right?

 Latta Nature Preserve

 Kids play area...with a "Bob the Digger Tree House" ( Isaiah loves Bob the Builder episode about tree houses)

 Vines and ropes for swinging through the trees.

 More fun in the woods.

 Rocking climbing wall.

 Anyone for tea?

 Need I tell you how impressed he was with the box of snake skin?

Levi was impressed with the 'swimming turtle'. We also saw little blue tailed skinks

 running around outside.

 Isaiah faithfully toted his emptied gatorade jug with him to collect sweet gum balls, which he refers to as popcorn.

Big sister to the rescue when little lets gave out....this only lasted a few paces, but it was enough to refresh him so he could trudge onward.

 Self-proclaimed leader for the day and his trail map.

 Pointing at the wrong things, but he has confidence in himself. ;)

Beautiful woods.

School Projects

Rebecca had her first ever piano lesson on Tuesday. She has been enthusiastically practicing and doing her theory exercises all week! I've been glad to have a keyboard in the house again too! Its been almost a decade since I've played regularly....but I'm getting back in the groove!

After three weeks of trying to keep Levi occupied while working with Rebecca I caved and invested in a new pre-k program. Its much more hands on than even Rebecca's pre-k was.....and he LOVES it! Notice those giant test tubes and magnifying glass?! 

Paper mache wigwams, anyone?

 You know that melted crayon between wax paper craft every young kids does......WHY?! Isaiah stuck his hand right in the way and got a nasty burn! ;(

Isaiah is still at an age where a single task can keep him busy for a while.....drawing circles on paper usually takes up half our school time. Here he is sorting his colors. Yesterday it was a challenge, but today he did it properly without help! 

One of the cool gizmos in Levi's curriculum was Bambino Luk....a logic skills game with movable tiles, books full of teasers, and its self correcting! Its cool!

My little think tank.

 Powhatan Indians, Tepees, and a Wigwam.

Baskets to keep all this fun organized! It might look like a bunch of books, but believe me there is more action and projects  to our days than you would imagine!