Saturday, March 31, 2012

Deer in our yard!

They were eating the apple tree and other young plants... including my trillium!!

Friday, March 30, 2012

Sophie is holding her nose to taste popcorn and see if it tastes different. We learned about our five senses in health class.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

We went to the Metropark farm for a sheep tour today!

We learned all about wool and lanolin.

The kids liked the pigs, too.

This little lamb was less than one week old.

And the roosters and hens were fun to watch, too.

We had a great picnic with friends.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

After watching a documentary on sea turtles, we just had to make our own baby sea turtles.

First, we cut off the bottoms of Dixie cups for the shells.

Then, we painted them.

Here are Sophie's (top) and Jason's turtle shells.

Next, I created a template for a sea turtle body and the kids painted them.

Jason had to mix his paints to get just the right color.

If you'd like the template, here it is.












Then, just fold in the four flaps and glue them to the inside of a shell.

And you have a sea turtle...


Monday, March 26, 2012

Playing with our guinea pigs!

Our friend enjoyed holding one, too!

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Daddy took Jason to Lifetime fitness and he tried rock climbing for the first time! Look at him climb!

Friday, March 23, 2012

Our grape leaves are finished and I could eat the whole pot!!

Here are some of the displays from our Around the World lunch.

Japan... soba noodle soup

Comanche Native Americans... nuts, dates, jerky and pemmican.

South Africa... peanut stew and yellow rice

Syria.... grape leaves and shunkleesh (this is ours!)

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Sophie loves mommy's homemade pizza!

The kids rolled their first batch of grape leaves for our International lunch with friends.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

We made some sidewalk paint on our amazingly hot March day in Michigan.

One tray wasn't enough. The kids had fun coloring mixing it, too. It's equal parts water and cornstarch; whisk together. Then, let the kids add their own food coloring. 1 cup parts makes about enough to fill 6 muffin cups 2/3 way.

Jason painted the world.

Sophie experimented with painting tools.

Running around with painted feet!

We even chased moths!

And the kids spotted their first dandelion and asked how many we need to make cookies.

First dandelion wishes of the year!

The violas in the grass are blooming, too!

And back inside for some yummy braided string cheese from the Middle Eastern store.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

We went to Maple Syrup Day at the nature center.

We learned all about making maple syrup. The kids are practicing tapping trees!

And trying out some maple syrup on waffles at the end!

Friday, March 16, 2012

Jason had a small virus and wasn't up for playing in the lovely 75 degree March day in Michigan, but Sophie had a blast!

She rediscovered our dragon gardens from last year.

And collected a lot of worms!

She helped me plant salad greens and kale.

And, of course, splashed in a mud puddle!

What could make a better day?

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Our cousins and Grandma L came with us to Cranbrook Institute of Science today. We attended the Young Scientist program with the topic of maple syrup.

After a nice little nature walk, we spent some time playing inside, too.

And we took our own nature walk to the wigwam.

The kids collected items on our walk and they made a birds nest, complete with egg (rock).