Spring and 'scream

These days have been so wonderful.  There has been lots of outside and of course ice cream!

Happy first day of Spring!

the last little bit

It is sad day up here in Vermont. The temps are reaching near 80* and the snow is melting away. This usually doesn't happen until April. But we are getting every last drop that we can. 

Saturday we all participated in the Big Mountain Challenge. It was quite fun. A scavenger hunt of sorts, all across the mountain, against time. The Red Lasers(Eric and Landon)came in second, while the Red Dragons(Will and  I came in third).  We all got medals and some cool ski layers.  

Today the boys and I spent the morning on the mountain, shedding layer after layer. Outerwear was definitely optional.  The snow was soft and slushy. The trails deserted. A pretty peaceful time with my boys. We may only have just a few more days.  Until next year...

Sunday Smiles: science

game that Fits

I have been reading quite a few blog posts lately about games and how helpful they are in learning. (Ordinary Life Magic, One Sweet World, The Forest Room) I know this. 

We have a ton of games and yet we still don't use them as often as I would like.  I am trying harder to make it a priority. There are just way too many benefits to playing. Not to mention fun!  

Our newest game, Fits, is quite the brain challenge. You have to fit the small pieces onto a grid so there are no spaces. (Similar to Tetrus) You keep score after each round. There are positive and negative points. 

So we were learning to add positives and negatives, which I had to think about for a moment, since it had been awhile.  I showed them how to use a number line to try it out. All the while William is kinda like "Mom, just get on with it already", but then I find just the two of them playing and Will has used the number line to help keep score.  
Ah, the joy of natural learning:)

They both have beaten their Mama by the landslide, by the way.

snippets of nature

While on our walks this week, the boys found some sure signs of Spring. They were sneaky about it though and when we got home there were whispers here and there. Many "Mom, don't look!" pleas were heard. I went about my business and then was presented with this sweet surprise.

It sits on my windowsill in the kitchen and has been added to every day after our walk.  

It reminds me how much wonder fills these precious childhood years of theirs and how I need to take more time out of my day just to be in wonder with them. 

As we grow into adulthood we tend to lose that sense of wonder. I want my boys to pull me back into that wonderful state with them. 

I want their nature jar to always be full.

beautiful days are meant for swinging

our every days

Our every days consist of watching some educational DVD.

Baking yummy treats. 

Playing outside.

Eating healthy meals.

There is also reading, game playing,creating, walking, talking, homemaking, shopping,loving and so much more. This doesn't look like traditional school but it seems to serve us well. We are living our every days simply but we are living them.