Quiet Moments

It rained and rained.  I love the rain, unless it means flooding and schools closing, which it did. Bless all those who's houses and farms have been flooded.

   I suggested to Atticus we make some boats and float them, but he said he already has the perfect boat; his crocks!

They really do float nicely, and Atticus raced them down the gutter over and over.

I finished these socks today.  They were made for feet Dash's size, but i squeezed into them like Cinderellas' step-sister for the photo.  I just might open an Etsy shop and sell them there. 

We saw a rainbow in the house. Of course, I turned it into a teaching moment, instead of just letting it be beautiful.  "This is light broken up into all it's colors...blah blah blah" The children didn't hear me.  They just played in the beautiful light.

my rainbow child

Friday Foto

nap time

A single photo, of a moment from this past week.

Homeschool and Sensory Integration

It was a rainy walk to school. And oddly cool.  But the big boys were really excited and had a great day.  

Walking the big boys to school

 When Atticus and I returned home, we tidied up, then started his experiments, or as he says, "experiences"

Shaving cream and food coloring

 This is a quick and easy "experience" that helps with sensory integration and understanding color mixing.  Some kids hate getting messy and having squishy slimy stuff on their hands.  This helps make the sensation fun, and helps the brain process information coming in from the hands.  It is great for children to get used to touching as many different textures and substances as possible, especially for children who have intense sensory preferences and have difficulties with sensations coming from their hands and feet.  

mixing colors

 Some children hate tags in their shirts, others won't wear socks with seams, some need tight clothing, some loose.  These can be preferences, unless they get so bad it inhibits normal functioning.  Then, it's called a disorder.  It seems to me, all people have sensory preferences.  For example, I cant STAND tight clothing, (but  I do love a stretchy yoga pant...), and I won't wear wool.

painting

 Atticus also painted on his easel.  He knows how to get the paint set up, and clean it up, all by himself.  Independence is very important at this age.

looking with a magnifying glass

 We explored things up close, 

looking with a hand-held microscope

 And even closer

This is a small hand-held microscope that is really handy and fun.  

Nature Table part 2

We got a ten gallon fish tank, with all the accessories free from Freecycle.

 This and a card board box is all this child needs to keep busy...

The tank now has 3 happy fish, and sits on our nature table.

 The treasures we hunted for out in the woods.

I like to use nature tables as a scientific study, so we also have

field guides, binoculars, and microscopes to look closer at what we found, and identify it.

stones, crystals and shells collected from various places.

Evenings and weekends

I took the boys to see Peter Pan at Wolf Trap this weekend.  Cathy Rigby was Peter Pan, and I think when I was a child and saw Peter Pan, Cathy Rigby was acting the part back then too.  She was wonderful, and must really be from Neverland, because she has not grown old.

Some eating and playing before the show

The stage looks like it is part of the forrest around it

A large lawn with no bad view

he was captivated by Peter Pan and especially Tinker Bell

enjoying the show and a good meal

The next night we had plans too. For something completely different and equally fun...

Shades and cap, check

new Chuck Taylor's, check

A ride on the Metro

To a BASEBALL game! 

A beautiful stadium, with places to lounge and eat good food

This was our view, really fun

(product placement) oh how happy they were to have that treat!

Some didn't make it through the game, and hardly made it home...

The National's won, it was a great game, even though we had to leave at the 6th inning because of someone being a little too tired to carry on in a respectable manner, ah-hem.  But we could follow the game on my phone, so the way home on the Metro, we were updated, and celebrated when the nail biting game against the Met's game ended with a victory for the Nats...When can we go back?