Nature School Happenings

This nature school I do with my boys and some of our friends has been so fun, but we are all really ready for some sunshine and nice weather. Seattle has such wonderful places to explore but they aren't quite as interesting when it is pouring rain. We've been having fun, anyway, though. We just finished sewing, decorating and stuffing totes for all the kiddos. They turned out so cute and the kids really like them. Each tote has an aquatic net, a bug box and a hand lense for each child. I've got some fun lesson ideas about seeds, flowers, and insects where our supplies will come in handy.

Last month, for St. Patrick's Day, I sowed shamrock seeds for all the kiddos. They were very small seedling when I handed them out to the kids right before St. Patty's day, but we now have a pretty healthy little shamrock growing on our windowsill. I think it's my favorite plant at the moment:





It's so dainty and delicate. I love the bright, green color. It makes me feel happy, even when rain is streaming down the window pane outside :)

Chore Chart

Look what my wonderful dad made for my family! He actually made one for each of my sibling's families (at least everyone who wanted one). What a labor of love! My mom made photo copies of the blank chore cards and then I colored each one, with some input from Jasper and Gideon. I took them to Kinko's and laminated the cards and then punched holes in the top. They turned out super cute and Jasper LVOES doing chores now! Seriously, he wakes up in the morning and the first thing he wants to do is chores :)

Spring is finally here!!!..... well kind of

I'm so happy it's April! I've been waiting since October for spring to arrive. It's my favorite time of year because I get to start my garden. I feel like a more complete person with my hands in the dirt. Some people get sun light deficient disorder in Seattle.... I think I get dirt on my hands deficient disorder (and sunlight deficient too;) I've probably been to hasty, like I am almost every year, and started my seeds too early but I can't help myself. I get so sick of the rain and cold, that the first sunny day that comes along leaves me with terrible spring fever and a hundred seeds started on my windowsill.

I ordered seeds from Territorial Seed Company this year. Here are the seeds that I ordered this year:







So far I've got my peas growing in my garden and I've sowed carrots, swiss chard and beats. Beats are a new one for me this year so we'll see how that goes. On my windowsill, I have tomatoes, broccoli, and lettuce growing.





Jasper is finally old enough to really, really be able to help me. We had a little date on Saturday and he pitched in and pulled weeds and sowed seeds. He's been hugging trees alot lately too- makes me a proud mama :)

A little bit about what we've been doing

Golly! I feel like I fell off the blogging band wagon lately. So much is going on lately that I feel overwhelmed by the thought of trying to blog about it. Anyway, I thought I'd at least jot down what we've been doing this week.

Monday was Nature Preschool. We were invited to tour UW's Earth Sciences Department! The kids LOVED it! We got to see cool rocks, learn about volcanoes, watch a liquid nitrogen demonstration, walk through a working laboratory with scientists analyzing ice core samples from Antarctica, learn about soils, jump around on huge, cool rocks from all over the world, and even take a little tour through a herb garden. It was so great!

Last night I went to REI to see a screening of the new documentary Play Again. It was soooo good and spoke straight to me, as a mother, as a nature lover, as an "educator" (although I'd never really call myself that). I can't wait to share it with my friends.