Footprints on the Fridge

Nature and Art: The Glory of Spring

With Spring full upon us here and the knowledge that in a few short weeks we will begin to complain about the heat, I am trying very hard to immerse us in as much nature study and outdoor time as possible.  Last month, inspiration struck and I decided on a whim to create a display about birds on the nature table.  Then, a picture book about John James Audubon caught my eye at the library and I decided to make him the artist of the month and tie our art study into out nature study.  It was a lovely and inspirational whim. It led us on a field trip to these gardens to gaze at the snowy egrets, and will culminate in a trip this zoo this weekend, where we will celebrate the ninth birthday of our very own artistically inclined nature lover.  Since this little rabbit trail began, he has been drawing birds with great detail and passion and declaring to everyone that he wants to be the next John James Audubon. 

Here is our John James Audubon Book List:

The Boy Who Drew Birds: A Story of John James Audubon

Into the Woods: John James Audubon Lives His Dream

Audubon: Painter of Birds in the Wild Frontier

For Picture Study:

John James Audubon: American Birds

There are plenty of great books for studying birds to add to your nature table.  I just pulled from our shelves and from the library shelf and left them there for the kids to peek through as they liked.

This little rabbit trail played itself out so nicely, that I have made my library requests and this month the nature table will be full with picture books about artist Georgia O'Keefe and nature books about wildflowers. 

Here is our Georgia O'Keeffe book list:

Through Georgia's Eyes

Georgia Rises: A day in the Life of Georgia O'Keeffe

My Name is Georgia

Georgia's Bones

For Picture Study:

Georgia O'Keeffe Museum Collections

I hope we can enhance this study with a field trip to this lovely spot which will be lush with azalea blossoms and wisteria vine this month.  Again, flower study will be a random splash of books from our stash and the library's shelves. 

I hope you all are getting out and about into the world this spring.  Do let us know where spring's glory takes you!

We're Going to Find Some Fall

As much as I love being a Louisiana gal, it really distresses me every September and October when the rest of the country is reveling in apple-picking and spiced cider and the glorious colors of autumn leaves and we are here, enjoying some truly lovely weather, but essentially missing out on all of autumn's glory. 

When major life changes that took place over the past week made it possible for us to plan a getaway this week, the choice of San Antonio seemed a no-brainer.  The kids have been enthralled with our studies of the Alamo and are thrilled to go see it in person.  It's not a bad drive from here, Greg's sister is along the way, and Greg's aunt and uncle and his cousin who was the best man in our wedding live in San Antonio.  We've been itching for the first camping trip of the year, and there is a nearby state park where Greg took the boys last year that he has been dying for me to see.  Voila!  Trip planned.  A few days in San Antonio and then five days camping here.

I was excited, truly.  But ever since last year's trek up the East Coast , I've prayed we'd get the chance to experience fall's splendor every year.  This trip is likely to be the only one of the season, so I was a little sad--until this morning, when my darling husband served me my coffee, sat me on the sofa with the laptop, and showed me this list of nearby attractions.  We began clicking on links, eagerly discussing all the fun things we could do and see with our adventurous band of brothers, but I've got to tell you, when he clicked on this link, my heart skipped a beat.  God in heaven, the Maker of me, knew just how much my soul needed that flood of beauty, so He showed us where to find.  And find it we will.  We've got a day of hiking there all planned out.  And for an added bonus, an afternoon spent here, enjoying nature's autumn bounty. 

God is also quite aware that there are some rough and rugged boys in this bunch, so He made sure there was plenty of fun for them too.  All that along with lots of time talking by the fire and gazing up a the stars will make for some amazing family time.

And even though it's technically vacation, we'll be "studying" history, geography, astronomy, literature, nature and science, physical education, and, of course, our faith, (The Lord even sent us a couple of cool field trips in that area) which we take with us wherever we go.  I'll never cease to wonder at how easily real life begets real learning.  And for that, for the life God gave us, and His intimate presence in it, I am ever grateful. 

Now we're off to find some fall.  Photos when we return!

Vacation Photos

The first set of vacation photos are on the sidebar in the flickr album. These are all from our stop in South Carolina with my sister and her family.

We're Home...

and our trip was fantastic.  We fell in love with so many new places.  We felt the joy of friendships renewed.  Our faith was inspired.  We saw what we can accomplish as a family.  And we had FUN!

I wrote this poem, to express some of my feelings as the trip progressed:

The Maker of Me

My mind is filled with wonder

and awe inspires my smile

when I stop to think that

the painter of the autumn leaves

the sculptor of the mountaintops

is the maker of me.

I shiver at the smallness

and quake with humility

when I make note that

the author of human history

and the endower of life's dignity

is the maker of me.

I am moved with gratitude

and washed in emotions

when I realize that

the designer of friendship's fondness

and the carver of sandy shores

is the maker of me.

I tingle with sheer joy

and my spirit is renewed

when I remember that

the conductor of my family's symphony

and tinkler of my baby's laughing bells

is the maker of me.

My memory races to remember

and my soul's love deepens

when I take time to reflect that

the worker of childhood's magical moments

and the source of wide-eyed wonder

is the maker of me.

I cannot quite express

and struggle for the words

to say how much it means that

the tiny babe for whom the star shines

and the angels sing with joy

is the Savior of me.

On the Road--Just so you know

We are still on the road and we are still alive and well!  There has not been much computer time as you might have guessed.  We finish in Boston today and have decided to head north to Kennebunkport, ME for a night...just to say we went all the way!  Then we're headed South and I'll let you in on some of the fun details of our trip when we get home!

On the Road--Round Two

We're safely settled into our hotel in Williamsburg this evening after a fun day of learning.  After spending half of yesterday on the road, we arrived here late in the afternoon, just in time to check in, grab some dinner, and take a swim in the indoor pool.  We spent the evening reading books and using the internet to make a plan for our time here.

The drive here was incredible.  The trees are still full of their colorful foliage and I am in awe.  Those of you who see this every year of your lives may find it trite, and for those of you who have never seen it, I do not have the words to give you even close to an idea of what it is like.  What I have loved most is that it is a first for Greg and I both--a shared experience of something all at once magical, spiritual, and emotional, one of those sweet secrets that only the intimacy of marriage brings.  I know there is a perfectly logical, scientifc explanation as to why those leaves are still on those trees, but quite honestly, it feels to me like God held out His hands and let His paintbrush linger a bit longer than usual just so I could see it.  I feel His presence so strongly in this beauty and I am so in love with Him.  At times it feels almost overwhelming--breathtaking in the truest sense.

I've felt this way a rare few times in my life--when the church doors opened on my wedding night, each time I've looked in a new baby's face, when I stood on the dock of a little Caribbean island and felt the breeze hit my face for the first time, snorkeling in a coral reef for the first time, seeing a volcano erupt in Costa Rica, and sitting in a half-finished adobe chapel in the Mexican dessert, watching the sun set when a group of wild horses came galloping by.  Moments when I'm totally overwhelemd by the magnitude of God's pure, unblemished love for His creation and His creatures.  The colors of autumn seem a singular expression of His love and I can do nothing but thank HIm.

Tomorrow we have another day in WIllaimsburg and then we head on to Front Royal, Va.  Below is Gabe's narration of the trip to Table Rock State park in South Carolina.  Notice how it's one big run-on sentence?  Gabe tends to move much more slowly than the rest of our family.  I'm beginning to see this is how life with us feels to him--like one big run-on sentence.  We'll slow things down a bit for him, one day, I hope...maybe next month...oh no, that's Christmas... well anyway, he's been on the floor setting up his new tubes of Powhatan Indians and Jamestown settlers for an hour...I hope that helps!

(I'm too tired to upload photos tonight, sorry!)

 

We’ve been at the mountain and it was really steep and we saw a poisonous centipede and we saw a river and we saw a crashed down tree because hurricane trina I think and I went on the wrong side of the river so I had to cross it. And we drived down a swirly street and there was this carpet grass to lay on so we wouldn’t fall.  We saw poison ivy. My ears hurt.  I throwed rocks, actually I skipped them. 

On the Road--Round One

We've made it to my sister's house in South Carolina.  We drove twelve hours yesterday, arriving here just after midnight.  The kids were remarkably easy-going for most of the car ride and the we had no major snags.  Thank God and all of you who are praying for safe travel. 

The lights of Atlanta late last night were one of my favorite parts of the drive.  Big cities close up--not really my thing.  But from afar, glowing in the night sky--pretty breathtaking really.  They mesmerized Evan, who was snapped wide awake by them and then insisted I sing to him for the last two hours of the drive.  I'm not sure the rest of the family loved it so much, but it was better than him screaming.

Greg has headed off to the nearby Table Rock State Park with our older boys and their cousin Peyton.  I have spent the morning visiting with my sister Shannon and my nieces, while Evan has charmed everyone and Kolbe is currently napping on the chest of his godmother.

Tonight we are off to this restaurant my boys remember from our last visit that has HUGE pizzas and a trip to the planetarium at Roper Mountain Science Center, which is a fitting follow-up, since on of our audios on our ride was Jim Weiss' Galileo and the Stargazers.

Tomorrow we head on the Williamsburg.  I'll update when we can.

Signing Off for Vacation

One of the fabulous benefits of being a homeschooling family is that you can travel whenever you want to.  Another is that your schoolroom is the real world.  So we're off on a Thanksgiving adventure that blends together time with family, new friends, old friends, American history, and our Catholic faith, as well as long card rides for both family bonding and lots of literature both on tape and read aloud.

So starting this Thursday, this family school becomes a mobile unit.  First stop, my sister's house in Greenville, South Carolina.  After a short visit we are off to Williamsburg, VA for a taste of colonial life.  From Williamsburg, we'll head to Front Royal, VA for a visit to a great Catholic ministry, its neighboring Catholic college, and the Shenandoah National Park.

From there  I'm off to meet an online friend and inspiration in real life.  And then on to Paoli, Pennsylvania for a Thanksgiving reunion with some of our dearest friends--my maid of honor, the godparents of our second child, and the person who can make laugh at myself more than anyone.  It's been four years since our last visit, and I am beyond excited to see her, hug her blooming belly (baby #4 is on the way) and hang out with her husband and kids.  And the very cool extra benefit is that we can head in to nearby Philadelphia for a dose of American History, and picnic at Valley Forge.  We'll also celebrate our Evan's second birthday there the day after Thanksgiving.

The next leg of our adventure takes us on to Massachusetts.  Our first stop is The National Shrine of Divine Mercy, then a couple of days in Boston before we begin the trek south again.

We are leaving the return leg of our journey open.  Perhaps we will revisit our Virginia contacts or stop at my sister's again, or discover someplace altogether new to us. 

The next few days will be a crazy mix of organizing, list-making, shopping, and packing.  Add a visit with some supercool friends on Monday, and I'm all booked up.  Maybe I'll be able to update you from the road, but if not, there'll sure be a lot to share when we get home.  I'm letting the kids take turns narrating each day for our travel journal.  There should be some fun things to share.  We won't be back for a good long while, but don't forget about my little corner of the net...I'll be back before you know it!

Camping photos

...are in the album on my side bar.  Enjoy.

C is for Camping

This afternoon we're off on our first camping trip of the autumn.  We're headed north to Kisatchie National Forest for the weekend.  I am further into the manual for the new camera, hopefully the photos from the weekend will be nicer than the samples from yesterday. 

Need some camping inspiration?  Check out this check list, it's very good for getting organized.  And take a look at Macbeth's camping page.  It's a great resource.

Here's what we keep in our camping bins:

tent

sleeping bags, cots

double burner gas stove/propane

cast iron skillets

clothesline

first aid kit

lantern and flash lights

fold-up picnic table

chairs

tarp

bug spray

sunscreen

paper products: paper towels, napkins, toilet paper, paper plates, plastic cups, plastic forks and knives

They stay packed and ready to go and then I add everything else as we prepare.  I'll add more about what to bring and let you know how it went when we get back.  Have a nice weekend all!