Nature study while roadtripping

One of the things we made sure to squeeze into our car for our big road trip was our nature journals and all that we need for nature study. Our small backpack was full!

Nature study and journaling with it is newish for us so as much as I want the kids to do it, I am really just making it more and more of a habit for myself at this point. The kids are doing nature study weekly but not researching what they come across by themselves right now. When we do it together I do the research and let them know what it was that we saw, but more often than not at this point they are observing and drawing only. Most things they know the names of but we will definitely be incorporating more poems, latin names, thoughts, facts, labeling, etc. as we continue this beautiful journal.

I was so excited to take a road trip with our whole family! The last time (two and a half years ago) we drove to my parent's place it was the kids, my Mom and I. We had a great time but it was really nice having Micheal with us this go round.

One of the things I was really looking forward to was seeing such different landscapes, animals, insects, plants. We live in a pine forest on a mountain. We drove through deserts, hills, flat lands, huge mountain ranges, and prairies.

Our first stop was Arches National Park just north of Moab, Utah. Huge red rocks! The softest sand you have ever felt! Rock formations. So different than our back yard. It was lovely! I took pictures and we will draw in our journals from those pictures.

Next we stopped in at Mesa Verde in southwest Colorado. This place is seriously cool! We had more time so we were able to get our journals out. 

There were lots of desert plants like this Yucca.

Oklahoma is where we mostly got in our nature journaling. I was trying to do as much as possible, not only to learn what is there but to work on my drawing skills! 

Lots of great things in this beauty filled world to observe, think on, draw, and learn about. Now we are back in the mountains and Spring is here. Trees and plants blooming all around us. Insects out and blowing into our hair! We have started watercolor lessons, too. Our journals are getting better and better!

First Saturday of Spring

After a bit of school this morning, we headed to our picnic spot. Spring is a wild and crazy ride! You just never know what the weather will do. Today was sunny with a touch of warmth. Yeah! We will take it!

Can you spot the little people?

 

Thankful for these days of slow living.  

Saw:

Buttercups

One bumblebee

Elk poop

Pine cones from multiple years

Tree roots

Heard:

Pine cones falling

Buzz of bumblebee

Kids telling stories

Soft breeze

 Chips being crunched ;) 

Felt:

Rough grass

Pokey pine cones

 Sun's warmth

Kisses from the Lovers

Tasted:

Turkey sandwiches

Chips

Tomatoes

Apples

Water

Smelled:

Fresh air

Elk poop 

Nature walks

Our side of the mountain is soggy, heavy, wet. 

The rivulets race down the hill. Who will win? 

Little feet jump the puddles. Over and in. 

Mud is caked on the soles and tires, ready 

to be washed off by the steady rain pouring 

down, down, down. 

 

As my 3 year old's narrative is shared with the hundreds of birds, mine is internal. 

"How has homeschooling shaped who I am?"

"Would I be interested in all this if not for homeschooling?"

"I am embracing my PNW side, here, walking in the rain."

"Look at that floating mountain!"

...........

 Spring in almost upon us! We are outside more and more. There is so much to explore right outside our front door. We don't always investigate what is what. Mostly we walk and jump, stop and look, talk and show. Then we head home. 

This weekend the big kids went with their Dad on a little road trip to see family. Liam and I weren't feeling quite up to it, so we stayed home. We took walks, watched movies, read books, swam and snuggled. It was lovely. It was quiet. It was just what we needed.

In the last few weeks we have been walking more. At first the little lovers would whine and cry, and ask to be carried barely into the walk. We kept telling him no. We took our time. We aren't running races. ;) This weekend, we took three walks. Once we walked 3/4 of a mile to the pool, swam, and walked home. He didn't whine once! He explored. Poked mud. Ran! It's been so, so lovely. I'm not the type to strap my baby on me and hike so this has been a long time coming. 

Now, we rest. He will sleep well tonight!