Fall Nature Study - Mary Jo Peckham 2014

This was the last time we made it out to Mary Jo Peckham this year.  This walk began and progressed like all the others. The kids  running as fast as they could from thing to thing while the other moms and I tried to keep up.  We did have to start to run once they kids had formed a group around something and the twins started yelling "Look momma, a dead bird!" Having no idea what state of decomposure it was in or if it was fully dead even I started running and screaming "don't touch it!"   Luckily it was  a good find (no maggots yet). The kids were all fascinated and we used a stick to turn it over.  I could not tell why it died.  His fellow vulture buddies did not seem interested in eating him.

Hydrangea. Looks like they are going to pinkish.  The soil acidity determines what color they are going to present (My momma taught me that).

The trees do change color here in Houston!

More rock domination by the twins.

Cooper tracing a leaf.

Dead vulture. Not very pretty birds while living but they do serve a vital purpose in nature.  Aesthetics aren't everything when it comes to nature study. Myself, I am always drawn toward the "prettier" things like flowers and such but I have had to train my eyes to see the beauty in rocks and pine needles. I am learning to love the color brown after a lifetime of avoiding it.

Graham still looks for nests in the rocks every time.

Always watching

wee little froggy

Renaissance School Days

We went to the Texas Renaissance Festival for their school day program this year.  I was super excited because we are studying the renaissance this year in school. Although I wish one year they would ditch Henry VIII and let Mary and  Elizabeth fight it out.  Now that would be history coming alive!

Marshall's at least feeling fabulous.

 

 We made it to the joust just in time due to some traffic on the way.

Cooper wanted to ride the flying trampoline ride.  Don't ask me what this has to do with the Renaissance but he had a blast. I suppose they can't fling kids out of trebuchets so this has to suffice.

He was nervous the entire time but never wanted to quit.  He finally got to do a flip at the end.

Marshall, not being a fan of heights, decided on the mechanical joust.  He got the ring on the second try! Huzzah!

Barrett trying to figure that lady out.  "She tall!"

Cooper's not impressed with the dancing.

"Ye Olde Funnel Cake"

About 16 years ago this used to be a chicken on a stick shack called the Royal Arms Tavern.  I worked here my senior year of high school.  It's now a stroller rental place.  The irony is not lost on me even though my stroller pushing days are almost over.

Best bubbies. They were so tired from walking they finally held hands because I was walking too fast.

This is Halloween!

I thought I would share out awesome Halloween costumes this year.  The boys saw the Avengers costumes at Costco back in August and after telling them initially that it was too early to get them and that they would never last until Halloween, Rob and I acquiesced with the condition that they would not get another one no matter how torn up it was.  They lasted pretty well after two months of heavy wear.   So here they are: Cooper is Spiderman, Marshall is Wolverine, Barrett is The Hulk and Graham is Captain America.

 I dressed up this year too. I wouldn't normally bother to dress up but this year we had a Fall Fest at church and the theme was superheros and deep down I always wanted to make my own version of a Wonder Woman costume.  The twins call me Wonder Woman when they are playing Batman and Robin and I thought it would be fun. They were so excited about it and did not want me to take it off. Marshall was adamant that I not use the

The moment I commit to being absolutely ridiculous.  And it feels great!!

 Cooper was concerned at first about how I was going to make the costume: "You're going to wear pants right?" 

 

Cub Scout Fall Camping Trip

After three years of watching Rob and the big boys drive off with the vehicle loaded up with camping stuff, the twins and I joined them this time.  We spent three days and two night at Brazos Bend State Park and everything went surprisingly well.  We only had one incident with the fire (Graham touched his hot stick and burned his hand) and the mosquitoes were only bad one night.  Although Robert bore the brunt of bites as he obviously tasted better then the rest of us. 

Mmmmm. there is just something better about perked coffee.

We heard hoot owls at night and the crows woke us up.  Graham woke up saying "the birds won't be quiet!"  

They are making what they call "smoker sticks."

Egg burritos for breakfast

This tree was the envy of all the boys at the camp out.  We had several visitors who all tried to climb this tree and swing on it's low lying branches.  It was like a built in playground at our campsite.

Barrett at the actual playground.

Look we are camping and happy about it!

Playing Batman even in the wilderness.

Speaking of birds, we were very fortunate that there was a birds of prey exhibit at the nature center.  We got to see a a falcon, a hawk, an Andean Condor, and an owl.  It was so very interesting to see them so close and to watch them eat chicken legs in a matter of seconds (the condor).  

They loved the birds but alas sleep won out. 

Marshall was awarded his Bobcat Saturday night.  He even did his good turn the next morning by helping me make breakfast.  

 

 

Nature Study Monday - warning there are maggots!

We met up at the hippo park today for some more exploring.  The big boys spent quite a long time digging up rocks out of the path.  They even started collecting tools to help them dig from the tree limbs and sticks.  This was the prize of the day that was finally unearthed after about 20 minutes of digging.

I took the little guys for a walk and I found the mother of all nature study find.  A pretty well decomposed squirrel with maggots underneath!!!  Best quote about it was "That is awesome... and very disgusting."  Nature is not always pretty but this is part of the process of dying and decomposition and I am glad the boys were able to see it firsthand.
 

 Marshall found a stick with a "V" in it and was using other sticks to balance it.  I like this kind of experimenting.

Barrett said he was a frog jumping off his rock.