Wet

We are still here, still enjoying life and happy that the wet that dominated last month is behind us a bit. I will be back in this space more this week with projects and things that have been keeping us busy.

We were happy that the woods fulfilled all of our puddle needs and mud needs of the season,

And forgotten potting soil tubs have fulfilled all of our mud making needs.

Into the Woods:: 4/14

Oh, the spring woods. Full of green and the promise of all there is to come with the changing of the season. I was reminded at the beginning of our walk the benefits of living in a University town. A mist netting project and we happened upon an downy woodpecker. The boys were quite interested and the researcher was surprisingly personable and willing to share what he was working on (the effect of feeder stations on wild bird overall health)

We feasted on wild garlic, and enjoyed the spring beauties.And then came upon the mud. The thing my boys like best about the spring woods. Off came the shoes and socks and the worry of getting too dirty. While I didn't indulge myself, the mud looked ridiculously awesome and I can imagine how wonderful it felt to squish through their toes.I was happy to find my most favorite of the springs floral show in bloom. Trout Lily, you have to look carefully to find the first among the thousands of leaves that have no bloom. But once you find it, your eye seems to know where they all are and what you felt sure was the first one of the season, opens up your eyes to many more... not too many though as this plant send up only one rubbery (like a balloon) leaf for seven years before it sends up two and flowers.Love.

Searching

We have been out looking and are happy to report several signs of Spring!!

Snowdrops in our neighborhood, daffodils and ramps popping up. Forsythia blooming inside!

Sun still shining after 5!

Getting back into climbing outside (instead of the couch and end tables!)

Toady

Once there was a little boy who went on an adventure with his family.

He heard a toad and then spotted it in the leaf litter.

And he caught it all by himself.

It tried to get away, but he held on tight- not too tight, just the right amount. He showed it to his mama and papa and brother.

It was beautiful and he wished so much to take it home to live with him.

But he realized the toad would miss it's home and he let it go free.

Gator Graduates

Congrats to Uncle Gator- or now professionally speaking Engineer Alex.We had a whirlwind adventure this past week. Driving 11 hours to see the last of Ben's siblings graduate from college-not that we saw the actual presentation of the degree, as that didn't happen until 9:30 at night, but all the eating and celebrating. Plus the boys got to climb on the nittany lion, though not for enough time as we waited for over an hour and more likely closer to 2, I am trying to block that part from my memory.

Water

Oh, how all three of the boys love it. Asher was already hooked by Ben and their adventures, and when River received his name, we should have know what we were in store for.

From mud puddles, to ditches, to Wisconsin ponds, the same joy of splashing fills their souls. River was absolutely amazed by this bullfrog. Every time it moved he giggled.

He'll catch one soon enough, I think it's a good thing they can still get away at this point.

Asher patiently stalked up on another: sadly it got away, but next time... he was so close.

Into the Woods:: 5/6

The cotton winds were blowing.

So much running about, that I didn't pause for much. It is a delight to see a gang of kids run through the woods with such joy!

Brothers exploring independantly side by side.

Making Tracks

I thought I would get around to sealing the plaster, but it was time to use them outside, so forget the sealing, we just dug into the ground, made a trail and walked.

It was cool to talk about how different the relief of the tracks left behind is in this loose soil compared to our play dough.

Asher fully embraces becoming any given animal, I love how into character he gets. Adding the tracks to his walking certainly enhances his already strong imagination.

Into the Woods:: 4/22

Not a ton of pictures this week, I guess I was enjoying it too much. We really had the most lovely time this week. It was earth day, there were lots of folks getting outside, a lot of our friends joined us and we just got to explore and follow the kids. Mayapples are in bloom, bed straw is up, salamanders were found. Dead logs were explored for long periods of time, trees were climbed and imaginations were stretched.

It was the type of day that everyone needs. Perfect everything, temperature, sunshine, and company. Oh, and wild garlic, because what makes a papa more happy than his two boys coming home with garlic breath?

Into the Woods:: 4/15

This weeks hike was pretty remarkable. The kids did great on what really was a hot spring day. Lots of tree climbing- dead trees that are laying down now resembling pirate ships, or large creatures, regardless a place for imaginations to run wild and free. It felt really good to just be able to play in the woods. River has finally hit a stage where he can sit and explore a single area for a good amount of time without eating everything!

And the highlight: a salamander!! I didn't find one last year for A, and turned up empty handed earlier in the spring after really trying to build it up. But this week on a whim I rolled over one random log, call it a feeling, and there she was. Asher was to the moon. We wet our hands and scooped her up.

Shared her with friends, put the log back and then let her crawl back under on her own. Please note when handling larger creatures that live under logs not to put them back and then roll the log back on them...always let them crawl themselves back into space that they fit. Plus it's more fun to watch their tail disappear.

Full leaf out will be here before we know it. I so love all the light that hits the forest floor this time of year. Also, if you need any baby leaves for art projects to dry, there isn't much time left.