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I’m awful about nature study.  I hate dislike the outdoors.  I don’t like to get hot and sticky and I don’t like to be cold.  So, do I keep the kids indoors?  Not exactly.  This past year we spent a great deal of time indoors except for trips to the park on Fridays after mass.  Our street was not conducive to outdoor play either.  There were no sidewalks where we lived, we lived on the bottom part of an incline, and it was a busy street.  With Brother’s impulsivity problem, it was too difficult to be out there.  So, we spent most of our time indoors.  Then we moved to my parents’ house.  A bit better, but still no sidewalks.  And, it has been about 100 degrees every day. 

Two days ago, it rained.

Now, in many places, this might not be a significant event, but it had been weeks since the last rainfall.  We’re hurting here for rain.  It only lasted for about an hour, but it was so nice.  There was thunder and lightening.  It was great.  Then yesterday morning, it rained again.  This time for about 4 hours.  Apparently, this rainfall was part of a cooling front that came through here.  This morning, it was 75 degrees.  I don’t think we’ve felt 75 degrees at 9 am in the morning in forever.  Even Sister commented, "Mommy, the weather is SO nice!"  It was.  So, when we returned from therapy, we ditched our plans for school after lunch and went outside to play.  The kids rode their bikes, Brother rode his scooter, Pumpkin even tried to get on a tricycle.  All in all, a good afternoon.  We even did some nature study. 

This is the mistletoe we discovered growing on the elm trees. 

This is the hole where we found the snails.  I don’t think they were too happy to be picked up and well, neither was I, but I’m determined to do this nature study.  I know the kids will enjoy it.  Honey was absolutely captivated by the snails.  She was not at all apprehensive about touching these things.  Sister was a bit more cautious.  Brother wanted to dig around for some more.  Pumpkin was exploring the backyard and getting dirty.

Our last lesson was in remembering to avoid those mosquitos.  We were all bitten in many places.  Sister had the most.  It will be an itchy week for us. 

I should’ve sat the kids down later to do some pictures of what they saw today, but I think we’ll just take baby steps.