Playing With Leaves

I finally got around to playing with the leaves from our leaf hunt last week. In hindsight, we should have worked with them earlier because they were pretty crispy and lost some of their bright colors. Oh well, learn from my mistake! I first wrote different colors on strips of paper, and had "A" sort the leaves into a bar graph formation. We then discussed which one had the most and the least. We added the color purple even though it isn't a normal color used to categorize fall leaves, but "A" insisted.

Then to get a little more into the Autumn leaves spirit of things "A" sang a song he learned in Kindergarten. Watch the video to hear a song set to the tune of London Bridge.

Then it was time to make leaf creations. I got easily frustrated by how dried out the leaves were. "A" stuck it out and made some pretty cool animals!

I made this guy. Don't know what he is

My butterfly ( I gave up after this one)

"A's" Leaf man

A Snail

A Giraffe

A Fish

Autumn is FINALLY showing its hue

The leaves are just starting to change here. There is one tree on my whole block that has turned the most vibrant orange/red color. It seems so much brighter than any autumn tree I have ever seen, but I am now convinced because it is the only one at the moment and the contrast is just so striking!

Since I have never been known for my patience and I needed to capitalize on a day without rain I took "A" on a pretty leaf hunt. Surprisingly, we found some great leaves. Not a ton but something to work with. I am hoping that next week we can do some color graphing with them and then make some leaf animals, but my hubby is coming to visit for the weekend and it is "B's" first birthday (double yay!). That being said we will see what I actually accomplish. On the walk we did find an unusual pinecone that I brought home for "A's" discovery box. It is a small box I think people use for fishing. In fact, I think it came in a kids fishing pole kit. We find small nature stuff to put in the small compartments. It can be carried around and "A" usually has his magnifying glass accompanying it. Some things we have in the compartments is sea glass, a robin's eggshell, rocks, seashells, pinecones, etc.

From our leaf hunt

Discovery Box treasures

The green pinecone that looks like palm tree was what we found today

"A's" Discovery Box and magnifying glass

Wanting to bring the fall trees into our home we did a little Pinterest craft. My sister game me a box of toilet paper rolls (oh the things I can think) and then today I hit the mother-load of good deals. I see all these people who use cardstock to print everything on. I have looked everywhere and that stuff is ridiculous expensive. I was so discouraged and kept crafting on printing paper. Then today at Craft Wharehouse they had a set of 300 pages of different color cardstock for $12.99. Holy Cow I was excited! So taking the toilet paper roll and cardstock "A" made a little Autumn tree. Then I had to add it to some of the Halloween decorations I have found the time to put out.

We used pencil erasers to make the dots.

Finished toilet paper tree ;0). Decorated bookcase top. The little foam tree in the corner is at Target now for $1

Decorated Fireplace Mantel ( I know you are all jealous of my vintage movie poster)

Chasing Waterfalls

We haven't been on a nature walk in over a month and school is fast approaching. I had to sneak in the last nature walk in our free REI journal. For more info on the journal and our nature walks go here. Every year I take "A" on a mile hike to Wahclella Falls in the National Scenic Columbia River Gorge, on the Oregon side (home to the second tallest waterfall in the US). Fun side note: In a pretty popular states book they put a picture of our waterfall (Multnomah) for the tallest waterfall in California. I believe this is because it is so much more beautiful and you can actually hike up ours. For visitors this is a great introduction hike to kiddos around the age of three. It is across the street from Bonneville Dam and Fish Hatchery, another great place to take little ones. It cost to park at the trailhead but if you park at the dam and walk over it is free! I had been avoiding this hike because this is the first year I would have to trek baby up on my back. I have done a mile loop but it had no elevation gain. This hike on the other hand was 2 mile round trip and 300 ft. elevation change. Not a lot-I know, but with 32 lbs on your back you start to feel it!!! What can I say the waterfalls were calling me and I decided to suck it up and go.

We had a great time! I made "A" carry a pack for the first time with our lunches and his journal. It was pretty heavy, but I convinced myself it was good practice for school. I love this hike because at first you walk along a stream (with some monster size rainbow trout) and then as you turn to the typical trailhead you see a waterfall right on the trail. Then you have about 3/4 a mile on a typical forest hiking path. We saw tons of wildflowers, moss, ferns, a fallen tree with conks (one of "A's" most fave thing he learned this summer from our forest unit), spiders, and a large slug. The last bit you cross a bridge and it is rockfalls all around with lava basalt columns, large pools of water, and a cave. For some reason dragonflies and butterflies are attracted to the rocks and they are prevalent. In the very back is a beautiful waterfall. After feeling the spray to cool down I let "A" throw rocks in the water. Then he had the most brilliant idea to walk into the water with his shoes on-making the walk back not so pleasant.

The hike back we were both desparate to reach the car. His feet were wet, cold and starting to hurt. My feet already had a huge blister and I didn't know how much more my shoulder could take. Surprisingly, there wasn't much complaining. "A" was such a trooper and never gave up. He just kept trekking holding his backpack and all. When we hit the grass 100 yards from the car  we stripped over our shoes and socks, and I took the baby off -who was fast asleep in his back. We laid in the grass and he worked on his journal...it may have been the best part of the day!

Grains of Sand

This is actually a special project "A" does with my mother. My mom LOVES collections! Recently she started a sand collection for/with "A". Each time someone goes to a place that may have sand she has them take samples that she puts in glass jars. She even took sand from "A's" sandbox! Being a rock-hound (like me) she wanted "A" to see how sand looks different when taken from different areas. Here are some countries "A" has sand from:

• Thailand
• Mexico
• Honduras
• Grand Cayman
• United States: Florida, Alabama, Oregon, Washington
• Awaiting sand for Japan from "A's" aunt in Okinawa

Collection so far

The darker grains (they have fun sorting colors and particle size)

Lighter Grains

To help "A's" understanding of how sand is made and why they differ I got the book Jump into Science with National Geographic:Sand by Ellen Prager for us to read. In the book, they show close up of sand and I found an amazing slideshow of similar close-up pictures of grains of sand that was published in May 2008 Discover Magazine. To view the entire slideshow click here.

Page from the book looking at different sands

Close up of sand from Greece (photo from Discover Magazine)

Grain of Massachusetts sand as piece of art from Discover Magazine

Photo from Discover Magazine (Okinawa Japan)

This is just one of the many reasons why "A" and my mom have such a great bond!

Nature Tot Sensory Basket

Baby has had the kitchen sensory basket for almost a week. He has pulled items out a few times, but I could tell it was time to start something new. I have been finding and storing treasures from our nature walks and was excited to try "B" playing with some textures that were naturally made. I am overly cautious of finding items that baby won't choke on since he continually puts everything in his mouth and also we had a huge scare when he swallowed and choked on a twig that was transferred into the house on the dogs. "B" (at 6 months old) tried to get the twig to go down and then choked on his own fluids four times. Having my four year old call 911 and the local ER transporting him to a specialized children's hospital in another state, was so traumatic to the entire family. Eleven hours later, we found the twig and had it surgically removed. The fear of that day makes every mouth exploration sheer terror. So for this basket I have it stored up high and pull it out with him when I can have a watchful eye!

What is in the new basket:

Wood shavings for starting fires. Baby food container is taped shut. Makes a fun noise.

Water, Food Coloring, Mineral Oil, and Shells

These rocks are to make a shaker. One of his favorites!!!

The bag is feathers from a craft store. I open it for him to feel softness.

Finish Nature Sensory Basket!

 Baby Enjoying Basket:

Told Ya-Straight in the Mouth!

The moss was super intriguing.

Couldn't resist the tiny feet picture

Is this a happy baby or what? Nature Basket=HUGE Hit!

For the curious minded (pics of "B's" emergency):

Ambulance ride from local ER to Children's Hosptial

Getting vitals done. Brace is so they could keep the IV in.

In his overnight crib-right after the surgery

Twig that stuck. Scraped him up pretty bad too!

Happy (as if nothing every happened) in the hospital playroom the day after.