Nature Explorations and a few other tid bits

Throughout the fall, we have enjoyed some fantastic hikes and explorations with a wonderful naturalist. We have seen many different animals, and learned so much from him.











This is a game that we made up with verbs, nouns, adjectives and adverbs.  It's straight grammar and the kids really enjoy it!  They have to match the name (V, N, Adj or Adv in green) with the description (in red), together with a word that fits.  They do it together or separately and try to beat each others times!



This was at AWANA.  They had to come dressed as a Bible character.  Take a guess who everyone is and I'll tell you at the bottom of the picture.



Liam is Ezekiel and the valley of dry bones!  Teigan is Queen Esther (in a real salwar kameez) and Samuel is King David ready for battle.  We joked about going as King David when he danced before the Lord - he didn't think that was funny!  (We sure did.)

The Great Turtle Rescue

Being such a beautiful autumn day yesterday, we headed over to the park (and pond) after music lessons.  While the girls played at the park, the boys as usual headed over to the large pond for frogging and "turtling".

Within about ten minutes, both boys were back with an injured turtle (aptly named Hook), that they had rescued from the side of the pond.  The boys of course had their pocket knives with them. (You never know when you might need to cut fishing line!)

After most every kid at the park had looked at and pet this little creature (and hopefully washed their hands), we decided that he needed to head to the vet.  The hook was through the roof of his mouth and was bothering not only his mouth, but his eye as well.









Off we went to a local vet, and friend from church.  It was the very end of the day, and he had gone home, but the assistant was thrilled that we had brought him in to them.  She explained that the kids had no doubt saved his life because he wouldn't be able to eat.  She talked with the kids for a while and explained that UBC had just done a study on the turtles from this pond.  She took our number and told us that they would call us so that we could release Hook back to his home the next day.

So this afternoon we went back to the vet to pick up Hook.  The assistant had gone home and printed out information for the kids about this kind of turtle.  A red-eared slider.  How great are some people?  So you can guess what we'll be doing more research on.

The vet had the kids all put gloves on before they would give the turtle back to them.  And off we headed to the pond for the big release.




Look Ma, no hook!







Teigan is actually hugging Hook here, and I'm the only one who finds that funny!  Everyone said their goodbyes, told him not to eat strange shiny things, told him they'd look for him next time.  (We marked his shell with nail polish - H for Hook.)









And off he swam.  Back home in his pond with a new lease on life.  I can't even remember how many animals we have rescued, or tried to rescue.  We've had a few not make it through the night.  (Abandon baby quail are very fragile - we have yet to have one live.)  But these experiences, the ones that are rescued and released back into their homes, are so rewarding.

Amphibians. Hands on.

There are no books or films, no study or documentaries that can ever compare to real hands on experiences. And so we have a close up look at amphibians. Hands on.



















The kids spent hours finding and collecting all of these amazing little creatures. Comparing their legs and toes, bodies and eyes. Real life. Gotta love it.

The Wonder of Fishing.

There is something so perfect about being out in the woods. A serene lake, fishing, a campfire, friends...

We are blessed in so many ways. One of which is certainly the beauty of nature all around us. I always want our kids to be close to nature and to see the glory of creation all around them. Last Child in the Woods, talks of "nature-deficit" kids who are growing up with no connection to nature at all. That, is not my kids!

Samuel found himself a perfect spot to commune with nature and catch dinner!





Liam found his own little nook, and fished off the shore.



First catch of the day!



At this point the fish wasn't quite dead yet. Teigan wasn't sure how to deal with that fact.





I am so thankful for the amazing men that are a part of our kids' lives. On top of having an amazing Dad, and wonderful Grandpas close by, our kids have a bunch of really incredible guys that they admire and look up to. Samuel went off with a couple of the guys hiking around the lake.



I have to laugh. Really - we all have too much stuff. Too many toys, clothes, books... (I'm just kidding about the books!) But when the kids can have fun with dead fish - who really needs toys?!



Liam getting an up close and personal look at the gills on this lake trout.





I love this picture of the kids' rods. They were at this point taking a break from the fishing and on to the frogging. As successful as everyone was fishing - it was nothing compared to the entire community of amphibians that they collected!



The dogs decided that a nap by the fire would be a good resting spot. Who could argue?



Daddy and Teigan ready to head out in the boat.



The little girlie - trying so hard to catch that elusive fish.



Yup, being out in nature is one of my favourite things. It doesn't even really matter what we are doing. But I could go for a while with blessings just from this one day alone...

The absolute glory of nature all around us.
Laughing and squealing as we 4 wheel through mud to the top of the tires.
Beautiful people that God has put in our lives.
Delicious trout!
The joy and laughter of 5 kids running around in the woods.
Calm beauty and serene moments.
A blazing hot campfire on a cold evening.
Sleeping children in the back of the truck; tired out from a full day in the great outdoors.

Another Wonderful Summer Wrapping Up...

As we are getting ready to dive head first into the swing of things around here - I am gratefully looking back over another crazy summer of life, learning, family and friends.

The kids all went to Sunnyside Bible Camp in Sylvan Lake, Alberta. I was a little hesitant sending Teigan at 6, but she was so excited to make new friends. What a great attitude. Of course she loved it!

Because of the 14+ hour drive ahead of us, I picked the kids up early from camp. While the kids were in chapel, I spent my time rummaging through their cabins in search of items I recognized, packing up camp clothes, stuffing sleeping bags, finding wet towels, muddy shoes and beloved stuffies, before heading to the chapel.

The theme of the week was heroes. Godly heroes. As I sat in the back of the final kids' chapel, before the rest of the parents arrived, I watched and listened to over a hundred little kids, voices raised in worship to a God who had become even more real to them that week. The speaker went over some of the stories and things they'd learned; how King David was anointed and set apart as a child. I sat, tears streaming down my face, as I watched my children go to the front to be anointed. Set apart.

While I don't expect my kids to be kings - I do know that God has an incredible plan for their lives. They are set apart.





I know... they look set apart don't they?! Oh, but to wonder what a mighty God will do with little ones who stand fast in Him.



We had LOTS of nature studies through the summer...

from dissecting owl pellets and organizing the different bones...





...to the pink lady butterflies that we raised from the larva. We have done this twice now and never cease to be amazed at the wonder of God's glory in such a tiny little creature. One thing that we learned this time is that scientists know that the caterpillar turns to goo inside the chrysalis, but have NO idea how it becomes a butterfly. "God uses the weak things of the world to confound the wise." (1 Cor. 1:27)













This beautiful mama robin decided that one of our planters would be a perfect place to set up home. We, of course, appreciated that greatly as it gave us a fabulous front row seat to all the going-ons from eggs to first flights.





How's this for an up close and personal look at elk?! We of course stayed on the far side of the road, close to the car. It is after all a dangerous wild animal. (When it decides to be - and we weren't going to find out when or if that might be!)









From the majestic mountain peaks to the ocean shores. The kids spent hours digging, exploring, and lost in the wonder of life in the tidal pools.











There were always lots of books around, so my little readers were never at a loss for what to do during down time...





Ah... let see - how about a little P.E.?!

Lots of beautiful hikes during our stay in Whistler.



Samuel spent 9 days at a ski and water ramp camp. From early morning until 8 at night some evenings! He's working on his 360s and 540s.





A little bit of crazy fun on a stunningly beautiful lake?!



Or maybe a game of beach football...





The dock is always a favourite.



Of course respecting the wildlife as we hike!



Some hair raising experiences...



and a little luge...



Of course the REAL Olympic sliding track at Whistler was something to see. Maybe next year we'll get to have a ride in a bobsled!



Teigan all ready to go on the skeleton. "Mommy, I look like Jon Montgomery!"



And some cultural experiences at the First Nations center at Whistler.







The Peak to Peak experience is exactly that. An experience. With the longest unsupported span in the world (over three km), it is an engineering marvel. As we passed over a small river below, one of the others on the tram asked if anyone knew what the waterfall was down below. Without missing a beat, Samuel pipes in that it is a hydroelectric dam. While not a large one, it certainly was. We learned that it is actually large enough to power all of the Whistler area. How about that study on hydroelectricity last year! Yeah!





And of course LOTS of friends, cousins and family.

























This summer was a monumental year for our family as my Dad and Mom celebrated 50 years of marriage. What a testimony and a blessing for our family to have parents/grandparents who love and stand by through all of life.



An amazing summer, filled with joy and laughter, family and friends, living and learning, and the blessings of God.