Hello, Autumn!

Although it felt like summer was over when we started back to school, yesterday was technically the last day of summer, and the last few days the weather has gotten cooler so it actually feels like fall. This morning we had a field trip at R. B. Winter State Park. Today's program was titled "Countdown to Fall" and included talking about the signs of fall (migration, hibernation, storing up food, leaves changing colors and falling, length of day/night being almost equal, etc.), looking at samples of many different kinds of leaves, listening to the park ranger read a book by the same title as the program, going on a nature hike to complete a scavenger hut (listen to crickets, spot a hawk in the sky, pick up an acorn, etc.), and making a wreath with the items collected on the hike. Oliver really enjoyed brushing glue on to his wreath. There were also many different activities set up in the nature center, and the kids did some of those as well. I let them play on one of the playgrounds at the park before we headed back home.

I had packed our lunches so we could eat on the way home as we live about 40 minutes from this state park. Unfortunately Nadia threw up on the way home (car sickness), but the good news is that Nadia grabbed the trash can we keep in the van and everything went in there which made it MUCH easier for me to clean up once we got home. Whew. It was a little cool out when we left, but it was really nice out by the time we came home. It was a gorgeous day for a nature walk! Many times when we have a field trip I give the kids the day off in terms of their other school work, but today I decided to just let them each skip a subject or two. Nadia skipped handwriting, and Ian skipped science and spelling. Oliver fell asleep on the way home. When he woke up he was so fussy even after I gave him a snack that I put him back to bed. I cannot remember the last time he went to sleep twice during the day. Usually if he takes a nap in the van, that is it for the day, but today he fell back asleep in his bed after taking a nap in the van. He must have really been tired! It seems the theme of the day is scavenger hunts because they will be going on a treasure hunt outside the church during game time at AWANA tonight.