So, we are having technical issues with our computer, leaving me to blog from my phone. The words will be few, but the essence is here.
It's such a great feeling to be back at the stables. It brought the most enormous smile to Marley's face. Being with the horses fosters compassion, responsibility, confidence, empathy (we learned our buddy wasn't feeling well midway through the lesson,) self regulation and a general sense of calm and presence. 
A rare mid morning "soul feeding run" for Mama.
Spring is finally pronouncing her arrival splashing the brown canvas with color!
April fools! Eye see you!
Pondering in the pod.
Rescuing an injured robin. We brought the little guy to the local wildlife rehabilitation center after the boys noticed he was unable to fly.
Bananagrams is one of our favorite games! It's a relaxed way to play with spelling without pressure or strong competition.
Good ol Yahtzee - chance, strategy, mathematical thinking
Little Haven is skating free of the cone! Freedom on ice!
A trip for a snack after seeing the Peking Acrobats becomes an impromptu lesson on pretzel making! Love our little pretzel factory! We even got dough to bring home with us!
Happiest boy on earth to be with Dillon!
Our fairy houses survived almost 9 months and the long cold winter!
Horsemanship includes learning groom and care for the horses we ride.
Using base ten blocks and stacking number cards to work through a regrouping problem.
Little hands making paper origami Chinese stars in Ninja Training!
We count down the days until we can walk to the ice cream stand, the same one I went to when I was young!
Harrison fashioned a homemade fishing rod, dug up some worms, and tried it out.
Lemonade Stand
The boys planned out their stand in the morning, and purchased their supplies. They had to figure out a fair price, determine profit versus supply cost, advertising strategies, and business expansion when friends wanted to join in. Of course, making the lemonade requires one to read the recipe, convert measurements from quarts to gallons, and to apply mathematical concepts to run the stand and make change. As we continue to read The Toothpaste Millionaire, the concepts of running a business tie together well.
Harrison began a free online HTML course. He is building more and more confidence working on this independently and troubleshooting on his own when completing the class projects.
This week in Ninja training, the youth tested their speed and agility with an obstacle course which required them to escape an "attacker."
Hammering nails into wood, just so satisfying and industrious.
There has been an ongoing request to make applesauce, so we pulled out our fall recipe, and did it!
Determining how to build a treehouse for bears in our happy little maple tree.
We attended a program on local raptors at our arboretum, then followed a scavenger hunt all across the grounds.
We met with friends for a trip to the zoo after attending a dance performance at a nearby university. The boys practiced recycling and had some up close encounters with the animals. Most of the schools had left, so we had the zoo to ourselves!
The tigers remind us if how our cats play!
This turtle was enamoured with Haven, and followed his movements, verrry slooowly.
We are grateful to enjoy the warm fresh air the moment it arrives.
We just began the 2nd to the last book in the series. The Little House series is rich with opportunities for learning everything from social studies, homesteading, geography, local climates, science, and literature. The living history perspective really puts our past into a personal perspective.
I have been reading Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids by Dr. Laura Markham
I find I need refreshing from time to time to keep my actions in line with my goals on the environment in which our boys are raised. My focus is to be proactive rather than reactive to behaviors that may be upsetting. I find it so helpful to look into the why of the actions, and this book provides concrete strategies that support connecting with our children. Just a few chapters in, practicing a few simple routines, and I am seeing changes. Sometimes we get lost in the every day "managing" and become very disconnected. It's amazing how a few simple initial changes can make such a positive difference.
http://www.ahaparenting.com/peaceful-parent-happy-kids
