Fossil Hunt for a crummy day

After a week of Papa being around (and no school) we had a bunch of HUMBUGS come Monday morning schooltime. Not to mention, everyone has been bit by the coughing/runny nose bug.

God gave us a sunny day on Monday (and yes-I think it was a gift straight from Him!) so I felt it best to EASE our way back into the daily tasks of "everyday". I am a firm believer too, that fresh air does the body good---so runny noses notwithstanding, we headed to the park for a picnic lunch and fossil hunt.

And a good dose of rolling in the leaves:


We have TONS of fossils in our own creekbed, but there is just something "extra" special about heading somewhere "exotic". Exotic meaning: local city park.


Didn't find any mastadon bones but we found a whole BASKET full of fossils!


It was pretty cool because some local people saw us on our hunt and the school-age children wanted to join in on the fun. It was sorta fun, getting kids psyched up about something they ordinary might not have.


The children also gathered stones to experiment with the STREAK test. They found a few great "streakers" and had a ball making art on their stone palettes.

They did this for about 30 minutes STRAIGHT. Maybe longer....

The highlight though, was when I stopped by the dollar store and bought them each their own magnifying glass. Buying "treats" like that don't come often for them so that made them giddy. And yes- magnifying glasses DO count as treats. (In nerdy homeschooling households like ours, that is.)

I brought some rocks and fossils books to read and refer to while we were there too. It was all around a good time.

The children were doing school, without realizing they were "doing school".

And the babe of the family: sickly as she was, was getting healing fresh air without realizing WHY she didn't feel quite so miserable.


Of course, there was plenty of PLAYING too.



(This photo just cracks me up because she was just STARING at the metal thing for AGES. So funny! But I guess you had to be there....)



(And THIS photo cracks me up because I was literally laying in the dirt directly under the swing, skirted legs stretched flat and shining in my incredible dorkdom. I laugh at what people must have been thinking...but that is one thing about me. When it comes to taking pictures, I don't really CARE what people are thinking!)


When I read about Arne Duncan's plans for children, terrified am I and completely baffled.

Don't people understand that a life truly LIVED is educating?

Perhaps even the BEST form of education.