Snowball Bush

It is hard to identify a tree - when it is really a bush. We started our Seasonal Tree Study today with Autumn and each of the kids picked a tree in our yard to observe for a year. Rebecca chose the snowball tree in the yard. It is so beautiful in the spring when it blossoms, unfortunately it is delicate and the blossoms seem to get lost in a rainstorm. Rebecca studied the tree like we have been practicing and came in the house to identify it using the internet. She kept coming up with some sort of a maple, but that didn't seem right. Finally, I said, let's search for snowball tree.

We found out that bush is basically a tree that has many smaller stems rather than a main trunk. We think that it is a Viburnum opulus as described here or here or here, however, we will have to continue observing this bush over the course of the year to be sure. It is a beautiful bush any time of year.

The other kids enjoyed spending time with their trees as well.

Emily and the walnut tree.

Kevin in the walnut tree.

Isaac in the Northern Catalpa

Look at me Sitting UP!

MaryAnn is nearly 7 months old, and sitting up! She is developing such a personality. She loves to eat, she loves to reach for things and play with toys. She is almost always happy, she will let you know if you aren't feeding her fast enough. She loves to cuddle and be around her family. She is only taking a short morning nap now, she'd much rather be in the dining room with everyone else while we are doing school work.

Love is the Lesson

We explored a small part of Kathryn Albertson Park today scoping out good spots to take pictures. We had a lot of fun, and saw some beautiful fall colors. On the way home I saw a bumper sticker that said, "Life is the school, Love is the Lesson." This thought sums up my education philosphy nicely. These photos are a result of our traditional yearly photo shoot.

Can you "see" the LOVE in my kids' faces.

Here are the three girls, sisters, and friends to the end.

Oldest girl, youngest boy, buddies!

The boys! Wrestling buddies!

Together Forever!

Pine Tree

We have a pine tree in our yard that is giving us difficulties identying it. It has needles in bunches of 3 that are 6 inches in length, but we can't find pine cones. How can you have a pine tree without pine cones? The closest match that I could find was the Loblolly Pine. However, it would make more since that it is a Ponderosa Pine since they are common in Idaho. The ponderosa pines don't produce pinecones until they are 7 years old, and our tree is still a young tree.

We will have to observe the tree year round to observe its flowers before making a conclusive decision.

Challenge 3

Using Our Words - Challenge #2

We started out today's nature study by looking at the research I had done last week on walnuts, and then running outside to check our walnut tree - and to harvest our walnuts. The kids cracked them open and I tasted them. Not great, but ok, more like, not quite ready to eat. They are supposed to dry for two weeks, and then I bet they will be better tasting. This is the first time in 3 years at this house that we have harvested walnuts.

It was a bit chilly outside - and we didn't take the time to dress for the weather so our time outside today was in about 5 minutes intervals, but after we sat wrapped up in blankets we came up with some great words.


R- wind rustling leaves
M - whistling wind
K - tall trees
M - chill in the air
R- soft, green prickly grass
I - hard nuts
R - brown, crunchy weeds
E - Yellow swaying leaves
E - Birds chirping, cold wind
E - leaves swaying
E - cold wind
K - wind, green grass

I'm glad that this is a challenge, and we can keep plugging away at it each week.

Columbus

Christopher Columbus Hidden Picture


Prophets Prophecy of the Future - November Friend 2001

Albright Family - Columbus
JoAnn's Lapbook Lessons

Columbus

Mystery of History Lapbook
Columbus Remains

Columbus

Map to New World

Coloring Page

Columbus and Isabella

Coloring Pages
;jk