Day 7

Homemade spelt waffles for lunch today!  We ate 1/2 gallon of blueberries - AND 1/2 gallon of strawberries - AND a quart of syrup!  :0)  They loved it & there were none left!

Thank you to the Hanchett family for loaning us your waffle makers!  Added with mine it made the cooking (& waiting time!) so much shorter!

A little sprinkle didn't stop our outdoor fun

A dewy spider web was found in the grass....

....and this sweet turtle!

A cozy spot for two friends to share❤❤

Sofi helped Marshy to finish the teddy bear for new baby brother

More quill & ink cursive - so lovely!

Sailboats were the theme of the week in tinkerlab - time to restock my popsicle sticks!

The girls requested more dress ups, so we brought in a bunch more from home

Day 6

Origami window stars - I hope they are in your windows & making you smile :0)  They remind me of stained glass, which I *love*

Once everyone learned the fold they moved pretty quickly - it takes a lot of concentration though & I was especially proud of Zach (the youngest to choose this project) who stuck with it for all 8 pieces!

I'm really seeing all the children flourish in an environment where they have the freedom to choose from their interests within a loose structure.  They key is to provide that which interests them! We've started with basics based on what my own children are currently interested in, & have been continually adding as I've had requests for various items from the other children.  Some of these opportunities are provided at home as well - but the novelty of working with the other children is where the magic happens at this age!

Someone had the idea to use the feathers from tinkerlab to write with, using leftover watercolors from last week.  The results were beautiful!  Especially in cursive!

For those of us who live on gravel roads - this much concrete is exciting!!  Emma brought her in-line skates to test out -  & you can see that Malachi was fascinated....

Always something "cooking" in that pot!

The reeds in the wetlands area are excellent trellis material for our cucumbers & morning glories....but somehow they make great swords, too....

Heading into the last week of our first summer session!  As Zach & Julia get prek pictures to me I'll post those as well.  I've been loving it so much & am continually grateful that we are able to be back  in this space, with these friends.  Blessings to you all!

Day 5

A first video! Mud balls seem a worthy subject!

Someone spotted a snake so we all ran over to investigate - under Mr. Zach's watchful eye!

Josie examining something interesting from the creek

Ezra & Zach S. work on their sword play - en garde!

Emma is so creative with her table setting :0)

Becca & Rachel know how to serve up a great meal

Mud sculptures by Ben & Rita

Miss Julia helps Asher, Ellie, Simeon & Malachi whip up some quiche for lunch!

Mud Man - complete with grass hair!

Rana the Bride and her attendants

Zach S. teaching us how to play a new game

Ella is nearly finished with her needlepoint - a large G with hearts.  I think she's going to frame it :0)

Emma is searching for just the right buttons to go on her purse

And another bride, Rachel, graces us with her beauty!

Eli was a super fast learner - we've been 'drawing' with needles & thread.  His was a pink skull!

Reagan also picked up sewing work very quickly, completing an R completely on his own in about 20 minutes!

Ezra LOVES the Tinker Lab

Rana has started a project for a doll - a sleeping bag or blanket?

Emma found an old favorite from when we were open a few years ago - "The 3 Little Wolves & the Big Bad Pig"!

Sometimes we forget....but it's so fun & worth it to remember!

Day 4 - Already 1/2 way through our first session!

Kai-Kai needed a raft - so Josie & Ella wove one for him!

Mr. Zach gave some sword fighting lessons - Eli, Ben & Zach S. loved practicing!

We found some very interesting fossils....

We found a bird's nest hiding in the reeds!

Ben is making a bow tie from the reed leaves

Ezra, Eli & Emma working on their watercolor

Sofe, Allana & Zach

Tinkerlab in full swing - they love the low-temp hot glue gun!