At The Ecotarium

Ready to head out on our adventure. 

What better way to spend a grey, rainy day than meeting up with friends for some fun?

 Experiencing what it's like inside a hurricane. 

 This turtle was one quick movin' guy. 

 Budding Scientists class was fabulous. 

Today's theme was bubbles (as I am sure you could have guessed). 

 The girls had so much fun with this!

 After many bubbles were blown in their cups the teachers gave various objects to the kids to see if they could be used to blow bubbles. Here Emma uses a bracelet to blow this bubble. 

Grace had such fun making her"string" of bubbles bigger and bigger. 

 And this bubble is one that Emma blew using the bracelet. 

She loved getting to hold a bubble (and it stayed around for a good long while). 

After bubble class we had a quick snack, checked out the gift shop and decided to head home (this was clearly the place to be today as there were lots of school groups there). Since it was so rainy out we weren't able to explore the outside things but figured that just meant that we all needed to head back to the Ecotarium together again soon! Thanks for a super fun morning, friends! We can't wait to play again soon! xo 

To Canada With Love

At the end of last we wrapped up some rocks to send to our friends in Canada. Kim had asked us if we'd be up for a rock exchange and of course we immediately answered with a resounding "yes!" After a good stretch of time searching for the best rocks we felt we finally had some worthy of sending to her sweet little man Reece. The rocks, along with some postcards, were packed in a very festive mailing envelope and shipped out yesterday! We hope you enjoy this little bit of New England, dear friends! The rocks that you sent us are just gorgeous (and very loved!) and we hope you feel the same way about these! Enjoy, and let's surely do another nature exchange this spring! xoxo

Today

Today there was collage making. 

And some D'Nealian practicing. 

Grace watched me sign a check a few weeks ago and was so in awe of my signature that she asked if she could learn to write like that. D'Nealian (though now it seems to also be called Modern Manuscript) felt like a lovely way to get her ready for cursive. She is over the moon with this new skill!

And of course there was snow play!

These New England babies of ours never miss a chance to head out into the snow!

And there was, of course, Peppermint Bark Hot Chocolate when they came back inside.

We felt like today was a good day to plant the Amaryllis that Dave's parents gave to us. 

 Such sweet caretakers of all living these these two are. 

And there was an entry in their Nature Journals. 

'Cause it had been a long time since we last did that. 

And there was cleaning and playing and chatting and just being. 

It was a divine day this day of ours. 

We hope yours was too!

A Fun Filled, Science Filled Day!

What a fun filled, science filled day we had today! The last time we were at the Museum of Science Grace was three-and-a-half and Emma was two. So, when my friend Emily called last night asking if we'd be up for an adventure at the science museum today how could I possibly say no?! Especially after I realized exactly how long it had been since we were last there! So, this morning we packed up, swung by the town library to pick up a museum pass and headed to meet up with our sidekicks for the day. We arrived late morning and discovered that pretty much every Catholic school in the Boston area was at the Museum today (and here we thought us homeschoolers would be the only people there). Thankfully, it wasn't too crowded and as the morning turned into afternoon all the school groups started heading back to their schools. The girls had a blast checking out all sorts of things (though there is lots that we never did get to see today). The cherry on top of today's sundae though has to be the 3D movie that we saw (it was the first 3D movie for all of the girls). Emily and I thought it would be fun to take the girls to see The Flight of the Butterflies, and just as we expected they were totally in awe! They kept trying to touch each butterfly that flew toward them. It was simply magical and a moment that I shall carry with me forever. Finally, it was time to say our good-byes and head home. As we navigated our way out of Boston the girls chatted about all the fun that we had today. "Mama, I just loved that butterfly movie" said Grace and Emma chimed in with: "I loved it too. I wish we could see it again!" The three of us agreed that we must plan a day to head back soon to do all the things we didn't get a chance to do this time! 

Good-bye Sweet Butterflies!

Yesterday, in addition to being Memorial Day, it was also Butterfly Release Day. The weather last week really hadn't allowed for us to release them any sooner. Since we had my side of our family here and since it was coming up on the week since they hatched we figured it was the perfect time to wish them well and watch them fly out into the big, wide world. With the exception of the wind the conditions were perfect. 

"Hi little butterfly. You are very sweet."

"Here you go, Em."

"It flew away, mama."

The wind was just too gusty and our first butterfly flew off before I could hand it to one of the girls. The second butterfly stayed longer and seemed to enjoy her time with Grace before spreading her wings and flying away. The third butterfly took off before Emma had a chance to have it sit on her finger but at least she got to visit with it a bit before it flew over to the flowers. Had it not been so windy I do believe that they would have stayed much, much longer than they did. As each one flew off I had a wee bit of a lump in my throat. It was as if I was watching my own girls leave the nest. Good luck, sweet butterflies! Enjoy your travels and please come back and visit us once in awhile!