Our Pet Alien

We have loved watching the hummingbirds around our house lately.   We watched them as they first arrived in spring and then we saw the babies start to come to our feeder a few weeks ago.   Now we're watching as they are very territorial.  One of them sits up in a branch near our porch or on top of the hook that holds the feeder.  As soon as another one approaches he dive bombs it!   It happens over and over.   Before this year I had never even seen a hummingbird roost.   They had only been a quick little blur. 

The praying mantis we found a few weeks ago has been doing well.   The kids catch food for it everday.   They have been scared to hold it but yesterday they finally worked up the nerve and they all held it.   It's the coolest thing!   I actually held it too!   Before I had boys I would have never even allowed that thing in my house.   Yesterday it hung out on the table and on their shirts as they walked around the house.   It almost seems to have a personality.   It's like a little alien!

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First, just  a picture of our dog.  She is a mess!  SHe is 6 years old and thinks she is one of the kids.  She is so sweet and so good with the kids...we all love her so much.  She actually hurt her back a couple of weeks ago and it scared us pretty bad.  We thought we were going to lose her.  It made me realize how attached we are to her.    She's great...except with strangers.  She's just so excited to see them that she just loses her mind.   Like, for example, jumping in the car with the  mail lady.   Very embarrassing.  

Last week we went to the last bird banding at Tremont for the year.    They didn't catch many birds, but, the kids had a blast tromping around with Miss Tiffany and Mr. Gar and asking questions.   

Moses says Mr. Gar is his "favwite fwend".  

I'm amazed at how much my kids have grown to love creation over the past year.   They all love to journal about their experiences and draw what they see.  I don't even have to prompt them to do so anymore...unless I specifically want something journaled about.   They have done this all summer...along with reading all sorts of field guides, biographies of naturalists, and other books about bugs, birds, etc.   They've done school all summer without even realizing it!

After the bird banding we hiked up to Spruce Flat Falls.   It was perfect for the kids.   I was kind of a nervous wreck with Moses and then up at the water....but, they had a blast!

After the hike we drove halfway around the Cades Cove loop.   It would be much more enjoyable if people would actually pull off the road when they see something but we ended up sitting for so long in one place, it was very frustrating.   We did see one bear and got to watch it for a bit.   So, even with the frustrations, it was fun and was great quality time together.   

2nd Week of School

Our second week of school went pretty well!  My goal this year is to have one day a week for nature study.  We pretty much do more than that anyways, but, I want to intentionally learn something new and have the kids work on their nature journals.  That doesn't mean we have to go somewhere, we can even do it in our backyard.   This week we headed out to Seven Islands State Birding Park.  We didn't see many birds but we had a good little hike and then studied the sunflowers that were everywhere.  We had a great time together and learned quite a bit.

Eastern Leaf Footed Bug

This is typical for Ethan...bug net and insect field guide.

June Bug

We sat inside the barn to do our reading and journaling.

Moses was more interested in working on his ninja skills than journaling.

Silly boys!

Pretty girl.

We saw lots of Indigo Buntings.  We heard a Bobwhite the whole time but could never spot it!