more creepy crawlers

We found this spider in the backyard. (actually it was two webs the dark spot is another spider on another web right behind this one, both were eating something too!) Since spiders seem to be more terrifying than other bugs to Aurora we took some time to talk about the good things spiders do, like catch flies, mosquitoes and other bugs that bite.  

 Aurora used our old pocket camera to take some pictures too.

 Gideon is getting so close to crawling. He gets up on his hands and knees and rocks but is not quite ready to take a "step". He's been really fussy lately too, He's probably got a tooth coming, poor guy. Thankfully it seems to help to put him in the snugly backpack and go for walks, he really enjoys that.

Spring

Since Spring seems to be in full force (at least for now) we are studying everything spring. Today we studied Robins.


We went up to the library and got a book about them, It turned out to be a really good book for young kids! It had lots of great pictures and was a lot of information but they kept it simple. I learned a few things I didn't know, but it was easily understandable for Aurora to. :)

 We also got a few books about bugs and beetles and have been studying them (in an attempt to help Aurora get over her sudden crippling fear of all things creepy crawly.)

Here is a beetle we found in the garden. Around here you find these pretty often when you dig, but this time we stopped to really look at one.

 (Then we had some fun blowing bubbles)

We are certainly enjoying this warm weather, but man am I tired at the end of the day!! I have been falling into bed exhausted way earlier than usual!! (that may also have something to do with Gideon deciding to get up earlier than he used to though)

Science lesson

Preschool science lessons are so fun. Basically ours consist of finding something cool, looking at it with a magnifying glass and talking about it, the kids really don't even realize they are learning. Our last one was really impromptu. My oldest nephew (A.M.) found a dead Monarch butterfly that was still perfectly together so we "studied it" which led to looking for other bugs,  catching a huge bumblebee to "study" then release and a few other moths and beetles.

Well, they both really enjoyed it, so when my mom found a dead praying mantas she was quick to get a container and save him (despite being grossed out) for next time the kids were over. Well they were very excited about that!! Praying Mantas have to be some of the strangest looking bugs after all.

Dead Praying Mantus

And in case that was too disturbing for you, here is a flower. LOL