Lilies, and chairs, and owl pellets, oh my!!!

Hahahaha!  That title just tickled me!  Well, I'm back!  You may be wondering what I've been up to in these 2 weeks that I took a blogging break.  Well.....

we've been having some fun....

and hanging out with friends...

We've also been trying to get in a good habit of regular nature study.  We started this off well with a trip to the Ruffner Mtn Nature Center for a story and lesson on owls...which I finished up with a lesson in grossology 101. Owl pellets.

(Don't worry, they were synthetic!)  We are also journaling and enjoying The Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock.  I found (thanks to Lynn at "A Mother's Journal" over there to the right...) a great blog based on this fabulous nature guide.  Please pop over there and see what you think, as I think it is a MUST see for everyone!

We also went to see the Cahaba lilies in bloom.  They are said to only exist in half-a-dozen places on the earth!  What's so amazing about them is they actually grow right in the MIDDLE of the Cahaba River!

But don't get me wrong, we observe PLENTY of nature on our own little plot of Birmingham...

We just returned from a lovely visit to see my sister-in-law and her family.  We stayed on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina and had the BEST time!  I just can't believe how my precious nieces and nephew have GROWN!!!

*sigh* Time moves too fast.

On the way home from South Carolina we stopped at IKEA in Atlanta because, well, me and the kids are addicted!  They love the play room and I love the 45 minutes of unique and affordable shopping!  Anywho, remember that chair I told you I got off the side of the road for the schoolroom???  No?  Here's a hint...

so at IKEA Ben planted himself in a chair and would not get up until we agreed to get one for him (and his sister).  Check this out.....

Isn't it too cute!?

Well Dear Ones, I'll leave you with this last little bit of catch-up...Today I have been working around the house and finally got to this little project I've been wanting to do for Abby for 2 years!  This is at the head of her bed...

I applied Wallies which are wall-paper cut-outs.  I am going to highlight them with some glitter paint.

Ben is wanting a space theme on his side of the room and asked that I paint it on his pull-down shade.  The shade needs to be replaced so I will have to go get one before I can complete that project.

So there, I believe that catches you up on most things.  As far as school, I have some prep work still and I need to find a used Tapestry of Grace Year 2 but then I'm ready!  Abby is planning to cut her long hair and donate it to Locks of Love after Beth (my big sissy) gets married on the 25th.  Ben and Abby have art camp in July and Abby has ballet camp in August.  VBS is next week and I am in charge of, you guessed it, preschool crafts!  Andy is enjoying the world cup and Clemson beating Alabama in baseball.  There, it's official!  You're caught up!