The Swamp ate my Shoe

We have been finding innovative ways to do lessons and enjoy this beautiful weather. On Monday, we rode our bikes to the library and watched the bees and butterflies pollunate the flowers before heading in to do our lessons. On Tuesday, we had PE with some homeschool friends, OK so it was tennis lessons, but still, a better PE than mom would set up. On Wednesday, we had science at Les Arends forest preserve. Thursday, we had another tennis lesson and played at the nearby park for a while. Today, to celebrate a lesson free day, we went to a meeting with our homeschool group. First Fridays are club Fridays, Sami is in art club, she learned about Michaelangelo, and painted a fresco. The canvas was taped to the bottom of the table, so the kids sat on the floor and painted leaning back, kind of like poor Michaelangelo painting the ceiling. Chris and friends in the Lego club, made some cool designs.

After the meeting, we went to Nelson Lake Marsh. Sami and Chris enjoy playing with the toads. We ventured to the edge of the swamp and then Chris and Sami climbed a tree that was growing out over the swamp. Sami got a little further than her brother who is a bit heavier. He discovered this when he stepped out on a branch she had been on and it broke. He landed feet first in the swamp, quite horrified. Murky, scummy swamp water sucked at his shoes and held fast. It was a battle, but he and one shoe escaped. Shoes that we bought five days ago. Maybe that is why, I risked life and limb to search for the missing shoe. Sami tried to go in after it but quickly changed her mind when she started to sink. The shoe was rescued, but I'm not sure I want him wearing it again. Sami and Liam have been dousing all there shoes with soap and the hose. I'm going to see what happens if I throw them in the wash.