Waterfalls of Wonder

Waterfalls of Wonder

We took Michael for a ride through our Green Mountains to Stowe.  We observed some of the changing leaves up there and found lots of sideways windows!  First on our day trip was a stop at Cold Hollow Cider Mill where we watched Apples being pressed for cider and  bought the delicious apple cider donuts.
Then it was off to the falls.

If you weren't careful you would drive right past the small gravel turn off and never find the overgrown entrance to the path.  A few feet in was the sign.  It was delightfully cool on the path in and we would
stop and identify sights, sounds, and smells.

Michael is learning about his senses so we really try to have him use each one separately so he can really
practice using each sense.  You could hear the falls and Michael said the sound was cars going by.  It did sound like that!  We kept on as he struggled to figure out the roaring sound.


As we walked on he kept licking his fingers.  I thought at first the sound was making him nervous but he had just eaten an apple and a cider donut and I think he was using his sense of taste and licking the stickiness
off his fingers!

The path was brilliantly lit with slivers of light between the leaves.  It was such a beautiful walk
with my two boys.  I wished all my boys were with me there.  Very peaceful journey.

The gorge comes up quick with steep sides and rocks with holes cut out of them from rushing waters.
It sneaks up on you and you can look way down and see quiet pools between the falls and racing
water.  Wanted to go take a swim in that clear water...maybe kiss my husband down there...looked so
romantic.

Then we followed the path downward to the bigger falls.  So many stones to step over.
There were even built steps of huge rocks to help us down the steep sides.

 
Michael carefully stepped between exposed roots as he made his way down.

The boys peered down at the water.  They had to lean way over for it was so far down.
Michael felt safe in his Daddy's arms.

The rushing noise came to Michael and he said, "The waterfalls!"  He figured out the sound.

Almost down he held onto Daddy's hand and walked through the big river stones.

                                                        This fall was so beautiful.

                                        We sat for a long while, listening and looking, and
                                         just being out there, living in the moment of our day.
                                         Nature seemed so alive, so bright and clear.

                                     
                                         Michael noted the cracks in the stones from winter's ice
                                          expanding against them.  He really remembers so much
                                           of what we talk about!

                                          Look at this pool that the falls rush into.  So beautiful.

                                       
                                         Then it was time to head back and we crept back up
                                           the path, over rocks, roots, and leaves.  It was hard
                                          work for Michael and myself but Jim was patient
                                         and encouraged us to keep on.

                                         We got back to the car and drove through the Notch,
                                          observing nature, tourists, and old farmsteads.
                                           On the other side was another sideways window,
                                             I didn't find it...Jim has a good eye for that.

                                           So if you ever are in the mood for a drive up to Stowe
                                            do check these falls out, not too far in the woods
                                            and they make a real lasting memory.

                                           

Farms, Play, Nouns, and Verbs!

Farms, Play, Nouns, and Verbs!

Since we've been visiting farms and reading about farms we decided to get out our play farm.  Michael is also learning about nouns and verbs so on the farm we placed labels for Michael to create sentences.

He was excited to get right to work and we set out all the animals and labels and fences on the mat.
I let him create and stayed back so he could decide what and how he wanted to set it up.

                     
                                   He brought out the cat and placed it by the pond.  He
                                 selected the noun: ca, t and the verb: drinks.  Then
                                   he created his sentence by the cat.

                                        Here's the close up.

He set up a cowboy and wrote the sentence:

He built some fences for cows and then put all the nouns together

and the verbs together on the mat.

Then together we played for awhile

with the farmers and animals

until he was ready to write 

another sentence.

I let him direct the flow of the game,

I want it to be fun and interesting.

I want him to enjoy what he is doing

and to create what he wants.

                                           

                                       
                                         He wanted to write "The cat and the sheep both drink."
                                          So I got out more paper and we spelled out the words,
                                          both and drink,
                                         so he could create the sentence.  I liked that he
                                         wanted to have another word and asked for it, he was
                                          really thinking and creating.

                                           I like his enthusiasm in learning about the way of things
                                         in the world.  I like to give him moments to practice
                                           and explore and to think things through about places
                                             he has visited or has been learning about.

 
                                          He just got back from a visit to Grandma where they went to
                                         Mazza's  and bought a pumpkin.  He is excited to paint it
                                         with me.  He delights in the simple discoveries in a day.

                                         On Friday we may go out to Pleasant Valley and
                                         I thought we could find sunflowers to buy.  We could buy one
                                         and then with tweezers we could work on fine motor skills
                                         by tweezing out the seeds.  We could also examine
                                         all the parts.


                                         There are so many places to visit in Vermont, especially in Fall
                                         when the colors are starting to become so dramatic.  It is a
                                         beautiful adventure, go out and share it.

Apple Picking

The family went apple picking!  Michael was so excited to spend the afternoon outside among the trees and grass and his family.  This time we went to Chapin Farm.

Michael looked into the big vat of Apples and picked out a bag.  We were not there for already picked apples, today we were going right to the trees.

                                          Andy and Justin came with us and soon went off in search of
                                        the elusive Wooden Apple hidden somewhere in the orchard
                                         and if found you win an ipod.  Justin won it several years ago.
                                           No luck this year.

                                          Michael skipped down the path with bag in hand,
                                            sheer joy to be out and exploring among the trees.

                                           
                                             With Dad in tow, we followed the happy pair.

               
                                          Tammy, Lyndsie, and Grandma came along as well.

                                          There weren't many apples on the trees, and some were
                                          very high of the ones we found.  Jim showed Michael
                                           how to take an apple down with the picker.

                                          Michael liked to pull the apples from the picker and
                                           drop them into his bag.

                                              Then he was off to find a tree with apples on it.
                                            He lugged the bag until it was about half full and then
                                             he let his Dad carry it for him.

                                             I was so happy to be out in the sunshine, listening
                                           to other happy pickers, and being there to watch
                                           as Michael experienced apple picking with all his
                                           senses.

                                                  He loves his Lyndsie so!

                                                  With bags filled we made our way back up
                                                to the hayride to take us back to the barn
                                                and the animals and tractor.
                                                  Michael walked up with Lyndsie.

                                           

                                             Red apples on the tree, such a wonderful fall
                                                   picture.

                                             Sense of taste:  Juicy Apples!!

                                            Sense of wonder:  look at those eyes!

                                             Sense of sight:  pumpkin patches, vines, and trees,
                                              hillsides alive with scenery.

                                            Back at the barn Michael observed a working
                                           honey hive.  He watched them fly down to the
                                            hole that let them go in and out.

                                   











     Apples look so tempting when all together,
                                                         I love this picture!

Michael was so excited to peek into the bin
and just look at all those apples.

                                 
                                         
                                          Tammy went to the edge of the barn and sat down,
                                            looking out to the orchards, the fields, the children
                                            racing about with smiles and squeals.  I wondered
                                            what she felt.

Then she took Michael's hand and together the two

of them went over to the animals to see

the bunny and the chickens.

                                          One of the highlights of the trip for Michael was to
                                            climb up the tractor all by himself and sit in the
                                           driver's seat.

                                               He oohed and aahed at the pumpkins...another
                                              trip for them.

                                             Tammy and Justin took a breather

                                               while Lyndsie and Michael went back to the tractor
                                               and pretended to drive together.

                                           
                                         Look at the way they are staring at each other with
                                          such complete joy....breathless beauty.

What a beautiful time spent with family.  I love these experiences.  I love sharing simple moments of joy that
we can share with all we love.  I am amazed at how much love pours forth from Michael to all about him.
He is so special and I hope to continue to make moments special so his love for life and all will continue
to grow and spread.  I'm counting on it.