Today we started off with an exploration of our digestive tracts. Very interesting stuff, and when we came to the … final product (LOL!) the kids were totally hooked on the day’s lesson. To try to keep it clear for Nicky and Rowen in particular, after we watched the online animated video, we all acted out the digestive system, using a clear baggie filled with crackers. Nicky, as the teeth, crunched the bag up. Rowen, as the saliva, liberally sprinkled it with water. Max, as the small intestine, hid the bag and squeezed it up some more and then passed it to Nicky, who as the circulatory system, ran around with the bag to deliver the food’s nutrients all around. Then Rowen, as the large intestine, collected all the water that was left (with a sponge) and finally Max got the fun job of being the rectum and could deposit the mangled remains of the baggie and crumbs in the trash bin. We did some more hands-on stuff, too, but I think this one was the most fun. Because the weather stayed dry, we were able to walk to the petting zoo and keep a sharp eye out for anything that applied to our food pyramids or our digestive tracts. About halfway there, Nicky happily called out, “We’re poo hunters!” Totally cracked me up!
I also snuck in some more tea-dyeing of fabric (Bay Rum jobelan this time) and did a double-dye job. First it got a bath in Earl Grey (Arden’s eye was still a bit gooey in the morning) and then it spent some time with some cinnamon tea. It smells great, and I love the subtle color-on-color depth of the dye jobs.
Today hasn’t been as ‘instructive’ as yesterday because the boys really, really, really wanted to continue with their hut-building activities. At lunch time, I cleared out the living room so they could use the couches and table as they wanted in order to build huts. They all brought down their blankets and pillows and had a picnic in their own little forts. But after lunch, they didn’t want to stop. Instead of taking them away from their fun, I decided to let them call the shots. We can find out why people fart and more interesting bits about the digestive system later. 
The mailman has surprised me twice today, first with the delivery of my had-to-have-it copy of The Sampler Girl’s newest design (omg, I can’t wait to start this!) and a wonderful surprise packet from Sandra (no blog)that included this handmade beeswax butterfly. Talk about something that smells great! Then he came back later with a bookmark from Dianne for Max, to celebrate Max’s new found love of reading. Thank you so much, Dianne and Sandra! I’m afraid I didn’t get a picture of Max’s bookmark, as he whisked it up to his room the moment I finished reading Dianne’s note to him!
