Lewis and Clark Trail State Park

Avigail, Esther, and I went for a little walk.  The walk took us across Highway 12 to the day use area of Lewis and Clark Trail State Park.  Adjoining the day use area was a fenced pasture with 4 lovely horses.  The white one let the girls pet her and feed her grass.  The girl were thrilled with their horse encounter.  Avi would have stayed all day...

 The old bathrooms, built in the 30s all of river rock.  Pretty cool!

 Trying to coax the horse into coming back....

 It didn't work.

 The surrounding terrain.

 Walking the park grounds.

 Avi's photo of the tree and hillside.

Esther was tired so we were waiting for Mark, Azriel, and Libby to come and pick us up in the Suburban.

Our First (with all 4 kids) Family Camping Trip!!!

Going Camping!!!

On the hiking trail at Lewis and Clark Trail State Park...

Our first glimpse of the Touchet river.

Archway of branches.

Trailer camping 101, our first time out!

The Touchet river.

Avi in the Touchet river.

Avi really IN the Touchet river.

Hanging out around the fire.

Esther is always busy... practicing casting with her little fishing pole in the background.

Trying out an online curriculum for the kids!

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment and for summer skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.




I will edit this post to say that the online curriculum did NOT work for our family.  The big kids did not like it at all.  The graphics were not appealing to them and I had to put their level higher in order for it to be challenging.  In it's favor, both the little girls enjoyed it...but then, they enjoy any little cartoony games online.

quintessential ESTHER

 

Avi having a breakfast date with Papa!

We started a new reward program in our house.  I had gotten these certificates for Denny's (yes, Denny's!) and we have one for each child.  We gave each child a 7 day challenge based on their individual issues.  Avi's was no whining.  No whining for SEVEN WHOLE DAYS!!!  She made it!  Well, there were two days where she did whine, but she was able to STOP her whining,which she'd previously said was impossible, and change her behavior!  I think this has been a wonderful little lesson in behavior modification for her.  She now KNOWS that she can STOP they cycle of whining before it consumes her.  ;-)  She had a wonderful breakfast with Mark followed by some shopping. She had a great time and I'm thrilled with the results of our little experiment.  Now if Libby can stay in her own bed without seeking me out in the night for 7 whole days, she gets a Papa date too.  Az, well, he has to quit whining...  LOL!  He CAN do it and I think that since he had to stay behind today while Avi got her special time that he has a new resolve to be successful in keeping a positive, non whining attitude!
Libby has one night under her belt.  She keeps having to start over but maybe, just maybe, THIS will be her winning week!!!

And to sweeten the pot...I have NEW rewards for new challenges. Got some great deals on BOWLING.  Papa dates for bowling should encourage some positive behavior changes!!!  :-)