Snails Everywhere

My parent's backyard was full of snails. The kids had a blast collecting and studying them. They built little houses, fed and even accidentally killed them. Apparently snails do not like living in covered houses. :) I didn't know that either, and the next day they had turned all bubbly. They also do not like swimming pools, but by the time I discovered the pool the snails had already drowned. I suggested we just build a house without a roof, but the very next day the snails were gone - I wonder why! :) From then on we just gathered them and studied them, because we learned it is best to just have them live their own way and that they can't be kept as pets. Sorry to all creepy creature lovers out there who feel this is one step too far....but then think about those people who love escargot!

One of the snail houses.

Leea loves little creatures. She was out in the backyard "taking care" of the snails a lot.

This is at my friend Ulla's place. The kids in her neighborhood are into snails as well...

Schladen Snake Farm Visit

We went to the Schladen, Germany snake farm and got to see lots of snakes (more poisonous than non-poisonous), spiders and reptiles. Noa kept pointing out the Noa-, Ava-, Luca-, Leea- and Mama- snakes. He couldn't find a Papa-snake, because he apparently was at work (just like in real life - Papa is always at work). When Luca was asked where the Papa snake works, he said, like it's totally clear, "In the desert!"

The kids playing with a super poisonous black mamba.

Nabucco and Moritz

My sister Eva was so kind to let us ride her horse Nabucco and a little pony called Moritz that stays in the same stable. Thanks Eva, we had a LOT of fun! And even though I'm terribly allergic to horses, it didn't bother me as much this time around...

...partly, because I wore this little contraption. I think I might try allergy shots before going again.

Luca on Nabucco.

The kids patiently waiting their turn. Bike helmets for safety reasons...I knew a woman who fell off a horse not wearing a helmet and died soon after. I won't let the kids ride without a helmet.

My mom helping out with the kiddos.

Lincoln was great at guiding the animals...

...but when it came to riding Nabucco, he seemed too tall for the horse. It looked quite funny, though the picture doesn't capture it. I think we might have a video somewhere. Hi hi...

Tante Eva and Ava riding on Nabucco on another day.

Leea riding on Moritz.

Luca and Moritz.

Noa found a perfect spot for digging. What would Noa do without any dirt? Pretty soon the other kids joined him. I guess they needed some serious relaxation after the horse ride.

After the fun comes the clean up...starting with horse poop...

... and then the hoofs.

The boys even got to ride on the tractor.

Random Spring/Summer Pics

Princess Leea in her favorite dress my friend Nikkei gave her. Yay for hand-me-downs, love 'em...

Some sunday afternoon after church.

I just love Noa's expressions.

Ava and one of her twins dolls.

We found Luca and Leea in midst our clothes one day.

Westfall artists.

We love Discovery School!

We're very sad to leave you, Discovery School. We were able to send Luca and Leea there only because we qualified for a big tuition discount. The kids have learned and grown so much since they started last year. The school is so hands-on and enriching that it's truly hard to find something that will compare in Colville. We especially love that the kids had music, art, P.E. and Spanish each twice a week. They also had reading buddies, at least one field trip a month and lots of fun stuff going on in their classroom besides the usual school stuff. One thing I especially like is that the whole school uses Positive Discipline by Dr Jane Nelson. Each teacher is required to read the book(s) and act upon. Dr. Jane Nelson has declared Discovery School a POSITIVE DISCIPLINE DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL.

Here's the school's mission statement:

We believe in INDIVIDUALITY: Each child is a unique and distinct individual to be celebrated. Children learn at their own pace. Learning takes place most effectively when one is accepted and valued.
We believe in COMMUNITY: The community is a valuable resource for learning. Contributing to the community is a personal obligation.
We believe in RESPONSIBILITY: Each person is responsible for his or her own behavior. Learning is enhanced by ownership in the education process.
We believe in the JOY OF LEARNING: Education is a life-long experience. The arts are an essential part of learning. Learning is natural. Learning should be fun.

This was the kid's egg drop with Discovery School. At the end of the school year they had planned a bunch of fun things. I had never heard of an egg drop, but as I started researching the whole thing, it appeared to me that it is quite common in the US. Luca's egg survived in about half a gallon of jell-o in a jumbo yogurt container. We also had an umbrella on the enclosed container, but the teacher throwing the thing off the cliff never opened it. There was no weight limit. Some people had eggs embedded in watermelons thrown down the cliff. A teacher had one in a cabbage head, and there were several other random things containing food. Pretty wasteful, but I guess I don't count jell-o as food. :)

Noa took a good mouthful of the red mass. This container also has Leea's egg in it.

Hers survived too. We built a giant bubble wrap pillow with Leea and put a little garbage bag parachute on it.

Here the whole school rented the Looff carousel for breakfast.

Leea and her Pre-K teacher Chinowa...

...and Desiree.

Leea in front of her school.

Leea and her friend Maddy.

Luca and his friend Jon.

Luca and his teacher Michelle.

The kids with their art teacher Charlie Schmidt. Check out his web site. He's a great artist in all kinds of areas and well known in the Spokane community. He's also performed globally with his nose dance. Watch the videos on his page - he's really funny.