Aransas National Wildlife Refuge

We have had a terrific few days! 

Some mornings start out rough, but we were smiling by the time we got to school! 

 We planted some pansies around our flag-and I actually finally bought a new flag! 

All boy!

Look, Mommy!  No hands!

Such a good pansy planter!!!!

All done!!!

And in the grassy field...a soldier.  Waiting for battle. Or something.  :)

 On Friday, I saw that the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge was putting on their yearly Refuge Celebration Day on Saturday so we decided to go!  We have been before and it was alot of fun!  All outdoors, educational, and not a huge crowd!  This year, they did an awesome new thing!  They gave all the kids passbooks and told them if they got a stamp at all the areas, they would get a prize.  It worked like a charm.  We went from place to place to place with smiles! 

Learning about nature journals.

Touching different fish species found in the bay.

Inspecting coral.

Learning how to use a cast net!

This was so cool and Rachel's favorite.  The refuge had scientists there that collect water samples for plankton and other species.  The kids got to do that too and caught plankton and a lot of ctenophores, which are tiny little things that look like jellyfish, but aren't.  Commonly called comb jellies.  They also caught a small jelly fish while the kids were there, right next to the shore.  They both wore boots, but had to walk around with wet socks because of course they wanted to go deeper.  :)  It was so neat.  We also got to go kayaking, but didn't get pictures this year.

Looking at their cool catches.

Rachey loved the arts and crafts tent.  And they had so many arts and crafts to do!  Here she is making a bird feeder!

Here we colored a snake together.

Waiting for Zane.  :)

Ate hamburgers made by the Tivoli Fire Dept! 

He didn't hold this little 2 month old alligator, but maybe next time he will!

Zane's favorite!  Archery!  And this person was so patient with Zane and let him shoot again and again!  Zane ate it up.  Loved it all!

This was a second favorite of Zane's!  Putting out fires!

What a great day!  We sure like seeing the kids learn and grow!  So fun.