Competitive Nature Walk

Dash and I have put a new twist on our nature walks.

Somewhere along the line,
he has gotten too cool to go for a leisurely stroll with Mommy.

He has other things he'd rather be doing.

It's probably because every rock, flower, and bird
doesn't amaze him the way it used to when he was two years old.

Being five years old changes things.

But, Mommy misses those leisurely walks
around the neighborhood and through the canyon
with her inquisitive little boy.

Sure, the scooter rides are fun and all
the other things that come with him growing up, 

but the other day I just wanted to go for a stroll.

So, I challenged him.

What five year old boy doesn't like a competition?

As we strolled we tried to see who could count the most birds.

We walked along the sidewalk, up and down streets, yelling,

"I see one!"  

"There's two!"

Some were flying. 

Some were perched on wires.

Some in the bushes near us.

And, when we got back home, the final score was...

Dash: 39 
Mommy :23

He was thrilled that he won!

So, a new hobby has been birthed. 

We usually search for two 'things' on each walk.

Sometimes, it's birds

and lizards.

Other times it is butterflies,

 and fire hydrants.

We've done stop signs,

 and dogs (hearing them bark counts!).

Today it was flags,

and dandelions.

The best part about it is that he's slowed down enough
to enjoy all that we're seeing.

He's back to talking about the ladybug on the leaf we pass,

and the clouds that look like giraffes in the sky.

Our competitive nature walks have been a nice way to slow back down and enjoy a leisurely stroll while basking over the glory of God's creation.

And...

If your kiddos are still young enough where they are amazed by every rock and leaf they see when out walking,
you might want to try a simple 'nature walk book'.

Dash and I would collect his findings in a little book I made by hole punching
ziplock sandwich bags at the bottom and connecting them with metal rings.

Basically, your book was a bunch of sandwich bags you could flip through.
I usually put a craft foam cover with his name on it at the front and back.

On our walks, when he would find something he couldn't live without, we'd open up one of the ziplock bags and let him collect his treasures.

When we got home, he could flip through
his 'book' and look at all the items he found!

I'd post a picture, but the nature books are one of those things
I've 'accidentally' lost over the years.

I know, if I was a better mom I'd have a whole drawer full
of his collected prickly balls and dead flowers (hee hee).


Looks like he'll just have to enjoy the memories!

Resurrection Eggs

My first year teaching at a Christian school, 

after previously being in public school, 

I was excited at the thought of really teaching and celebrating Easter.

Not just the chicks and bunnies,

but the real reason.

Celebrating the resurrection of Jesus!

I had heard or seen somewhere about 'Resurrection Eggs'.

So, for my first class at the Christian school, 

I prepared Easter eggs for a special egg hunt.

I hid the eggs while they were at recess and when they came back in I laid out all the rules for our non-competitive egg hunt.

We looked with our eyes, hands behind our back, and when someone discovered an egg they could place it in my basket, up front.  

The kids did so well with this.
They filled my basket up front with all the eggs they found.
Once they were finished we all sat down so I could open the eggs, one at a time.

The eggs were numbered.
So, I dug through the basket to find the egg with a 'number 1' on it. 

 I opened the egg and pulled out what was inside.
I asked the kids to think about the real meaning of
Easter and the stories they knew in the Bible.

Together, we discerned what each item in the eggs represented.
Then, because the students were in first grade and could read,
I pulled out a scripture that was also hidden
 in the egg and let a student read it aloud.

Together, we went through the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, with the students telling me the stories that they knew from the Bible that aligned with items hidden in the eggs and the scriptures with them.

The kids LOVED this and every year it was one of my favorite activities
because we got to take a little stroll through the
life of Jesus with them telling the stories.

So...

Years later, when Dash came around, 

I formed a simplified version for him.

It's become a tradition that he looks forward to, each year!

Here's what I did...

I hid numbered eggs around our backyard.

I told him that we would be learning something about Jesus with them and when he found them he needed to place them in the basket but not open them.

He did the egg hunt and then we sat down in the shade.
I had him find egg 'number one' and open it.
And, the story of Jesus got shared in a simple activity
 that was just short enough to hold Dash's attention.

I started this tradition when Dash was only three.

And, the egg hunt was very simple with just a few eggs.

This year Dash is five.

Below, I will show you the 14 eggs I have planned for this year.
I think he is still too young for me to read all the verses
(his attention span only lasts so long)
but I will tell the stories as he opens each egg.

Of course, I rarely have to tell the stories anymore because when he opens each egg he yells, "I know this one!" and then he tells ME the story!

Egg Number One

What's inside?

I put an apple in it to represent the fruit on the
'Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil' that Adam and Eve ate.
This apple represents the problem of sin.

I'll remind him of the story of Adam and Eve
and our need for a savior from sin.

And, I'll be sure to ask...

"Who is that savior?"

Egg Number Two

What's inside?

The 'binki' or pacifier reminds us of a special baby that was born.
We will talk about his birth at Christmas.
(Luke 2:6-7)

He definitely knows the story about the baby in the manger!

Egg Number Three

 What's inside?

This one is a golf pencil to emphasize Jesus growing up
and spending time in the Scriptures.
 (Luke 2:46-47)

Egg Number Four

What's inside?

Gold fish crackers to represent the five loaves of bread and two fish that Jesus miraculously used to feed the five thousand.  It amazed me how even at age three he guessed this story when I had asked what came to mind when he thought of fish and Jesus.
(Luke 9:13-147)

Egg Number Five

What's inside?

A bandaid to represent how Jesus healed so many people. 
(Luke 17:11-18)

Egg Number Six

What's inside?

Googly eyes to represent Jesus healing the blind.

Egg Number Seven

What's inside?

Thirty pieces of silver (also known as 'three dimes')
to represent Judas' betrayal.
(Matthew 26:14-16)

Egg Number Eight

What's inside?

Bread to represent the last supper and Jesus as the bread of life.
(Mark 14:22-26)

Egg Number Nine

What's inside?

A toy soldier to represent the soldiers that arrested and beat Jesus.

(And, of course, he wanted to play with the soldier before we moved on).

Egg Number Ten

What's inside?

A mini card of a king to represent the soldiers' mocking  Jesus when they placed a crown of thorns on his head and called him, "King of the Jews".
(Mark 15:16-20)

Egg Number Eleven

What's inside?

A nail to represent Jesus' crucifiction.

Dash knew exactly what was done with that nail when our sins were punished at the cross.  He told me how Jesus took our spot so we would never have to be punished and go to 'the bad place' but could be forgiven.

The nail represents unconditional love when a Father sent His only Son to be punished, despised, and to die so that all we would have to do is accept His grace and forgiveness for any of our evil or sin.  

The nail represents the ultimate gift.

Egg Number Twelve

What's nside?

The rock represents how Jesus' body was wrapped in cloths and placed in a tomb.  A rock was rolled and sealed before it and soldiers posted to guard it.
(Mat. 27:65-66)

Egg Number Thirteen

This is the special egg that Dash couldn't wait to open
the first time I got it and we did this.

What's inside?

The egg is empty!

Just the like the tomb!

The good news is that Jesus did not stay dead.  He took our place but then beat death.  His resurrection is the good news of Easter.  He is alive!


Most resurrection egg hunts end with the empty egg.
They usually start without the apple for sin.
 I added the apple and this last egg to help make it more complete.

Egg Number Fourteen

What's inside?

This heart sticker represents where Jesus lives now.
Dash and I talked about how Jesus lives in our hearts when we ask him
to come in, thank him for dying for us, and ask him to forgive us of our sins.
(John 3:16)

Happy Easter!

(Oh, and for Dash's grandparents and those who know him....below is a video clip of the first time we did this.  He is so stinkin' cute!)