We measured with feet, and then we hiked with them.

Today's history activity: measure your height like the Romans did--using the length of your own foot! Here Stuart is tracing out my foot.



We used my foot, Stuart's foot, and...



Yes, even Marcus' foot. And yes, Marcus made that cranky face all day long. There's pollen or a mold or something that's making him miserable right now.



Here is Stuart, lining up to get measured...



...and Marcus, more than ready to get his measurement done.



Stuart traced and cut out a second foot for Marcus to put into his own notebook.



Starting next week, we get to put food into our yard debris can. I am so excited to be retiring my backyard compost bin. Also to be able to compost more stuff, like chicken bones and plate scrapings. My own eco-nerdiness aside, here's the bin they gave us to collect scraps inside the house. Then we dump this container into the yard waste bin outside.



Now we leave my kitchen and head out to Eagle Creek in the Columbia River Gorge.  We were there to see the salmon, traveling up the river to spawn, with some other folks in our homeschool group.

Marcus jumps from one rock to another, landing on his knees like he was jumping onto a pillow.  No, hon, just because the moss is soft doesn't mean it's a pillow.





Stuart and a friend contemplate the dead salmon on the road.  As one of the moms explained, "It tried to escape, but got hit by a car!"

 

 Salmon eggs found by another family, right by the bank.




One of the other moms pointed out a caterpillar to Marcus.  He then claimed it as his own, tried to decide what to name it, and claimed he was taking it home.  He even wondered what they ate. 

 

He also traveled far and wide to show everyone "his" caterpillar.  Later, the caterpillar pooped on him and he dropped it.

 

 We saw lots of salmon, but they really didn't want me taking their pictures.  I'm hoping that Laura of Stag Beetle Power! got some better pictures to share.

 

 Random picture of Marcus--Stuart was too busy running around with the boys to get his picture taken.

 

 Wait--there's Stuart!