Cool New Shades

Thanks to cousin Maddie for the pink sparkly shades. Charlotte loves them!

Chirp's Visit - Another Cat Class Mascot

The Story of Chirp
By Nicholas King

One day, I was the line leader and I got to take home Chirp. I got to have fun with him. He watched me play trains and he rode in the race car #65. The “race car” is really my shopping cart, and it’s SO fast! I took Chirp upstairs so I could take a bath, and Charlotte threw Chirp in the water! He got wet. We let him sit out in the night time and in the morning he was dry.

Chirp snuggled in bed with me and my blanket

On Tuesdays, I go to music class. I took Chirp with me to music class. We rang bells and sang songs. Chirp sat next to me.

Chirp meets Mrs. Love, my music teacher

Tomorrow someone else will get a turn with Chirp. I hope I get a new bag!

Here Comes the Bride!

I flew to Oregon for a whirlwind 36 hour trip for my mom's wedding this weekend. It was a great celebration of her new marriage as well as a blast to get together with the rest of the family. You never know what will happen when my three brothers unite!

Kudos for Libby for the amazing flowers!

Congratulations and best wishes!

PJ Party at the Magic House

We waited and waited for the Magic House expansion to open (more than doubling the size). When it opened a few weeks ago, we went for a quick visit, but didn't have the time to really explore. Tonight, the members were invited for a Teddy Bear PJ party so we hopped right over. Nicholas chose to bring his beloved "Baby Joe" rather than a teddy bear.

A really cool new addition. At the opposite end from where Nicholas is, you drop wooden balls. As they fall down the track, they play a song. Each little step plays a note. Nicholas recognized the song instantly as "Oh Yes, Oh Yes It's Springtime" from Little Einsteins. Otherwise known as "Spring" from Vivaldi's Four Seasons. A big hit with this one. Music and balls. Doesn't get much better!

Charlotte on the other hand was much more impressed with the cookie selection.

Another favorite. This is a three story bean stalk (there's a fairy tale exhibit that this ties into) perfect for climbers like Nicholas.

Downstairs in the addition is an air tube exhibit. Balls of yarn are stuffed into the starting hole, then they zip through FAST and pop out the other end. In a few places, there are flaps that can be flipped to alter the path. Nicholas could have stayed here all night.

Because the big boys had taken over the starting hole, Charlotte was completely content to stick a ball at the ending hole, then have it shoot out. She'd then retrieve it and start over. Love the simple entertainment.

Onto the new construction zone. After the amazing construction exhibit we saw at the Indianapolis Children's Museum, we had high hopes. This wasn't quite up to that level, but it was still neat.

There is a two-story residential building site. Upstairs, you can put in the insulation. Tom and I had never seen styrofoam insulation like this. We're so behind the times...

There is lots of PVC for building structures. The hard hats were especially fun!

Perhaps following in Grandpa Doug's footsteps with a career in pipes??

The last new area we explored focuses on the branches of government. Nicholas pretended to be a judge, and wandered through the room for legislators. But most of all he loved the replica Oval Office.

Solving the problems of the world, one phone call at a time

Candidate in 2040?

2044?

We've been huge fans and supporters of the Magic House ever since we've lived here, and it was fun to spend an evening playing there. We love the expansion!

Purina Farms Field Trip

It was time for the Cat class to take another field trip, this time to Purina Farms. We have never been there so we were excited to see what it was all about.

The first building was all about Purina pet foods and the process used to make them. Basically turning this wheel and watching the balls spin through the machines was about the only part interesting to the kids.

Then it was off to the tunnels. We must have played here for 20 minutes. Charlotte wants desperately to be a big kid, so she hurried right in with the 4 year-olds. Once in a while she'd just sit down (in parts that weren't visible to the parents), and Nicholas or another of his friends would talk to her. We'd hear "This way, sweetie" coming from the depths of the tunnels.

She loved them!

Onto the animals! Instead of zebras and elephants like Grant's Farm, Purina Farms actually has domesticated animals. We watched these pigs run around for a while. Little tidbit - the pen is filled with cat litter.

Nicholas is not nearly as fearless around animals as Charlotte. She'll touch/pet just about anything.

Live or not.

We got to watch a cow be milked. The kids could even go up and do it themselves. Nicholas was not a taker.

We took a quick snack break. Here's Nicholas with his friends Logan and Jack Gunther.

At the dog show, we saw this dog make lots of baskets.

This trainer is super good. She's trained the world champion of 2007 and the runner up for 2008. I think this was the 2008 runner up dog. She rescues all her dogs from shelters and turns them into champions!

Our last stop was the dog and cat house. There is a three story cat tower to observe kitties playing and sleeping, and lots of breeds of dogs. It seems fitting that the last field trip of the year for the Cat class involved cats! We had a great time and are sure to visit Purina Farms again.

"The Experiment"

A few days ago, I was attempting to clean out the fridge and found a bag of three over-the-hill apples. Instead of pitching them, which was my plan, Nicholas and I devised an experiment. We set all three out on the back patio and waited to see what would happen. The first day - nothing. The second day - one apple had been slightly nibbled and rolled a few inches. The third day - this critter discovered the apples and went to town. He managed to get one of them up on top of the wood pile! He munched away while we watched. I don't know if it was he or his buddies, but by the end of the day, all the apples had disappeared. Besides the entertainment value, Nicholas also learned the word "hypothesis". It's pretty cute. He's all set for "Science Explorers" which he's taking Monday afternoons in the Fall at his school.

Going Green

The Science Center hosted a special celebration to promote taking care of the Earth. We were happy to join in the fun!

This was hilarious! The recycling bin had a motor that raised and lowered the lid...and talked. There was a person hiding behind a screen (who the kids obviously didn't see) who provided the voice via wireless mike, and talked to each of the children about recycling. Nicholas was fascinated.

Goodwill had a red carpet set up so kids could strut their stuff in costumes. I was a bit surprised Nicholas wasn't interested, but Charlotte sure looks like a little diva!

Later in the Discovery Room, Charlotte found plastic bacon in the food baskets in the tepee. I've never actually seen plastic bacon...

Nicholas ventured away from the car race tracks and built a marble race track for the first time

In a final green moment, my boys powered the ball machine by running on this big wheel. We all do what we can. :)

Grant's Farm is Open!

After months and months, it's finally time for Grant's Farm to reopen for the season! We had pretty cloudy, wet weather all day, but there was enough of a break towards the end of the morning that we snuck out to get to the park.

We didn't see all that many animals from the tram, but we did see some cattle

and some deer getting velvety antlers. There were also some adorable baby bison that I did not capture with my camera!

New this year - A carousel. My kids never turn down a carousel and the four of us went for a ride.

There are two new baby camels, but as they were not interested in being fed by the public just yet, we settled for the adults. Normally a bit skittish around these guys, Nicholas fed both the camels and the llamas.

Charlotte too!

The two of them could not have been cuter, holding hands and walking together (also not pictured....I was obviously off my game today!) Nicholas, who has spent a lot more time at Grant's Farm in his life, loved to show Charlotte all around. Charlotte, the animal lover of the family, was in heaven getting to pet animals. "Pet" is one of her favorite things to say. I'm sure she'll have many more opportunities this summer. It's amazing all we'll be able to do with no morning naps to contend with!

#2

Maybe it was just the thrill of getting 2 M&Ms instead of 1. Whatever the reason, Charlotte decided to poop on the potty today. Next she'll be driving.

The "Structure"

I don't know what to say about this except that Nicholas carefully constructed this during rest time today. After this picture was taken, the area under the white step stool was filled in with treasures of various sorts, which also started piling up on all other available horizontal surfaces on the "structure" (which is what he calls it). He is very proud of this. I try not to focus on determining the purpose, of which there clearly is none. I think "process, not product" applies here. But I would like that step stool back in my bathroom...

Two's Company

Charlotte wants to be just like her big brother, and really wanted to sit next to him (and vice versa) this morning at breakfast. So we popped the booster onto the other bar stool and voila! Totally happy, almost completely well behaved children munching on their breakfast quesadilla and berry breakfasts. I think the high chair is officially banished to the dining room!

Easter Celebration

Bright and early, the kids were up and we headed downstairs. To our surprise, the Bunny had visited our house in the night and had left 2 eggs on the living room table - one for each child.

The eggs contained clues (and a few jelly beans) which led the kids on a house-wide hunt for their Easter baskets

Despite being really tired (or so I imagine), the Bunny managed to make some pretty good clues

Charlotte found one in her high chair

I think the clue that led here said something about wanting cookies.

With baskets located, we had some breakfast including a treat of little powdered sugar donuts. They're Tom's favorite, but Charlotte had never had them. She's for sugar in any form and certainly had her share.

Speaking of sugar, Nicholas mentioned to me last night - "I hope the Easter Bunny remembers that I love Peeps". I heard through the grapevine that the Bunny searched far and wide last night (3 stores!), but determined that Peeps were completely sold out in St Louis. Apparently there were stuffed animal (really cute) Peeps at one store and one ended up in Nicholas' basket. After all that trouble the Bunny went through...not one mention this morning. Ah well. The beauty of being overwhelmed with other things.

After a nice day (church, lunch at home, naps for both kids -yea!) we had a blast coloring eggs with Nicholas tonight once Charlotte was down. It was Nicholas' first egg dying experience. He took it very seriously. He was also glad that there was pink paint.

Tom provided some expert advise.

Happy Easter from the Kings!