Zoomagination Station

Today we discovered another St Louis gem. The zoo has opened a new exhibit called "Zoomagination Station". There are tons of activities for children up to age 9 - puppets, listening center with animal sounds, water tables, books, dressup....you name it. It's the perfect indoor activity, and I have no idea why it isn't solidly booked every day. We were the only people there today (when it was raining out) for the 12:00 session. (you enter on the hour for 45 minute sessions). With the zoo employee, there was a 1:1 adult to child ratio. Can't get better than that!

In the chimpanzee nest

Charlotte was a fan of opening and closing the door to the playhouse

Charlotte just liked playing with the animals, but older children could create habitats with cool trees, rocks, wood, water features etc.

Nicholas learning about ocean creatures with the zoo lady. His favorites were the whales.

Charlotte had her own water table at the perfect height!

This really is one of the coolest things we've done...and it's free! I'm picturing many winter days being spent at Zoomagination Station!

Garland 101

I had the best of intentions for making a lot of Christmas tree ornaments with Nicholas this year. While that may not have happened, we did start a new tradition: stringing garland. I have visions of the kids stringing popcorn and cranberries when they're older, but for this year we started with Cheerios on fishing line.

Nicholas has seriously dedicated himself to this project. He's spent several hours making them.

Love the fine motor skills at work!

The first foot. Stay tuned for the final product!

Animal Sounds

Charlotte can do a lot of animal sounds. She has cats, dogs, owls and wolves down pat. When we were reading a book before bed tonight, I thought I'd add "chicken" to the list. When I pointed to the chicken in the book and told her it says "Bawk, bawk", she leaned forward and back on my lap. I didn't really take notice until the next time we saw a chicken. I asked her what it said, and she did the same thing, rocking back and forth on my lap. Only then did it dawn on me what she was doing. She was doing "Bonk, bonk" with her head on my chest. I couldn't help but smile. :)

Mission : Christmas Tree

We decided to forgo The Home Depot lot this year and travel to the Heritage Valley Christmas Tree Farm in Washington, Missouri, about an hour from our house. I was told they had a "very limited supply" of Canaan firs (which is what we wanted), but we decided to take our chances. We bundled up and hit the road!

The search begins (it was indeed pretty picked over already)

Charlotte loved riding in the sled

After much, much debate, we settled on this lovely one.

Timber!

Nicholas has a go at pulling the sled

Tom had to take over. Isn't the setting beautiful? We're sold on cutting our own tree.

This is Nicholas and I riding back to the fir field for my sunglasses...which amazingly we spotted from the tractor. Nicholas didn't mind one bit getting to ride with me.

I think Charlotte enjoyed the farm!

None of these photos would have been possible were it not for the generous nature of a fellow tree farm goer. The batteries on my camera died as I took my first photo, and I had no backups! I asked several people if they had extras I could buy, but finally gave up, deciding to make the most of the day without worrying about pictures. But as I reached my family (who had gone ahead of me as I was on a crazy battery quest), I asked one last mom with a camera bag if she had extras. She gave some batteries to me and refused to let me pay her for them. She reminded me that next year my kids would be totally different, and I needed to capture them today. Now that's the spirit of Christmas! Thank you, kind stranger!

Mmmmm...

Charlotte was given a Trader Joe's Peppermint Jo-Jo cookie as a sample today. Think Oreos with crushed candy cane in the filling. (If you haven't had one and have access to a Trader Joe's....leave now to go buy them before they're sold out. They're that good.) Most of it made it into her mouth!

Cats in PJs

Nicholas' preschool class (the Cats) hosted a Gingerbread PJ party at the school tonight. The three teachers donned pink gingerbread jammies, though I think the rest of us adults skipped the PJs! Nicholas went with the classic striped footies he's so fond of.

Holding hands with Miss Sally for some Hokey Pokey

That's some intent listening! Miss Dodie (the reader) helps with Nicholas' class on Wednesday afternoons.

Charlotte became an honorary Cat in her jammies...which were chosen by her brother

The main event (besides the always popular gingerbread cookies and milk!) was making their very own stuffed gingerbread man to take home. It was basically a Build-A-Bear type company that travels to parties.

It was a little wild with a dozen sugar-hyped 4 year-olds running around. (Literally. They were running and running in circles chasing each other.) But fun was had by all.

Grandpa Doug Comes to Town

Grandpa Doug (my dad), was able to make the long trip from Puerto Rico to spend the Thanksgiving weekend with us. It was so nice to be able to show him our life here in St. Louis. We took him to tour the Anheiser-Busch brewery, but mostly we just hung out and got to spend some quality time around the house. He made some amazing pie (Dutch apple is his specialty), pan-sized man-cakes (a total throw-back to my childhood), and great (but potent!) margaritas for the adults. He was also a major force (along with Tom) in getting our Christmas lights hung outside for the first time since we've lived here. The kids had a blast reading and playing games with him. Charlotte and Grandpa Doug really bonded. In fact when she woke up from her nap after he had left, she was asking for him. Just to make sure I was understanding her (it's all in the intonation with her speech right now!) I asked if she wanted Grandpa. She nodded and broke out in a huge smile. I had to break the news that he had gone back to Puerto Rico. We hope to see him again soon!

She loves her Grandpa Doug!

Nicholas riding a buckin' bronco with one hand in the air

The book reading chair

Taken by Nicholas, our budding photographer!