Nelson Atkins Art Museum

After reading about different types of art we decided to go explore an Art Museum. We looked at colors, textures, form, lines and much much more.

Tekla - We saw a LION! statue
We saw two monsters; they were brown.
I saw people with 1,2,3,4,5 arms. (Shiva)
Tekla also told Grandma a creative and detailed story about a painting (a mountainscape).

Jael - Two statues looked mean and scary. (Same as Tekla's monsters)
There was a statue that was called "The Thinking" (The Thinker)
i drew a still life. A pot with flowers in it.

Saoirse - experimented with sound and echoes in all the big rooms!

Our other findings include:

Personal reflextion

Texture

Still life

Form

Mommy's Day Off

While on our month long sabatical to Grandmas' houses(while Daddy was gone on a work related trip), Grandma and Grandpa S treated me to a "Mommy's Day off" complete with a bubble bath in the jetted tub and nothing to do (except make rolls for dinner).
While I was enjoying the day off they took the girls to Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, follewd by a park, lunch then home for a quiet time.



Jael: We saw a bunch of ...
I caught some animals - green crickets
I got a leaf with eggs
I saw deer tracks on the sidewalk


Tekla: I saw the creek water
We picked no flowers (we know how hard that is for a 3yo)
We heard birds


Saoirse: poked Papa's head with a stick
walked on the overlook deck - and wanted off!

National Zoo (Take 1 and Take 2)

As our regular weekend outting with Daddy we decided to go to the National Zoo. Jael wanted to see the flamingos, Tekla wanted to see the giraffes, and Daddy wanted to see the gorillas. Unfortunately, everyone was too tired and short tempered to see much more than a few animals. We did see some zebras up close, got a short glimps of the pandas, and went to the bird house. In the aviary, a bird tried to atack the stroller but, Daddy our hero with steel toed boots, kept him away from little oneswho were very interested but worried. We did make it to see the flamingoes and that was the highlight we had to end on. By that time... It was just time to go.

Later in the week, some friends (Mommy and her 3 little girls) called and asked if we would like to go to the zoo with them. So we tried it again and were able to see many more animals! We saw lions and tigers, prarie dogs, seals, elephants, pigmy hippos, capybaras, apes, monkeys, lemurs, and even got to listen to a zoo keeper talk about a type of porcupine while it was being fed. Unfortunately, I forgot to take the camera and we forgot to recap our favorite points on the way home. Everyone was exhausted by the time we got home, and the next day was simply a day of recovery for both families (esp. the Mommies who had to push the strollers up the BIG hill). It was fun but I think we'll be going in cooler weather next time.

Go'in to the zoo, zoo, zoo!

Daddy and the girls went to the Columbus Zoo with Uncle N and Aunt M. They were hot, tired and hungry when it came time to recap, so all I can tell you is they had fun.

Big Rocks and Wispering Water

Our excursions this week took us to Great Falls National Park. After a quiet picnic lunch we set out on the trail along the river. Little fingers found sand to play in, feet found mud to squish in, eyes found butterflies and flowers, and ears listened to the whispering of the water. At the visitor center the girls were able to look at and touch pieces of nature. They also had an exhibit explaining how they were able to get boats from above the falls to the lower river. Best of all, the girls got to climb rocks; big massive boulders as big as Daddy or bigger! Tekla's fine tuned motor planning did her well.

Battle at Manassas...

Battle of the wills...or...Run of the Bulls...or...Just a Long Day
Whatever title suits you.



We spent our family day at the farmers market and Manassas museum. Regardless of any hardheadedness on any ones part, we had a good day.

Daddy: "I saw a butterfly statue."
"Jael hid behind a bush so well we couldn't find her. She did a good job coming out when she was asked too."




Mommy set me in the grass and it tickled My feet.




Cannons. They had holes in them and were pointing dat way! (with infliction and gestures that simply cannot translate into typed words)
We saw a park too. I did not slide down.
I saw a candle maker (form to pour wax into)
I ate yummy cheese with sticks in the bottom (farmers market samples)




I was hiding [at the park] when daddy came. I was in the tunnel that was all red inside.
I got to draw a fly, it was black with wings, and a bee.
I got a book mark because I didn't touch. It was my surprise. (from the museum curator)
We saw cards (playing cards from civil war era)
There were some jars on the counter with money in them.
We got corn (on the cob to cook)
We got to go to Red Robin twice (1st one was not open to public yet)




The End

Sweets for my sweets

We went to Hershey this weekend and explored Chocolate World. Someday when the girls are bigger we'll take them back to the Park and museum but seeing all that candy was enough to thrill them this time.
Mmmmmmmm!











Chocolate!













Will work for candy











Where is mine?

"...Like a giant wall!"

On our regular outing with Daddy, Saturday, we went to Fort Washington Park. We walked along the waters edge to the lighthouse then up to the fort to have a look around.
Highlights
Jael:
We saw cannons...
got on a cannon and took a picture...
we saw ocean (actually the bay)...
it [the fort] was really huge, like a giant wall.
Tekla:
We see a house (Officers quarters)...
and some wheels (Daddy showed the girls how they used the wheels and track to aim the cannon)...
saw a wall (outer wall of the fort)...
a biggerest boat (a tour cruse that came close to the fort)...

Saoirse (in accordance to Daddy):
I saw an osprey.

Adressing Gettysburg

While Mommy had a meeting, Daddy decided to take girls around Gettysburg National Military Park. When it was all said and done, these were the girls highlights:
Jael: "We have seen guns, battlefield guns" (miming the action of cocking and shooting)
"Saw two hands and a face of a man made out of stone" (cast of Abe Lincoln)
"Saw jackets that had buttons and a jacket that had the buttons fall off because it was really too old."
"We walked in the leaves"(Along a wall near McMillan Woods)
"We talked" (about not throwing/kicking sticks)
"We got to sit on a cannon"(Reynolds Avenue)
"We got to run up a hill"
"I skipped like a Ballerina"
"We climbed a mountain" (Big Round Top)
"We Switched roads" (Jael went the direct route while Tekla, Daddy, and Saoirse took the paved switchback path)
"I (Jael) tried to kick a little tree down"
"We saw a stone wall (solders defense,the girls went up and looked over it like soldiers would have)

Tekla: "Actually saw the battlefield"
"We saw a hand" (prosthetic arm)
"We ran in the grass"
"knocked flowers off a monument" (then had a talk about respect)