Musings From Natalie #45

Natalie: "Aww...do I have to go to school?"
Me: "Yes.  Besides it's only for three hours. What are you going to do next school year when you have to go all day?"
Natalie: "Try to get a cold."


Me: "Go clean up the mess you made in your room."
Natalie: "Ok, but it is not a mess.  It is called looking for something."

May the Fourth Be With You 2013

You aren't truly a Star Wars fan if you don't celebrate all things from a galaxy far, far away on May 4th.  At our house, I usually observe the day by making a batch of Darth Vader cupcakes.  But this year, our local library put on a fantastic "May the Fourth Be With You" party for us.  Laura Polak, Youth Services Specialist at Oak Bend Library is truly gifted at creating fun ways for kids to extend their learning and just have fun.  My kids and I have had the privilege to take part in many of her programs, but I have to say, she really outdid herself this time.  She began by warming up the crowd with a few quick rounds of Star Wars trivia and encouraged kids to shout out the answers.  Interestingly enough, many of the answers came from Dads who couldn't help but participate. Per usual, Laura was more than prepared to keep a roomful of precocious Padawans occupied.  She set up half a dozen or more activity stations including; creating light sabers, Leia buns and Yoda ears and making Yoda origami finger puppets.  For those in need of more physical activity she offered Empire Strikes Back bowling and a game of Destroy the Death Star in which eager players used Nerf guns to hit a small opening in a cardboard replica of Darth Vader's battle station.

And, the best part...it was all FREE.  Summer is only a few weeks away.  If you are looking for fun, educational and FREE ways to keep your kiddos from climbing the walls, be sure to check out the numerous activities, shows and special events happening at your own area library.  

Connor and Noah cut out hilts for their lightsabers.

Natalie and Ava add sequins to their Leia buns

Padawan Partners

It's always a good day for a lightsaber duel.

Having fun making Yoda origami finger puppets

Strike a pose

                                 

Mostly it was all about the light sabers.

Wild About the Outdoors

Recently Steve and I took the kids to the Wildlife Rescue Center (WRC), a not-for-profit professional rehabilitation center located near Castlewood Park in Ballwin, Missouri. Noah and Natalie are both members of their Junior Wildlife Program (JWP).  Each month their group, made up of kids ages 6-12, meet to learn about native Missouri wildlife and participate in projects that support the WRC's mission to rehabilitate and care for orphaned or injured animals.  But, this month, their education coordinator, Casey Philips, decided to have them do something different.

In the past they have worked on educational projects like creating play animal habitats out of shoe boxes and materials from the outdoors.  Or, they've been involved in service projects like painting old shower liners in camouflage patterns to keep their skittish patients like turkey, from coming unglued every time a caregiver opens the door to their pen.

Natalie hard at work.

Noah making his mark on the camo curtain.

This time the assignment was simple: Get outside and play!  It seems in our age of electronics and gadgets that kids have forgotten or in some cases have never been shown how to enjoy the outdoors.

The free-form event began at 12:30 and ran til 4:30.  We arrived on the WRC grounds after lunch and the kids were more than ready to dive into the many stations Casey had set up for them.  One area consisted of a large pile of smooth stones for a stripped down version of Jacks..um, Rocks.  I was surprised how quickly Noah jumped in to give it a try.  Other activities included creating nature collages and using bits of vines and sticks to make mini-rafts that we set sail down the slow-moving creek nearby. Steve, of course, was in his element and Natalie soon became his shadow. While Noah and I took a cheeseball snack break, Steve and Natalie disappeared down to the other end of the property.  When they returned, Natalie rushed up to me carrying her "prized" find -- a portion of a deer jawbone.  You'd think she had won the lottery.

If you live in St. Louis and are interested in having your kids join JWP, click here.  Additionally, they offer wonderful, educational programs for school and scouting troops and birthday parties. Click here for more information.

Steve teaches the kids the finer points of skipping rocks.

Watch out!  Falling rocks!
Casey and Noah enjoy a game together.

"Maybe I can make a fire," he says.

Musings From Natalie #44

While exploring in the woods, Natalie and Steve found a deer jawbone...
"Hey! Some of the teeth are kinda wiggly.  I'm gonna put them under my pillow for the tooth fairy and make lots of money!"

Natalie: "Look!  I found a blue egg on the ground!"
Me: "You should take it into school.  I bet the kids would love it."
Natalie: "Nah, Ian brought in an egg to school before.  The kids will not be amazed by my shell.  I mean, not like if I came to school with 10 elephants in my backpack."

Deep Thoughts From Noah #31

Noah: "Mom, can Natalie and I play on the Wii?"
Me: "Sure, but the moment you two start arguing, it goes off."
Noah: "Ok."
(Five minutes into playing I hear a swabble between the two of them)
Me: "Are you guys arguing?"
Noah: "No. We're not...we're just pretending."

Deep Thoughts From Noah #30

With only 27 days til his 10th birthday...

Me: "I can't believe it's almost your birthday."
Noah:  "Yeah, I wonder what I'll look like when I'm 10."
Me: "How do you think you'll look?"
Noah: "I'll look like a smashing guy!"
Me: "Yes, you'll be handsome."
Noah: "Huh?"
Me: "Smashing has two meanings -- handsome or to crush something."
Noah: "We'll, I meant the other thing."
(Hmmm....I can only hope he'll use his super hero crushing abilities for good.)

Deep Thoughts From Noah #29

While riding in the car, Noah pointed out that the women next to us was smoking a cigarette.
Noah: "Mom, why is she doing that?"
Me: "Because cigarettes are addictive.  It's a drug."
Noah: "Well, when I grow up I'm not going to smoke because I don't even like fire in my mouth."