It’s hot out there. We needed a diversion.
I think I fell a little in love with this turtle named Twister at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center. He and I sat and watched each other for a while, and then I watched the vet give him a round of antibiotics, getting him on the road back to the ocean.
And then there were baby turtles. Hello, cute.
This was one of our best field trips yet! We went to a local organization that teaches kids about space. For about an hour they talked about the physics of flight (in a very simple way), and then the kids got to make their own rockets and launch them into the air.
The day before the last space shuttle launch, this couldn’t have been more perfect timing.
This year our school decided to march in the Independence Day parade. No one else had time to take it on, so I agreed, but only if it was easy. Our school has been heavily involved with monarch butterflies, so I thought it would be fun if we marched as one large migration. I ordered some wings, rounded up some kids, and off we marched.
This silly little idea ended up winning us third place, and an absurdly large trophy. First place went to good friends with papier-mache chicken puppet, which were brilliant.
But, you know, anything with chickens is pretty brilliant.
We were lucky enough to schedule triple haircuts at the salon where I get my hair cut. In one quick hour, all our children looked fresh again.
I had to giggle, as we were the only ones in the salon, and it looked like they were all getting prepped for some sort of television show.
I should note that Ellery adored the whole experience, and I predict will be a girl who will adore spa days. She just couldn’t stop smiling.
(Some photos taken by my amazing husband.)
This week took us to a neighboring town where they have maintained one of the few remaining canal boats. The town is a a step back in time, preserving many historic traditions.
Our group got a demonstration of how they used to make rope, and then met the horses who pull the canal boats. After lunch, and a whole lot of romping in the park, we got to ride the canal boat.
I’m loving this summer series, taking these kids to places they’ve never been, making their world view just a little bit wider.
The summer curriculum has moved on to the days of the pioneers. This was a perfect time to head out to a historical park I’d heard about, but never visited. A huge facility, they offered basket making, candle dipping, and countless demonstrations.
Shep lost a tooth while we were there, because he can’t seem to lose teeth at home.
Neko and Ellery bought period outfits to wear that day (Shep declined), and wore them until bedtime. Back in the thick of my own Little House phase, my mother made us matching Laura, Mary, and Carrie dresses. (There are pictures of us somewhere in a Japanese tourist album with my father in downtown Philadelphia. He was sporting a long beard and his suit that day, and I think they thought we were Amish.)
I want to start whistling the theme to Little House on the Prairie when I look at that last photo.
I agreed to man the kids’ booth at the Farmer’s Market today. I created a scavenger hunt for the kids to do around the market—so very fun to see them scurrying about with their clipboards, intent on finding the next thing.
I also let kids roll their own oats from oat groats. I confess, I didn’t know what a groat was until my thirties. I hope we can raise a generation of children who are a bit more aware of where their food comes from. The kids got to take home their oats, and I suspect there were a whole lot of cookies baked this afternoon.
Off to the Other Big City for a trip to the art museum. I always try to schedule at least one art museum for each summer field trip series. There’s something awe-inspiring about those big columns and works of art that are older than our country.
After our tour, we went to the children’s area, where the children could explore art in a bit more hands-on way.
