Friday, February 10, 2012

Fun Features


Ava made up the title for the blog this time. I like it! So...featuring some fun stuff we've been up to:

It's been an odd Minnesota winter this year with hardly any snow or below zero temperatures...not that I'm complaining. The kids, however, haven't wanted to be outside at all. I mean, why go out in the cold when there's no snow to play in? We managed one day to get out and ice skate and brought the sleds to a hill. Also, we spent the weekend up at their Great Grandpa's place for his Birthday, which had just enough snow to cover the hill in his yard so they enjoyed snowboarding and sledding then. Grandpa also wanted to have a little winter bonfire outside with the family. It was nice to have the family together after the recent loss of Grandma. It was strange not to have her there in the kitchen baking cookies with us. The whole family was wonderful and supportive of everyone and the kids had a blast roasting marshmallows and veggie dogs and snowboarding. They also got in some games with all the fun aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents available for the weekend! We all played a big group game of Headbands with the kids. Amora helped by walking around telling people what their picture was before they could guess it! What a great weekend and one the kids will surely remember.


Great Grandpa playing Headbands

Grandpa Dave's turn!

Noah watching his Great Grandpa learn to bake cookies!





Because of the lack-of-fun-snow, we've been doing a lot of inside activities. Amora has mastered the computer mouse now and can play more games and puzzles. She can click and drag items, 'X' out pages, and even go to the controls and adjust the volume! She can also screw stuff up on the computer very well now.
Noah has been learning numbers and letters quite quickly now. One funny little way he does this is every night as he lays in bed and he stares at our alarm clock. Every time the minute changes he gets all excited and shouts out the four numbers, (plus the "dot dot"). Hey, whatever works. He's learning more about clocks, minutes, and hours at the same time too! I love how kids so eagerly take to learning this stuff.

We made a visit to the Science Museum as well, along with my parents. We ate first and then went to the Omnitheater, which may not have been done in the best order. Amora fell asleep during the giant and dizzying (but cool!) Amazon movie, then shortly after it was over she threw up. Oh, but don't fret for the janitorial staff, she was tucked into a sling I was wearing so I caught the massive amount of puked oatmeal (breakfast) and Subway sandwich (lunch) right down the inside of my shirt. Lucky for you all, in my disgust, I didn't even think to snap a picture (I know!).  I usually have a change of clothes for the kids, but not for me so it was off to the gift shop for some expensive T-shirts.
But things went smoothly thereafter...

Getting some cheek cells for the microscope!



Noah and Amora learning all about bees.



In the past week we had our Valentine's Day party with our homeschool group and Ava finished her paper mache project in her art class!
Making their Valentine boxes

Delivering Valentines to friends.

Amora excited about all her Valentines!
Ava's paper mache cat she made.

Noah also got to take a class for the first time, along with Ava. They went to a "Mini-Astronaut" class where they tried astronaut food, made space pictures and magnets and a little toy plane. They both loved it and Noah was so excited! Throughout the class I could hear him talking so loud and enthusiastically about Saturn's rings and the space stickers they were using. At the end he gave the teacher a big hug! Looks like I'll be signing them up for more!

We also attended a "Hands To Service" event where the kids got to make things for community causes. They made hamster and cat/dog toys for the local animal shelter, decorated bags for Meals On Wheels, painted window ornaments for children's hospital rooms, made valentine cards for senior home residents, and more! Then they got to stamp off each station on their "passports." They were such busy little people for a couple hours. It was tough to get them to leave!