A day at the science center

We visited the Kirby Science Center today and had a blast! I took SO many pictures; there is so much to do there!

This is from the space area. You can play in a giant space shuttle, navigate the little moon car, and learn about the solar system.


We spent lots of time in the water room. There's a great water table, giant lincoln logs, and a stairs/slide thing to help you learn about precipitation.
Erin had the most fun trying to catch water.

while Bryn and daddy spent lots of time damming up the water and then letting it all go at once, knocking all the toys everywhere.


I didn't take many pictures in the lights and sounds area - we were busy having fun! The giant piano was super cool!


Bryn was fascinated with the bugs and small critter stuff. Here she's looking at smooshed bug parts through a microscope. I couldn't believe that she wasn't icked out at all by the animal skeletons. I think I may have been icked out enough for the both of us.


Here we built a block rainbow...ok, John and I did. There was a tour of very important people passing through (I'd assume monetary gift givers or something) you stopped to laugh at us and ask who was having more fun. Hey, we need to get our eight bucks worth!


In this area we learned how having a pulley that goes back and forth more times makes it easier to lift weight. Also, that a lever with a longer handle makes it easier to pick up 70lbs.


This was new since we'd been there last. The whole room is about the affect wind, motion, incline has on an object. This wall has air blowing through the pipes and stuff. You can open and close doors and reroute the balls that fly through.


Erin's favorite part of that room was the wall of gears. She thought they were all pirate ship wheels and sat there spinning and "argh'ing"!


Last room was seeing what your body can do. Vertical jump, running, rock climbing, wheel chair racing, etc.




We were absolutely worn out after all that and the kids took a GREAT nap...totally worth eight bucks!

Bryn's newspaper debut!

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20090418/LIFE/904180320/1004/life

We finally have a name for her friend in the pink shirt - Kristy! She's wearing a pink shirt in the paper too Haha! Bryn told me; "she really has a lot of pink shirts, mama".

The first time her laughter unfurled its wings in the wind, we knew that the world would never be the same.

Happy Easter!

Bryn wasn't totally sure about this bunny sneaking into her house and hiding stuff idea. She hung out in the hallway for a few seconds before creeping out to see what he left. Erin, on the other hand, ran out and didn't even notice the goodies on the table.


Exactly how I thought it would happen; Bryn goes for the flashlight first and Erin for the "airpame".


Ooooh there's "cawklate" in there too!


Then they hunted for hidden eggs. Erin found one and then realized there were m&m's in there and didn't care at all to find any more.


The eggs led them to the basement where they found a jumping castle (yay for clearance!!)


You can run faster with your tongue out!


I don't know why I didn't take any of them actually IN the thing!
*Just pretend there is a picture of blur's in a castle with really static crazy hair right here*

All dressed up to go to Great Grandma's!

Afternoon at The Falls

Today we spent a while at the Falls just people watching, playing on the rocks, rolling down the hills. Perfect way to spend a warm afternoon!

Up REALLY high in the tower.


A man with a baby and a camera....does it get any better??


I don't like it; but there needs to be proof that I do live with these people!


Both girls loved climbing on the rocks - not the ones by the water though!

Easter is coming!

Our playgroup had an Easter egg hunt today at The Sunken Gardens. We had a great turn out and the kids had a ton of fun!







Patiently waiting for the Easter eggs to cool so we could dye them...


We shared a glass of chocolate milk to pass the time.


Finally!


So proud of the one I wrote her name on and made just for her


This one was her faaaaaavorite of the ones she made. Each time she pulled one out of the pink she'd let out a big "oooooooooooooooooooooh!"


We finally talked her into tasting a hard boiled egg. Not a fan of those, that's for sure!


She made these all by herself since I made one for her with her name on it. Such a sweet girl!


*Just because it's worth noting - Bryn got three spots of blue egg dye on her shirt. I put an oxi-clean paste on it right away, let it sit for about a half an hour, and then scrubbed it with a toothbrush and rinsed it. It all came out! That stuff is magical!

Spring Fever

We are SICK of being inside! Everyone is going crazy and the girls have been fighting like cats and dogs!!

Erin is interested in the potty...well interested in playing with it.


But no one else can touch it. She yells "go way!" and "can't hab it!" over and over and over until Bryn will leave it alone.


Then she throws herself onto the floor and screams so all the world can know how angry she is.


She's a fighter though! It isn't long before she goes back to win back her throne.
Here she resorted to just laying on it so she was touching more of it than Bryn was.


"peeeeeeeeeeease go way!"


"HA!"



Happy as a clam one minute...


A sobbing mess the next...


however, easily distracted by critters in the back yard...


and then happy as can be licking the cold window.


I guess that looked like a really great idea...


Bryn filled eggs for our hunt tomorrow with playgroup.
Notice Erin taking notice that there was candy up there.


Her plot was foiled again; here come the tears.


Got one! What a mischievous face!

Preschool

Bryn had her first day of preschool on Monday the 30th. She was SO excited but I don't know how many times she told me she was nervous that morning. However, we walked in and she saw the globe and she forgot all about how nervous she was. The kid is obsessed with globes!
Her preschool is just for a month and it's at one of the high schools as part of their Child Development class. They get paired up with a buddy that has to journal about their experiences with them. There was a flock of girls that hovered as we got Bryn's coat off and got situated. One got down and introduced herself to Bryn so I just assumed that was her assigned buddy. I guess they weren't assigned though, they must have picked that first day. I say that because I heard the flock behind me chatter louder and then one said jokingly "you better not pick that one, she's fixing to fight you after school for her". Then they erupted into giggles and one girl turned several shades of red. It was encouraging as a mother to know my kid wasn't the kid no one wanted to play with...even if it was a group of high school girls. Anyways, Bryn's buddy is "the girl in the pink shirt". She just can't remember her name and I guess she wears a lot of pink.

The first day was hat day; Bryn was just sure it needed to be a silly hat. I think she went through every big, silly hat in the toy box before she resigned to the Dora baseball hat from Great Grandma June. It took some reasoning though to make her understand that if the hat was so big you had to keep messing with it to keep it on that it was going to be pretty hard to learn and play.
And, of course, no outfit is complete without "tappy shoes". I'll pick my battles, matching isn't so important I guess.


Of course, Erin cannot be left out


When I picked her up Tuesday she was all wound up. They had done the balance beam, tunnel, played basket ball, and then...she spilled the beans.
"mommy, I'm not supposed to tell you sumpin - it's a surprise"
"oooh don't tell then; I like surprises!"
"yeah! I won't tell anybody that we painted pottery today! It's for Mother's Day! Then I'm gonna tell you 'Hap-py Mothers day!' and it'll be a great surprise right mommy!!"

I can only hope her secret keeping skills stay so refined through her teenage years.