105 degrees heat index, husband busy at work, and what did I do today? I went to the zoo. See? That's why you have to give themes to your summer weeks, because it guilts you into doing wonderful things for your children that no sane person would do.
So I reminded the kids that I had no help from dad and they had to be good. They always take pity on me when I am by myself and act ike perfect angels. We rocked that zoo. And the animals were really workin' it today!
What we learned:
*Giraffes can lick inside their nostrils with their tongue.
*Bonobo babies are cute. The adult females Bonobos are even more awesome.
*Otters get out of the water to poop. And the smell of the poop is so bad it permeates the entire exhibit. Otters are also camera-hogs.
*Ants like elephant exhibits. So much so that you have to watch the elephants from the reptile house in order to avoid being bitten.
*The red-legged Sierna (or something like that) likes to lay right next to the walking path and look dead. Seriously, they don't curl up or lay down, they just look like they plopped down all funky-like. (I almost reported the injured and dying bird, until I saw a sign posted saying, "This bird isn't dead or injured, he just lays down like that.")
Okay, the kids slept on the way home and now they are up and full of energy . . . where's my nap?????
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Sew Super!
Last week was craft-o-rific!
My two eldest made these little American Girl crafts (40% off at Michaels a while back). Except for the beginning and ending knots, they sewed them all on their own. Pretty good for a 5 & 7 year old!
The eldest is so excited to try her hand at other sewing crafts. We are planning on making capes, scarves, and bandanas for some of her dolls.
(Confession time) I find sewing very, um, annoying. I'm fine until something goes wrong. In my world, taking apart a seam is like being one of those guys in old Western movies that has to take out a bullet lodged in his own arm. Yep, it's that torturous for me. I just can't bring myself to do it. I'd rather walk away a failure, arm swinging lifeless at my side, than have to redo something. But I do it. And just when I take out the last stitch, I realize, no, my first attempt was actually the correct way . . . . well, that's like when the old Western guys have to seal the wound by heating up their dagger over an open flame and then FZZZZZZZ, burn the wound close.
I don't sew much.
But, just because I am not naturally inclined towards the activity, doesn't mean it's not a great activity. I actually find it to be great for developing spatial awareness. Take a flat piece of fabric and visualize how you have to cut and sew it to make it into a skirt or shirt or whatever. Pretty amazing. So I am supporting my daughter's creativity! . . . . until she asks me to undo a seam. Then I'm hiding the sewing machine until at least next summer.
(P.S.--Daughter #3 got a Hook n' Latch kit. I thought that would be easier for her. After hours . . . . she had one row completed. I decided to help her at night. After 2 hours . . . I had 6 rows completed. What a terrible activity. Never . . . . a- . . . . -gain.)
Next week: Gracious God or Awesome Animals, hmmmmmmm, we'll see which strikes my fancy!
My two eldest made these little American Girl crafts (40% off at Michaels a while back). Except for the beginning and ending knots, they sewed them all on their own. Pretty good for a 5 & 7 year old!
The eldest is so excited to try her hand at other sewing crafts. We are planning on making capes, scarves, and bandanas for some of her dolls.
(Confession time) I find sewing very, um, annoying. I'm fine until something goes wrong. In my world, taking apart a seam is like being one of those guys in old Western movies that has to take out a bullet lodged in his own arm. Yep, it's that torturous for me. I just can't bring myself to do it. I'd rather walk away a failure, arm swinging lifeless at my side, than have to redo something. But I do it. And just when I take out the last stitch, I realize, no, my first attempt was actually the correct way . . . . well, that's like when the old Western guys have to seal the wound by heating up their dagger over an open flame and then FZZZZZZZ, burn the wound close.
I don't sew much.
But, just because I am not naturally inclined towards the activity, doesn't mean it's not a great activity. I actually find it to be great for developing spatial awareness. Take a flat piece of fabric and visualize how you have to cut and sew it to make it into a skirt or shirt or whatever. Pretty amazing. So I am supporting my daughter's creativity! . . . . until she asks me to undo a seam. Then I'm hiding the sewing machine until at least next summer.
(P.S.--Daughter #3 got a Hook n' Latch kit. I thought that would be easier for her. After hours . . . . she had one row completed. I decided to help her at night. After 2 hours . . . I had 6 rows completed. What a terrible activity. Never . . . . a- . . . . -gain.)
Next week: Gracious God or Awesome Animals, hmmmmmmm, we'll see which strikes my fancy!
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