NRH2O-Yeah! July 31, 2008

THE HEAT ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT SATURDAY.

AFTERNOON HEAT INDICES OF 105 TO 110 AND MORNING LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 70S TO NEAR 80 ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH FRIDAY ACROSS THE DFW METROPLEX…PROMPTING A HEAT ADVISORY.

A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT AFTERNOON HEAT INDEX VALUES ARE EXPECTED TO MEET OR EXCEED 105 DEGREES WHILE OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURES WILL NOT FALL BELOW THE UPPER 70S. PERSONS INVOLVED IN VIGOROUS OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ARE URGED TO TAKE FREQUENT BREAKS AND DRINK PLENTY OF WATER. WEAR LOOSE FITTING AND LIGHT-COLORED CLOTHING. BE SURE TO CHECK ON PERSONS WITH HEALTH PROBLEMS AND THE ELDERLY…AS THEY ARE THE MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEAT EXHAUSTION AND HEAT STROKE. NEVER LEAVE YOUNG CHILDREN OR PETS IN AN ENCLOSED VEHICLE…EVEN FOR A SHORT TIME…AS TEMPERATURES CAN QUICKLY RISE TO LIFE THREATENING LEVELS.

So we decided to scarf Daddy up from work and go to the waterpark!

Brilliant! So much fun…

The heat won’t keep us down!

We’ll take the heat any day- all the way to the… waterpark.

Friend Map July 31, 2008

There are always questions about how long it takes/how far it is to different places. How far does Declan live? How long will it take to get to Ethan and Ehlayna’s house? It doesn’t take long to get to Anna and Gretchen’s! Etc. Generally we use the navigation system so everything is in terms of minutes which is then translated into how many of a particular TV show that would ‘take’ to get to our destination. However, when going to Arlington the other day, I actually had to use a map (what’s that? and the kids were very intrigued. We decided to use said map to depict where our friends live in relation to us. Here is the product:

Rain Dance! July 31, 2008

Chris came home from basketball last night and alerted us that we must all come to the driveway immediately. Check this out- a full rainbow! I was tempted to look for the pot o’ gold…

I had to splice the two sides together- it was so huge it wouldn’t fit in one frame!

They splashed so much….

…that their boots needed to be emptied (and their jammies changed)!

Yay for summer rain in Texas!

Humans Being #3- Free-Range Children July 30, 2008

What you’ll find in this episode:

Free-Range Children- Unschooling Food

Children regulating their own caloric intake by choosing when and what to eat.

What about the family meal?

Setting the stage for unschooling food.

Click here for a direct link to the show.

Are you ready for a complete shift in life philosophy? To respect your children as the people they are rather than concerning yourself with what they will become? Do you mean it when you say that you will be happy as long as your children are happy- no matter what? These only sound cliche if you aren’t able to recognize that children are capable of directing their own lives. As unschoolers and gentle parents we understand and live this. Humans Being will discuss facets of unschooling and gentle parenting as well as how they relate and work in our family and others. We’ll talk about a variety of unschooling philosophies, literature, and media as well as hearing from unschoolers all over the world who will share their experiences.

River Legacy Living Science Center July 30, 2008

We had to head down to Arlington for an errand and decided to check out something cool in the area while there. Here we are at the River Legacy Living Science Center.

This hefty guy welcomed us to the premises.

The kids were hooked right off the bat. They really make the most of the space there and the aquariums and terrariums are beautifully housed.

Elijah measures his horizontal leap (3′) and compares it with that of the bobcat (15′).

This was the coolest way I’ve seen of explaining plant function. Each button (labelled CO2, H2O, Radiant energy, chloroplasts, food, and O2) when pressed lights up a specific path and explains/depicts how CO2, H2O and the sun’s radiant energy are used by the tree to make its food as O2 is secreted as waste.

Sadie and Elijah peer down into a landfill to examine the layers with these reverse periscopes that turn and go up and down.

Elijah checks out the rivers in Texas as they light up on the map and makes the connection that rivers are traveling bodies of water that empty into the ocean.

There was more inside but Sadie was anxious to explore some of the trails behind the center. Noon in Texas in July… We were thankful for the shade of the trees! We found some animal tracks in this dry creek bed.

Eagle-eye Elijah spotted this guy sitting on a log. Do you see him? We chatted with him for a few minutes. He turned his head to check us out but, no matter how close we got, he never flinched to move. We finally said, ‘good-bye.’

Back inside! Examining bobcat fur, scat, and nails then reading a book about the characteristics and habits of bobcats. Did you know that bobcats are native to most of North America (excluding Canada) but are becoming fewer and fewer due to decreasing habitat space and hunting?

The kids quiz me on whose tracks each of these are by giving me hints as to the animal’s appearance (pictured on the back of the card) and characteristics. This was so fun and their hints were awesome.

An Average Day…with a Camera July 30, 2008

I blog a lot of outings and such but sometimes it’s nice to see what a ‘regular’ day around here looks like. Now that I think of it, there are no ‘regular’ days. So I guess this is a view of some of the things we sometimes do when we occasionally stay home

We do projects! The dress-up clothes organization upstairs has consisted of a giant bin that inevitably ends up getting dumped on the floor so that the desired costume can be retrieved from the bottom. Sadie, Elijah, and I came up with a new system and started working.

While we were painting, we decided to put the base coat on our bean bag game.

Then I got towed around the driveway on a wiggle car by Elijah in a train. FUN! But too tiring for Elijah so I only got a couple of laps.

Sadie got an e-mail from her friend Rachel containing a website on which one can choreograph ballet performances for Princess Genevieve (of 12 Dancing Princesses origin- which Uncle Scott happened to have in his DVD collection while we were in CA   Cat’s out of the bag, Scottie). Sadie was off and choreographing in no time mastering the click-drag-release with ease.

Hmmm- Mazda has some interesting marketing. We got a folder in the mail from them with punch-out cars and cut-out roads with signs and cones. The directions are to set up our own test course to help us choose the next car for us when our current lease is up. Though moving paper cars around a paper track on the coffee table has not helped us to figure out our next car in the least, Elijah and Sadie found it very amusing.

And heeeere’s what Sadie and I were painting in the first picture. Because I was too busy taking part in the process, here’s what didn’t get captured by the camera. Sadie and I measured out 6 ” on either side and 6″ between each of the hooks to determine the length of the board that we needed. Then I called Chris to figure out how to put the blade in the SkilSaw and assured him that I would not cut anyone’s fingers off. Cut. Paint purple. Wait for it to dry. Remark 6″ spaces for hooks. Elijah helps to screw in the hooks. I stand in the closet with it at the exact height and can’t bang the nails into the studs (or even through the hook board . Daddy gets home- Yay!  I holler “HELP!” at the top of my lungs and Chris secures the hook board to the wall. Tons of dress-up ensues.

Dallas World Aquarium and The West End July 30, 2008

What to do on a hot Texas summer day? We decided to hit Dallas.

The DWA has a whole section called Mundo Maya… “an eight-story, immersion exhibit that takes visitors from the waters of the Yucatan’s gulf coast to the highland rainforests. This great culture believed that nature did not need to be conquered or subdued. Many plants and animals were given important roles in their daily lives. The land of the ancient Maya included the countries of modern day Belize and Guatemala, the western parts of Honduras and El Salvador, and five Mexican states (Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Campeche and Chiapas).”

Chac Uayab Xoc

The Mayan fish god. He was regarded as the one who provided fish for the fisherman, but he also devoured drowned fisherman.

Whoa! That was close. The shark tunnel is so cool. They’re swimming all around us!

We were bewildered when 2 ornately clad native people walked by us blowing a bone horn. I thought we should follow them. Turns out we were about to witness native Mayan dancing! It was fabulous and beautiful.

Sadie poses with one of the performers. Yes, those are real macaws perched on his back.

Here’s a clip of the dance to celebrate fire and water.

Sadie takes a seat to ‘read’ the map. What have we missed that’s a must see?

The DWA has a ramp that gradually descends down through the various levels of the rainforest. It’s unlike any aquarium we’ve ever seen. The center of the rainforest is not caged. The birds and primates have a large area and are not separated (except by space) from the viewing ramp. Here Elijah sizes up one of the birds that has come to visit.

After the aquarium, we walked to the West End of Dallas for some Texas BBQ at Sonny Bryan’s Smokehouse – Mmmmmm. Sometimes you just need some BBQ.

Then we hit the candy store on the way back to the car. What a way to spend a hot day!

A Visit with the Kendalls! July 29, 2008

The Kendall Family came over for a BBQ, some swimming, and visiting! It was great fun for all. We really enjoy each other’s company- kids and adults alike. There was a raucous time in the pool with Elijah swimming floatie-free almost the whole time to keep up with fishie Nash (shown here on his Dad’s (Judd) back with Marley, Elijah, and Chris).

Pam and Saylor take a dip. Saylor finds noodles tasty- the styrofoam pool kind

After dinner, the kids retreated upstairs and Sadie loved having Marley all to herself. They closed the door and played happily (until Elijah and Nash invaded- hee, hee). All then decided to play dress-up and ended with some kind of a numbers game conducted by Marley on the easel. The adults talked music, concerts, movies, and camping. A thoroughly enjoyable time.

Happy Birthday Ethan! July 29, 2008

Here’s the birthday boy! Happy birthday to our friend Ethan who is now…. 5! We were very excited to attend a superhero birthday party!

Liam and Elijah admire the leopard geckos.

This is Jackie- isn’t she pretty?

Elijah plays tag with Ethan’s Mama. This is one of the reasons the kids are just as close with the adults as they are with the kids. We’re well-versed in Playful Parenting and always up for a game! I subbed in shortly thereafter and, it turns out, that when I’m “IT” I have to follow the exact path that he takes (under low-lying tree branches)- very sneaky.

Sadie decks out in the mask and cape that Ethan’s Mama made for all the kids. She was really getting into the superhero part. This is the best picture I got. I think her superpower might be speed…or invisibility

Ethan and Elijah sit down to work on a marble run.

Liam, Ethan, and Super Sadie blow bubbles on the patio.

Super Sadie takes out some bad guys (pictures of bad guys from Batman as far as I could tell with my limited superhero knowledge taped on sawhorses) with water balloons.

Elijah takes them on too. The bad guys didn’t stand a chance.

Kenzie, Elijah, Ethan, Declan, and Sadie pile up in the kiddie pool for some water fun!

Noisemakers and cake!

And what a cake it was. The kids got to pick whatever piece they wanted. Cutting was trickie but Ethan’s Mama made it happen. She pulled an all-nighter on this cake. You’re the MOM!

And to top off a great day, Elijah got his favorite- cherry tomatoes right off the plant in the garden. Mmmmm.

Happy Birthday Ethan! We love you!

Ballet at the Library July 29, 2008

Our local library hosts many wonderful programs several times each week throughout the summer. When we heard there would be a ballet school coming, Sadie knew she must be in attendance (and Elijah’s a good sport:).

After a few warm-up exercises (which thrilled Sadie as she was really hoping for some audience participation!), the ballet instructor read a book about a ballet-dancing goose called “HONK!” Very cute. That’s Sadie’s little blonde head right in front. Then 8 students from the ballet school did abbreviated pieces from the Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.

What?! MORE audience participation? Yay! Sadie loved every minute of this and she was shockingly right on with all of the directions she was hearing from the instructor (she couldn’t see the ballet dancers from where she was standing).

Sadie goes to chat with the ballet dancers after the performance was over. I have no idea what they were talking about.

Here’s a video segment of Sadie dancing at the end of the session. Unfortunately (forehead slap), I forgot that getting the long shot on her would not translate well into video. Instructions: 1) Turn head to the right 2) Click play button.