Summer Activities - June

The month of June was full of activities for the kids:

Irina was in Discovery Ballet Camp, she got to spend a week taking a four hour Ballet Camp that included learning Ballet steps, learning a short dance and doing some art work related to the dance they were doing. She had so much fun.

Wesley spent two weeks  in Discovery Theater through Parks and Rec. he was able to learn all about acting on a stage and take part in a drama put on at the Storybook land Castle theater.  He was a one of the enchanted vines that covered Sleeping Beauties castle in the Play "Mother Goose Gets Eaten By Werewolves."

Lucy was very disappointed to not be able to be a "La, La." with Irina but she enjoyed watching both of their performances and spending some alone time just with mommy.  She got evaluated by the birth to three program and was given flying colors on all of her development.  I was just a little worried that her speech wasn't progressing as fast as I would like.  If I had waited two more weeks I probably would have not even had her seen because she has started to talk up a storm!  Lucy loves going to Storybook Land - train rides, parks and pools!  Watery! Watery!

Fort Sisseton Historical Festival

There are times during parenting when you realize you have moved into another "era" in the journey of parenting.  We past another one of those mile marker in our parenting by letting our children bring friends to Fort Sisseton Historical Festival.

The Kids had a lot of fun!  Here are are just a small sampling of the photos we took that day -

Just Arriving

Learning about different Musical instruments of the past.

Trying on some of the clothing worn long ago.  

Learning to crack a whip.

Learning how to lasso some cattle!

ARTistic Pursuits: Lesson 3

Lessons don't always go as we would like.

This lesson didn't go as well for us.  The kids were to go out and draw what they see in nature.  We talked about what was outside and what they could see outside.  But the day ended up being windy and so when they went outside to do the drawing part of the lesson the paper kept whipping up on them.  Wesley tried to draw a tree and he didn't like how it looked and got frustrated.  I made the mistake of suggesting how he could fix it.  I should have said nothing and told him it looked fantastic - because it was a drawing of how he sees a tree not how I see one.  It is a big lesson to me that as a parent we forget that it takes time to learn to see things for yourself.  I don't want my children to see the world through my eyes.  I want them to see it through their own.  Art is one of the ways a child can express how they see the world.   I forgot to take photos of this lesson since they weren't excited about it I let it drop.  There is part of me that would like to have them do it again but I think we will skip it and go on to lesson 4.    Sorry no photos for this one.

Butterfly Garden: Caterpillars Fast Forward

FLYING FREE!

The butterfly garden was a great hit.   The caterpillars went into their chrysalises and then emerged as beautiful Painted Lady Butterflies.   The kids had so much fun growing them.  We enjoyed them for about three days and then let them go.  I highly recommend it as a great family experiment!  We are still reading through the butterfly book:  The Life Cycles of Butterflies: From Egg to Maturity, a Visual Guide to 23 Common Garden Butterflies

photo: above - They keep getting bigger

          below -  They shed their last skin for their crystallize

The Painted Lady Butterflies started to emerged while we were in Mound, MN visiting my parents but the kids loved coming home to the butterflies!

They loved oranges!

Lucy loved the butterflies - she will flap her arms to show what butterflies do.  "FLY!"

If you love them let them go!  It was quite thrilling to see them fly free!

Try your own Butterfly garden!

Insect Lore Live Butterfly Garden

Memorial Day weekend - VISITING FAMILY

Before the summer activities began we decided to go visit family in MN.  Just me and the kids went.  The car ride went well with the four of us and we had a great time visiting my parents - Grandma and Grandpa, as well as visiting with both my brother and sister.

Wesley loved the new lake home that my sister's family has just moved into and Irina loved the walking trail for her scooter practice.

Wesley and Irina spent most of their time at my sister's house.  It was different for me to let them stay there for two nights and only have Lucy to put to bed.  I missed them.

Wesley loved the kayak and got pretty good at it, but not enough to let this momma let him take it further out too many boats out for the Holiday weekend.

I helped pull weeds out of the water and swam almost out to the dingy.  It reminded me how much I love to swim.

It was a good time with family and a great visit!