Explora Children's Science Museum

A week after we went to the Museum of Natural History, we went across the street to Explora. It is another fun place to take kids. The kids had fun playing with water, air, and bubbles. Of course the giant elevator that looks like a living room was a must and the playground was fun too. They also have a room with blocks, balls, and things to climb that Tessa thought was worth the trip, even if she did have to wait on lunch and miss both of her naps.



This video shows Sophia trying out the vehicle that she built. The fan blew it and it actually moved! You can hear Tessa complaining a bit, she had already missed her first nap and was not going to miss lunch too! Sophia would be happy snacking all day, no matter what Mommy wants. However, Tessa thinks that snacks are not sufficient!

Future paleontologist

One of Sophia's many aspirations is to be a paleontologist. I suppose the prehistoric preschool classes and the dinosaur birthday party may have given it away...hmm. Her newest plan is to be a helicopter pilot so she can fly to where she will search for dinosaur fossils, then she will change into dance clothes, and fly her helicopter to wherever she will be dancing that day. I'm sure she will be quite busy!

For now, we went to the Museum of Natural History on Friday with our good friends Patrick and his mother, Tiffany. Sophia was able to see the Dinosaurs Alive! movie for the first time. It was pretty good, but you are sitting very close to an enormous screen and it is so loud! Sophia, usually the one that can't stand any loud noise, was mesmerized and not at all frightened. However, I thought Tessa was going to crawl on top of my head a few times. A few times one of the dinosaurs roared and she buried her head in my chest, sucking on her little thumb ferociously. But she enjoyed it also, waved at the screen occassionally, and even danced when they played some music.

In the picture with the dinosaur eggs, Sophia is pretending to be a mommy triceratops protecting her babies from the carnivore attempting to eat them. I had to remind her that it was really her friend Patrick, because she looked like she might actually try to knock him over with one of her imaginary horns. Her imagination is a little too vivid!

Bee happy!

The base library organized a field trip to a local bee farm and we were the first ones to sign up! Literally we were the only ones on the list for awhile and I wondered if anyone else would be there. But we couldn't wait to see the bees!

Well, we're still waiting. The beekeeper told me that he no longer allows kids to see the bees beecause loud noises upset the little buggers and kids cannot bee quiet! So, he does not want to bee liable for any stinging situations.

We did see the hives and heard a long talk about anything you could ever want to know about bees. I learned that raw honey, bee pollen, and propolis all have healing effects and can be very good for your health. They can positively affect your cholesterol, immune system, energy level, and seasonal allergies. I bought a book about it so soon I will be pushing bee goods on everyone I know!

Then, we were able to sample several kinds of honey on corn chips (yum) with some cold lemonade as it is hot around here! So, we did have a good time and bought some honey and fresh squash to bring home. Just no bees!

It was very interesting and Sophia's newest favorite game involves her beeing (I'm so clever!) the Queen Bee and I am the worker and I have to do everything for her(Why is this different than normal? I'm not sure yet!). Tessa is the drone and does nothing (not a difficult role for her to fulfill). Check out Tessa's bee outfit in the pictures...I thought she would blend in well, but she was the only bee we saw all day!

Happy Father's Day

For Father's Day, Chuck and Sophia headed to the golf course with neighbors/friends Mr. Dave and Ethan. They say the kids had fun playing golf, but from the pictures I think the ring pops look like the best part! Anyway, they all enjoyed themselves for a few holes at least. Then Chuck and Sophia came back to get Tessa and I to go out to lunch and for a quick trip to Costco. I wanted a cute picture of the girls in their "Daddy" shirts, but both shirts are covered up in the best picture I took! Sophia's says "Dad's Hula Girl" and Tessa's says "I love Daddy." Oh well...they still looked cute!

Party Girls!

Last weekend was party, party, party! Friday night our neighbor had a princess slumber party for the girls, Saturday morning the library had a storyteller and a little bug themed party, Saturday afternoon some friends had a Graduation party, then Saturday night our neighbors had a birthday party! We had a fun filled weekend.

Sophia loved the princess party. She has been asking for a slumber party and even though we didn't sleep there, it was a lot of fun getting into pajamas, watching movies, and eating pizza and ice cream. She felt sorry for her Daddy and the other boys that weren't allowed because it was only for girls, so she thought we should have another party for her Daddy to invite all his friends and coworkers and it could be a superhero party, because that is what boys like!

It wasn't all fun, though. Sophia ate a chocolate pudding with cookies in it (cup of mud) at the bug party and then Chuck drove like the wind to bring us to the next party which was almost an hour away. Two minutes away from their house, Sophia threw up all over her pretty party dress! What a mess! Thank you Tiffany for helping us to clean up and thank you Patrick for letting her borrow your clothes! I thought we should just go straight back home, but none of us felt like getting right back in the car, and the party looked like so much fun...so we stayed for a little while and Sophia was completely fine! She was running and playing and never felt better.

That night at Ethan and Christian's birthday party, she got to try out Ethan's birthday present, a kid sized jeep! Watch out world...here she comes!

Slideshow from the party

Make a Smilebox photobook