Kindergarten Field Trip

Merrill and I enjoyed a somewhat soggy and muddy field trip to a local nature center today with her class.  The kids had fun tromping through the mud and exploring different habitats.  We didn't see any animals, but the kids did find a collection of deer bones (that I suspect were 'planted' in the woods by the center's volunteers)

The mud at least made it easy to find animal tracks

Science

Wednesday night we celebrated the arts in the girls' school and today we got to celebrate the sciences.  The girls put together a project for our district's STEMfest (a.k.a. science fair) with one of Millie's friends and today was the actual 'fest'.  The girls all worked very hard on their project -- particularly putting it all together (four hours typing up the material for their poster and completing their lab book last Sunday; kindergarten and first graders do not write very fast ... typing is even slower :), but they hung in there and did it) in addition to setting the project up (which was a little more fun).  This was our first time doing a science project so we didn't really know what to expect -- we just followed the directions as best we could and tried to make it fun for the girls as well as a learning experience.  I think they enjoyed it.  They were very proud to show off their project to my parents this afternoon and even more proud to see that they earned blue ribbons for their hard work and that their project was chosen to go on to the St. Louis Science Fair in April.  We were very proud of them too and hope that they continue to enjoy all kinds of learning.

 The high school robotics team had a display right inside the door -- we had to drag Teddy away he loved it so much (though it wasn't long before we were back again).

 The girls did their project on growing rock crystals -- they manipulated the starter seeds to see if it mattered what kind of sugar they used

We also got to watch lots of cool chemistry experiments -- Teddy was too tired to be very impressed (that's what we get for letting him play outside instead of napping before going).

making bubbles with dry ice

Can't forget physics!  The kids also made rockets they launched with straws

I didn't let the girls eat the rock crystals we made, but promised them we could head to the Sugar Shack after the STEMfest and see if we could find some there.  They held me to that promise :). Luckily it was a beautiful day to walk around downtown and spend some time playing in the park.

We got to do some train watching too!

Night at the Museum

Our school's gym was transformed into a beautiful art museum tonight featuring art created by all of the students.  I loved the set up this year and the theme of creating art inspired by famous artists.  In addition, there were several grade-level and school-wide projects that were just awesome.  We are so grateful for the educational experience our kids are having -- such a great school and community to be a part of!

Merrill's inspirational artist was one of my favorites -- Georgia O'Keeffe

The first grade Unity Project -- each student designed a stick

I can't remember Millie's inspirational artist -- oops!

Millie was very thoughtful in the numbers she chose: our address. Scott's and my age, Merrill's age and one to grow on, Teddy's age and one to grow on, her age and the year she was born (minus a zero...)

A Chihuly!

Kindergarten's Unity Project

These quilts were awesome -- each student and some teachers too, created a square depicting something he/she uses 'grit' for and they were then all pieced together.  So beautiful!

Millie's square -- she needs grit for piano lessons.  We searched and searched for Merrill's square, but were not successful in finding it (she also drew a picture of piano lessons :) ) 

Merrill's BFF (and her little sister) -- these two have been great friends since day one, so nice to see

Our school is HUGE on 'grit' and ensuring that the students use it to do hard things.  This was a great celebration of what that grit can do.

Weekending

Annual Fun Fair at the elementary school

Teddy needs to work on his golf swing a bit... 

as well as his bowling form! 

Sledding Sunday morning

Crying at the suggestion he go sledding with Scott ... "NO, I want moooommmmmy!"  (we hear that a lot these days...)

Alright, kiddo, here we go!

happy to be at the top of the hill again

Millie vs. Scott in a race -- as you can see, Millie made it down to the bottom of the hill before Scott even left the starting mark...

Teddy cheered Scott on anyway

Millie vs. Merrill in a race -- a much closer finish!

headed home