Percussion Concert

For the past few years, I've taken the kids to "kinderkonzerts" put on by our local symphony orchestra in the area public schools. We pay a small entrance fee and get to see four concerts per year--one for each instrument family (brass, woodwinds, strings, percussion). The last concert of the year is always the percussion, which is a particular joy for my kids who happen to like striking things which then make a noise.

Speaking only of instruments, of course.

We generally see a few of our friends at each concert, and the kids also enjoy being inside a Real School full of Kids Their Age and Other Magical Wonders such as Hallways and Cafeterias. It's the small things, you see.

I'm pretty thankful that the education department of city's symphony is top-notch and yet so friendly and accessible to the kids. Win all around.

 

Imagination Station

After four years of being in our city, we've not yet tried every park. Pa knew that there was an Imagination Station in the area, one very similar to the Imagination Station the boys played on "back home."

We headed there one day when the sun came out, as that in itself is a reason to celebrate. We even picked up pizza on the way home because we were so charged up with Vitamin D we couldn't stop ourselves! Crazy!

That was of course after I had sat on Pa's glasses right there in the park. You see, we've reached the glorious stage where we can say "SHOO KIDS, DON'T BOTHER ME" and for the most part, they play happily at the park without interference. YES, AMEN AND HALLELUJAH, THERE IS A GOD. So anyway, that meant that Pa and I got to sit on a blanket and apparently I'd had too much Sun to drink as I soon, and accidentally, sat down on his very expensive and specialized glasses. Uh-huh. That's what I did, and then felt sick to my stomach, and nearly cried, which is saying something right there. 

To answer your question about the glasses, Pa plans to just use an old pair until we've saved up the money nerve to replace them. Yes, I damaged them that badly by sitting on them, I know, the jokes just write themselves.

So the playground was fun and we had a great view of planes flying in and out of the airport. Correction, the kids and I had a good view of the planes, and Pa did not. That's kind of the down side to a pair of broken glasses.

We Came, We Saw, We Arbored

We recently celebrated Arbor Week--did you? Mmm-hmm, that's what I thought. Guess we care a little bit more about trees than you do.

Our local arboretum ("arbor" for "tree" and "etum" for "chow down") had a guided walk one day so we decided to learn about magnolia trees. Well, we decided to learn all about magnolia trees for about 15 minutes and then conveniently disappeared into the arboretum, forging a trail at a more kid-friendly speed, meaning, anything but standing still.

The sun had come out that day, thus giving my kids an opportunity to see the color "blue" in the sky. You know, "something other than gray."

It was also a clear day, which around here is as exciting as seeing a double rainbow. From up high we could see Mount St. Helens, which is always a treat. I may or may not have shouted "THE MOUNTAIN IS OUT!!!" at an inappropriate volume, I don't know, ask the kids, but sometimes I can't contain all the excitement.

If you wonder why the magnolia trees aren't pictured, it's because they hadn't quite bloomed in time for the official Guided Tour. Shame on you trees. Get your schedule lined up for the sake of all that is good and timely. The trails were lovely this time of year, I will admit, and we had ourselves a nice hour or so amongst the trees.

On The Butte, Where The Sun Does Shine

The thing I love about my city is that there are several places within the city that feel nothing like a city at all. Powell Butte is an extinct volcanic cinder cone (What's that? I don't know I just read it off of Wikipedia.) within the city, and has been lined with trails for the mamas with spring fever to hike. Or other people too, I suppose. It's great exercise and a nice wide open place for the kids to run. Run, kids, run!

We met up with another family at the park, and hiked for nearly two hours. We caught the sun while it was out, thanks to the hourly play-by-play from www.weather.com. The kids had a great time simply being kids.

Campers played with our GPS about half the time, figuring out latitude and longitude, and for a while there, I seriously thought we'd need that contraption to get us back to the van. Let's just say the adults got to talking and walking and not paying too much attention to where we were going. Ahem.

Ziggy had a buddy along, a nice mild-mannered little boy, and they talked of many things, all boyish in nature and quite delightful as always.

And the Suz hung out with me, except when she ran away from me, those several times, and we had fun braving the muddy spots together. "Fun" being a code word for "not so much fun."

On a clear day, you can see several mountains from the top of the butte. Unfortunately, our day was sunny, but it was not clear. Can't have it all, I suppose.

Enjoy--Powell Butte.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Susie's First People

I love the day when my kids start to draw their first "people." Suz has finally reached that milestone, and she's taken that opportunity to emphasize the eyebrows. 

In order from left to right: Mom, Suz, Campers, Ziggy, Pa.

Couldn't you tell?

The two dots under her eyes (on the drawing) are her nostrils. According to her, every person has "two noses," or what we might call, "nostrils." I am also fond on the antenna-like bodies.

What Happens When You Have Three Kids

Kids: "Mom! May we have some quarters to run these machines?"

Me: "The machines run on imagination."

I never said these kinds of things to the firstborn. And I've sworn him to secrecy.

The Botanicals Are Calling

I intentionally plan our school year so that the bulk of our work is in the long, rainy winter. That way, on any given day when the sun comes out, we can pack up the van and GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. I keep a running list of places to go, and we just work our way through as spring marches on.

On this particular outing, Campers took over the map and led us all over this trail and that. And Ziggy followed faithfully behind checking out spores on the ferns, looking for slugs, and collecting things to love. And the Suz? She just ran around and around and ran into and in front of the whole parade. 

I've started calling the kids "Lewis," "Clark," and "Sacagawea" because goodness knows our Geek Level could use a boost.

Enjoy the pics.

 

 

Perpetual Motion

Me: "Will you stand still so I can take a picture?"

Apparently not.

The Green, Green Grass Of Home

Great thing about the Pacific Northwest is that our yard remains green during the bulk of the year. It's only in the late summer that it dies for a bit, but it soon revives itself with the rain in the fall.

Seems like that little bit of sun we had last week shot the grass up three inches. The Pa came straight home from work and grabbed the mower for the first time this year:

And the Suz was more than happy to watch him work from the comfort of the kitchen nook window:

As the old Disney song says, Whistle While You Watch Someone Else Do The Work.

Don't Be Afraid, It's Just The Sun

March had 29 days of rain, a new record for our city. In case you forgot, March has a total of 31 days. So, there's that.

The sun came out last Friday, for a good part of the day actually! So I closed up school by noon and shooed the kids outside for the bulk of the day. I would have taken a pic of the Suz but she was sent to the house after hitting her brother with a bat. As sisters are prone to do, you know.