Our air conditioner died yesterday. It was very miserable especially with outside temperatures at 100 degrees. I took the children out and we ran errands just so we could enjoy other people’s air conditioning. But that didn’t go well when Rachel decided she wanted to be home napping in her crib. We all toughed it out and by 11:00 last night and a couple of thousands of dollars later, we finally had cool air again.

So did we stay home today and enjoy our nice cool house. No! We went out for a short nature walk and did a little bug hunting along the way too.

We saw lots of seed pods on what I believe are honey locust trees. Nicholas loves these when they dry out and drop to the ground because you can shake them and the seeds rattle around inside like little maracas!

Nicholas found lots of shriveled up leaves on the ground. We talked about why they might look like that. Pests? Lack of Water?

Nicholas quickly made it down to the creek bed to check it out. It’s our favorite place to explore and play.

Nicholas asked me to come down with him. I had Rachel in her stroller and didn’t feel comfortable trying to carry her down the rocks in case I might slip. I simply told him that I couldn’t come down. He walked over, put out his hand, and said, “C’mon. I’ll help you down.” So sweet. I explained why I couldn’t come but Rachel and I sat on the rocks along the side and let Nicholas play for a little while.

Nicholas got a new telescope. He pretended to be a pirate on a desert island looking for treasure.

This telescope is neat because it also converts into a periscope. It’s pretty cool. I showed the mirrors to Nicholas and explained how the periscope worked. I don’t think he believed me until he tried it. He was quite impressed. He said it will be good to use when he’s a spy. Then we proceeded to play a game where we took turns catching a bad guy by spying on them with the periscope.

We wrapped up our walk with a little time at the playground.

With temperatures crossing the 100 degree mark, we just might have to limit our nature walks to the wee morning hours for the next few months. It’s just really really hot out there there days.

Exploring Art without Boundaries

Art is best explored freely.

How does your child typically approach art at home: mostly using coloring books, or does he/she enjoy more open-ended creative play? When children are placed in an environment that encourages exploration, creativity soars. Where possible, find ways for your child to discover his or her own style by exploring with a variety of creativity materials with no set goal or expectation.

Mary Rogers M.A. Ed., co-founder and CEO of Abrakadoodle Remarkable Art^TM says, “Most children are accustomed to trying to meet parent or teacher expectations and create with that in mind. However, when children learn that their creations will be valued, they really blossom with individual expression. It’s a wonder to behold.”

How can you strengthen children’s creativity at home? Offer them opportunities to create original artwork, whether it’s recycling a cardboard box with a clever design, painting an original scene, arranging wild flowers, decorating an outdoor garden space or creating place cards for a special occasion.

Research has confirmed what many people already know: Prefabricated art, such as coloring books, tend to stifle children’s imaginations and artistic abilities. Celebrate and encourage the originality that is a natural part of your child.

Courtesy of Abrakadoodle Remarkable Art^TM © 2006 – visit us on the web at www.abrakadoodle.com.

We spent the morning at the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve in Southlake. I just learned about this place last night at a Parks Board meeting I was attending and obviously I couldn’t wait to check it out!

There are several different trails near the nature center but we took the main trail that starts at the center, next to this cool old barn. I just love pictures of old barns!

Nicholas loved watching bugs run around on the trail…

He pointed out critters crawling around on this old fallen tree. We walked up to the tree and spent a lot of time here just studying all the life that was living on the dead tree. It was a good way to show Nicholas that everything in nature can have a purpose even if it isn’t apparent at first glance.

Nicholas is definitely in his element when we are outdoors. He absolutely loves a good nature trail and was all smiles the whole time!

Using the bug vac to study bugs. He caught an ant carrying what looked like it might be a piece of food, a spider, and some kind of little beetle. Of course, we released them all after studying them under the magnifying glass.

There were several bluebird houses along a part of the trail (aptly called the Blue Bird Trail!). We saw a door on one of the houses was mostly open so we peeked inside and found a nest! I was too short to see if there were any eggs in the nest but we closed the door so as not to disturb any possible tenants. We did see a blue bird in a tree nearby. Perhaps he was watching us to see if we were up to no good.

Chasing butterflies…

Playing with “twirly” weeds…

I was amazed that these wildflowers were taller than Nicholas…

until we walked a little farther and saw more of the same wildflowers that were actually taller than me! I’m not sure what they are but they look sort of like Bull Thistle but not quite. The leaves were very thorny and scary looking. The butterflies and bees just loved the flowers though!

On our way back to the nature center, we found a small patch of wild berries.

Back at the nature center, we took a little rest on this cool butterfly bench. We drank some water and talked about our favorite parts of the hike.

Look at the leaf inlays in the patio! I love this idea but it would be even better if there was also an identifying name with each leaf to help little ones learn which leaf goes with which tree.

The Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve is a great place to visit for a nature walk and it’s free! But they also offer some great nature classes for adults as well as preschoolers. I somehow got snookered into being the Environmental Chairman for our Early Childhood PTA next year and I’m definitely going to plan a children’s outing here!

After our hike, we stopped by Rainforest Cafe for some lunch to cool off. Nicholas loves the life size animated animals there plus we had a coupon for a free kid’s meal (can’t beat that!). I wasn’t sure how Rachel would do once the show started because the lights flicker and the animal start making all of their noises. She seemed a little surprised at first…

but after I finished eating, I took her out of the stroller and walked her around and she just loved watching all the action.

Nicholas enjoyed the special glass he got with the special compartment at the bottom where the toy is hidden.

We played in the backyard later in the day and Nicholas found these things. I guess they are seed pods of some type but I don’t know where they came from.

Any ideas??

Burb Mom LOVES following Kim around the metroplex.  She finds the best places to explore with kids!  She is a stay at home mom (well, it is obvious that she doesn’t stay at home MUCH) of two kids who writes Savor the Days.

Last year we went to the Main Street Days festival in Grapevine. It is a typical street festival full of arts and craft vendors, food, and carnival rides. I haven’t done a festival like this alone with both kids but figured it couldn’t be too hard to manage. Wrong! Our usual parking lot near the entrance was full so I had to park far away at the Convention Center. I wasn’t excited about walking with Nicholas and the stroller to the festival considering the extra traffic that was all around us so I got in line for the shuttle bus to take us there.

Ugh! That wasn’t fun. It had taken me about 10 minutes to get the stroller set up, strap Rachel in, fill the storage under the stroller with water and supplies, attach the diaper bag to the stroller just so, etc. Now in order to get on the shuttle, I had to take all of the stuff off of the stroller, take Rachel out, and while holding Rachel with one arm, use my other free hand to collapse the stroller and get it on the shuttle bus while also keeping close tabs on Nicholas.

Not fun!

Eventually the driver saw me struggling and came to help!

Thank goodness! We might still be there struggling with that thing if he hadn’t. Of course, repeat all of this fun three more times as we exit the shuttle at the festival and then the whole shabang again on the way home.

After all the work it took to just get into the festival, we were all hot and tired as soon as we got there. Nicholas found a great sno-cone place to cool off. He got a giant sno-cone and got to add his own syrup to it.

What fun! There were about 8 flavors to choose from which of course meant that all 8 flavors had to go into his one sno-cone. It was very colorful and super sweet – just the way he likes it!

We ran into some friends while we were walking around. Here is Nicholas and his friend as they were discussing whether either of them was tall enough to ride the Starship ride. Unfortunately they were both just a couple of inches too short.

I’m so grateful to my friend who watched Rachel in the stroller for me while I took a special ride on the ferris wheel with just my little guy! We had fun looking over the whole festival from way up high.

Next Nicholas wanted to check out the petting zoo…at least he thought he wanted to. As soon as he went in, he got scared of the goats and grabbed his friend’s shirt and hid behind him. I don’t know where this silly fear came from. He used to love petting zoos but recently seems much more afraid of animals, even dogs!

As we were walking around with our friends, Nicholas and his buddy started playing around and giving each other “Indiana Burns”! So cute!

Miniature golf was a lot of fun. Nicholas really liked this hole where he had to hit the ball into the house and it came rolling out the other side. Here he is helping to coax it into the hole.

Nicholas saw the kayak tank and got all excited. “Mommy, I HAVE to ride in a boat!” He ran up and got in line and never looked back at me. He had such confidence and I don’t really know why. He’s never been in any kind of small boat like this before and here he was doing it all by himself with no instruction. I don’t think he’s ever even seen anyone in a kayak or canoe – except maybe on a Go! Diego! Go! cartoon. For whatever reason he found this passion, I was beaming with pride for my little guy. (I was also a bit jealous because I wanted to get in one too but SOMEBODY had to stay on land with Rachel!)

It was a fun day. Both kiddos made it home safely and unscathed – even sunburn free. But Mommy did not do so well herself. I was dehydrated, sunburned, and exhausted by the time we finally left. We got home and cooled off only to turn around and head out to soccer practice a short time later. I love the fun but busy days.

When Kim isn’t exploring the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with her two kids she is resting at home and writing Savor the Days.

Today Stuart and Nicholas went to Spring Lake Park on Windmill Lane in Flower Mound. This park was recently part of a beautification project through Keep Flower Mound Beautiful. There is a great fishing pond, pavillion, amphitheater and trails. It’s just a nice place to walk around with your children.  One of my favorite parts are the interactive nature-based educational stations along the trails that teach about the levels of a forest such as floor and canopy as well as how to identify leaves of the trees in the park. What a great way for children to learn about nature while enjoying the great outdoors!  And, of course, nature is always a fun free activity

The guys spent most of their time fishing in the pond. Nicholas has his own little fishing rod and tackle box and is quite a good little fisherman. What fun! These fish usually bite well on little bitty pieces of hot dog which makes for cheap and easy to find bait. But, at least for my child, I find that he wants to snack on the cold hot dog while he is breaking off pieces to put on his hook. Ewww, you just touched a fish and pond water with that hand that you are putting in your mouth! But (fortunately) today we didn’t have any hot dogs at the house so the guys used some regular store bought fishing bait that Stuart had in his tackle box. They were quite successful. Nicholas caught four sunfish in a short amount of time!

YOUR MISSION…SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ACCEPT IT:
EXPLORE THE NATURE OF NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS THIS SUMMER WITH YOUR FAMILY!

What a great idea!

 The Trinity River Audubon Center is one of the hosts of the Nature Challenge 2010. Sign your whole family up as a team and then set out to accomplish your mission – visit as many participating parks and nature areas in North Central Texas as you can in 11 weeks. From their website, “You will view native wildlife, dip your feet in creeks, rivers, and draw and write about your observations while learning more about nature and science in your neighborhood! At each site you will complete activities designed for family fun and nature exploration provided in English and Spanish.”

Opening Ceremonies take place this Saturday, May 22nd at the Trinity River Audubon Center in Dallas, 10:00 – 2:00. Closing Ceremonies will be on Saturday, August 14th at the River Legacy Living Science Center in Arlington.

Click HERE to register your family for the Nature Challenge 2010!

See you there!

As Environmental Chairman for the Greater Lewisville Early Childhood PTA, I had an outing scheduled for today for the children to go on a nature scavenger hunt at the Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA). I thought about cancelling it because it was 40 degrees outside which seemed a little cold to go on a nature walk with little children. But I talked to some of the moms who had signed up and many were still excited about going so I bundled Rachel all up and we headed out.

The scavenger hunt was awesome! Most of the children attending were in the range of 18 months – 4 years old and it was a great activity for this age group. We had laminated sheets with pictures of what we were supposed to find and dry erase markers to circle the items once we found them.

I love our trail guide because she “planted” some cool items along the trails in advance just so the children could find some really interesting items.

We found colorful leaves, animal burrows, coyote jaw bones, turkey feathers, turtle shells…

…deer antlers…

…grasshoppers…

…coyote and raccoon tracks in the mud…

…flowers…

…evergreen trees.

We saw Lake Lewisville…

…and an original log cabin from the 1860s…

I’m so proud of our group of moms and kiddos. We spent about an hour and a half on our nature walk and had a great time despite the cold temperatures.

Even though Rachel spent the whole time in the stroller, she was worn out and fell asleep on the way home.

LLELA is open to the public on the weekends. You can hike on three trails, camp, canoe, picnic, birdwatch, or just enjoy spending time with nature.

Yesterday we were walking home from school. Nicholas had to get out a little prerequisite running in celebration of the start of Spring Break.

But after that was out of his system, he settled down and picked a dandelion flower from someone’s yard. Then he picked another dandelion flower that was more in full bloom. He said he had a neat idea and started looking around in this person’s yard for more dandelions. He found just what he wanted, a set of dandelion buds that had not yet bloomed. He showed me the flowers and was all excited to explain that he had started a collection of each stage of the dandelion’s bloom.

Well, the collection wasn’t really complete until he also picked the full dandelion in seed form ready to blow away.

I love the way his mind works and that he not only understands the process of a plant life cycle so well but also that he gets excited about it. But what is absolutely fascinating to me about this story is just an hour earlier, I was at home researching citizen science projects that we could participate in when I ran across a project that perfectly mirrors what he just collected on his own. Project BudBurst engages the public in making careful observations of plant life cycles (phenophases) such as first leafing, first flower, and first fruit ripening of a diversity of trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses in their local area. As a citizen scientist, you collect this information on plants in your area and then report the data back to the Project where they collaborate your findings with those from other citizen scientists from around the country.

I love citizen science projects because they are usually very kid-friendly and a great way to teach little ones about their environment. We have done several citizen science projects in which we monitor and report on birds that we see in our backyard. But this plant project is a new one for us and it sounds like fun. Project BudBurst has a Simple 5 Step process to participate. Their website even includes a Grades K-6 Facilitator Guide and a Teacher’s Guide.

When we made it home, Nicholas had to hide behind the van like he often does so I have to come looking for him. There isn’t a minute that goes by in this boy’s life when he isn’t wanting to play!

Then he put his dandelion collection with his ever-growing collection of nature treasures outside the front door and we recorded our dandelion findings for Project BudBurst.

The Lewisville library has a special event for little builders.  It’s called Lego Mania!  We recently stopped by to check it out. We were a little late so everyone was already absorbed in their creations but Nicholas quickly found the table with the cool Star Wars Lego pieces and went to work building.

It was neat watching the boys at the table. None of the boys seem to know each other and they were each building their own ships yet for the most part they would help each other find particular pieces that each other needed. It was a great experience in teamwork.

Lego Mania! is held on the fourth Sunday of each month at 2:00.  There are tons of Legos as well as Duplo blocks from younger children.  And best of all – it’s FREE!  The Lewisville Library is located at 1197 West Main in Lewisville and their phone number is 972-219-3570.