It is amazing how quickly the past two weeks have gone by when we have something planned each day--even if it's only a small something! We have enjoyed some great outings as well as a good mix of structured and unstructured play at home. Here's what we've been up to.
Great Explorations
This children's museum in St. Petersburg is one that Alison and I both wanted to try out. It was a perfect "take a trip Tuesday" activity for today! The museum is just big enough to offer plenty for the kids to do, yet small enough that I could always see both of them when they decided to play in separate areas. We spent two hours there and the kids got to try everything.
weighing a dog in the play veterinary clinic
Harper donned some scrubs before giving this dog a bath. :)
driving the fire truck!
sliding down the fire pole
The kids were fascinated by the green screen and the fact that they could see themselves on the TV monitors!
pulling a weighted ball and then letting it drop to see how high it would shoot another ball into the air
grocery shopping
Ryder and Maisie were carefully selecting their produce.
ready to check out!
looking for some cantaloupe
Panera's for lunch!
Note: Harper discovered a huge mosquito bite on her forehead this morning and wanted to cover it with a band-aid. When she wanted to take the band-aid off 5 minutes later, she was upset to discover that it was really stuck on there and had some of her hair with it. Therefore, she left it on all day long!
Ryder read several books to the girls on the drive home. It's great having another reader in the house (and car!)
Gak and Gardening
Yesterday Harper helped me make some Gak--she's a pro because her teachers would make it a lot at school and get the kids to help. We made it white so she could then color on it with markers...another trick learned from school!
Another "Make it Monday" activity was to replant our small herb garden that we keep outside of the lanai. We decided on parsley, basil, cilantro, and a Roma tomato plant. I might add some mint and thyme later, but these at least got us started for now.
Ringling and the splash park
Alison and I took the kids to a reading/art program at the Ringling Museum where they listened to a story and then made a craft. They were given some pipe cleaners, cut up pool noodles and foam to use to make a boat. Then they got to try their boats outside in small wading pools. They all floated! :)
After getting hot and sweaty at the Ringling playground, we headed to Bayfront Park so the kids could cool off at the splash park. It was a beautiful day, and Alison and I were quite comfortable sitting on a bench in the shade!
I caught Harper in mid-air as she jumped off that rock. Crazy girl!
Puzzles
I sacrificed my kitchen table for almost two weeks so we could work on two huge puzzles. Ryder especially enjoyed the dinosaur one (600 pieces) and would sit and work on it for a while when he wasn't sure what else to do. The ice cream puzzle was 1500 pieces and VERY hard! Andrew and I spent a couple of evenings working on it until the majority of it was put together--then Ryder wanted to help because he could actually find some pieces!
The ice cream puzzle was almost too big for the table!
Whew! Garcia managed to get a hold of two pieces and "gently nibble" them, but they were still usable!
A few pictures from a nearby playground/nature park:
Lunch at Palm Island
One Tuesday we took the water taxi to Palm Island to have lunch at Rum Bay. Steve, Alison, and Maisie had never been, so we all went with Pops and Grann--all except Andrew, who was the only one who had to work on that random Tuesday. Poor guy! The food was delicious, and the kids enjoyed the boat ride. We had a great captain, and on the way back he let each of the kids take a turn steering the boat. They loved it! Ryder was cautious and steered very carefully, Harper did donuts, and Maisie did the exaggerated left-right steering motion. There were some other people on the boat as well, and they were very sweet and patient with our beginning drivers! Ha!
I wonder what he was telling her as he handed over the wheel.
