Chillin’ on a Monday (Or Trying To Stay Cool)
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| Zen Chicks |
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| The Bees Are Thirsty |
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| After a hard day of Kindergarten… |
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| Boy Misses His Dog More Than His Mom |
On Stormy 4 Day weekends
We had middle school field day on Thursday, then a 4 day weekend and I tried to make the best of it (despite our crazy Arkansas Spring weather.) Max’s 8th birthday party at the park was canceled on Saturday due to tornado sirens and hail. We had drained our fishpond to redo it, and it’s now completely full. Hope it doesn’t rain this Saturday for the party do-over.
Some of the many cupcakes we made (and had to eat- darn it!)
Monday the kids were out of school and the sun was out, so we decided to go to what they call “Crawdad Park.” (As you probably guessed, not it’s real name.) How fun to walk through the creek, get muddy, collect specimens, and skip some rocks!
Wet feet
Salamander (before his capture)
Crawdad (after his release)
Twisty Tree (Wisteria vine had dug into it over time)
We followed a trail of mulberries that were floating down the creek to the tree they were falling from. This started a discussion about what was edible and what wasn’t. They listed dandelions, crawdads, mulberries, blackberries (not ripe yet,) and clover.
Then we went home and ate more Lego cupcakes.
Cold Day and Warm Heart
It is COOOOLLLD again today (and rainy!) And to think that two days ago I started putting up winter clothes because it was in the 80’s! It is 33 outside and BRRR! The weatherman says it might even snow or sleet today. 🙁
A Leafhopper the Kids Found
This past weekend it was gorgeous. We went to Wye Mountain to see the daffodils. They were beautiful. My baby girl turned 12 on Tuesday and she decided she’d like to skip dance and have Max skip Cub Scouts to go to my favorite place, Chuck E Cheese. They had a good time and luckily Tuesdays are not the busiest at CEC so it was actually not too stressful on mom and dad.
THEN: 4th Birthday
NOW: 12th Birthday
Today’s my Aunt Kathy & cousin Chris‘ birthdays. Wishing you both a wonderful year! You are such special people and I love you!
Cars from blocks of wood… and SNOW?
Yesterday was Max’s first Pinewood Derby. Scott’s the Cubmaster for our school, so we had to find a track, get trophies etc. It was a fun day and the kids and parents all had fun I think. Max’s little train came in 3rd in the Tiger Cubs (12th out of 13 cars overall…) and did win “Most Original Design” which he was thrilled with (but wondered why it didn’t include a trophy.) He also qualified to go to the council’s derby so I have to keep his little car safe until April. The girls have their “Powder Puff” derby next Saturday so lots of sawdust and glue around our house.
The strangest thing was that it started to spit sleet outside during the derby, and by about 5pm we actually had snow (big flakes) coming down! Our first snow of the year and probably the last. It was so pretty and there was still a little bit when we woke up, covering the deck by about a quarter of an inch (maybe less.) Of course it was gone by the time we got out this morning.
Arkansas Weather- January 7, 2008
One thing you can never predict is Arkansas weather! Last week the weather was at freezing or just above. Then yesterday it was in the 70’s (today too!)
We decided to go ride bikes on the River Trail since it was such a gorgeous day yesterday (and the last day of winter break for the kids.) We love the new trails!
We started at the Murry Dam and rode to Burn’s Park where we stopped for a picnic. On the way there we saw a few Great Blue Herons and Canada Geese on the river and even a white swan. It seemed strange to see a swan on the river, and alone at that. You don’t realize how big they are. Usually we see deer and nutrias or beaver, but it was so busy yesterday I guess they were all hiding. After lunch we rode back along the river and Emily did see a muskrat. I heard it but it was in the horsetails before I got a glimpse. Then we stopped at the bridge and walked over.
Now NLR/LR has the largest pedestrian walking bridge in the nation- the “Big Dam Bridge” -it spans the Arkansas River and goes right over Murray Lock and Dam.
It is so much fun to walk over the river and stand directly over the locks to watch the tugboats push barges down the river.
You can even yell down and talk to the bargemen…
“Where are you going?”
“What are you hauling?”
We watched nine barges full of wheat get pushed into the locks.
Then we got back on our bikes and headed back to the car. I think we rode about ten miles in all, give or take a few.
Who knows, it might snow tomorrow!