Summer Craft - Rainbows

 This week's craft day theme was rainbows.  I had the kids research and type up facts about rainbows - they did a great job!  Alex helped out by taking a long nap so we could do our science & art projects.  I love spending afternoons like this with these kids!

 By placing a mirror in water in a shallow pan, and then setting that in the sun, rainbows will be reflected.  This would work better inside near a window, but it worked to reflect the rainbows onto the paper.  

 Showing off their "report."

 For this one we were seeing how mixing Primary colors makes all the colors in the rainbow.  Pour 1 cup milk into a shallow pan. Place a few drops each of red, yellow, and blue in separate corners of the pan.  Then drop a few drops of liquid dish washing soap into the middle of the pan.  The soap will pull the colors toward each other and they will mix.  

 Making thumbprint watercolor rainbows.

Our fancy-schmancy snack to go with our theme. 

Alex & the Trains

Like many almost-3-year-olds, Alex loves trains.  He watches movies about them, sets up tracks all around the house for them, and carries trains in his pockets when we run errands.  His recently-acquired Thomas the Train shirt is now one of those items that must be coaxed off of him to be washed because he wants to wear it all day and night.  So with Alex's birthday coming up, I asked my cycling buddy Mike, who works for the railroad, if he knew of any places to use for a birthday party.  Lucky for us, we wound up with a private tour of the rail yard and train cars.  Choo-choo!

 Looking into the "pit" in the roundhouse.

 SO MANY BUTTONS!!!  They all got to push the one that honks the (very loud) horn. 

 "Mama!  We're on a REAL DIESEL!  But it's a nice one that doesn't talk."

 He was uncharacteristically quiet and observant - enthralled.

 "Yep, I could just about take charge here."

Mike presents Alex with an "Honorary Engineer" certificate.  THANKS, MIKE!

Monday Night Track Meet

 On Mondays in June, our city holds track meets for kids 13 and under.  It's free, anyone can race, and it's lots of fun.  We went for the first time this week and all the kids ran the 25 yard dash (I think that's what it was!).  Despite the 89-degree weather we had a good time and plan to go back.

 Alex (yellow striped shirt), races to the finish in the 4 & under division.

 Jake warms up before his race.

 "GO!"

Haley, racin'.

Their smiles belie their whining.  I'm HOT!  Can we GO yet?  I'm hungry!  We didn't even eat dinner yet!  I need to go to the bathroom!  :)

Sundays in June

We took advantage of the beautiful weather this afternoon and took a family bike ride.  We enjoyed gorgeous views along the Greenway and let the kids play at the park for a while.  Haley was so proud of herself for doing the 9 miles round-trip, and Jake did great on the ride-along bike behind Rob.  I tried telling them that I was a little tired from yesterday's race, but they just ignored me and made me pull Alex in the trailer.  :)

 This is one of my favorite spots in our town - the fields, the curve of the river, the red barns.  I'm hoping to get my mom to paint a large version of it. 

 Jake did push-ups at one of our stops. 

 "Look!  I can see the river!"...

 ..."Let me just climb up here and get a better look..."

 He would have jumped in if we'd let him. 

 These two could do monkey bars ALL DAY.

Ended the day by picking peonies in the backyard at sunset.  Perfect!

Doin' the Dewey

This weekend I competed in the Dewey Duathlon - a local race that is 5K run, 15 mile bike, and 5K run.  I pushed harder than I intended to but it paid off - I took 3rd place in my age division!  No one was more surprised than me.  It's the first time that I've placed in a race.  Pretty fun! 

  Rob and the kids didn't even stay for the awards because we had no idea I'd won anything.  So here I am showing off my medal.

I felt as tired as I look in the picture - Jake ran with me to the finish.  It was a lot hotter than I'd anticipated and it was all I could do to keep going at the end.  My goal was to finish right at 2 hours and I finished in 1:44:49.  Maybe I can shave a few minutes off that time for next year...

Frost

We woke up this morning to thick fog and a hoar frost covering everything.  Days like this are rare and so beautiful, and it usually only lasts until the sun comes out to melt it or the wind blows it off.  Fortunately today was still and foggy and I was able to go to a park in town to take some pictures.  I spent a very pleasant, peaceful hour in the park - I and several other photographers that is.  :)