College Reunion in MN

 We had so much fun at our last college reunion that we made plans to try and do again this year.  Memorial Day weekend ended up being a busy time for some of our old friends, so the crowd was smaller and the visit was shorter this time, but we still had a relaxing time.  

Well, as much of a relaxing time as 4 families with a combination of 11 kids ranging in ages 2 to 11 can have.

I think the guys had a little bit more relaxation than the moms.

 The kids got along great and mostly entertained themselves.  They ran around the yard playing hide & seek, flashlight tag, lacrosse, croquet, enjoying the campfire and eventually enjoying a movie.  It was a short reunion, but hopefully it will be a more frequent one.

Evan's Gibbs Farm Field Trip

Back to back field trips.  What a life!  Today I joined Evan's Kindergarten class at Gibb's Farm.

We started out meeting the farm animals.  The kids got a kick out of Petunia the Pig and the farm cow rubbing noses.

We spent some time in the school house.

I think Evan would like to have his own desk.

The kids learned what happened to students who didn't do their lessons.

Next the tour led us to the teepee.  Our tour guide told us the story of Buffalo Nation.  We learned how the Dakota people went to the buffalo in need of food, warmth, and tools and each time Buffalo Nation gave to the natives, but told them to always honor Buffalo Nation.  She showed the students examples of what Native Americans made with each part of the buffalo: the ribs, horns, bladder, and fur.

Next we went inside the Gibbs family's sod house.

The entire house was one room as big as Mia's bedroom.  It included a shelf, a stove, and a very short bed.  Apparently the bed was short because they slept sitting up.  I guess it kept the dirt from falling into their eyes or from inhaling it into their lungs.

Finally we visited the winter lodge.  There were many examples of what Natives did during the long winters.

The tour guide let the kids touch a few of the hides.  If I hadn't done this tour with Owen two years ago, I probably would have been impressed with this visit.  Instead I was impressed with how well the kids paid attention to her listen-and-look-but-don't-touch-or-interrupt-too-much methods.

Evan was so tired when we got back to school that he could hardly finish his lunch.  I found out later that he fell asleep during center time.  There is no rest for Kindergarteners these days.  No nap time, play time or even choice time anymore.  At least Farnsworth values experiential learning.

Lake Elmo Airport Field Trip

 

He did not want me to go on this field trip.  He told me I could not go on this field trip.  He said I went on the last one, that it wasn't fair.  His feelings about me not going were so strong that he didn't bring home his field trip form.  When his teacher flagged me down and asked me if I had gotten the form, he just shrugged.  She likes me to chaperone.  I'm a good chaperone.  You can stick your toughest kid with me and it's nothing compared to the MPS EBD middle schoolers I use to deal with in the hood.  I LIKE the toughest kids.  They are way more interesting.  

So anyway, it became a discussion.  Owen did not want me to go.  I said I'd just see if I could even get a sitter.  I checked the "yes" box and sent the form back to school.  As he hopped out of the van, he tried to leave it behind, but I called him back.  The two days before the field trip, we're sitting in front of the school and he's about to hop out.  I asked him if he had reconsidered.  I said that this is the last airport field trip I'll ever go on since they'll be going to a regular old elementary school next year.  You know, the regular kind with art and music.  Yeah.  So Owen says, "Yeah, but you didn't check the box so you can't chaperone."  I slowly turn my head, look him dead in the eyes, pause, and slowly say, "Did you erase my check?"  He says nothing for a second and then does one of the upward head nods.  I turn forward to face the road and say nothing.  After a second, he gathers his things and sulks into the school.

That night, I laid on the guilt.  I didn't say much but I did say, "You take advantage of how much I love you."  Watching my own kids grow in their knowledge and make discoveries is something that gives me great joy.  I love sitting back and watching their wheels turn as they figure something out.  I love watching them apply their knowledge and make connections.  I think Owen knew that he had gone too far.  He agreed that I should come on the field trip.

 Two days later we arrived at Lake Elmo Airport.  Once there, everything else was forgotten.  Farnsworth's Aerospace coordinator and the Civil Air Patrol at Lake Elmo Airport organized 7 interesting and thematically educational stations for the kids to go through, each focused on a different part of aeronautics.  Our first station was Radio Control.

Inside the hangar, we were met by 4, most likely retired, most likely veteran, pilots.  They were so eager to show these kids how their self-built radio controlled planes worked.  They were like little boys with their big boy toys.  They aren't allowed to fly their radio control planes at the airport, but they said they'd love to do a demonstration at another location sometime.

All the kids were really attentive.  They took notes and asked really great questions.  I learned a lot too.  I had no idea that "yaw" meant anything but "yes" in Minnesota.

The pilots were eager to let the kids touch and get close to their planes.

Each of them had a plane made of different material, of which the explained the positives and negatives.

I wish we could have spent more time at each station, but there was so much to see and learn.  The next station's focus was navigation.  The kids learned about compasses and how to fly blind.

Then the kids learned about the differences in materials used to build a car vs. building a plane.

This guy talked about how the materials were taped up and made smooth and what is actually inside a wing or wall of a plane.

By far my favorite station was this one.  This pilot is building a plane from scratch.  He sent for a kit... a very expensive kit... bought the tools, rented the hangar and has been working on it for over a year.

He really explained the inner workings of a plane and the materials used to build one.  He talked to them about the shape of a wing.  The kids did an experiment with a piece of paper, two cups and a battery.  A flat piece of paper on two cups will bend and fall when a battery is placed on top.  But, if you bend down the sides of the paper and do the same thing... well, just go try it and see what happens.

The pilot could see our group was really enjoying his demo, so he kept going despite the fact that we were behind schedule and the group behind us was waiting.  Inside the hangar, the kids got to see the motor that he was about to put in the plane and they got to get a closer look at the work in progress.

Now is was time for the flight demonstration.  This pilot gave us a little history about the original pilot "uniform."  Apparently, the scarfs were used to wipe the soot off their goggles.  One students asked thoughtfully, "Why were they white?"  That's what I want to know.

It was so windy at the airport today, he could hardly get his little plane back to the end of the runway to land.  What a great learning opportunity.  These are things that we can only learn from experts.  The teachers at Farnsworth are the facilitators.  They bring the knowledge to the kids.  And when they cannot, they bring the kids to the knowledge.  I am so thankful that Owen and Evan have been exposed to these unique learning experiences.  I wish more kids had access to more frequent, quality field trips such as this. and this. and this.

Not-The-Recital

 Owen started piano at the end of January.  He takes lessons in St. Paul using a method called Simply Music.  Among other things, this program is unique in that you do not simultaneously learn to read music.  Kids learn to play by numbered fingers and patterns.  They immediately play with two hands.  They play all genres of music including jazz, blues, and classical.  This method really hooks kids because what they play actually sounds really good!  Owen's favorite pieces are the blues pieces, perhaps because there are no words to those songs.  Singing is not his favorite part of the lessons.

About a month ago, Steve, Owen's teacher, asked Owen if he would like to play at the Mall of America.  He was emphatic that this was not a recital.  This was an event for Pianos on Parade.  POP is a joint collaboration between Keys 4/4 Kids, a local nonprofit organization that sells donated pianos and uses the profits to fund charitable programs, and the office of the Mayor of St. Paul, Chris Coleman.  The pianos were to be painted this weekend at the Mall of America by professional local artists & the students they mentor.  During the long hours of painting, local musicians will perform concerts... including Owen and Steve's other piano students.

 So, Owen decides he wants to do it, which totally surprised us.  Even though it's not a recital, I invited my parents to come.  I waited in line with Owen.  They were told to have 2 or 3 songs ready.  Since Owen is still in Book 1, his songs are really short.  Steve suggested he play them through twice.

Owen on deck.

 

And finally it was his turn.  He started with one of his favorite blues songs: "Bishop Street Blues."  He usually plays this one flawlessly.  I was impressed by how calmed he seemed.

 My folks took Evan and Mia up to the next floor for a better view.

 

Next up, Owen played "Ode to Joy".  Steve had told us that somebody might work on the piano while he played.  The artist doing the stage piano was sleeping on the stage when we arrived.  In fact, she slept through several performers before she got up and began glueing figurines and fabric flowers to the piano.  Owen played like he was tying his shoe or brushing his teeth, not like he was in the Mall of America.

Pianos filled the rotunda.  There were some chairs set up behind the pianos, but you couldn't really see from back there.  It was kind of chaotic, but also exciting to see Owen on a stage.

 

Some of the kids left after their first or second song, but there was still time left.  Owen saved his newest song for last.  I ended up filming it with my phone so just ignore the little green windows.  It wasn't his best, but I was proud that he stuck with it.  Most of the kids who performed today were in Book 4.

 Afterwards the kids got a coupon for a ride and a Keys 4/4 Kids T-shirt.

 And somebody bought him a cup of cookies.

Before Ya-ya and Bumpa headed back to Wisconsin we had lunch at the Rainforest Café.  Evan and Mia really got a kick out of the gorillas that hoot during the "thunderstorms" and Bumpa got his picture taken with Cha! Cha! the Tree Frog.

Thanks for coming Ya-Ya & Bumpa!

Mother's Day Brunch

 We had Mother's Day brunch with my folks and Great-Aunt Sarah at The Whitetail in St. Germain.  We like to go there for brunch.  There's something for everyone.  And, on Mother's Day, all mothers get a free mimosa with breakfast!

 Afterwards we decided to take some family photos outside the lodge.  Owen and Evan decided to be completely obnoxious.  You can see one photo bomber very clearly.  The other is a blur under my dad's elbow.  You can tell my dad is not amused.

 Finally we got them under control.

 Jim's folks were over in Eagle River so we invited them to join us.

 I snapped a shot of Jim and his mom.

 Then he thought it would be a great idea to take a picture of me with the kids.  This was the best one.

 At least they got all their energy out before the long car ride home.

"Bye-bye Bumpa."

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Bad News at The Prop

 We're on our way Up North.  It's our first time at The Prop this year.  We took the back way and stopped at The Drive In for some real Wisconsin cheese curds and some real root beer.  This will be a regular stop from now on.  YUM!

 The kids love when we get inside the gate and they can unbuckle and move freely around the van.  They take turns driving

 and roll down the windows.

 Once we got back in there, we took a peek at the lake.  Jim noticed that there were a lot of dead fish in the shallows near shore.  We were worried that this long, hard winter had caused a winterkill.

 We decided to take the kayaks out for further investigation.  On our way down the path, we found evidence of a Pileated Woodpecker.  AWESOME!  I wish we could have seen one in action, but no such luck.

 When we got in the kayaks and started paddling around.  Bad news.  The lake bottom was covered in dead fish.  We didn't see one single fish jump.  And there were several dead frogs at the bottom of the lake too.  Fishing is the one thing I actually enjoy at the property, even though I never actually throw a line.

 There was some good news, though.  It looks like the wolf pack is still active.  We found several large samples of wolf poop

 and some VERY large paw tracks.

 We didn't stay long.  Jim just wanted to check the trail camera.  We are on our way to Manitowish Waters for Mother's Day.  On the way out, Owen asked if he could run in front of the van.  It's a long hike, but the bugs aren't too bad yet, so we let him.

 Soon Evan wanted to join him.  They lasted a long time before they finally came back in the van.

On the way to Manitowish Waters, just before the turn for Powell Marsh, we saw this sandhill crane on the side of the road.  Unfortunately the kids were passed out in the back and missed it.