Creative Contraptions

The girls have great teachers at school this year who come up with some really creative ideas for the kids to utilize the things they're learning in fun ways. Adah's class got imaginative with their Valentine holders this year. As part of a design technology unit, they learned about simple machines such as levers, pulleys, wedges, screws, wheels, and axles. It took them several class periods to design their machines and then build them from materials collected from home. On Valentine's Day they were able to deliver their Valentine's into each other's machines.

Maggie's kindergarten teacher made leprechaun traps a family homework assignment. Maggie and I crafted a devious little snare from an oatmeal canister, construction paper, cotton balls, yogurt container, black duct tape, gold spray paint, rocks, sticks, hot glue, and a bit of glitter. Mr. Leprechaun would climb up the stick ladder to get to the top of the rainbow. (See the clouds under our rainbow?)

The pot of gold was resting midway down the rainbow slide. When the unsuspecting leprechaun slid down to grab the gold, he'd fall into the hat! As Maggie put it, "From the bottom he would think that the hat actually had a top, so he wouldn't know he'd fall in until it was too late."

Maggie took her trap to school, and while the kids were out of the classroom, a leprechaun visited, leaving behind lots of gold glitter and butterscotch candies. None of the traps managed to catch the wily little guy, though.

Missoula Children's Theater

Maggie and Adah both got roles in this year's Missoula Children's Theater production at their school. This year they put on "The Frog Prince" at the beginning of this month. After just a few days of auditioning and rehearsing, the cast put on 3 performances for their fellow students and then the community. Maggie had great fun as a nasty venus fly trap. She had no lines, but had a few song and dance numbers in the swamp.

Adah was a duck. Here she is with the mama duck, 2 other ducks, and 1 ugly duckling. Their signature lines: "Quack. Quack. Quack. Quack. Honk!" The ugly duckling was, of course, a swan; he got all the punchlines. Adah had a few other lines and songs as well.

Here are the two actresses before turning in their costumes after the final curtain call:

Kindred Tongues

Ups . . .

Holly: February 24, 2011

age 9 months (minus 1 day)

. . . and downs

Maggie, December 8, 2005

age 11 months (minus 5 days)

Mateys

The kiddos made their own pirate ship in the family room last week. Maggie's pink flannel blanket served as the sail, propped up on a pole from their Strawberry Shortcake tent (and probably clipped in place with some clothespins). If you look closely you can see the crossbones that Adah made (no skull, sorry). I believe Gunnar was the captain, although Maggie is at the helm (see the cardboard circle she's holding?).

Here they are with their best pirate faces.

I really love it when all my children play happily together. Gunnar often spoils the play of the older girls when they build forts and the like, but he is really getting old enough that he can join in more and more. This day was a fun one for all; even Holly seemed to enjoy tagging along (or bobbing, since I suppose she's technically in the "water" in these shots).