Jack and I went to the Discovery science museum and Planetarium in Bridgeport today. Another parent had mentioned it to me a little while back and I've been wanting to go there to check it out. She'd said the museum itself wasn't much but the kids loved the Planetarium.
We ended up getting there about an hour before the first Planetarium show, so we had plenty of time to see the museum. There was a trick shot basketball exhibit, lots of cool science stuff for kids where you pedaled a bike to make light bulb glow, or made drums and percussion instruments play by waving your hands in the air. There were lego things to build, and smaller versions of the Apollo Lunar Module, and more things of that ilk.
We built houses out of fake bricks and knocked them over, made a system of funnels and chutes and sent marbles down them, threw basketballs over our heads at the hoops. We "talked" to Alexander Graham Bell, and looked at cool light patterns through prisms, and guided an astronaut on a video surface of the moon. Jack climbed up into an astronaut space suit and grinned through the helmet as a I took a picture.
Some exhibits were "under repair," some were blocked off entirely, some just appeared incomplete. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon, and there were relatively few people there. The gift shop was a small section of the front counter with $2 trinkets that had very little to do with the museum itself. (Killer whale water pistols?) Jack happily bought a $2 bottle of slime, however, and another one for Kate. They love them! But you know, it was kind of sad. We had fun. And there weren't many people there. And it's clear the place isn't doing very well. Ten years from now? I don't know.
At the Planetarium, we saw a cool film about the Hubble Space telescope and some of the pictures it's been able to take of the universe. At the end was a Q and A and Jack raised his hands twice to ask questions, once about black holes ("Has a spaceship ever been in one?" No.), the next time about ...I forget. Maybe life on other planets, a followup to a question I asked. We then left and got food at the cafeteria. Which was a vending machine where we each had a bag of chips and split a sour patch kids. Tasty!
Second film was aimed at younger kids and it had this star going around the galaxy meeting other stars and planets and stuff. It was kind of hokey at first but ended up being pretty good. The Hubble one was for ages 8 and up and might have been a bit technical for Jack (though he had good questions). The second was for younger audiences and better for Jack, although several 4-or so year old kids had to be taken out, which by the way is why I didn't bring Kate.
So then we bought Jack's slime, and he picked out some slime for Kate, and we headed home. Pretty good way to spend a rainy Saturday afternoon, even if not everyone does it anymore.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Homework
Jack does some reading with the 2nd graders, Mrs. Bernstein's class. He's a good reader. Yesterday he brought home a book and did his homework, which was to draw a picture of something from nature both from far away and from up close. He drew a leaf up close, and then a broad view of a similar leaf on a tree in our backyard.
As I was putting him to bed tonight, leaving his room, he suddenly remembered, "Oh! I forgot to do my homework for Mrs. Bernstein! I was supposed to write down three thoughts about an animal (and something else, I can't remember)." I said, well, don't worry, you can do it the morning. He seemed to accept that and I went downstairs.
Five minutes later he came down. "Mrs. Bernstein had said I was the best student, but then today I forgot to bring in my homework assignment from yesterday, and I had to share a book with someone else. And I couldn't really see it because it was at a round table." He was a little upset. And I said, Jack, it's OK, don't worry, we'll do it in the morning. See, I've written a note to remind you in the morning, and I put your homework book right by your backpack so we won't forget it. He said OK and went back upstairs.
Five minutes later he came down again. Emily was at a school board meeting, and he said to me, "Daddy, can you call Mommy so she can go to my classroom and get my composition book out of my desk? Because I need to write my homework assignment in that." I said, Jack, first of all, Mommy is at the middle school, so she couldn't get into your school or your classroom. And second, it's OK. We'll do it on a piece of paper and you can copy it into your composition book when you get into school. We'll have Mommy bring you in a little early. He nodded and I gave him a hug and sent him back to bed.
He didn't come down, but I'm going to go check and make sure he's sleeping anyway.
As I was putting him to bed tonight, leaving his room, he suddenly remembered, "Oh! I forgot to do my homework for Mrs. Bernstein! I was supposed to write down three thoughts about an animal (and something else, I can't remember)." I said, well, don't worry, you can do it the morning. He seemed to accept that and I went downstairs.
Five minutes later he came down. "Mrs. Bernstein had said I was the best student, but then today I forgot to bring in my homework assignment from yesterday, and I had to share a book with someone else. And I couldn't really see it because it was at a round table." He was a little upset. And I said, Jack, it's OK, don't worry, we'll do it in the morning. See, I've written a note to remind you in the morning, and I put your homework book right by your backpack so we won't forget it. He said OK and went back upstairs.
Five minutes later he came down again. Emily was at a school board meeting, and he said to me, "Daddy, can you call Mommy so she can go to my classroom and get my composition book out of my desk? Because I need to write my homework assignment in that." I said, Jack, first of all, Mommy is at the middle school, so she couldn't get into your school or your classroom. And second, it's OK. We'll do it on a piece of paper and you can copy it into your composition book when you get into school. We'll have Mommy bring you in a little early. He nodded and I gave him a hug and sent him back to bed.
He didn't come down, but I'm going to go check and make sure he's sleeping anyway.
Friday, March 23, 2012
bike ride
Kate and I took her bike out today. She's into it right now and pretty good at pedaling on flat stretches and slight inclines. She sang the entire way, LOUDER in some parts than others.
"It's more funner ....I'm riding my bike.....it's more funner....than anybody ELSE ....I don't need help...I'm riding a bike...I can DO it ....I can ride my bike better than ANYone .....I am faster than YOU.....I am riding my bike ....."
This song lasted about 15-20 minutes....the entire bike ride. Interspersed with asides: "Daddy, look at that Squirrel! ....it's more funner ..... look at that flower! "
"It's more funner ....I'm riding my bike.....it's more funner....than anybody ELSE ....I don't need help...I'm riding a bike...I can DO it ....I can ride my bike better than ANYone .....I am faster than YOU.....I am riding my bike ....."
This song lasted about 15-20 minutes....the entire bike ride. Interspersed with asides: "Daddy, look at that Squirrel! ....it's more funner ..... look at that flower! "
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Weekend in VT
Spent the weekend in Vermont. We were only there a couple of days, but time moves slower up there and it's enough time for a lot of small things to happen.
- We threw the baseball around the front yard. Baba was impressed by Jack's arm, and rightly so; I am too. The hitting and catching need work, but the kid's got an arm.
- The three of us walked across the road to the brook. Kicked our way through the brush and reeds to stand near the edge of the muddy, quick-moving stream that used to be a lazy, slow-moving stream where we happily swam and made mudpies on the beach all summer. I tried to figure out exactly where the bank used to be but could barely place it; it's changed since Hurricane Irene. Jack and I each threw a stick in the water (Jack called it a pooh stick after "Stick Man") and watched them disappear.
- We paced around up behind the house, what we used to call the flat place. I spent some time looking for the old sandbox but couldn't find so much as a board. Did find a few rusted remnants of the swingset, what looked like the ...chair swing? I think that's what we called it. Pretty overgrown up there, with moss-covered trees criss-crossing the grass. Emily thought it'd be a nice place to build a house. We also went up on the back hill and found the white stone marking where Scott is. The old apple tree there has long since died and crumbled. I remember we had a tire swing on it.
- Kate made Baba jump out of his socks, according to him, on two occasions, by walking around and coming up close to him and saying "Rahhh!!!" She particularly liked doing it in the bear slippers.
- We found lots of old toys and games. (I remember Jack, when he and Kate were packing last week, saying to Kate, "You don't need any toys...they have GREAT toys up there." And so they do. We played (and ultimately brought back) a 40-year-old "Snoopy versus the Red Baron" game I found in the attic. I'm sure they'll have lost interest in it in a week or so, but we played it again tonight before bed.
- Nana and Baba got Jack a Lego contraption and Kate a "Make Your Own Tiara" set. Both were big hits. As Jack was using his, he said almost too himself, "I just LOVE contraptions!"
- Nana made pancakes, we all ate them. I mention this only because everyone sitting and eating the exact contents of a meal doesn't always happen. And, you know, pancakes.
- We went out for dinner, which started poorly but ended well, with kids eating and everyone happy. Then we headed home, but there was sentiment to look for deer, since it was almost that time, and we wanted to drop by Willis Wood's for maple syrup, so we did that too. As we parked he was walking around the corner of the barn, which for all I know he's pretty much doing 18 hours a day, and I was able to buy maple syrup and cider jelly right there. As I was heading back to the van I said, "So, you got any animals that small kids can meet?" And he said, "Sure, you got small kids?" So I went over to the van and opened the door and said, who wants to meet some animals? So Jack and Kate both piled out (and Emily too) and we all ran into the barn and got to see some lambs, including one that was just a day old. That seemed pretty cool until we turned around and got to meet another one that was just an HOUR old. Both kids, Emily, and me were duly impressed. Jack climbed up on the fence slats for a better look, Kate was equally interested until this one goat made noise at us like it wanted to kick us to death and she was understandably alarmed. As we left the barn and headed back Nana and Baba were just on the way in; sorry! I kind of forgot that even people who live in Vermont don't always get to see hour-old lambs.
Anyway, just another Vermont weekend. Jack didn't want to leave, which is kind of cool. But at least he got to bring the Red Baron game.
-
- We threw the baseball around the front yard. Baba was impressed by Jack's arm, and rightly so; I am too. The hitting and catching need work, but the kid's got an arm.
- The three of us walked across the road to the brook. Kicked our way through the brush and reeds to stand near the edge of the muddy, quick-moving stream that used to be a lazy, slow-moving stream where we happily swam and made mudpies on the beach all summer. I tried to figure out exactly where the bank used to be but could barely place it; it's changed since Hurricane Irene. Jack and I each threw a stick in the water (Jack called it a pooh stick after "Stick Man") and watched them disappear.
- We paced around up behind the house, what we used to call the flat place. I spent some time looking for the old sandbox but couldn't find so much as a board. Did find a few rusted remnants of the swingset, what looked like the ...chair swing? I think that's what we called it. Pretty overgrown up there, with moss-covered trees criss-crossing the grass. Emily thought it'd be a nice place to build a house. We also went up on the back hill and found the white stone marking where Scott is. The old apple tree there has long since died and crumbled. I remember we had a tire swing on it.
- Kate made Baba jump out of his socks, according to him, on two occasions, by walking around and coming up close to him and saying "Rahhh!!!" She particularly liked doing it in the bear slippers.
- We found lots of old toys and games. (I remember Jack, when he and Kate were packing last week, saying to Kate, "You don't need any toys...they have GREAT toys up there." And so they do. We played (and ultimately brought back) a 40-year-old "Snoopy versus the Red Baron" game I found in the attic. I'm sure they'll have lost interest in it in a week or so, but we played it again tonight before bed.
- Nana and Baba got Jack a Lego contraption and Kate a "Make Your Own Tiara" set. Both were big hits. As Jack was using his, he said almost too himself, "I just LOVE contraptions!"
- Nana made pancakes, we all ate them. I mention this only because everyone sitting and eating the exact contents of a meal doesn't always happen. And, you know, pancakes.
- We went out for dinner, which started poorly but ended well, with kids eating and everyone happy. Then we headed home, but there was sentiment to look for deer, since it was almost that time, and we wanted to drop by Willis Wood's for maple syrup, so we did that too. As we parked he was walking around the corner of the barn, which for all I know he's pretty much doing 18 hours a day, and I was able to buy maple syrup and cider jelly right there. As I was heading back to the van I said, "So, you got any animals that small kids can meet?" And he said, "Sure, you got small kids?" So I went over to the van and opened the door and said, who wants to meet some animals? So Jack and Kate both piled out (and Emily too) and we all ran into the barn and got to see some lambs, including one that was just a day old. That seemed pretty cool until we turned around and got to meet another one that was just an HOUR old. Both kids, Emily, and me were duly impressed. Jack climbed up on the fence slats for a better look, Kate was equally interested until this one goat made noise at us like it wanted to kick us to death and she was understandably alarmed. As we left the barn and headed back Nana and Baba were just on the way in; sorry! I kind of forgot that even people who live in Vermont don't always get to see hour-old lambs.
Anyway, just another Vermont weekend. Jack didn't want to leave, which is kind of cool. But at least he got to bring the Red Baron game.
-
Friday, March 09, 2012
Day with Kate
Kate and I spend Friday together, but often she naps, or I have to work at least some, or both. Today she didn't nap and I didn't work, so here was our day.
- Went to Dunkin Donuts, which is typically a positive start to the day. She happily got her shoes and jacket on and went to the bathroom, things that occasionally involve resistance. "C'mon, Daddy!" she hollers, as I tie my sneakers. She sings something or other in the car on the way there, and then we hear the dance song of the week on the radio (Love in a Hopeless Place, in case you're wondering...Jack erroneously calls it Love in a Homeless Place, which is kind of amusing), and Kate lights up even more. "Daddy, it's your song!!!" Waiting in line she danced around and announced which kinds of donuts she wanted. Momentary shyness when we had to sit at a table close to strangers. But she rallied when I explained her donut eating depended on it. We brought donuts home for Jack, too.
- Went to the liquor store, me for wine (medicinal purposes you understand) and her to see the parrot. As I'm browsing I hear her say, "Daddy, Daddy! He flapped his wings!" As I looked over, the store's pet parrot did indeed flap his wings. Thrilling for all of us.
- At home we did a puzzle, then Kate said she wanted to take baby for a walk. So we got the stroller out, popped her baby into it, and walked around the block with baby in her stroller. We both wore hats and winter jackets because it was cold, but baby didn't seem to mind. Her beatific smile remained fixed on her face.
- We had lunch. Kate made her own peanut butter and jelly sandwich and also had milk, a cheese stick, and an apple. I had basically the same, although one of us wasn't full afterward.
- After lunch we were going to draw, but first Kate took out a Peter Rabbit coloring book and gave us each a page. We colored with markers; she makes a very bright Peter Rabbit, with different rainbow colors for his ears, nose, eyes, cheeks, paws, sleeves, etc. Her Farmer MacGregor kind of looked scary since she gave him a red beard and green eyes. We colored for about half and hour and I've got to say it was really peaceful.
- We drew porcupines, with me following her lead (she learned how to draw one from an art book Jack brought home). If I did it wrong, or at least wrong in her eyes, she'd look at it, say "No, Daddy." I'd say, well, I already did it. And she'd sigh, and then say, patiently, "It's okay." We made porcupines with crowns ("It's a King Porcupine" she explained) and with other porcupines on their backs, and I got several sighs followed by, "It's okay."
- We went to get Jack, and she ran around the playground at school. About the happiest Friday we've had together in a while, I think.
- Went to Dunkin Donuts, which is typically a positive start to the day. She happily got her shoes and jacket on and went to the bathroom, things that occasionally involve resistance. "C'mon, Daddy!" she hollers, as I tie my sneakers. She sings something or other in the car on the way there, and then we hear the dance song of the week on the radio (Love in a Hopeless Place, in case you're wondering...Jack erroneously calls it Love in a Homeless Place, which is kind of amusing), and Kate lights up even more. "Daddy, it's your song!!!" Waiting in line she danced around and announced which kinds of donuts she wanted. Momentary shyness when we had to sit at a table close to strangers. But she rallied when I explained her donut eating depended on it. We brought donuts home for Jack, too.
- Went to the liquor store, me for wine (medicinal purposes you understand) and her to see the parrot. As I'm browsing I hear her say, "Daddy, Daddy! He flapped his wings!" As I looked over, the store's pet parrot did indeed flap his wings. Thrilling for all of us.
- At home we did a puzzle, then Kate said she wanted to take baby for a walk. So we got the stroller out, popped her baby into it, and walked around the block with baby in her stroller. We both wore hats and winter jackets because it was cold, but baby didn't seem to mind. Her beatific smile remained fixed on her face.
- We had lunch. Kate made her own peanut butter and jelly sandwich and also had milk, a cheese stick, and an apple. I had basically the same, although one of us wasn't full afterward.
- After lunch we were going to draw, but first Kate took out a Peter Rabbit coloring book and gave us each a page. We colored with markers; she makes a very bright Peter Rabbit, with different rainbow colors for his ears, nose, eyes, cheeks, paws, sleeves, etc. Her Farmer MacGregor kind of looked scary since she gave him a red beard and green eyes. We colored for about half and hour and I've got to say it was really peaceful.
- We drew porcupines, with me following her lead (she learned how to draw one from an art book Jack brought home). If I did it wrong, or at least wrong in her eyes, she'd look at it, say "No, Daddy." I'd say, well, I already did it. And she'd sigh, and then say, patiently, "It's okay." We made porcupines with crowns ("It's a King Porcupine" she explained) and with other porcupines on their backs, and I got several sighs followed by, "It's okay."
- We went to get Jack, and she ran around the playground at school. About the happiest Friday we've had together in a while, I think.
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Indoor soccer
Jack plays indoor soccer every Wednesday from 5 to 6, which means we pick up Kate from preschool early and zip up to his soccer practice. Some highlights from this week, which are actually applicable to most weeks:
- The first week I failed to bring anything for Kate to do, which was a mistake that I quickly corrected the second week. Since then I've brought books, card games, stuffed toys. They amuse her for, oh, 5 minutes. And then she wants to get water from the water fountain. And go for a walk (we go up and down the stairs outside the gym where they practice). And get more water. Today I brought her Doodle Bear, and a marker to draw on it with, and I think it kept her busy for about 10 minutes. Spread out in 1 minute intervals over the course of the hour. The highlight was when we put Doodle Bear into her jacket, which she loved so much she had to tell Jack. Who was across the echoey gym playing soccer. "JACK!" she yelled. "LOOK AT DOODLE BEAR!!!!"
- Jack and his friends greet each other before practice like it's been weeks since they've seen each other, instead of at school just two hours earlier. They run around like crazy in the hallway outside the gym before practice, then go in and do it all again during practice. And afterward. Jack guzzles water during practice and all the way home, then sleeps easily at night. Might be all the running around.
- I am not sure he'll keep playing soccer far into the future. Might be too young to say for sure, but I think he's more into just running around with his friends than filled with any great fondness for the sport. It's also interesting that he definitely seems to be a defensive-minded sort, rushing to make sure someone is covering the goal. (Arguably he runs from end to end more than anyone else there.) The competitive nature is there; he just seems to care more about keeping the other team from scoring than scoring himself. This evening he saved a couple of goals and assisted on another in a 3-2 win. And had a blast running around with his friends.
- The first week I failed to bring anything for Kate to do, which was a mistake that I quickly corrected the second week. Since then I've brought books, card games, stuffed toys. They amuse her for, oh, 5 minutes. And then she wants to get water from the water fountain. And go for a walk (we go up and down the stairs outside the gym where they practice). And get more water. Today I brought her Doodle Bear, and a marker to draw on it with, and I think it kept her busy for about 10 minutes. Spread out in 1 minute intervals over the course of the hour. The highlight was when we put Doodle Bear into her jacket, which she loved so much she had to tell Jack. Who was across the echoey gym playing soccer. "JACK!" she yelled. "LOOK AT DOODLE BEAR!!!!"
- Jack and his friends greet each other before practice like it's been weeks since they've seen each other, instead of at school just two hours earlier. They run around like crazy in the hallway outside the gym before practice, then go in and do it all again during practice. And afterward. Jack guzzles water during practice and all the way home, then sleeps easily at night. Might be all the running around.
- I am not sure he'll keep playing soccer far into the future. Might be too young to say for sure, but I think he's more into just running around with his friends than filled with any great fondness for the sport. It's also interesting that he definitely seems to be a defensive-minded sort, rushing to make sure someone is covering the goal. (Arguably he runs from end to end more than anyone else there.) The competitive nature is there; he just seems to care more about keeping the other team from scoring than scoring himself. This evening he saved a couple of goals and assisted on another in a 3-2 win. And had a blast running around with his friends.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
