kaleidoscopes!

We love finding fun kits. We visit museum stores often, and always find some interesting robot, craft, kit or puzzle to make. One museum store stocking stuffer this year was a kaleidoscope kit. We waited for the perfect day to make them - and during our big snowstorm yesterday we felt the time was right!


The boys decorated tubes, taped and inserted triangular mirrors, added cups and secured their scopes.


They then filled them with some of the items from the kits...crystals, rocks, flower petals, marbles.


They were really cool to look through - the bright white snow outside was a great backdrop to hold up to the window and see their creations.


After a bit, the boys thought about what we might have around the house that would make even MORE colorful/beautiful/interesting patterns. Oh, we have a lot of things to try - coins, acorn tops, geode pieces, playmobil parts - you name it, they tried it! In the end, of course, they found that we have plenty of the perfect items to make hyper-colorful designs...


...LEGO! They filled their scopes with the little translucent colorful crystals, tips, bits and circles. Perfect!

We of course then had to find out more about kaleidoscopes, mirrors, fractals...all good stuff for a snowy winter day.

Note: We used a kit, but the construction was pretty simple and you could easily make one with materials at home.

dodecahedron and toothpicks.

Our days have been co-co-cold and we have been spending more time inside. While we do love snowball fights and fort building, G has a hard time breathing in the frigid temps with the asthma. There is plenty to do inside, even if it is below zero out.


A few weeks back we saw a fun idea at Child's Play (yet another one of my favorite blogging families going to live in an RV!)...gumdrop geometry. The boys have built 2D and 3D shapes - as well as all kinds of structures - lots of fun!


It is interesting - G wants to create the shapes from a list we found for ideas, and check them off one by one as he builds them. He also enjoys combining colors and patterns.

A, on the other hand, wants to connect all of the shapes into ships, robots, buildings, and bridges...


...and he loves repeatedly saying words like dodecahedron (try saying that one 5 times) and tetrahedron.

As they like to say, "two boys, two worlds." ;)

Wisconsin Winter Day.

Ah, the sun! Just in time for our sledding outing, the sun returned. Cold but bright blue sky and glorious rays. We visited farm friends who live near a rural sledding hill ... and a big one at that! The sun and cold after a week of crazy weather meant that the hill was pretty icy. Before we even could start sledding, one girl was launched out into the middle of the highway at high speed. A few minutes later another girl shot off into the woods and hit a tree *head* on. Her shrieks could be heard all the way at the bottom of the long steep hill. But, the boys wanted to do it. After that intro, though, they were relieved that we brought helmets for them...they could come down pretty fast without being too scared (although it was icy fast and they were a bit intimidated). The trick was to dig in the heels 2/3 of the way down to slow down and stop before being launched into the street at something like 35 miles per hour. We stood at the bottom to jump and catch the kids before the road if their heel brakes or the ROLL OFF THE SLED NOW!!! didn't work. They figured it all out after a run or two. Needless to say, the kids had a blast, and I didn't get any photos of everyone sledding. ;)


After a fun but exhausting hour or so of sledding (that is a long hike up!), we went back to our friends for some hot cocoa and play time. From there we stopped by one of our favorite cafes for an afternoon snack and a game of chess.


After a full day spent enjoying the winter weather, we headed home. The snow in the fields was so shiny it looked more like waves than frozen fields. So beautiful. Tired boys, good day.

Happy Winter!

Whirlwind.

Wow! While we have had plenty of time to cozy up to read, play, and craft, we have also had lots of family and visitors.


We've been making, building, decorating, creating, and baking...


A lot of baking...


Of course lots of playing with all the holiday goodies.


With lots of time for music - playing, singing, drumming, dancing.


This time of year is a whirlwind, and we are looking forward to January to center ourselves at home, and work on all of our projects we saved for those coldest of winter days.



Can't wait to share!

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

Holiday Tradition.

I am always amazed to see how different these two boys are - who spend every moment together, enjoy many of the same toys, and are close in age. A is a big fan of model trains. Even when he was 3 years old he had already memorized all of the different types of engines, passenger cars, freight cars, all of the different motors and rail types. He reads model railroad magazines and books. He visits train shows whenever he can. He LOVES them. Every winter we visit the holiday model train show put on by the botanical garden. It is a small exhibit, but A can watch for an hour without even blinking.


G, on the other hand, enjoys them...but, ya know, no biggie. He tolerates train shows and enjoys the first 1.2 minutes, but after that he is ready to GO!!!! Or, perhaps, see how riled up he can get his brother. Because, HEY, don't they have SUGAR COOKIES in the lobby? ;)


This year the tradition continues...