Spring Break 2011 - New Braunfels, TX
McKenna Children's Museum and the Texas Snake Farm (not to mention a few other animals) kept us busy and out of trouble today!
Spring Break 2011 - McKinney Falls
Another day, another road trip to our favorite "escape from the city" state park. We have not been to McKinney Falls since our cliff jumping days last summer. It was nice to see the preserve in the first days of almost-spring. Not many flowers or critters yet, but I am sure the place is about to pop!
Happy hiking...
Happy hiking...
Spring Break 2011 - San Gabriel, TX
This is our first Spring Break since returning from Finland we are not spending out at the farm. Feeling a bit sad, we went out for a quick day trip to find our tree house demolished.
Unfortunately, it was our fault. When we built the tree house a few years ago, we did not leave enough space around the trunk for the tree to continue swaying in the wind as it has for many years. The tree had to "learn a new dance" in the wind and it killed it, splitting the trunk. We knew with a few hard freezes and windy days, the tree was destined to fall soon.
Now we can remodel the existing tree house with a table in the middle and a BB gun window...not to mention enough fire wood for next winter!
A few shots from memory lane~
Unfortunately, it was our fault. When we built the tree house a few years ago, we did not leave enough space around the trunk for the tree to continue swaying in the wind as it has for many years. The tree had to "learn a new dance" in the wind and it killed it, splitting the trunk. We knew with a few hard freezes and windy days, the tree was destined to fall soon.
Now we can remodel the existing tree house with a table in the middle and a BB gun window...not to mention enough fire wood for next winter!
A few shots from memory lane~
Showcase Day
The Friday before Spring Break, our school has their "Showcase Day" where each student displays their work. As parents, we call it "don't leave town early day or your kid will be really sad to miss out on this!"
The boys were so excited to see some of their stuff displayed throughout the school's hallways. Will even performed in a Readers Theater.
Finally, 9 days of sleeping in (yeah...right!)
The boys were so excited to see some of their stuff displayed throughout the school's hallways. Will even performed in a Readers Theater.
Finally, 9 days of sleeping in (yeah...right!)
It's My Park Day 2011
My favorite community service project last year was It's My Park! Day. It’s My Park! Day is an annual community service day focused on improvements to Austin’s parks.
I was so excited about it this year I even extended the invite. Of course my cousin and her wild boys joined in on the fun (they are always the only ones brave enough.) We signed up for the Zilker Park Tree Planting. As a group over 250 trees were planted today in the park, we were directly responsible for 6. If those 6 trees make it through our hot summers and droughts, I told the boys they can one day pinic under them with their kids. I don't think they understand the impact yet but it sure did make me smile!
I was so excited about it this year I even extended the invite. Of course my cousin and her wild boys joined in on the fun (they are always the only ones brave enough.) We signed up for the Zilker Park Tree Planting. As a group over 250 trees were planted today in the park, we were directly responsible for 6. If those 6 trees make it through our hot summers and droughts, I told the boys they can one day pinic under them with their kids. I don't think they understand the impact yet but it sure did make me smile!
How to plant a tree:
1. Dig a hole deep and wide.
2. Hit the tree barrel to loosen the roots and slide out the tree.
3. Cut up and fluff the roots.
4. Roll the tree to the hole.
5. Erect..make sure the tree is "straight" up.
6. Fill edges with dirt and pack down.
7. Repeat step above.
8. Level ground out.
9. Mulch around, not touching the trunk.
10. Stand next to it with your shovel and say "cheese" while your mom takes a million photos!
2. Hit the tree barrel to loosen the roots and slide out the tree.
3. Cut up and fluff the roots.
4. Roll the tree to the hole.
5. Erect..make sure the tree is "straight" up.
6. Fill edges with dirt and pack down.
7. Repeat step above.
8. Level ground out.
9. Mulch around, not touching the trunk.
10. Stand next to it with your shovel and say "cheese" while your mom takes a million photos!
Monkey Time
They Might Be Monkeys provided a climbing demonstration for kids. Will and Alex could not wait to be harnessed and climb to the top. Unfortunately, 3/4 of the way up they were both ready to come down...it was a pretty tall tree :)
Tree Huggers!
They provided a great photo opt for all the tree huggers that participated in It's My Park Day!
Boys being boys...
And at the end of the morning we enjoyed a free lunch, Frisbee golf (the boys were lucky enough to take the Frisbees home), a photo shoot near the trees we planted, and one last climb!
Kinder Mall
It is that time again...Kinder Mall! Each student was responsible for his/her own store, sign, money, and items or services sold. With pennies earned the past few weeks for good behavior during class, the kids had money to spend.
Families were invited to school for shopping too. Fran enjoyed the tattoos and fingernail painting, while I was quite amazed by the "parent ran" stores and "parent made" signs and goods. How is a child to learn the basics of economics when their parents can't let go??
Families were invited to school for shopping too. Fran enjoyed the tattoos and fingernail painting, while I was quite amazed by the "parent ran" stores and "parent made" signs and goods. How is a child to learn the basics of economics when their parents can't let go??
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