Visit to Culver City

We started off today with a stop at the fancy Americana Mall at Brand in Glendale. Tuesday is a special kids days, so they had a concert for kids and free meals in various restaurants. Then we went to visit Nancy and Eric (cute, of course), and Blake was also there briefly. She showed off her new house (very pretty, with tile floors and newer windows), and then we walked to the nearby playground, Lindberg Park (see photo). It is a decent size and had some neat stuff for the kids to climb on.

Joshua here--I liked that show (All That Trash on Monday). He was funny. Especially the part where somebody says, "There's something that should never go in the trash", and the other guy said, "My Teddy Bear! He's so cute and precious to me." And the first guy said, "I meant like something dangerous" The second guy pretended the teddy bear was fighting him and he went "Ka-Pow Yow Wow". At the end he pretended the teddy bear said "Victory is mine!".

Day at the Beach and All That Trash

Sunday, July 19 we finally met up with Ben, Betsy and cute little Will, who is now 21 months. Now that both our families are living in NY, about 100 miles apart, we need to travel 3000 miles to get together. Betsy claimed that they came to Southern California to eat at their favorite Indian restaurant, Kamal's Palace in Long Beach.

We met up with them at the restaurant, then we spent the rest of the afternoon at Bolsa Chica State Beach, south of Long Beach. It is an awesome beach with tons of shells and waves strong enough to carry the kids out to sea! Will wasn't so fond of the water, but he enjoyed playing in the sand with Laura (see picture). Benjamin loved picking up every shell and shell fragment he saw. Joshua was fascinated by a dead sand crab that we found, and he eventually discovered and picked up a live one before it disappeared into the sand. Joshua also found an empty crab shell of some kind. Dave insists that it is a horseshoe crab, but I am certain that it is not. We got home in time for supper with Grandma, who is leaving for her cruise tomorrow (Monday). She carefully explained to Laura that she is not going on the airplane yet--she will be back to spend more time with us. I promised Laura that she will go to camp after Grandma leaves on an airplane.

Monday, July 20, we started off by seeing a show called "All That Trash" by Razzle Bam Boom, which the kids thought was hilarious. In the afternoon we went to a LACMA art program for families at the Los Felix branch library. The kids etched a design in a piece of foam and then "printed" it on paper using colored markers. Benjamin, of course, drew a spaceship and Joshua created a neat underwater scene. Laura was upset that printing did not involve printing a fun coloring page from the computer. Then we played for a bit in the library in a circular kids lounge filled with stuffed animals. Finally, on the way home, we stopped at Cerritos Park in Glendale which was lots of fun. Joshua loved getting doused by the tipping buckets of water, and Benjamin loves the spaceship-shaped play structure.

Noah's Ark at Skirball

Today's activity was the Skirball Museum, a Jewish cultural museum. The kid's area, Noah's Ark, requires advanced reservations, which I made a few days ago for 10:30am (to visit Noah's Ark on Thursday, when admission is free, seems to require reservations months in advance). The trip was worthwhile, but we were tired enough after Noah's Ark, a Wildlife on Wheels show and a visit to the Art Studio that we didn't end up seeing the main part of the museum or the archeological dig. Noah's Ark started with a brief introduction before we got around to playing. Then we were able to go into the play area which consisted of 4 rooms decorated with whimsical creatures and containing a variety of hands-on activities. The kids' favorite activity in the first room involved loading animals on the ark (see photo). The second room had some small houses (one had a sunroof that Benjamin enjoyed opening and closing) and stuffed animals. The third room was their favorite because they could climb to a second level. It also had a cooking area with play food and accessories. The fourth room had fewer things to play with, but the kids enjoyed the large ark and animals (see photo).

We spent about 1 1/2 hours in the Noah's and then went outside to eat lunch and see the Wildlife on Wheels show, which included a spider monkey, alligator, and bald eagle. Then we made woven baskets in the art room and spent a few minutes in the superhero exhibit before heading home. I had hoped that we would be able to see some of the regular exhibit, but that will have to wait until next time.

(Dave here) Benjamins favorite things was the eggs. He would collect them, put them down the chute, come down the ladder and collect them again. He also like the Noahs Ark animal train, where he would collect the animals, put them on the chute, roll them to the top and collect them again. If only he would collect his laundry with such energy!

Joshua liked weaving at the art activity. He showed all the kids how to weave (but Benjamin already knew how). Then Daddy tied handles to the baskets they made.

Daddy's favorite was the animals, especially the African porcupine.

(Joshua here) Joshua's favorite part of the Wildlife show was the toucan, especially the poem. "One Can saves toucans".

Week at the Science Museum

Thursday morning (July 16), we went to the main Pasadena Library to see the storyteller Karen Golden. Before the show started, the librarian advertised the summer reading program w/prizes, so during the whole show, the kids were mostly thinking about the summer reading program bag w/prizes. The show was about a girl who goes on an adventure around the world on a paper boat. The boat docked several times and each time she heard a new story. Karen Golden kept the kids interested by having them join in with sound effects (perhaps Laura was a bit young for this program). After the show, Grandma helped the kids sign up for the summer reading program. The program ran later than I thought it would, so we were late to meet Daddy at In 'n Out Burger for lunch and then the kids were late for camp.

While the kids were in camp, Grandma, Laura and I explored the Natural History Museum and the Butterfly Pavillion. Benjamin brought home the planets project that he made in camp and said that he launched a rocket today and he caught it. Then he showed us a paper rocket that he used. I assume the paper was taped to a container and then a vinegar-baking powder solution or something like that was the actual rocket. Joshua was thrilled to leave camp with a couple of ladybugs today. We were discussing whether or not ladybugs can come on the airplane home (I would like to see them survive until then in captivity!).

Today (Friday), I wanted to take the kids to see the dinosaur show at the Natural History Museum. So, we dropped Grandma at the bus station so that she could go exploring downtown and headed to the museums. We got to the Natural History Museum early enough that we could see the Dino Lab and the birds and rainforest exhibit first. The bird and rainforest exhibits were really impressive! We felt like we were walking through a piece of an actual rainforest. We rushed through these exhibits so that we wouldn't be late for the dinosaur show. The kids were nervous around the baby Tyranasaurus Rex. Joshua still bravely volunteered to check out the dinosuar's teeth. Joshua got picked to check the T-Rex's teeth because the performer was the instructor from Benjamin's camp last week and he recognized us. Then the dinosaur chased Joshua in little circles up on stage, which was really funny! Finally, we had to go back to the science museum to eat lunch and drop the kids off for camp.

While the boys were in camp, Laura played with the toy exhibit and we went to see the butteryfly pavilion. We met up with Grandma at camp pickup time and then ventured back into the museum. Benjamin wanted to show us the air and space section of the museum, but it was closed. When we went into the main building, Joshua first wanted to try rock climbing, which he did very well. Then we went to see the communication and structures part of the Creative World exhibit before I dragged everyone back to the car to leave. Benjamin enjoyed building on the earthquake table and Joshua enjoyed the exhibit that "blinks if you are close enough to someone".

Joshua here to tell us about camp. "They gave us ladybugs on the fourth day and they also gave us stuff for our ladybugs to eat. We made ladybug gliders. We made ladybug shapes and ladybug wings and colored them and we paperclipped them together and then we flew them. Oh yeah! We got our ladybugs on bird day. We started bird houses. We just talked about birds, took a break, we started our birdhouse, and then we got our visitor--a tarantula and a snake and a lizard with no legs. A few lizards have no legs. Some people mistake them for a snake. We touched the tarantula. It felt soft. On the last day, we finished our birdhouses and got birdseed. We touched a guinea pig. We fed the guinea pig."

Benjamin "I saw Joshua fly his ladybug from the megatower. I flew my helicopter from the megatower."

3-2-1 Blast-Off and Creature Feature Camps

Benjamin has been really looking forward to his camps at the California Science Center! This week's, 3-2-1 Blast-Off sounds really cool. Joshua has the Creature Feature program this week. Perhaps he will either learn how to catch lizards or teach him that trying to catch the ones in our backyard is almost futile. Monday morning (after the kids were done fighting over sidewalk chalk), we spent exploring the science museum. We saw the temporary Science in Toyland exhibit first, which was fun, but not all the displays worked well. The kids had trouble getting the car to go all the way around a track with a loop and the dominoes exhibit took lots of patience. The sailcar and the building exhibit were really fun! Then we spent a few minutes in the 'Identity, an exhibition of you' special exhibit and the Transportation section. They loved the moving the light around to power the solar car. Finally, we headed to the World of Life and the Discovery Room because I thought that the live animals would be fun to see. The kids also enjoyed making butterflies, but we will have to return to check out the non-computer activities in the tech room.

Then we went outside for lunch, and I dropped the kids off at camp. Laura was not happy again about not going to camp herself. I promised her camp after Grandma leaves (it starts on Aug 3 and Grandma is leaving on Aug 2). Benjamin said that his group visited the Air and Space exhibit, learned about galaxies and saw a movie about a sun exploding. Joshua saw a gecko and learned about habitats by visiting the World of Life exhibit.

Tuesday morning we saw a magic show, Illusions by Allen, at La Pintoresca branch library in Pasadena. The show was very impressive, and the library was packed with kids. After the show, we played outside in the best playground we seen so far with a web climbing area that Joshua and Benjamin liked (Laura was too small) and a water play area. I gave the kids lunch while sitting in the park so that Benjamin and Laura might be able to dry off a bit. Then it was time to drop the kids off at camp. They were all anxious to pickup Grandma at the airport after camp. During camp, Joshua identified creatures in a pond in the education building and decorated his camp t-shirt. Benjamin brought home projects about the moon phases, constellations and asteroids and comets. After camp we headed to the airport. The kids loved watching planes landing and taking off as we approached it, but seeing Grandma was the highlight of the day!

Joshua here--On the second day of camp, we painted fish habitats on the back of our t-shirts and then we looked at the pond to see how many mosquito fish, crayfish, red eared-slider turtles, and bullfrogs there were. There was only one red eared-slider turtle and one bullfrog, but we found a rare crayfish with spots.

My favorite thing was finding habitats (on Monday in the museum). We found chicks habitat on a farm. (Laura calls a habitat a 'tat'). And we found fish in a kelp forest habitat. And we saw a bug garden habitat.

1st Visit to the Natural History Museum

Since I have two kids that are really gung-ho about bugs, frogs, snakes and lizards, we couldn't miss Reptile and Amphibian Appreciation Day at the Natural History Museum. After 5 years I was looking forward to trekking back to Exposition Park and USC's neighborhood. On our way, we bought a bike for Laura that was advertised on craigslist, and Dave picked up the board game Life at a garage sale (I just hope we can minimize the extra stuff we collect and want to bring home!).

When we got in the museum, first we reserved a spot in the critter club program, which is for ages 3-5 so Benjamin can still participate. Next was the butterfly pavillion which my kids were eager to see. They missed going to see the Butterfly Show at Krohn in Cincinnati the past couple of years. After the butterflies, we went back inside and ended up in the Hall of Gems for a bit, partly because it is near the bathrooms. Laura found a computer with a touch screen that she could scream at when it didn't do what she wanted. We made a point of seeing the famous red diamond, but just seeing the magnitude of the gem collection was awe-inspiring.

Then we headed to the Discovery Center--the hands-on area for kids because Joshua had so much fun playing in it 5 years ago and because the insect zoo sounded pretty exciting. In honor of Reptile and Amphibian Appreciation Day, lots of live animals--lizards, snakes, frogs, toads, and turtles--were on display in the hallways leading to the Discovery Center. Eventually we found the insect zoo--I think the kids liked the giant millipede, but Laura was disappointed that we couldn't find any ladybugs. The Discovery Center also had a dinosaur dig and an actual dinosaur skeleton that wasn't quite complete--until Joshua came along to help.

Finally it was our turn to participate in the Critter Club. Benjamin and Laura enjoyed the story, the discussion of tadpoles turning into frogs and the live animal presentations, which even included a baby alligator! Joshua occupied himself with a selection of turtle and spider puppets. Then they each decorated a burrow for the animals to live. Then we decided that we had had enough of the museum (we will have to come back to see the dinosaur puppet show!) for the day. Though we had fun, I was disppointed that all the toys, games, and puzzles that the Discovery Center had 5 years ago were gone.

After a short rest at home, we rushed to the Glendale Library to catch some of the Annie Banannie's Balloon Storytelling Show. The kids enjoyed it, and Joshua even got to be a hero, with some kind of balloon weapon that saved the world from the evil jellybean monster (or something like that). During most of the show, Laura was yelling loudly "I want a kitty-cat", since Annie was making amazing balloon props for the stories she was telling. Laura was eager to run up on stage to get a balloon animal of her own, until Dave took her into the children's section.

When we got home, Benjamin and Laura were eager to try out their new bikes--we found a back street with minimal traffic where they could ride. We even got Joshua to join us. I just need to get at least one more helmet. For dinner, I persuaded Dave to try Sizzler Steak House which I remember going to fairly often as a kid. The dinner was somewhat enjoyable--Benjamin loved the dino-shaped chicken nuggets and Joshua ate the pizza. Laura wanted a sample of everything in front of her, and didn't want to sit in the high chair anymore. Of course her voice has only two volume levels: very loud (for her first request) and extra, extra loud (for when we didn't do exactly what her highness wanted). Ice cream was included, so the dinner was worthwhile from the kids' point of view.

Last Two Days of Tar Pits for Mommy and Laura

Yesterday, we said good-bye to Grandpa and then headed off to camp. Laura and I went to the Hollywood Bowl to try to buy tickets for Summersounds next week, but they were sold out for the days and times that we want. Then we went to the Farmer's Market and saw part of a performance of Twinkle Time (see http://www.twinkleandfriends.com/). I was glad that we found something for Laura to enjoy while the other two were at camp. After camp pick up, we went to a Pasadena Branch Library to see the very animated storyteller Jim Cogan. The kids got to participate in the story by following his motions and sound effects, though Benjamin and Laura got impatient towards the end.

Both Benjamin and Joshua seemed to learn something from their camps. Joshua learned a bit about the culture of people living during the ice age as well as the animals. The last day they saw the excavations at Pit 91 and Project 23 and showed me some homemade "tar". Benjamin did a museum scavenger hunt the last day, but on Thursday brought home a hidden picture worksheet that not only seemed easy for 1st-2nd graders, but also had nothing to do with the camp topic. He also said that they watched Tom and Jerry cartoons everyday (I didn't send him to camp to watch TV--they do plenty of that at home!).

Friday, while Joshua and Benjamin were at camp, I took Laura to the Zimmer Children's Museum (see photo) which was nearby. At camp pickup, Joshua had a bead necklace and a clay pot (learning about ice age people) as well as the homemade tar. After lunch, we went to the Glendale Library to play with their wooden trains and get the summer reading club prizes, which were a tatto, pencil and book. Joshua and Benjamin both chose a Pokemon handbook that they hadn't read yet (the same handbook). Laura picked out Diego and the Blue Morpho Butterfly.