My favorite part of the week was the Children's Museum. It was really fun. Oh yeah, the theater, I would like to go back to that again. And the carousel. Oh yeah, the car. I want a car that runs on electricity because you can go 50 miles with one gallon of electricity gas. Have you ever heard of a car that runs on water? You can only go 12.5 miles with one gallon of water in that car. There are still more kinds of gas a car can run on. Regular gas and some kind of gas that starts with a B.
Oh yeah, the library craft. I made a dinosaur, Benjamin made a kitty car and Laura made something crazy. The puppet show--I especially like the part where he tried to throw the bed, he was like "oooohhhh, ouch". I especially like the part where he said "Save the biggest piece for me" because Papa Bear came up and said "Wait a minute, that's not in the script".
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Hollywood Bowl and Library Tour
Wednesday, July 22 we started off with a craft at the Pasadena Library with a stop in Alhambra to give Dave a good shirt since he biked to work and forget a fresh shirt to change into. Then we ate lunch at Teri and Yaki, a fast food type Japanese restaurant in Pasadena. They had given out coupons to summer reading club members for a free meal, which the kids were eager to redeem. Though not spectacular, the food was good, the kids were happy, and Joshua actually ate the chicken. By the time we got back home, it was 3:00pm since the kids' multiple bathroom trips during lunch and during errands after lunch slowed us down considerably. I got the kids a snack from the house, and we went to the Los Feliz library for a humorous puppet show by Swazzle called "Goldilocks and the Three Buckaneers". Joshua and Benjamin were mesmerized by it. Afterwards, I dragged them to Cerritos Park to play in the water again before heading home.
Thursday, July 23 we started off with a Summersounds show at the
Hollywood Bowl. The performace took us on a visit to East LA to learn about Mexican music and dance with SammyDee (who lives at 24th and Hoover in the show). After the show, the kids made tin paintings and Day of the Dead masks. In the afternoon, we went to our local Eagle Park branch library to see a pirate magic show by David Skale. This magic show was not nearly as impressive as the first one--Illusions by Allen at the Pasadena branch library. Joshua thought that the pirate magic show was funnier, but preferred Allen because he performed more magic tricks.
On Friday we journeyed to La Habra to v
isit the Children's Museum there. Benjamin was excited from the moment he saw the train cars outside the museum, especially the red caboose. The kids started off in the theater room (see photo) which contained hundreds of costumes, a working microphone and working sound effects room. They could have played there all day. They also enjoyed the riding the carousel, touring the caboose, climbing on the dinosaurs outside the museum (see photo), and making Gak. Benjamin was fascinated by the typewriter in the caboose, and enjoyed dressing up as a fireman in the theater room. Laura's second favorite activity was grocery shopping.
I finally dragged the kids away from the theater, and we drove to Alhambra to give Dave a ride home (since he had biked to work). Before going home, we checked ou
t the water play area in Alhambra park. Much to the kids' disappointment, we didn't end up staying because I was annoyed that they were charging for both adults and kids to go into a tiny water play area. To make up for it, Saturday afternoon we took the kids again to La Pintoresca Park in Pasadena which has a bigger, free water play area and adjoining playground!
Saturday morning we went to the William H. Hart Park in Newhall, near Santa Clarita because they were having a family program. While it was not nearly as crowded as July 4 at the Rose Bowl must be, the kids enjoyed the crafts (toilet paper tube binoculars, and pasta and bead rattlesnakes) and the live animal program. They even had skins from skunks, badgers, bobcats and cougars and owl wings for us to touch. The park also has a barnyard area, a herd of buffallo, and tours of William Hart's mansion, which I was told is very child-friendly. Though the buffallo are not always visible on the walking path to the mansion, we managed to spot three buffallo near the sign about them. Dave and I enjoyed seeing the mansion, but the only child-friendly aspect of the tour was that it was very short. Joshua and Benjamin were impressed by the bear skin rug in the living room. Someone mentioned a bird sanctuary on top of Pine Mountain in Frazier Park, which I will have to remember to look up, though it doesn't seem like it is worth the drive this summer.
Since our local section of Colorado Blvd (the main thoroughfare in Eagle Rock) is lined with Thai restaurants, I thought it would be fun to try one. So, in the evening, we decided to try Classic Thai because it had the highest rating of local restaurants on Yelp. Though the restaurant was empty, we were not disappointed with the food. The kids gobbled down the heavenly chicken which was recommended by someone on Yelp. Next time, I would like to sit on their peaceful patio.
Thursday, July 23 we started off with a Summersounds show at the

On Friday we journeyed to La Habra to v

I finally dragged the kids away from the theater, and we drove to Alhambra to give Dave a ride home (since he had biked to work). Before going home, we checked ou

Saturday morning we went to the William H. Hart Park in Newhall, near Santa Clarita because they were having a family program. While it was not nearly as crowded as July 4 at the Rose Bowl must be, the kids enjoyed the crafts (toilet paper tube binoculars, and pasta and bead rattlesnakes) and the live animal program. They even had skins from skunks, badgers, bobcats and cougars and owl wings for us to touch. The park also has a barnyard area, a herd of buffallo, and tours of William Hart's mansion, which I was told is very child-friendly. Though the buffallo are not always visible on the walking path to the mansion, we managed to spot three buffallo near the sign about them. Dave and I enjoyed seeing the mansion, but the only child-friendly aspect of the tour was that it was very short. Joshua and Benjamin were impressed by the bear skin rug in the living room. Someone mentioned a bird sanctuary on top of Pine Mountain in Frazier Park, which I will have to remember to look up, though it doesn't seem like it is worth the drive this summer.
Since our local section of Colorado Blvd (the main thoroughfare in Eagle Rock) is lined with Thai restaurants, I thought it would be fun to try one. So, in the evening, we decided to try Classic Thai because it had the highest rating of local restaurants on Yelp. Though the restaurant was empty, we were not disappointed with the food. The kids gobbled down the heavenly chicken which was recommended by someone on Yelp. Next time, I would like to sit on their peaceful patio.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
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!".
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!".
Monday, July 20, 2009
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 shel
ls 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.
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 shel

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.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
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 su
perhero 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".


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 su

(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".
Friday, July 17, 2009
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."
While the kids were in camp, Grandma, Laura and I


Today (Friday), I wanted to take the kids to see the dinosaur show at

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."
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
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.
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.

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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)