Friday, April 29, 2011

This Moment


{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. -- via SouleMama

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Earth Day in Flushing

While the boys and I were at the UM-Flint Earth Day events a week ago, we walked past Good Ol' Redbeard's booth advertising the Earth Day Festivities at Riverview Park in Flushing.  A week later we were on our way to Flushing. 

As we crossed into the city of Flushing, the drizzle began to hit our windshield and I knew we could be in trouble.  It had been a drizzily day, but the boys needed some time to run like border collies. I wanted to get out and stretch my legs and begin to shake off the late April winter, so we continued. 

Three bands were advertised, as well as lots of enviro-booths, a canoe float, a bounce house, and a river.  I would lie if I said it wasn't an Earth Day disappointment.  The band on stage when we arrived seemed to only be playing around -- rather than playing music, and the 7 people milling around to hear the band (all family and friends?) braved the cold drizzle.   Was this Earth Day?  Was this the best Michigan could do?

I felt like we were the only people there who didn't know the band or have a booth.  The boys wanted to play in the bounce house, but we said no because it was wet and you can't wear shoes in a bounce house.  We didn't want soaked socks and pants.  

After watching a muskrat try to swim across the river, we went to the play area on the far end of the park.  There the boys had a blast running around, swinging, and playing the imaginary games of small children.  Aside from being outside, it didn't feel like an Earth Day event.

We finally left the play area and headed to the Flushing A, a former A&W that changed it's name so it could serve its own food (according to the rumor I heard).  It didn't seem an Earth Day type of place we should be going to.  We probably should have eaten at Dale's Natural Food counter or Seva, but the former doesn't seem a place for wild chidren and we would have had to drive too far for the latter on Earth Day.

Instead we conserved fossil fuels and ate at the Flushing A.  I don't anticipate our eating there again.  The food was mediocre at best, and though our server was kind, our order was hopelessly wrong -- twice.  My wife heard other tables complaining about wrong orders as well.  So it goes.

When we left, the band had disbanded and nearly everyone was gone from the booths to the bandstand and the bounce house -- closing 3 hours earlier than advertised.  We didn't care, though. We were on our way out as well.

The boys begged to go into the bounce house again, but the wife and I were ready to head home and we didn't want soaked muskrat children.  I regret that decision now.  They would have had a blast and they would have been fine on the ride home, but at the time it seemed home was the best option.

Despite our difficulties, the day was nice and the boys had a nice time.  They got to run and swing and yell and eat hot dogs. Maybe it wasn't such a bad Earth Day after all.




Friday, April 22, 2011

This Moment


{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. -- via SouleMama

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Geocaching

You may have seen my photoessay on geocaching here.  It had moments of lots of fun and moments of deep frustration as we tried to use an auto GPS for tracking latitude and longitude in the bushes while looking for something well-hidden.  But I'm going to focus on the fun.

First, if you are unfamiliar with geocaching, it's essentially a sophisticated, high-tech game of hide and seek.  Here is a nice video explaining is (sans frustration):



So here's what I have to say about geocaching.  It's a great way to drag kids outdoors.  Caches are hidden in urban, rural, and wilderness environments; you can find something to suit your needs.  When I went to the website, I found over 70 caches hidden within five miles of our house.  Not bad.  You don't need anything special beyond a GPS, and now most smartphones have it.  You can even get an app to make it easier, make maps, and record your findings. 

On our adventure, the boys were interested until we ran into the problem of searching for something well hidden.  In this case, it was fairly well hidden for newbies like us. Fortunately our boys have imaginations only rivaled by the drug-addled cartoonists of the 1920s and they managed to trek into the thorny shrubs to find a "cave" and then they proceeded to convince my wife to climb in.  She couldn't make it. 

But after I found the cache, the boys were very interested in what it was, where it was hidden, and how it was hidden.  On our way home, the boys wanted to explore more, but we didn't have time to search for a second cache in the neighborhood.

I could prattle on about how important it is to get kids outside, have them explore their environment, use their bodies, learn about nature, play games to stimulate their intellect, etc.  Instead I'll leave you with this:

The boys slept great that night. 

Friday, April 15, 2011

This Moment

{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. -- via SouleMama

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Boy vs. Girl Advertising Language

Below are two word clouds created by Crystal Smith over at The Achilles Effect for a post exploring the language of advertisements for boys and girls.  Go to the post here for a better view.  I don't think I need to belabor the point about how our society reinforces gender stereotypes.  But it was interesting seeing the clouds and then reading Smith's methodology. Check it out.



From a personal perspective, we've tried to not to reinforce some of the stereotypes, and in some ways we've been successful.  Our boys interests cross between the words on those clouds quite fluidly.  But I know the older they get the more society will influence their lives.  I hope when that happens they will be comfortable enough with who they are to remain so.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

GeoCaching: A Photo Essay

First attempt at geocaching:

Not long after the photo above one of our adventurers' party melted down and we returned home without reaching our goal. 

Try #2:




A victory celebration and entering "the cave!"

Friday, April 8, 2011

For the Love of Books

Sometimes I'm slow to notice things under my nose.  And I often have someone small right under my nose.  My most recent oversight was our youngest really starting get books.  He's always been interested in books, as many small children are (here and here).  When we read to him, he would often want to look at pictures and insist on turning pages before we could get through the only three words on them.  He was learning the mechanics of reading.

A few days ago, my wife told me that E was asking her what words meant in the book she was reading.  I know this drill from our older twins (and how maddening it can be to try to explain concepts like time or outer space). 

So I was pleased when at bedtime I sat on our bed in my pjs, E sitting between my legs in his, and I read him books, cover to cover -- repeatedly.  He didn't turn pages prematurely.  And during that reading, he asked me what words meant.  How does one explain what a rocket is to a two year old?  A sky rocket that explodes in bunches of fruit no less (Jamberry).  

It was nice to have that moment with him, quiet and exciting.  And I look forward to more. 

This Moment



{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. -- via SouleMama

Friday, April 1, 2011

This Moment


{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. -- via SouleMama