Botanic Gardens, Book Club, BTSN and a Unit Meeting

Wow - talk about a busy day..

It started off early with 5 kids because N and C spent the night.  They were all up by 8 AM and we were out the door by 9 AM to get to the Botanic Gardens.  I picked today to go because it was going to be a little cooler.  I hoped that they would slow everyone down so we could do some learning and enjoy the gardens.

First, we hit the Children's Garden so we could do some running around.

 Andrew loved to run back and forth over the bridge.

 Skylar can always find an animal to pose with - this time she found a fox.

 At the bottom of the Children's area, there was a little mechantile store, vegetable garden and pool.  The kids didn't want to play in the mud (thank goodness) so they washed all the fruit many many times.

 One mom came over and yelled at her kids to not put the vegetables in the water even though my 5 plus 4 others were putting them in the water.  Andrew spoke up right away in front of her and asked, "why won't that mean mom let him play with us?"  She left immediately after that.

One of my favorite things about the Gardens is being able to use our senses.  Skylar is learning about senses at school so it was a great day to reinforce what she has been learning.

We touched plants that we thought were going to be prickly that ended up soft.

 We touched plants that responded to our touch - the picture of the plant was blurry but I got the name so I could buy some.

 We even found plants that we had eaten before and got to see what it looks like before it is ready to eat.  This is an ugly fruit as a baby.

 Cairn's favorite plant is the lamb's ear - we have some growing in our yard but it doesn't look like this and isn't as soft.

 We used our sight to find small fruits such as grapes.  At first, they didn't notice the grapes - they had just seen the large leaves.  I told them to look under the leaves and they thought they had found gold.  They all wanted to eat one but I said no.

 Then someone realized that the water was blue.  I wanted to find a worker to ask why the water was blue but could only find volunteers that didn't want to answer any questions.

 N said he could see the bottom of the pool so everyone crowded in to see the bottom.

 The new art exhibit at the gardens is by Tetsunori Kawana and Stephan Talasnik featuring bamboo.  They were beautiful and all over the gardens.

 Another of our favorite plants we discovered today was the prickly water lily.  They were really cool sitting next to a regular water lily that was pretty smooth and then this bumpy guy.  We were able to touch one of them and it was very bumpy and even had spikes.

 I don't know why but we found a ton of spider webs covered in dew all over the gardens - it could be the lack of rain but everyone time we found one we had to take a picture.  I saved you all from seeing each and every one and picked just one.

 More of the artwork.

 Of course, we had to stop and see the fish and of course, we forgot the fish food again but we still watched for a bit.  They started on the top and then eventually they were all laying down trying to get a fish to bite their fingers.

When we entered the gardens, N asked if we could see the Venus Flytrap.  I said of course and then he asked if they had one large enough that could eat a mammoth.  A mammoth?  I don't think they are that big.  He also talked about how their teeth eat their food and could bite your finger off.  I tried to explain that wasn't true but he didn't believe me until we found the plant and read the sign that described how they use juices to absorb their nutrients.  He still wanted to see a large one.  I finally convinced him to ask someone that worked at the garden if there was such a large Venus Flytrap.  N was very disappointed to find out they don't exist.

After seeing the gardens we ate lunch in the shade and then headed to Girl Scouts to pick up some stuff.  On the way home Andrew fell asleep in the car (no naps all week).  We played at home for about 30 minutes before we headed to Cairn's last book club meeting.  Andrew was still asleep so the kids went inside my friend's house while I stayed in the car with Andrew.

After book club, we dropped off N and C at home and then went to a local school to set up a Girl Scout table at their Back to School Night.  We hung out for about 20 minutes and then headed to the library so I could set up for my Unit meeting.  Dad picked up the kids at the library while I ran my meeting.  I was finally home at 9 PM.  Dad had everyone bathed and ready for bed so off they trotted to bed and I followed shortly after.  Exhausted from being up since 2 AM.  Tomorrow promises to be a little slower.

Up since 2 AM

It is now 6 AM and I have been up for quite some time now.  I wasn't sleeping well because N and C spent the night and I don't sleep very soundly when extra kids are in the house in case someone needs something.  Tonight though I was up even more.  I was awakened at 2 AM by this strange crying sound.  I thought it was a kid so I walked around and checked on everyone and couldn't find the source so I went back to bed. At 2:26, I was awakened again so I went to the window to see if it was a wild animal.  I couldn't see anything but could tell it was at the end of the other cul-de-sae.  It was a very strange sound but I couldn't place it so I went back to bed - during this time Skylar woke up with leg pain so I had to get her resettled.  Then Andrew woke up because he was cold.  I got him back to bed and then I tried to go back to sleep.  At 4 AM, the noise got really loud so I went back to the window and finally figured out it was a dog.  It sounded wounded and needing help.  I watched the house where I knew there was a dog and I could see movement inside the house.  Now, in this house lives a single older woman with a HUGE dog - a Great Dane.  He is very well behaved and she is very thoughtful so I got worried.  I tried to go back to bed but I just couldn't - something just wasn't right.  I finally, decided to call the Sheriff - not 911 - just dispatch.  I talked to the officer and he said they would do a welfare check.  I know he thought I was crazy but he sent over an officer.  I didn't know the address but I tried to give directions as best I could.  While I was on the phone a police officer drove by and then drove onto our street.  I walked out to the street and talked to the officer and told him which house.  He drove to the house and waited for back-up.  Another officer arrived and they checked the perimeter of the house and then went to the front door.  A few minutes later, they were getting into their cars.  The first officer on the scene came back to our house so I went outside to hear what he had to say.

The lady I thought it was - she is fine and so is her dog.  It was the person next door who just moved in last week that has a dog (didn't know there was another dog on that street).  That person had been arrested 5 hours earlier and they left the dog outside and he wanted back in.  The officer was very nice and thanked me for being concerned about my neighbors.

I tried to go back to sleep but my mind is awake and there is just no way I will go back to sleep.  So I have blogged several days worth since I was behind and organized my email.

I plan to go visit the woman later today and tell her I called and I am glad she is okay and to apologize but I think she will understand and hopefully appreciate that someone was thinking of her.

So far, other than Skylar and Andrew's one wake up everyone has slept well.

We are going to head to the Botanic Gardens today since the weather will be in the 70's and Cairn has a few lessons she can work on for school - adaptions of plants living in different environments.  N can help her out too.  Then tonight I have a Girl Scout unit meeting.

First Field Day

Today was a super hot day so we decided to do Field Day.  Actually one doesn't have anything to do with the other but it was the hottest day of the year so far.  Field Day had been scheduled for a month.

We got to the park at 12 PM for a picnic lunch with the other COVA students (COVA is Cairn's online school).  We met up with lots of friends.

At 1 PM, they divided the kids into their grade levels which seems odd to me since they don't really hang out with the same aged peers but it makes it easy I suppose.  Cairn went with the 4th graders since that is where all here friends were.  No one seemed to notice and I didn't care.  Skylar went with the kindergartners.

 The three legged race.

 Soccer dribbling.

 Not sure what this was called but they ran with a ball.

 Sponge race.

 Frisbee

 Cairn with her friend, O.

 Cairn in the 3 legged race.

 The aftermath - I think she was hot.

 There were some fountains at the park where we were so everyone headed over after the events.

 Drenched!!  Cairn of course, was worried about getting wet but I assured her she could go home wet and I wouldn't make any stops with her in wet clothes so she got wet.

.After field day, we went home to change clothes and play with more friends.  No one napped on the way home.  They were too excited talking about all the things they had done.  We played outside for awhile and then went in for dinner.  After dinner, I have started taking the street kids to the park with us until about 8 PM.  Everyone loves it especially the parents.  No naps, lots of hard running, out in the sun all day equals one easy bedtime.