Our Kids: April 2011

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Well, we are all aware of Julia's love of dressing up and being beautiful. In fact, today, I believe she had worn about five different dresses before noon...Let's see, there was the fairy outfit, the witch outfit, Princess Belle, Minnie Mouse, and something else that I have forgotten. We always joke around about where Julia got her sense of fashion. I don't quite remember wanting to dress up and be fashionable 24/7 as a child with exception to perhaps wear hoop skirts like the women from the Old South from time to time. Well, Papa, being the detective and photo archivist that he is, noticed something very important in a photo that is on display in the entryway of Meema and Papa's home. It is a photo from the late 1950s and in it is Meema and her two brothers and sister. Meema is the one on the left...She looks to be about Julia's age, perhaps a year older. But, what is truly important is what Meema is wearing. On close inspection, Papa noticed what we all have failed to notice when we pass by that photo from time to time. Meema is playing dress up. She has on her mink stole and a pearl necklace...She says she still remembers receiving that stole and necklace as a child and remembers how much she loved it. It is plain to see where Julia gets her sense of style...Many thanks to Grandpa to uncovering the truth!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Adventures in Spring Break

Spring Break was a busy one for this family...Meema felt as though I was trying to squeeze too much in because of the guilt of not having formal plans for Spring Break. Maybe she was right...What was meant to be a relaxing week turned into a bit of craziness for us, but we had tons of fun and would do it all again in a heartbeat! We hit the Airplane Museum, the Lakeview Museum, the Abraham Lincoln Museum at Lincoln College, the David Davis Mansion, the ISU Women's NIT games, and the Zoo. For some of these great adventures, I have pictures to share. Others, I do not because the battery in the camera slipped out of place and I was too dense to realize it! Enjoy!

Alex at his favorite museum showing me how to buckle the seatbelt in the Huey.

Julia sitting with Alex and enjoying some time hanging out in the Huey.

A new tradition at the zoo...Using the stage meant for animal presentations as a personal podium for singing to anybody who walks by. Julia personal choice..."Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Alex's choice...A selection of songs about colors.

Given all the events recently in Japan, Alex has had a lot of questions about earthquakes and tsunamis. I was trying to explain the concept of plate tectonics to him one day when he asked me in a quite puzzled manner "how there could be dinner plates all over the ground?" Luckily, we visited the Lakeview Museum over break, which had a nice exhibit that showed the kids how plate tectonics work. Alex and Julia were able to slide and push the 'Earth's plates' to create earthquakes and mountains. They are well on their way to being Geologists now!

The Lakeview Museum was fun and educational...but, the hill out back was perfect for log rolling and may have been a bigger thrill for the kids than the museum!