Crab Cove Day

Another AMAZING home school day!

We ventured to Crab Cove in Alameda with our ISP/Co-Op group today.

The kids had a BLAST. It was cold and windy, but not one complaint.

They LOVE nature and being in it or near it!!!

We started our exploration by going down to the water.

Then we headed up to the nature center and listened to Ranger Michael explain all about the animals in the cove, but especially the CRAB.

He picked one lucky member of the audience to demonstrate a crab.

C'mon down Parker your the next contestant on the Home school game.

Lucky dog... er... I mean...crab

Michael demonstrated how crabs grow limbs back by pulling off one of Parker's Velcro arms and in true form Parker grabbed the audience with his dramatic interpretation.

We headed down to the water to see what we could find.

All kinds of small crabs, a semi big crab, sea slugs, seaweed and wet sticky, messy sand.

At dinner tonight the boys both said they enjoyed the day and it all was the best, but Cohen said he liked holding sea salad (seaweed) and learning about Leprechaun Sharks AKA Leopard Sharks.

Thanks St. Patrick's Day... you messed with Environmental Day

Enjoy

Monday's Geyser

This was a great experiment.

It took the film container experiment to a whole new level.

We made a diet soda geyser with mint mentos ... it is the fresh maker ya know.

The mentos have tiny holes in them. Thus allowing co2 bubbles to form very quickly. Causing a build up so intense it forms a 25 foot diet soda geyser.

See the foam fun below.

Enjoy

Parker had control of the pull string. He was the only brave soul.

Myth ...

Busted!

Old School New Day

I was SO super lucky to spend some time today with one of my bestest girlfriends since the 8th grade and my sister's best friend, who has basically turned into another sister and friend over the years.

It is rare in this busy life to see anyone not to mention to have kept the bond of friendship tight over time, marriage and family.

Sometimes I forget I can be a friend. I spend so much of my time caring for the kids I forget how important that part of "me" can be. I almost forget how to relate, but luckily I don't need to try when I hang around people I have known so long.

Here is the magic of friends/family and kids we have added on over time ...

GO TAYLOR! We are proud of you

One of my totally creative and original Mommy friends invited us over after school today to sell Girl scout cookies.

She had this totally awesome idea of making these signs and having the kids basically scream at cars passing by (she also lives on a really busy street to boot).

I am always amazed at how creative and ingenious Moms can be.

I love being a part of that totally positive creative expression for the kids activities.

It makes some days not seem so long and monotonous.

Thanks Laura for always being super creative and making the best birthday cakes EVER!

PS her dog Mugs is totally awesome

Laura

This is Taylor she is the girl friend they say is not really a girl cause

she climbs trees and likes boy stuff.

We love you Taylor

Cohen and Mr.Mugs

Could not resist

I found these old photos on a web site with pictures I had downloaded

and I couldn't resist sharing some

Here is us with Cohen in the oven at Parker's 3rd Birthday Party

OCTOBER Birthday ... does it make sense now?

We are huge Halloween peeps and here are the boys Halloween pics

Mummy's Boys HA!

Parker and Dad in Tahoe

One of the best ever girls trip to Napa

Me and my Daddy ... so 70's (nice wall paper)

Me and my Andy

It is so rare for us to grab a picture together and I found two WOW

Andy AGE 9 Look it's Cohen

Vintage Mommy and Daddy

Before kids

Nice side burns Andy

Dad and the kids at Huntington Beach, So Cal

We really did it!

This picture is infamous because my little sister in the back round was so disgusted by our kiss she is looking away. To cute!

The second Mommy Daddy Pic

(Shhhh ... don't tell, but fo real we were actually at the Playboy Mansion for a work event for Andy. GREAT NIGHT!)

That's some proof of history

Just a Monday

Here is a totally normal day at school for the Stockbridge boys.

I love to get out of the house and explore more, but we have to start somewhere.

I usually pick interests at the library (we go once every two weeks). Cohen was doing dinosaurs and Parker wanted to start the Solar System.

Next week we are doing a Dino dig in the backyard for Cohen.

He will have to identify the dinosaur and what it eats.

Then at the end of the month we get to go tot he space museum in Oakland for Parker.

We will also go on a night hike with telescopes.

Here is Cohen "reading"

He does a lot of this. It is a great way for me to have one on one with Parker.

We just check out books on CD from the library and he goes to town. He does it so much we check out like 10 at a time and he sets them up all on his own.

Parker's Solar System

PS those planets were NOT fun to hang!!!

We started this new rewards system called 5 high fives and it's working for now.

There is Velcro on the hands and on the poster board for the stick. They can earn and loose them based on behavior and project finishing throughout the day. At the end of the school day (whenever that is that day) if they have all 5 they can pick pick something from the treasure box. Plus I selfishly like saying

"Go give yourself a high five" I am easily amused.

The treasure box is stocked with cheap lead covered dollar store toys that break in three seconds, but they live and die for that treasure box.

Although Cohen picked out a fake Amex card that came in the mail. My kinda guy!

Here is Cohen cutting his Triceratops for his Dino Folder

Parker at his desk, but in our house it is only referred to as Parker's hard surface. We are hardly ever at a desk, we do the most magic curled up on the couch or spread on the floor. So, when he needs it we say

"Parker, just go sit at your hard surface"

Kinda funny