Science, Industry, and Peanuts

What does the Peanuts gang have to do with Science and Industry? Darned if I know, but we sure enjoyed our trip to the museum last week! Sadly, the Charlie Brown exhibit was sold out, but we still got to see quite a bit of Charlie and the gang (and as far as the kids know, we saw the exhibit!). We got to see a bunch of other cool stuff as well. We always enjoy this place- if you happen to be in Chicago, it is definitely worth a stop! There are some free days this month as well, I believe.

Matias thought this picture was hilarious

Huge Peanuts Tree

More of a Charlie Brown tree

There were Christmas trees from around the world, and many of them had Nativity sets under them...which Violet really enjoyed

Ah, physics!

Having fun with the air streams

Fine Motor Fun!

At 15 months, Beatrice is starting to develop some awesome fine motor skills, so we made her a little game to practice.  It was SUPER easy to put together...it took ten minutes, tops. Here is what we did:

1) Take a piece of scrap wood and sand it smooth.  

2) Drill pencil-sized holes (we used a 9/32 inch drill bit to be very exact).  

3) Put glue in each hole and hammer an unsharpened pencil into each hole (I used pliers to remove the erasers first)

4) Find big beads, spools, empty tape rolls, canning lids...anything not chokeable with a hole in it...and show your child how to put them on the pencils.  

VOILA! 

Linking Up With:

Freezing Fun

Got cold weather? Time for some science! Grab whatever you have on hand and freeze it!

Filling ice cube trays and muffin tins with water

Water balloons, a tub of ice and water, and a tub of just ice, food coloring added in for fun

The next morning- frozen!

Breaking open the balloons

Strangely enough, only some of the balloons froze...we think that is has to do with the type and thickness of balloo,n, but it remains a mystery!

dumping out the ice cubes

The ice water was frozen solid, but the bin of just ice cubes didn't change much

It doesn't have to be elaborate to be fun...we had a great time with this, and have generated a whole series of questions we want to explore the next time we get a really cold night (including my husband and I who really want to figure out the balloon mystery!)

Math Salad

The Math Salad Recipe has moved...click HERE!

{this moment}

January 1, 2013  12am

{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.

Ringing It In

We decided that the best way to ring in a new year was surrounded by some of our favorite people and their offspring. 10 adults, 11 children under 6, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Sushi making...do we know how to pick friends or what?! 

Mad sushi-rolling skills

We made "real" sushi and "Helen" sushi...aka teriyaki chicken, avocado, cream cheese and mango in a soy wrapper.  Sushi for the non-fish and seaweed lovers.

Surround yourself with skillful people.

While we were busy making and eating food...the kiddos had some fun, too!

Dinner date! 

New favorite toy...the Daddy trampoline!

Fancy friends!

The Dugger family shot...Matt, Helen and the 11 children.

Couldn't get them all in one shot...so combine the pictures and you have all of the wonderful kids who were generous enough to come hang out with us. 

Looking Back at 2012

2012 was an awesome year at the Handley home. Our resolution for 2013...carry on! More playtime, more adventure, more growing, more visiting, more exploring and more partying.  Happy 2013!